Salem Media to Be Acquired by WaterStone in Major Growth Deal

Salem Media ^ | May 12, 2026 | Salem Media

[backpacker_c]

CAMARILLO, Calif., May 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Salem Media, Inc. (OTCQX: SALM) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by The Christian Community Foundation, Inc., d/b/a WaterStone in a transaction that will take the company private and strengthen Salem’s long-term mission across radio, digital media, streaming, podcasting, television, and publishing.

Edward Atsinger III, Salem co-founder and board member, said finding the right long-term steward for the company was a priority. “For the last ten years the Atsinger and Epperson families have been looking for a successor that would continue to carry the torch of delivering quality Christian and conservative media into the next generation and beyond. When we met with WaterStone, some 24 months ago, we believed it was a divine appointment. WaterStone is deeply aligned with the vision we had when our families founded this company.”

---

TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: christian; conservative; salemmedia

[backpacker_c]

Salem Media has ownership in many different radio stations, programs like the charlie kirk show, hugh hewitt, etc, as well as many media sites like hot air, pj media.

The sale probably supports and continues the existence of the various radio stations, programs and media sites.

[WhiteHatBobby0701]

I predict there will be takeovers and layoffs. “Christian” sites will often promote the Left now — exhibit A is the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship control of church music.

[ProgressingAmerica]

That is good that it should continue being conservative programming. Talk Radio has definitely come down some notches since Rush passed.

There has since been a rise of podcasters which I think is a serious downgrade. I wish there were (?more of?) call in podcasters, I get tired of listening to monologues or box1/box2/box4 debates all the time.

Our voices have been lost in this terrible shift.

[Fungi]

Yep. Just look what happened to Campus Crusade for Christ. Changed their name (”crusade” was not acceptable) and suddenly went woke.

[Sam Gamgee]

There has been a troubling slide of Christian organizations leaning left. Christianity Today has done hard left. Sojourners is another hyper left magazine.

[cyclotic]

Sojourners has always been hard left.

I don’t remember if I ever met Wallis, the founder but I did know his father. He was a good conservative Christian man.

He was my counselor at a Christian camp a couple years.