Sold! Right's RedState, Human Events, Regnery gobbled up by Salem

Ann Coulter, David Limbaugh, Erick Erickson and Michelle Malkin have a new publisher in Washington today, the expanding Christian conservative media empire of Salem Communications Corp., recently dubbed "the new power in conservative media."

Salem on Monday completed the purchase of Eagle Publishing, which operates Regnery, the nation's leading conservative book publisher; Human Events, one of the oldest conservative news providers; and the popular website RedState, headed by Erickson. Two other properties, Eagle Financial Publications and Eagle Wellness, were included. No price was provided to Secrets.

The move gives Salem, already a huge force in conservative radio and Christian broadcasting and publishing, an immediate and powerful presence in the nation's capital, where Eagle and Regnery have long ruled the right's publishing roost. Among Regnery's best-selling authors are Limbaugh, Ed Klein, Malkin, Dinesh D’Souza, Mark Levin, Laura Ingraham and Newt Gingrich.

It also gives some financial stability to Eagle's properties, including Human Events, which recently ended its print edition.

Salem, based in Camarillo, Calif., near the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library in Simi Valley, owns 102 radio stations, including WRC in Washington. They also have a network that distributes talk, news and music programming to approximately 2,000 affiliates.

Edward G. Atsinger III, president and chief executive officer of Salem, said in a statement: “Eagle is one of the most influential companies in the conservative media space. Its addition to Salem brings together a unique portfolio of conservative media properties and fits with our strategy of integrating traditional media and new media assets all serving the same target audience. The opportunity we like most about this acquisition is that each of Eagle’s businesses matches up so well with Salem’s extensive media platform. With 102 radio stations and a dozen major national websites all targeting the conservative community, this provides a perfect marketing platform to promote Eagle’s products to a wider audience. ”

Eagle President Jeff Carneal said when the company decided to sell, it looked for a conservative partner. "Of the several interested suitors, Salem provided the best opportunity for our employees, customers, and brands. Salem’s unique assets and strong management will ensure a bright future for the Eagle companies and take the combined company to a new level of success and influence," he said.

Regnery Publishing is the country’s leading publisher of conservative books. Founded in 1947, Regnery published many of the seminal works of the conservative movement, including Russell Kirk’s “The Conservative Mind,” and William F. Buckley Jr’s “God and Man at Yale.” More recently, Regnery has published dozens of bestselling books by leading conservative authors and personalities, including Ann Coulter, Newt Gingrich, Michelle Malkin, David Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham, Mark Steyn and Dinesh D’Souza.

Human Events (Ronald Reagan’s favorite newspaper, founded in 1944) and RedState (led by Erick Erickson, widely considered one of the most influential bloggers on the right) are two leading conservative opinion websites that provide news and commentary on issues of interest to the conservative community.

Eagle Financial Publications provides market analysis and specific investment advice for individual investors from experts that include Mark Skousen, Nicholas Vardy, Chris Versace, and Doug Fabian.

Eagle Wellness provides practical complementary health advice and is a trusted source for nutritional supplements from one of the country’s leading complementary health physicians.

Salem Communications is the largest commercial U.S. radio broadcasting company that provides programming targeted at audiences interested in Christian and conservative radio content, as measured by the number of stations and audience coverage. Upon completion of all announced transactions, the company will operate a portfolio of 102 radio stations in 39 markets, including 62 stations in 22 of the top 25 markets. Salem’s portfolio includes 40 stations programmed in a Christian talk format, 27 in a conservative talk format, 12 in a contemporary Christian music format, 8 in a Spanish Christian format and 10 in a business talk format. We also program the Family Talk™ Christian-themed talk format on XM Radio, channel 131 and operate ChristianRadio.com and Conservativeradio.com.

Salem also owns Salem Radio Network, a national radio network that syndicates Christian and conservative talk, news and music programming to approximately 2,500 affiliated radio stations and Salem Media Representatives, a national media advertising sales firm with offices across the country.

Salem Communications operates Salem Web Network, an online provider of Christian and conservative themed news, analysis and commentary. Christian content websites include: Christianity.com, Crosswalk.com®, BibleStudyTools.com, GodTube.com and GodVine.com, WorshipHouseMedia.com and OnePlace.com. Conservative opinion websites include Townhall.com®, HotAir.com, and Twitchy.com.

Salem Publishing™ circulates Christian and conservative magazines including Homecoming® YouthWorker Journal™, The Singing News, Preaching and Townhall Magazine™. Xulon Press™ is a provider of self-publishing services targeting the Christian audience.

I assume all their revenue is from advertising. I don’t see any other revenue sources evident. I don’t see any signs of syndication relationships or the like. Since it has been sold and now resold, not sure how he is paid...but I would guess Erickson is paid some from the sale of the company and likely income as an ongoing contributor. This is a rare time where the original face of the company continued seamlessly through sale of the company. It will be interesting to see where it goes after the sale of the parent company.

Not too many of these blogs make money. This is one of the rare ones...most of the ones making money are people who were pretty connected to begin with. Plus, the brand is excellent....redstate.com.

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