Forcht Broadcasting
Forcht Media operates 26 AM/FM radio stations across Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, serving small-market local businesses with radio advertising and bundled digital marketing services. A subsidiary of the Forcht Group of Kentucky founded in 1981.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersCorbin, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Forcht Broadcasting does
Forcht Media is a privately held broadcasting and multi-media marketing company headquartered in Somerset, Kentucky, and operating as a subsidiary of the Forcht Group of Kentucky. The company traces its origins to 1981 when Terry Forcht purchased WAIN in Columbia, KY, and has since built a network of 26 AM and FM radio stations spanning small markets in Kentucky (Somerset, London, Hopkinsville, Paintsville, Campbellsville/Greensburg, Columbia, Whitesburg), Indiana (Crawfordsville), and Illinois (Olney). The portfolio spans formats including Adult Standards, Adult Contemporary, Classic Country, Classic Hits, News/Talk, Sports Radio, Top 40/CHR, Country, and Classic Rock. In July 2026, the company rebranded from Forcht Broadcasting to Forcht Media to reflect its identity as a broadcast and multi-media marketing company rather than a radio-only operator.
The core product is the Forcht Media Radio Network, complemented by a dedicated digital marketing arm branded Forcht Digital (at forchtdigital.com) that offers targeted digital campaigns, custom web design, and professional graphic design services. The underlying technology consists of conventional AM/FM broadcast infrastructure — transmitters, FCC-licensed frequencies, HD Radio sub-channels (e.g., WHOP-HD2 "The Farm 95.3"), and locally programmed content delivery — layered with a modest digital marketing technology stack for web design and online campaign management. No proprietary software platforms, AI/ML systems, patents, or software products are disclosed.
The business model is advertising-based, with two primary revenue streams: (1) on-air radio advertising sold via spot airtime, sponsorships, and program partnerships to local and regional businesses, and (2) digital marketing services (web design, graphic design, digital campaigns) sold as bundled marketing solutions. Pricing is quote-based with no publicly disclosed rates. Go-to-market is direct sales, with a sales team engaging small-market businesses and community organizations across the three-state coverage area. The primary customer segment is small-market local businesses (SMBs) seeking affordable local audience reach; no enterprise logos, named accounts, or institutional advertisers are disclosed. With 51–100 employees, the company is positioned as a regional, community-rooted alternative to national media groups.
Forcht Broadcasting firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Forcht Broadcasting
- Legal name
- Forcht Media
- Website
- https://forchtbroadcasting.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Forcht Media operates 26 AM/FM radio stations across Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, serving small-market local businesses with radio advertising and bundled digital marketing services. A subsidiary of the Forcht Group of Kentucky founded in 1981.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Forcht Broadcasting industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG), Local News & Weather Stations (MPABACAJ), Local Multicultural/Language Broadcasters (Spanish/Asian/Other Local Markets) (MPABACAI)
Keywords
Where Forcht Broadcasting is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Corbin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Forcht Broadcasting business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Radio Advertising: Local and regional businesses purchase airtime on AM and FM stations across 26 stations in Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. Revenue is generated through spot advertising, sponsorships, and program partnerships.
- Digital Marketing Services: Forcht Media offers digital marketing campaigns, web design, and graphic design services to complement radio advertising, providing bundled marketing solutions for local businesses.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Forcht Broadcasting product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Forcht Media operates a network of 26 AM and FM radio stations across Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, providing local radio advertising, sports coverage, and music programming in formats including Adult Standards, Country, News/Talk, Classic Hits, Classic Rock, Top 40/CHR, and Sports. The broadcast business is complemented by digital marketing services — targeted online campaigns, custom web design, and professional graphic design — sold as bundled advertising solutions to small-market local businesses.
Product overview
Forcht Media operates as a broadcasting and multi-media marketing company offering a unified portfolio of radio and digital services. The core offering is a network of 26 AM and FM radio stations spanning Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, organized under the Forcht Media Radio Network. Complementing the broadcast business are digital marketing services including targeted online campaigns, custom web design, and professional graphic design. These services are positioned as a full-suite advertising solution for small-market America, with Forcht Digital serving as a dedicated subsidiary for digital marketing solutions. The company serves local communities across small markets with both traditional radio programming and modern digital marketing capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Forcht Media Radio Network A network of 26 AM and FM radio stations across Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, delivering local programming, sports coverage, and music formats including Adult Standards, Adult Contemporary, Classic Country, Classic Hits, News/Talk, Sports Radio, Top 40/CHR, Country, and Classic Rock. Sold to local advertisers as airtime, sponsorships, and program partnerships.
- Digital Marketing Services Targeted digital advertising campaigns and web-based marketing strategies designed to expand local businesses' online reach across the Forcht Media broadcast coverage area. Sold as a complement to radio advertising or as standalone digital campaigns.
- Web Design Services Custom website development services for small businesses and larger organizations, providing sites that grow or refresh their online presence. Offered as part of bundled marketing packages.
- Graphic Design Services Professional design services including logos and full advertising creative production to help local brands stand out in their markets. Offered as part of bundled marketing packages.
- Forcht Digital Dedicated subsidiary providing digital marketing solutions including online advertising and web-based marketing services to local businesses.
- The Farm 95.3 (WHOP-HD2) HD Radio sub-channel operating under WHOP-FM 98.7 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, featuring country music programming as part of the Forcht Media Radio Network.
- Lake 107.1 Locally branded radio station in the Forcht Media network operating a classic hits format.
Companies that use Forcht Broadcasting
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Forcht Broadcasting technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Forcht Broadcasting partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Forcht Broadcasting competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Saga Communications: Saga Communications operates a portfolio of small and mid-market radio stations, with a similar focus on local content, community engagement, and local advertiser relationships as Forcht Media.
- Townsquare Media: Townsquare Media owns and operates hundreds of small-market radio stations and digital platforms, making it one of the most direct comparisons to Forcht Media in terms of local-market broadcasting, local sports, and SMB-focused digital marketing.
- Alpha Media: Alpha Media operates a large portfolio of small and mid-market radio stations across the U.S., closely mirroring Forcht Media's strategy of owning dominant local stations in underserved markets and selling bundled radio plus digital advertising.
- Cumulus Media: Cumulus Media owns a large footprint of AM/FM stations including many small and mid markets, and has been an active small-market consolidator, making its business model and unit economics highly relevant to Forcht Media.
- Connoisseur Media: Connoisseur Media is a privately held operator of small-market radio stations with local content and digital offerings, comparable in scale and approach to Forcht Media's 26-station group.
- Cromwell Group: Cromwell Group is a privately held, family-owned small-market radio operator across the Midwest and South, closely aligned with Forcht Media's community-focused, small-market strategy.
- Forever Media: Forever Media owns and operates a portfolio of small-market radio stations in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, with a similar focus on community-rooted local broadcasting and bundled digital services as Forcht Media.
Broad incumbents
- iHeartMedia: iHeartMedia is the largest U.S. radio broadcaster with thousands of stations plus a major digital audio platform. It is broader and more diversified than Forcht Media, but competes for the same local advertiser budgets.
Others
- Learfield (Learfield IMG College): Learfield operates collegiate sports media rights, including radio networks, and is relevant to Forcht Media given the latter's investment in local sports radio programming as a differentiator.
Emerging players
- EMF Broadcasting: EMF Broadcasting operates a large network of noncommercial radio stations (K-LOVE, Air1) including small-market transmitters. While noncommercial, its small-market signal acquisition strategy overlaps with Forcht Media's footprint expansion.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Forcht Broadcasting social profiles
Digital presenceForcht Broadcasting financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Forcht Broadcasting leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Forcht Broadcasting funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Forcht Broadcasting M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Forcht Broadcasting
What does Forcht Broadcasting do?
Forcht Media operates a network of 26 AM and FM radio stations across Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, providing local radio advertising, sports coverage, and music programming in formats including Adult Standards, Country, News/Talk, Classic Hits, Classic Rock, Top 40/CHR, and Sports. The broadcast business is complemented by digital marketing services — targeted online campaigns, custom web design, and professional graphic design — sold as bundled advertising solutions to small-market local businesses.
Is Forcht Broadcasting a public or private company?
Forcht Broadcasting is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Forcht Broadcasting founded?
Forcht Broadcasting was founded in 1981. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Forcht Broadcasting based?
Forcht Broadcasting is headquartered in Corbin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Forcht Broadcasting make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Radio Advertising is the primary driver. The others are digital Marketing Services.
Who are Forcht Broadcasting's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Saga Communications, Townsquare Media, Alpha Media, Cumulus Media, Connoisseur Media, Cromwell Group and Forever Media. iHeartMedia is listed as a broad incumbent. Learfield (Learfield IMG College) is listed as an others. EMF Broadcasting is listed as an emerging player.
Does Forcht Broadcasting have an API?
No public API is recorded for Forcht Broadcasting.
What industry is Forcht Broadcasting in?
Forcht Broadcasting's product category is Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABACAC, Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains), with a secondary code of MPAIAEAG, Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication. Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.