Charles and Lacy Ennis made news when they purchased NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM from the Wireless Group in July.
With the addition of NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM, the Ennis brothers have grown their broadcast holdings to six radio stations in West Tennessee – each under the Grace Media Group umbrella.
NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM & WNWS.COM caught up with Lacy Ennis for a question and answer session.
Question: First, a little background information. Where are you originally from – family and education.
Answer: I was born in Dyersburg but our family moved to Henning when I was two where I grew up through high school. I currently live in Ripley where my wife (Maryann) and I have raised two daughters (Meghann and Andrea).
We are blessed in that they live close by and we get to enjoy our four granddaughters and one grandson on a regular basis.
I am an alumni of Ripley High School class of 1976 and received my Bachelors degree majoring in Business Administration from Chadwick University.
Question: Were there other careers before radio, and are there still other careers today?
Answer: Prior to joining Grace Broadcasting, I spent 10 years with Clorox, which later became Huish Detergents. I was the Director of Operations there when I left in 1997 to join Charles in broadcasting. Most of my time is spent managing the radio stations but Charles and I have real estate interests that I manage as well.
Question: Your portfolio of radio stations includes NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM, 93.1 FM, 105.3 FM FOX SPORTS – Jackson, 1190 AM – WJPJ, Humboldt, 93.5 FM – WKBQ & 1250 AM – WKBL, Covington. What is the role you play in the ownership of the stations?
Answer: I handle the finances and am involved in the major decisions involving the stations. Michael Steele is our general manager and does a great job with managing the day-to-day operations.
Question: Before your organization purchased NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM, you already had a presence in Jackson with 93.1 FM. What made NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM attractive?
Answer: News/Talk 101.5 FM has done a great job of branding themselves over the past 20-plus years as the leader in news with regards to Jackson, Tennessee. It was that history as well as the tremendous staff that had been assembled that attracted us to purchase the station earlier this year.
Question: Would you discuss any plans you have to grow NEWS/TALK 101.5 FM, and are there thoughts that NEWS/TALK & 93.1 FM could cannibalize one another, considering the format – talk – is the same?
Answer: We believe that both stations can co-exist. News/Talk 101.5 FM is Jackson’s source for news – and has been for years. There would be no reason to change that. 93.1 FM is being branded as The Talk of West Tennessee.
Very soon these stations will be totally separated through programming changes that will help to create separate identities that I believe will make both attractive to the listeners. We are committed to a strong line up on both stations with 93.1 FM having a more regional flavor.
Question: The first station the two of you purchased was 93.1 FM, WWGM in Jackson. What year did you buy the station, and would you tell us about the format and any changes since?
Answer: I will let Charles address the original group ownership which led to the purchase of WWGM. I joined him about a year after he bought the station. It was Southern Gospel which we both still love to this day.
It remained Southern Gospel until three years ago when we changed the format to News/Talk and began broadcasting “Live” from the Dixie Cafe at the Old Country Store with the support of our late friend Clark Shaw.
Question: Since buying the first station, would you tell us about some of the changes you have seen in the broadcast industry?
Answer: Wow, there have been many. We have seen several changes within the rules of the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) which for the most part have been favorable to local ownership groups like Grace. We have also seen more and more local ownership groups being bought out by big corporations.
We are the only local radio ownership group left in Jackson. We are thankful to our listeners and sponsors for supporting us through difficult times when technology is changing constantly.
We recognize that there are several different ways to get the news and/or music that can cripple local radio. We are committed to continue providing Jackson and West Tennessee with the best in local news/weather and sports and welcome any input that they may have to help make us even better heading into the new year and beyond.
For Q&A with Charles Ennis CLICK HEREÂ
(PHOTO: Lacy Ennis)
