MIAMI, May 29, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Solmart Media LLC completed its acquisition of Heartland Broadcasting stations WZSP-FM, licensed to Nocatee, FL. and WZZS-FM, licensed to Zolfo Springs, FL. The properties currently serve the Southwest Florida Market including Sarasota, Venice Beach, Port Charlotte, Arcadia, and Sebring. The new formats will primarily target the Latino population in these cities.
"This is an exciting opportunity for Solmart Media," said CEO Tomas A. Martinez. "We've admired the good work and reputation of Heartland Broadcasting and see a fantastic future in this underserved Hispanic market."
"According to Geoscape, there are more than 200,000 people of Hispanic descent in our coverage areas. Our objective is to offer this community relevant news and information as well as entertainment. From politics to health and from the legal system to sports and the latest music trends, La Zeta and La Número Uno will become household brands and the go-to stations for the Hispanic population in Southwest Florida," said Martinez.
Interview with Tomas A. Martinez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zbNzyprGKs&feature=youtu.be
WZSP-FM 105.3 FM, La Zeta, a leading station in the market, will maintain its format targeting Hispanic Adults 25-54 with an Adult Contemporary Mexican Regional format. Programming in La Zeta will include El Show del Genio Lucas - a successful variety program that features news, entertainment, music and motivational messages and Erasmo and La Chokolata, a popular highly rated comedy program offering a lighter programming option, among other segments.
"Mexican Soccer will also be an important addition to our programming lineup," said Martinez, "this sport is extremely popular in the US and we plan to capitalize on it by broadcasting the entire Las Chivas de Guadalajara season. This will allow us to create promotions and opportunities for advertisers and sponsors, as well as supply our listeners with lifestyle programming that is valuable to them."
Martinez also mentioned that, "It's important to address the financial challenges of our communities by offering information that is useful and advice that is engaging. Mentored by America's financial powerhouse Dave Ramsey, Andres Gutierrez, through his show, will advise our audience about how to be financially responsible and acquire wealth."
La Zeta Social Media:
Facebook: La Zeta 105.3 Mejor Que Nunca
Twitter: @lazeta1053
Website: http://www.lazeta.fm/
WZZS-FM 106.9 FM, La Número Uno will offer a Mexican Regional Dance format targeting Hispanics Adults 18-34. The station will feature top contemporary Mexican Regional and Norteño fusion hits as well as daily sports shows.
"Sports and music create a perfect mix for young listeners because this is an important part of their lives. Contragolpe Radio, which will air live at 6:00 pm weekly, offers a topnotch team of professionals that will keep our audience informed about the latest news in the world of sports throughout the year," concluded Martinez.
Hadden and Associates Nationwide Media Brokers represented Heartland Broadcasting in the transaction. Wells Fargo and its SBA program acted as the principal lenders.
About Solmart Media LLC:
Solmart Media LLC, an independently owned Media company based in South Florida, was founded in Miami, Florida by seasoned radio executive Tomas Martinez and his wife, recognized international broadcast journalist and television anchor Mercedes Soler. The company specializes in developing broadcasting, digital and entertainment platforms, which serve the communities where they are located as well as its advertisers.
Tomas Martinez, who launched his media career in 1983 at WOJO-FM in Chicago IL., has been involved in the radio industry for more than three decades. As General Manager of WSUA-AM - Radio Caracol, and Radio Unica's owned and operated stations in Miami and New York, Martinez has been integral to the growth of both stations in South Florida as well as other US Hispanic markets. He also managed Miami's WQBA-AM and WAQI-AM, and directed the national marketing and merchandising divisions for the Heftel Broadcasting Corporation. Under the role of Director of Sales in Florida for Shadow Broadcast Services, a Westwood One Company, Martinez was a key player in establishing and significantly growing the company in South Florida.
Tomas Martinez has maintained a long-standing commitment to civic organizations and provided community leadership to highly distinguished social service agencies. Martinez has been a member of the Board of Governors for the South Florida Broadcasters Awards. He is an active member of United Way, The Miami Hispanic Film Society, and CAMACOL --the Latin Chamber of Commerce of USA, among other South Florida organizations. He has also helped create awareness through contribution campaigns to benefit non-for profit organizations such as La Liga Contra el Cancer. Furthermore, Martinez has long been associated with the Dean's Council at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. In addition, he is a graduate of the BLT (Broadcast Leadership Training) program offered by the NAB, National Association of Broadcasters.
A native of Cuba, Tomas Martinez arrived in Chicago in 1970 and graduated there from Loyola University in 1984. He resides in Miami with his wife Mercedes and their two children.
About Heartland Broadcasting:
Ted Hite, former owner of WAUC in Wauchula, put WZZS-FM on the air in 1992. In 1996, Heartland Broadcasting, an independent media company formed by Hal Kneller and his wife Jan, acquired the station. Heartland Broadcasting subsequently aired WZSP in 1998. Kneller Hal Kneller, an experienced radio engineer, will remain as an advisor to Solmart Media LLC.
Tomas Martinez can be reached at 305-710-0309 or at tmartinez@solmart.net.
For more information or to schedule an interview with Tomas Martinez, please contact Maria Flores at Double Edged Marketing at 305-205-6883 or mflores@doubledgedmarketing.com.