Press Release

Connoisseur Media today announced it has reached an agreement to sell its Frederick, MD radio stations, WFRE-FM and WFMD-AM, to Local Daily Media, of Williamsburg, VA.

WFRE-FM (99.9 WFRE – Free Country) and WFMD-AM (930 Free Talk) are both top rated stations in the Frederick, MD market according to Nielsen.

Jeffrey Warshaw, CEO of Connoisseur, said, “While it is difficult for us to part with our Frederick stations, we were convinced that Local Daily Media’s management leadership
and its focus in the Maryland/Virginia region could move these stations forward in a way we would be proud of. Senior management of Local Daily Media includes longtime Connoisseur partner Mike Dufort who we have worked with closely and respect. Mike understands local radio and shares our view on the need for radio to be involved with and serve the local community.”

Adam Crotty, CFO of Local Daily Media, said “We’re incredibly fortunate to welcome these legendary stations, along with their talented and dedicated teams, to our growing organization. Their rich history of supporting and improving the vibrant Frederick community will undoubtedly inspire our entire team to find new ways to positively impact each community we serve.”

Mike Dufort, President of Local Daily Media, added, “With my nearly 11 years of working with Jeff and the entire Connoisseur team, I deeply understand and appreciate the care and nurturing that went into building these stations and I’m excited for the opportunity to continue along their journey to reaching even greater heights.”

The purchase is subject to FCC approval and other customary closing conditions. Prior to that time, Connoisseur will continue to be in control of and will be operating the radio stations.

About Connoisseur Media:
Connoisseur Media owns market-leading radio stations in regions including Nassau-Suffolk, NY, Metro Fairfield County, CT and New Haven, CT as well as these stations in Frederick, MD. After the sale, it will operate 11 radio stations and its digital media solutions company, Ferocious Digital in markets that include New York and Connecticut. Often regarded as one of the most respected media companies in the country, Connoisseur is a forward-thinking media company dedicated to helping brands grow and advertisers to succeed.

About Local Daily Media:
Local Daily Media operates in two markets: Virginia’s Historic Triangle, encompassing Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown, and Wilmington, North Carolina. The company serves these communities through two online hyperlocal local news publications, four radio stations, and an innovative e-commerce platform.

Connoisseur Media proudly announces the acquisition of The Ruden Report, Fairfield County’s premier source for high school sports news and information. This acquisition aligns with Connoisseur Media Connecticut’s commitment to delivering relevant, local content to the residents and listeners in the communities they serve.

Dave Ruden, the well-respected founder of The Ruden Report, will partner with Connoisseur Media to expand coverage and ultimately provide more comprehensive reporting to the residents of Southern Connecticut.  Connoisseur Media plans to leverage its extensive assets, including six radio stations, to enhance local sports coverage.

“We are beyond thrilled to welcome The Ruden Report into our Connecticut portfolio,” stated Kristin Okesson SVP/General Manager of Connoisseur Media Connecticut. “We look forward to partnering with Dave and his loyal following and building upon the outstanding coverage that he has produced over the years. This addition to our programming lineup is a perfect fit for each station and their audiences.  As someone who values high school sports coverage, I’m excited to bring The Ruden Report to our six radio stations.  I know our Southern Connecticut listeners will enjoy the local updates and in-depth coverage of their favorite teams, athletes, and games.”

Local sports enthusiasts, parents, players, alums and listeners will be able to hear The Ruden Report high school sports coverage on Connoisseur Media radio stations in Connecticut starting this fall.    Connoisseur Media operates and/or owns WEBE 108, STAR 99.9, WYBC, WICC, 99.1 WPLR, and 95.9 The Fox in Connecticut. The integration of The Ruden Report into this portfolio marks a significant enhancement in local content delivery.  

“We’re happy to have Dave and The Ruden Report join our Connoisseur Media family,” shared Jeff Warshaw, owner and CEO of Connoisseur Media, LLC. “We look forward to offering our audience local content with his exceptional reporting.”

Dave Ruden commented, “The success of The Ruden Report and the support from the readership community over the last 11 years has been quite humbling. Traffic to the site continues an upward trajectory. Still, the biggest complaint I receive is “why can’t you cover us?” That has been my ongoing goal — to cover more — which is why I have decided to partner with Connoisseur Media, a company that has both a longstanding tradition of excellence and the infrastructure to help take The Ruden Report to the next level. I am excited about the future, working with Jeff Warshaw, Kristin Okesson and the rest of the talented team at Connoisseur.”

For more information about Connoisseur Media and its Connecticut radio stations click here.  The Ruden Report online platform can be found at TheRudenReport.com.

Connoisseur Media announced today that Michael O. Driscoll, Co-Founder and EVP/CFO of Connoisseur Media, will be stepping down as CFO of the company as of 12/31/21. Driscoll has been the CFO of the Company since July, 2004 and has been working with Jeffrey D. Warshaw, CEO and Co-Founder for more than 25 years.

Driscoll has been with Connoisseur and Mr. Warshaw since he was hired as CFO of Connoisseur Communications in 1996. He has handled financing, acquisitions, human resources and operational issues and has worked hand-in-hand with Warshaw in building the current Company over the last 17 years. He remains at Connoisseur as Executive Vice President, but will be stepping back from day-to-day management duties.

Jeffrey D. Warshaw, CEO and Co-Founder of Connoisseur said “Mike and I have worked together for a long time. In the years working with him, we have occasionally had different opinions, but never harsh words or arguments. I am glad in this new role he will get a chance to take some more time for travel and things he had wanted to do, but I look forward to still working together. He will always be my partner.”

Driscoll said; “I have really enjoyed the nuts and bolts of helping build a Company and focused on building teams, working on processes and getting the trains to run on time. I could not have had a more fulfilling time, looking forward to coming in each day, and have had a lot of fun working alongside Jeff for this quarter century. I will miss being involved in every decision, and having daily contact with the friends and great colleagues we have in our operations as well as here in the corporate office. I am happy

to still be a part of the Company, and also an investor in it, and want to watch things grow. This is just a part of a plan Jeff and I have had for a few years, and I have every confidence that our Company will reach new heights as Jeff works with Olly Price as the new CFO.”

Oliver Price named as SVP/CFO of Connoisseur Media as of January 1, 2022.

Oliver G. Price came to Connoisseur in 2012, and was most recently Vice President of Finance and Accounting. He has worked with Mr. Warshaw and Mr. Driscoll for over nine years and is in in charge of the financial planning, budgeting and accounting functions. In the last few years, he has moved more directly into financing transactions and also worked more on acquisitions. He will now also take on additional duties and direct reports as the CFO of the Company. Price will report directly to Jeffrey Warshaw.

Mr. Price was previously with Liberty Global, where he was Manager, Mergers and Acquisitions prior to coming to Connoisseur. He was with Liberty Global for six years in London at increasingly senior positions. Prior to that, Price worked for KPMG in audit in the information, communication & entertainment department. While at KPMG, Price trained as a chartered accountant, and is registered in the UK. Price graduated from the University of Bristol in the UK where he earned a BSc and studied Economics.

About Connoisseur Media:

Connoisseur Media owns market-leading radio clusters in regions including Nassau- Suffolk, NY, Metro Fairfield County, and New Haven in CT, and Frederick, MD. It also owns digital and marketing operations in Connecticut and Long Island.