Nationwide Communications
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Nationwide Communications Inc. was a media corporation which operated from 1946 until 1997. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Nationwide Communications owned and operated a variety of radio stations across the United States until it sold off all assets to Cincinnati-based Jacor Communications Incorporated for a reported $620 million.
In 1946, the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation began broadcasting a radio service for farmers on WRFD, an AM radio station. The Ohio Farm Bureau was dedicated to serving farmers in Ohio, but as its other pursuits (chiefly the Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company) were increasingly made available to non-farmers, the Farm Bureau spun off these ventures into a seperate corporation. WRFD continued to serve farmers, and indeed, still carries farm programming today under the ownership of Salem Media of Ohio. However, other Farm Bureau stations-- most notably WRFD-FM, now known as WNCI-- were transferred to this umbrella corporation, known today as the Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company & Affiliated Companies. The group of stations became known as Nationwide Communications, after its parent company.
Before ceasing operations, Nationwide Communications was the 16th largest radio group in the United States and operated 17 stations in 8 different markets. At the time the company ceased operations, Nationwide Communications owned KEGL and KDMX in Dallas, Texas, KHMX and KTBZ in Houston, Texas, KMJZ and KSGS in Minneapolis, Minnesota, KGLQ and KZZP in Phoenix, Arizona, KMCG and KXLG in San Diego, California, WPOC in Baltimore, Maryland, WMMS, WGAR, and WMJI in Cleveland, Ohio, and WFII, WCOL, and WNCI in Columbus, Ohio.