WNAX RADIO

What WNAX RADIO does

WNAX RADIO is an AM radio station operating at 570 kHz from studios in Yankton, South Dakota, broadcasting under the licensee Saga Communications of South Dakota, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of publicly traded Saga Communications, Inc. The station delivers a mixed-format programming lineup combining local news, weather, sports, and community content with a specialized agricultural vertical centered on the 5-State Farm Report, daily commodity market data, and interviews with farm industry experts serving a rural Midwest audience across South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and surrounding states. On-air programming is anchored by the Morning Get Together hosted by Big Scott Allen and Steve Crawford, plus Minnesota Vikings game coverage and syndicated news content from the Associated Press.

The station's technology stack is conventional for a regional broadcaster: a 570 kHz AM transmitter reaching the 5-state region, supplemented by online streaming through the Amperwave platform and TuneIn directory integration, plus on-site web infrastructure using WordPress CMS and Google Analytics. Revenue is generated primarily through traditional radio advertising (airtime sales to local and regional businesses), sponsored content and branded events (e.g., Northland Ford F-150 Giveaway), organized group travel packages sold through WNAX Trips, and listener contests. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with multi-year contracts for advertisers. The station distributes content to consumers free of charge, monetizing through advertisers and ancillary service offerings rather than subscription or direct listener fees.

WNAX is a small operation with approximately 20 employees and operates as one station within Saga Communications' broader radio portfolio. The station is not independently funded; it is supported by its parent company's balance sheet. In September 2023, following the death of Saga Communications CEO Edward K. Christian, an FCC application was filed for consent to transfer control of the station license from the deceased to Saga's shareholders, a routine regulatory step that remains pending. The primary customer segment is rural and agricultural communities, with no enterprise customers or programmatic advertising infrastructure disclosed.

Name

WNAX RADIO

Legal name

Saga Communications, Inc.

Website

https://wnax.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WNAX RADIO is an AM radio station at 570 kHz in Yankton, South Dakota, operated by Saga Communications. It serves rural and agricultural communities across a five-state Midwest region with local news, weather, sports, and specialized farm programming including the 5-State Farm Report.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Terrestrial Radio Broadcasting (AM/FM) (MPAIAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAC), Local News & Weather Stations (MPABACAJ), Sports Radio Networks & Talk Stations (MPABAJAB)

Keywords

• AM radio broadcasting
• Agricultural news programming
• Farm market reports
• Regional radio station
• Community radio content

Headquarters

HQ city

Yankton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Advertising Revenue: Traditional radio advertising model where local and regional businesses purchase airtime slots for commercials, sponsorships, and promotional segments. The station also generates revenue through sponsored content including the 5 State Farm Report, branded events like the Northland Ford F-150 Giveaway, and trip packages promoted through the WNAX Trips division.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WNAX is a regional AM radio station broadcasting at 570 kHz from Yankton, South Dakota, delivering local news, weather, sports, community events, and specialized agricultural programming (including the 5-State Farm Report and Commodity Wrap) to listeners across South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and surrounding states. The station combines traditional over-the-air AM radio broadcasting with online audio streaming via the Amperwave platform, TuneIn, and social media channels, supplemented by contests, giveaways, and WNAX Trips organized travel packages.

Product overview

WNAX RADIO operates as a regional AM radio station (570 kHz) based in Yankton, South Dakota, owned by Saga Communications. The station offers a multi-platform media presence combining traditional broadcast radio with online streaming capabilities. The product portfolio centers on Radio 570 WNAX as the core broadcast offering, supplemented by live streaming services, agricultural programming (including the 5-State Farm Report and Market Numbers), local news coverage, the Morning Get Together show, and community-oriented services such as WNAX Trips (organized travel packages), contests/giveaways, and a community calendar. The station serves the agricultural community with specialized farm programming while also providing general news, sports, weather, and entertainment content across its broadcast and digital platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Radio 570 WNAX AM radio station broadcasting at 570 kHz from Yankton, South Dakota, featuring news, agricultural programming, sports coverage, and entertainment content.
• WNAX Live Streaming
• 5-State Farm Report
• Early Morning Get Together
• WNAX Trips
• WNAX Contests
• Community Calendar
• Market Numbers
• Commodity Wrap

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Northland Ford DealersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNorthland Ford dealers sponsor the annual Northland Ford F-150 Giveaway promotion on WNAX. The promotion offers listeners chances to win a 2026 Ford F-150 through various entry methods including live broadcasts at farm events and dealer locations.
• Nebraska Game and ParksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNebraska Game and Parks Commission sponsors WNAX Trips, providing promotional support for travel packages offered by the station.
• Pifer'sminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPifer's is an auction company that partners with WNAX for bull sales and auction event coverage, promoting livestock auctions to the station's agricultural audience.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cumulus Media (Midwest stations): Cumulus Media is a major U.S. radio broadcaster with multiple Midwest AM/FM stations. Comparable as a portfolio operator with shared corporate infrastructure (streaming, ad tech, content licensing) competing for both listeners and advertisers in markets adjacent to WNAX's footprint.
• iHeartMedia (Midwest clusters): iHeartMedia is the largest U.S. radio broadcaster with extensive AM/FM clusters across the Midwest. While not focused on agricultural niche, its regional stations overlap WNAX's geography and compete for general ad spend and listener attention. Offers a useful benchmark for large-portfolio operating economics.

Direct peers

• WIBW Radio: WIBW (580 AM, Topeka, Kansas) is another established Midwest AM station with significant agricultural programming (Kansas Ag Network) and news/talk format. Comparable to WNAX in target audience (farmers and rural communities), distribution model (AM + streaming), and reliance on ag-focused advertisers.
• KNEB AM Radio: KNEB (960 AM, Scottsbluff, Nebraska) is a regional AM station serving western Nebraska and eastern Wyoming with farm, ranch, and community programming. Highly comparable to WNAX in operating geography (Nebraska Panhandle / Plains agriculture), format, and rural audience focus.
• WHO Newsradio 1040: WHO is a 50 kW AM news/talk station based in Des Moines, Iowa — directly comparable to WNAX in format (news/talk) and Midwest regional reach. It carries similar agribusiness-relevant programming and competes for Iowa-based advertisers and listeners in WNAX's coverage footprint.
• Brownfield Ag News: Brownfield Ag News produces agricultural radio programming distributed via affiliate stations across the Midwest — directly comparable to WNAX's 5-State Farm Report in content focus. While Brownfield is a network rather than a single station, it competes for ag advertising spend and audience attention in WNAX's regional market.
• KRVN AM Radio: KRVN (880 AM, Lexington, Nebraska) is the Rural Radio Network's flagship station and the most direct comparable to WNAX — both are AM stations dedicated to agricultural programming, farm news, commodity markets, and rural communities across the Great Plains. The two stations compete for the same ag advertiser and listener base in overlapping Midwest states.

Emerging players

• AgPhD Radio: AgPhD produces agricultural radio programming and digital content aimed at Midwestern farmers — directly overlapping WNAX's ag-content niche with a more digital-native approach. Represents the emerging digital/streaming alternative that could erode WNAX's ag-audience share over time.

Others

• AgriTalk / Farm Journal: AgriTalk is a nationally syndicated agricultural talk radio program carried by affiliate stations across the U.S., produced by Farm Journal. Comparable in agricultural content focus and audience overlap with WNAX's 5-State Farm Report; relevant as both a content competitor on affiliate stations and a potential partnership / content distribution channel.

Regional players

• KELO Radio: KELO is an established South Dakota-based news/talk radio group, operating in the same state as WNAX (Yankton, SD). Comparable in regional reach, news/talk format, and reliance on local advertisers, though KELO is FM-led and operates in different South Dakota metros (Sioux Falls) without WNAX's ag-specialization angle.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WNAX
• Facebookfacebook.com/570WNAX
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wnax-radio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WNAX RADIO