For all the hue and cry about the little guys being pushed out of the radio biz, there are some stations that remain safe from the corporate giants, at least for now. This summer saw several station transactions in the south, Midwest and western U.S.
Texas-based High Plains Radio Network is purchasing three FM stations in Mountain Home, Ark. Pending FCC approval, Monte Spearman will acquire KYMT(FM), a Class A licensed to Gassville, Ark; KJMT(FM), a C-3, licensed to Calico Rock, Ark.; and KCMC(FM), also a C-3 licensed to Viola, Ark. He will purchase the stations, which are owned and operated by Malvern Entertainment Corp. and Gray Media Corp. of Alexander, Ark., for $820,000.
WHMI(FM) owners Greg and Marcia Jablonski say they are retiring after 26 years and will sell their Howell, Mich., property to Rodney Krol of Krol Communications for an undisclosed purchase price. Jason James of Patrick Communications was the exclusive broker for the deal, which is expected to close in the next three months, pending FCC approval. Prior to owning the station, Greg Jablonski worked as a contract engineer for former owner Ann Bignell and helped the station transition from AM to FM in 1977 before he purchased it outright in 1989. Krol Communications currently owns three stations; Owosso, Mich-based WRSR(FM), WJSZ(FM) in Ashley, Mich. and WMLM(AM) in St. Louis, Mich.
K294BD-FX, a translator in Gillette, Wyo., has been purchased by W. Lawrence Patrick of Legend Communications LLC. It broadcasts on 106.7 MHz at 115 W with a HAAT of 311 feet. Family Stations Inc. will get $35,000 for the deal, which was brokered by Patrick Communications.
In Utah, AASAA Media LLC has announced its intention to buy KEGH(FM), a Class C FM facility licensed to Woodruff, Utah, and owned by SLC Divestiture Trust II. The acquisition of the Salt Lake City metro station is pending FCC approval and would cost West Jordan-based AASAA Media $1,800,000 in cash. KEGH(FM) broadcasts with 89,000 watts ERP with a HAAT of 647 meters, and its main signal is enhanced with four boosters licensed to Ogden, Bountiful, Salt Lake City and Provo. This spring, AASAA filed for the assignment of license for radio station KMRI(AM) licensed to West Valley City, Utah, and also entered into a Local Programming and Marketing Agreement on June 24, 2015 and began programming Hispanic/Mexican music. Greg Merrill of Media Services Group represented the parties in this transaction.
Mount Wilson FM Broadcasters also closed on is previously announced acquisition of KIDD(AM), Monterey-Salinas, Calif. The heritage 1 kW station was a Buckley Radio property to be divested and is currently silent because of the demolition of its two towers. Mount Wilson FM has made clear that it intends to construct a new transmission facility. Dick Foreman handled the transaction on behalf of Buckley, and Saul Levine, president of Mount Wilson FM Broadcasters. This is the fifth radio station to be acquired by Mount Wilson FM in the Monterey market in the last two years.
