American Radio Systems Corporation was a radio company that existed from 1993 until 1998. Its predecessor, Atlantic Ventures, was founded by Steven B. Dodge, Eric Schultz, Joseph Winn, and Michael Milsom. American Radio Systems was formed from the merger of Atlantic Ventures, which owned four Boston radio stations, including

WRKO WRKO (680 AM) is a commercial news/talk Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues and consisting entirely or almost entirely of original spoken word content rather than outside music. Most shows are regularly ho ...

and WEEI with Multi Market Communications, Inc. and Stoner Broadcasting System Holding, Inc., on November 1, 1993. On August 14, 1995, American Radio Systems announced plans to acquire Hartford radio stations

WTIC-AM WTIC (1080 Hertz, kHz "WTIC NewsTalk 1080") is a commercial radio, commercial AM radio, AM radio station in Hartford, Connecticut. It airs a talk radio, news/talk radio format and is owned by Audacy, Inc. The station's radio studio, studios and o ...

and

WTIC-FM WTIC-FM (96.5 MHz) is a commercial radio station in Hartford, Connecticut. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and broadcasts a hot adult contemporary radio format. The station's studios and offices are located on Executive Drive in Farmington. WTIC-F ...

for $42 million. In June 1998, American Radio Systems became a wholly owned subsidiary of

CBS Corporation The second incarnation of CBS Corporation (the first being a short-lived rename of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation) was an American multinational media conglomerate with interests primarily in commercial broadcasting, publishing, and t ...

pursuant to a merger agreement. American Radio shareholders received $44.00 per share plus one share of

American Tower American Tower Corporation (also referred to as American Tower or ATC) is an American real estate investment trust and an owner and operator of wireless and broadcast communications infrastructure in several countries worldwide and is headquart ...

common stock in a transaction valued at a then-record enterprise price of over $2.6 billion.

References

{{reflist Defunct radio broadcasting companies of the United States Mass media companies established in 1993 Former CBS Corporation subsidiaries CBS Radio Private equity portfolio companies Mass media companies disestablished in 1998