It is a Class C2 FM radio station with a broadcast tower just south of the Gandy Blvd. causeway connected Tampa with St. Petersburg, and presently offers “Tampa Bay’s Classic Rock” as “98.7 The Shark.”
Soon, that mix of music will be replaced by Christian Contemporary artists, putting Radio Training Network’s “The Joy FM” on notice that its dominance in the market is about to get a big challenge.
And, we know how much Beasley Media Group is earning from the station’s sale.
According to a source close to the matter, Beasley is earning $8 million from the sale of WPBB-FM 98.7, licensed to Holmes Beach, Fla., to Educational Media Foundation — parent of the K-LOVE CCM noncommercial network and its Air1 Worship Music-focused sibling.
It’s a significant market entry for EMF, and could be immediately successful for the broadcast ministry Goliath led by CEO Tom Stulz.
“After 43 years, it is truly a privilege and a blessing to finally be in Tampa,” said Stultz. “Our mission is to be a trusted source of compelling media linking people everywhere to the hope of Christ. We anticipate K-LOVE’s positive and encouraging Christian format will become a welcomed, safe place to land for listeners in this fantastic city.”
WPBB has been a Beasley property since 2014, when it engineered a multi-station, multi-market swap with CBS Radio. The result? CBS Radio got properties in Philadelphia and Miami as Beasley gained stations in Tampa-St. Petersburg and Charlotte. Among the stations going to Beasley was the station today known as “The Shark.” Prior presentations include Hot Adult Contemporary “Play 98.7” and, prior to that, Smooth Jazz as WSJT. For a decade before that, the 98.7 MHz facility was home to Rhythmic Top 40 WLLD “Wild.”
In November 2024, WPBB gained attention for becoming “fully powered” by an artificial intelligence-driven operating system developed by Super Hi-Fi. As of today, the station’s air staff is comprised of Detroit-based Dave and Chuck the Freak in mornings and Jeff Zito in afternoon drive.
“We’re excited to enter into an agreement with EMF on the sale of 98.7 The Shark,” said Caroline Beasley, Chief Executive Officer of Beasley Media Group. “EMF’s longstanding commitment to delivering uplifting, family-friendly content aligns with the values of the community, and we’re confident they will make a meaningful impact as they enter this vibrant market.”
EMF is likely even more excited, as RTN has a cume of nearly 300,000 and strong overall ratings for its WCIE-FM — clearly a target of EMF. The only other non-secular FM in the Tampa market is Worship Music-focused WBVM “Spirit FM 90.5,” owned by the Diocese of St. Petersburg.
Meanwhile, WPBB’s cume was lower than that of WCIE (243,300) in May 2025, when it had a 3.0 share. With the sale of “The Shark,” Beasley’s remaining stations will be comprised of Country WQYK-FM, Classic Hits WRBQ “Q105,” Spanish Contemporary WYUU “Maxima 92.5,” Rhythmic Top 40 WLLD “Wild 94.1,” and WYUU HD2, a Tropical AC branded as “Playa” heard on 106.9 MHz via an FM translator. WJBR-AM is also a Beasley Media property, and is presently “Podcast Radio.”
Michael J. Bergner served as Beasley’s broker of record in this transaction.
An asset purchase agreement is being filed with the FCC for its regulatory approval within 24 hours.