Riverfront Broadcasting to Acquire Six Watertown Radio Stations from Connoisseur Media

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD – Another major radio station transition is coming to Watertown. Connoisseur Media has announced an agreement to sell its six-station radio cluster in Watertown, South Dakota, to Riverfront Broadcasting. The transaction, which was made public on May 13, 2026, marks another divestment for Connoisseur following its recent spinoff of Brookings-area stations to local staff earlier this year.

The sale includes a mix of powerful FM signals and established AM stations:

·         92.9 KSDR(FM) (100 kW)

·         96.1 KIXX(FM) (100 kW)

·         96.9 KDLO(FM) (100 kW)

·         104.3 KKSD(FM) (100 kW, licensed to Millbank)

·         950 KWAT(AM)

·         1480 KSDR(AM)

Strategic Transition for Connoisseur

Jeff Warshaw, founder and CEO of Connoisseur Media, stated that the decision to sell was based on the company’s specific operational focus. “The Watertown market was not a market we felt Connoisseur could make a material difference in, given the focus and approach we bring to radio,” Warshaw said in a release.

Warshaw noted that the company has been in discussions with Riverfront President Carolyn Becker for several months and expressed confidence that the local company is well-positioned to continue providing local content to the Watertown community.

Expanding the Riverfront Footprint

Riverfront Broadcasting is a family-owned company headquartered in Yankton, South Dakota. Founded in 2004 by Carolyn and Doyle Becker, the company currently operates 21 AM and FM stations across South Dakota and Minnesota.

The Beckers are well-known figures in the regional industry, having been named the South Dakota Broadcasters of the Year in 2014. Carolyn Becker is also a graduate of the Broadcast Leadership Training program.

Tune into Northeast Radio for Watertown's daily updates and hyper-local news with broadcaster Steve Jurrens. Serving South Dakota 24/7 with news, talk, and music. Connect via their website or scan the QR code to watch live on multiple platforms.

Transaction Details

The sale is currently pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and is expected to close in late summer.

Kalil & Co., Inc. acted as the broker for the deal. Legal representation for the transaction included Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP for Connoisseur Media, and Marlow, Woodward & Huff representing Riverfront Broadcasting.