Deal Closes: Connoisseur Media has closed on its acquisition of Alpha Media (Breaking News 5/5). The company will retain the Connoisseur name and be led by Connoisseur CEO Jeff Warshaw, who says, "This acquisition is about assembling the scale and resources to keep radio strong, serve our communities, empower our employees and create even more value for advertisers.” Connoisseur mushrooms from 11 stations in New York and Connecticut to 216 stations in 47 markets (more than 100 of which have footprints in rated markets) placing it in the top 10 in station count and revenue.

Connoisseur's sole Country outlet, WWWF/Nassau-Suffolk, is now joined by KUPL/Portland, OR; KBAY/San Jose and the WCCQ & WXLC simulcast in suburban Chicago, among many others. The deal received FCC approval Aug. 13. As previously reported (CAT 9/3), in the wake of the merger Alpha EVP/Content Phil Becker has left the company after more than a decade. Reach him here.