politics
Salem Media to Be Taken Private in $1-Per-Share Deal
Salem Media will be taken private in a deal announced May 12, 2026, that values its shares at a 250% premium. The transaction with The Christian Community Foundation, doing business as WaterStone, follows two years of discussions by the company's founding families. Executives described the move as a continuation of Salem's 50-year mission in Christian and conservative media.
May 12, 6:30 PM·1m read1 source
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Salem Media, Inc. , d/b/a WaterStone. The deal will take Salem Media entirely private. 00 per share, a price that represents approximately a 250% premium over Salem’s recent trading price.
Edward Atsinger III, co-founder and board member of Salem Media, said the Atsinger and Epperson families founded the company. For the last ten years the Atsinger and Epperson families have been looking for a successor that would continue to carry the torch of delivering quality Christian and conservative media into the next generation and beyond, Atsinger stated.
The families met with WaterStone some 24 months ago and believed it was a divine appointment.
David Santrella, Chief Executive Officer of Salem Media, welcomed the alignment with the buyer. “WaterStone understands who we are and why Salem has mattered for over 50 years,” Santrella said. He added that the partnership will accelerate the company’s ability to expand the reach of its mission for years to come.
Richard von Gnechten, Chairman of Salem Media’s Board of Directors and President of WaterStone, emphasized continuity. “This is about building on what makes Salem unique,” von Gnechten said. Salem has spent decades earning the trust of listeners, ministries, advertisers, and audiences by staying true to its mission, he noted, and WaterStone believes deeply in that mission and in the people behind it.
Salem Media operates across radio, digital media, streaming, podcasting, television, and publishing. The acquisition is expected to provide the company with additional strength and long-term stability while creating new opportunities to expand its reach. Hot Air reported that the partnership reflects years of shared vision between the organizations.
