Morgan Murphy Media
Morgan Murphy Media is a fourth-generation family-owned broadcast media company operating eight television markets, sixteen radio stations, Madison Magazine, and a digital marketing agency across eleven locations in six states, generating revenue primarily through local and regional advertising.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1890
- HeadquartersMadison, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Morgan Murphy Media does
Morgan Murphy Media, legally the Evening Telegram Company, is a fourth-generation family-owned multi-platform broadcast media company founded in 1890 and headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. The company operates eight television markets with affiliates spanning CBS, ABC, NBC, Telemundo, and Univision (including KXLY 4 News Now in Spokane, WISC-TV/Channel 3000 in Madison, WKBT News 8 in La Crosse, KOAM-TV/KFJX Fox 14 in Joplin, the Victoria Television Group in Texas, and stations in Marquette, Alpena, and Yakima-Kennewick), sixteen radio stations across three markets offering top 40, country, hard rock, classic rock, talk, and sports formats, and the 40-year-old Madison Magazine in print and digital. The company reaches audiences across 11 locations in six states, extending its broadcast presence through websites, mobile apps, OTT streaming channels (including a first-of-its-kind 24/7 drone channel), virtual assistants, and social media platforms.
The business generates revenue primarily through advertising across television, radio, digital, and print channels, with a subscription component via Madison Magazine and professional services revenue from Phase 3 Digital Agency, which provides digital marketing solutions from offices in Madison, Joplin, La Crosse, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Marquette, and Alpena. The go-to-market is sales-led, with multi-media sales account executives organized by market and selling bundled cross-platform campaigns to local and regional SMB advertisers, supplemented by national advertiser relationships through Phase 3 Digital. Pricing is custom and quote-based. The company is privately held with no external investors and has historically expanded through acquisitions (notably the 2017 acquisition of Victoria Television Group and KOAM/KFJX) while divesting its broader print operations in 2003 to focus on broadcast and digital.
The technology stack is conventional broadcast infrastructure augmented by digital publishing (via TownNews partnership), multi-platform streaming distribution, and digital marketing services. The company has invested in OTT/streaming delivery and digital audience extension, though no AI/ML-specific capabilities are disclosed in the available data. The company employs a sales-led go-to-market motion for advertisers and a direct-to-consumer model for audiences, leveraging its broadcast and digital properties. Operational scale, awards pedigree (multiple National Murrow Awards, Regional Emmy Awards, eight consecutive years of Station of the Year for WKBT News 8), and fourth-generation family ownership characterize the company's positioning as a durable, community-rooted regional media operator.
Morgan Murphy Media firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Morgan Murphy Media
- Legal name
- Evening Telegram Company
- Website
- https://morganmurphymedia.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1890
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Morgan Murphy Media is a fourth-generation family-owned broadcast media company operating eight television markets, sixteen radio stations, Madison Magazine, and a digital marketing agency across eleven locations in six states, generating revenue primarily through local and regional advertising.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Morgan Murphy Media industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Broadcast Media
- NAICS
- Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Television Broadcasting Stations (51612)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- 24/7 National & International News Channels (MPABAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- National & General-Interest Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAA), Consumer News & Digital Newsrooms (Web/App-First) (MPAJADAD), News OTT & Live News Streaming Channels (MPABAHAK), National General-Entertainment Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAA), News/Talk Radio Networks (MPABABAD)
Keywords
Where Morgan Murphy Media is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices12 records
Markets served
Morgan Murphy Media business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Television Advertising: The company generates revenue through selling advertising spots across its eight television markets, including CBS, ABC, NBC, Telemundo, and Univision affiliates, plus lifestyle digital channels.
- Radio Advertising: Revenue from 16 radio stations across three markets offering top 40, country, hard rock, classic rock, talk radio formats.
- Digital Advertising: Phase 3 Digital Agency provides digital marketing services to local and national clients, extending reach via web, mobile, streaming, OTT, virtual assistants, and social platforms.
- Print Magazine: Madison Magazine generates revenue through magazine advertising and subscriptions, covering arts, culture, dining, lifestyle, events, business, shopping and travel.
- Marketing Solutions: The digital marketing agency offers marketing solutions to clients locally and across the country from offices in Madison, Joplin, La Crosse, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Marquette and Alpena.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Multi-Media Sales Account Executive compensation |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | TV Traffic Associate position |
| Other | Annual | News Anchor/Reporter position |
| Other | Annual | Multi-Media Journalist position |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Part-time Radio Promotion Assistant position |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Morgan Murphy Media product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Morgan Murphy Media operates a portfolio of local broadcast television stations across eight markets (CBS, ABC, NBC, Telemundo, and Univision affiliations), sixteen radio stations across three markets, Madison Magazine (print and digital), digital streaming and OTT platforms, and a digital marketing agency (Phase 3 Digital) that sells multi-platform advertising to local, regional, and national advertisers. The company distributes free over-the-air news, weather, sports, and entertainment content while monetizing audiences through advertising and, for the magazine, subscriptions.
Product overview
Morgan Murphy Media is a family-owned multi-media broadcast company operating a portfolio of local television and radio stations, a print magazine, digital platforms, and a digital marketing agency across 11 locations in six states. The core offerings include eight television markets with stations affiliated to CBS, ABC, NBC, Telemundo, and Univision; sixteen radio stations across three markets; Madison Magazine; and Phase 3 Digital Agency for digital marketing services. The company's digital arm extends reach through websites, mobile apps, streaming, OTT, virtual assistants, and social platforms. Key brands include KXLY 4 News Now (Spokane), WISC-TV/News 3 Now/Channel 3000 (Madison), Apple Valley News Now (Yakima-Kennewick), WKBT News 8 (La Crosse), KOAM-TV/KFJX Fox 14 (Joplin), Victoria Television Group (Texas), and QueenB Radio Wisconsin.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Phase 3 Digital Agency: Digital marketing agency providing world-class, innovative digital advertising products and marketing services.
Products and services
- Television Stations
- Radio Stations
- Madison Magazine
- Phase 3 Digital Agency
- KXLY 4 News Now
- WISC-TV / News 3 Now / Channel 3000
- Apple Valley News Now
- WKBT News 8
- KOAM-TV / KFJX Fox 14
- Victoria Television Group
- QueenB Radio Wisconsin
Quantifiable outcome
- WISC-TV won National Edward R. Murrow Award for breaking news coverage
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Morgan Murphy Media
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Morgan Murphy Media technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Morgan Murphy Media partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- National Association of BroadcasterscoreMorgan Murphy Media publicly supports the SAFE Act (Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement Act) alongside the National Association of Broadcasters. The legislation would help ensure broadcasters' continued access to college sports by requiring football and basketball games to be available on free local broadcast outlets.
- Good Karma BrandscoreMorgan Murphy Media partnered with investor group Good Karma Brands to acquire Milwaukee radio stations, expanding their radio portfolio in Wisconsin.
- TVB (Television Bureau of Advertising)minorMorgan Murphy Media became a proud sponsor of the TVB Next Women program, supporting women in television broadcasting.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Morgan Murphy Media competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cox Media Group: Family-influenced multi-platform operator of local TV and radio stations plus digital advertising solutions (including the former CoxReps). Highly comparable combination of broadcast TV, radio, and digital ad services to Morgan Murphy's portfolio.
- Quincy Media (now part of Gray Television): Long-time family-owned multi-market TV and radio broadcaster in mid-sized U.S. markets, recently acquired by Gray Television — directly comparable on multi-generation family ownership, multi-market local broadcasting, and digital expansion strategy.
- Schurz Communications: Private family-owned media company historically operating local TV and radio stations (sold broadcast properties to Gray Television in 2020); comparable to Morgan Murphy as a multi-generation family-controlled local broadcaster with mid-market presence.
- Gray Television: Publicly traded multi-market TV operator with a portfolio of CBS/ABC/NBC/Fox affiliates concentrated in small and mid-sized U.S. markets — directly comparable to Morgan Murphy's footprint of local network-affiliated stations across the Midwest, South, and Pacific Northwest.
- Tegna: Multi-market U.S. TV broadcaster with stations in small and mid-sized markets plus a digital marketing services arm (Premion) — closely comparable to Morgan Murphy's local affiliate model plus Phase 3 Digital Agency cross-sell.
- Bahakel Communications: Family-owned multi-market TV broadcaster operating network-affiliated stations across the Southeast U.S. Closely comparable to Morgan Murphy as a privately held, multi-market regional broadcaster focused on local news.
Broad incumbents
- Townsquare Media: Publicly traded operator focused on local radio stations and digital advertising (Townsquare Interactive), directly overlapping with Morgan Murphy's local radio stations and Phase 3 Digital Agency.
- Hearst Television: Privately held broadcast division of Hearst Corporation operating local TV stations across the U.S. Comparable on multi-market local news operations and award-winning journalism; significantly larger and supported by a diversified parent media company.
- Nexstar Media Group: Largest U.S. television broadcaster operating numerous local network affiliates and a national content/distribution platform; overlaps with Morgan Murphy on local broadcast operations and multi-market scale economies, but at a substantially larger scale including national digital distribution.
- Sinclair Broadcast Group: Major diversified broadcast operator with TV stations, regional sports networks, and digital properties (Bally Sports, Tennis Channel, Comet). Highly comparable on multi-market TV broadcasting but operates at a much larger scale and with different digital and sports verticals.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Morgan Murphy Media social profiles
Digital presenceMorgan Murphy Media financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Morgan Murphy Media leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Morgan Murphy Media subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Morgan Murphy Media funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Morgan Murphy Media M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Morgan Murphy Media
What does Morgan Murphy Media do?
Morgan Murphy Media operates a portfolio of local broadcast television stations across eight markets (CBS, ABC, NBC, Telemundo, and Univision affiliations), sixteen radio stations across three markets, Madison Magazine (print and digital), digital streaming and OTT platforms, and a digital marketing agency (Phase 3 Digital) that sells multi-platform advertising to local, regional, and national advertisers. The company distributes free over-the-air news, weather, sports, and entertainment content while monetizing audiences through advertising and, for the magazine, subscriptions.
Is Morgan Murphy Media a public or private company?
Morgan Murphy Media is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Morgan Murphy Media founded?
Morgan Murphy Media was founded in 1890. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Morgan Murphy Media based?
Morgan Murphy Media is headquartered in Madison, United States, in the North America region.
How does Morgan Murphy Media make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Television Advertising is the primary driver. The others are radio Advertising, digital Advertising, print Magazine and marketing Solutions.
Who are Morgan Murphy Media's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cox Media Group, Quincy Media (now part of Gray Television), Schurz Communications, Gray Television, Tegna and Bahakel Communications. Broad incumbents are Townsquare Media, Hearst Television, Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Does Morgan Murphy Media have an API?
No public API is recorded for Morgan Murphy Media.
What industry is Morgan Murphy Media in?
Morgan Murphy Media's product category is Broadcast Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAIAA, 24/7 National & International News Channels, with a secondary code of MPAJADAA, National & General-Interest Newspapers (Print & Digital). Its NAICS code is 516120 and its SIC code is 4833.