Crawford Broadcasting

Crawford Broadcasting is a family-owned media company based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. Crawford Broadcasting primarily owns radio stations mostly with Christian and Oldies/Nostalgia formats.

History

The company was founded in 1959 by evangelist Dr. Percy B. Crawford. In 1949 Crawford produced his first Christian television broadcast, which aired on the fledging ABC Television Network.

In 1958, Crawford devised a strategic business plan for the purchase and acquisition of seven radio stations, and through 1960, the seven stations in Miami, Florida (WHYI)¹; Buffalo, New York (WDCX); Des Moines, Iowa (KHKI)²; Portland, Oregon (KPDQ)³; Chicago, Illinois (WPWX); Lancaster, Pennsylvania (WDAC) and Detroit, Michigan (WMUZ) were either purchased or had construction permits issued by the FCC. That same year, Dr. Crawford died and family business was carried on by his wife, Ruth Crawford Porter and his son Donald B. Crawford. Between 1968 and 1979 the company expanded by acquiring stations in Birmingham, Alabama (WDJC-FM); Dallas, Texas (KAAM, operated under call letters KPBC at AM1040 but later moved to AM770); and Oklahoma (since divested).

In 1980, Crawford Broadcasting purchased a radio station in Los Angeles (KBRT) to further expand its portfolio, and the company launched a further expansion of its station base in 1991. Crawford's rapid growth has been accomplished almost entirely through its own resources and its considerable ability to generate cash flow.

Notes

¹Station now owned by Clear Channel Communications.
²Station now owned by Citadel Broadcasting.
³Station now owned by Salem Communications.

Markets with Crawford-owned stations

• Birmingham, Alabama
• Los Angeles, California
• San Francisco, California
• Denver, Colorado
• Chicago, Illinois
• Rockford, Illinois
• St. Louis, Missouri
• Detroit, Michigan
• Albany, New York
• Buffalo, New York
• Rochester, New York
• Portland, Oregon

External links

• Official Site of Crawford Broadcasting