MARION - The hits just keep on coming for broadcasting mogul Russ Withers.

The Cape Girardeau native, who already owned a handful of Southern Illinois radio stations, added six more to his portfolio this week, including WDDD-AM and FM (Johnston City), WVZA-FM (Herrin), WTAO-FM (Murphysboro), WQUL-FM (West Frankfort) and WFRX-AM (West Frankfort).

The stations, which were previously owned by Clear Channel Communications, Inc., were purchased for $4 million, according to Radio and Records magazine.

Withers and his daughter, Dana, now own 35 stations between them.

"This is what I do," said Withers, who closed on the sale Monday. "The Southern Illinois market is an exciting market for radio. We now own stations from one end of the Route 13 corridor to the other and from Mount Vernon to Cape Girardeau to Paducah."

Withers said his intentions are to put more of an emphasis on local news and sports with the stations he has just acquired, much like he has done at other locations.

"Localism is the bedrock, the foundation for exciting radio," he said. "We've even carried some city council meetings live on occasion."

Withers made his first radio purchase in 1970 with KGMO in Cape Girardeau, the same station at which he started his career 15 years earlier. He followed up that purchase by delving into the Southern Illinois market with the acquisition of WMIX in Mount Vernon.

Chairman of the National Association for Broadcasters, Withers has had his share of accolades, including being named broadcaster of the year in 2005 by the Illinois Broadcasters Association. A year later, he was recognized with a similar award for outstanding work in West Virginia.

His daughter owns 10 of the family's 35 stations and is president of Dana Communications.

While her father will now spend some time in Marion at WDDD, Dana Withers is based at WQRL in Benton.

"I love the business and have ever since I was about 6 years old and dad bought his first station," Dana said. "I think one of the reasons we have been successful in radio is because of our approach to local news and sports. A lot of other stations have gotten away from that. I'm excited about what I see here in Southern Illinois. And I think a lot of my staff. This latest acquisition makes a lot of sense and will tie in well with our other properties."

The Withers acquisitions may be the latest bit of radio news, but certainly not the only radio news here in Southern Illinois.

Just last month, Southern Illinois University Carbondale entered into a seven-year, $5 million deal with Learfield Sports of Jefferson City, Mo.

Athletic Director Mario Moccia told The Southern then that money the university is guaranteed will be distributed into athletic department funds. The money will be used for general purposes within the department.

Moccia said Learfield wants to expand radio coverage of Saluki sports well beyond the immediate area.

But what does that mean for Crainville-based Mississippi River Radio, which has been affiliated with the Salukis for years?

One thing it means is that River Radio will now have to bid to be a part of the Saluki radio network now orchestrated by Learfield. Advertising and promotional capabilities will be limited.

SIUC Hall of Fame broadcaster Mike Reis, however, will not be out of a job.

"We've written in a clause that Mike will be our play-by-play guy," Moccia said previously.

Steve Falat, general manager for River Radio, said the company has submitted a proposal to Learfield to be a part of the network and hopes to negotiate a deal.

"We've been a part of Saluki athletics for the last 30 years, and that's something we pride ourselves on; that and the charitable work that we do in the Southern Illinois community," Falat said. "It would be odd for us not to be a part of SIU."

Falat said he believes the radio industry is stronger than ever.

"I think the Withers acquisition of the Clear Channel stations in the area proves that, and we welcome their presence in the market," he said. "There will always be a market for radio because it is a portable medium that you can take with you wherever you go."

john.homan@thesouthern.com

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