At Noon PT on Tuesday, KFMB-AM 760 in San Diego concluded its run as an News/Talk station under TEGNA ownership and, before that, as a Midwest Television-owned property.
But, there is most certainly a spoken word future for the venerable station serving America’s Finest City. It’s thanks to iHeartMedia.
RBR+TVBR has confirmed that the nation’s biggest owner of radio stations has entered into a LMA with Local Media San Diego that gives it control of the unique Class B, with 5kw during daylight hours from 1 tower and 50kw at night from 3 towers.
A temporary simulcast of iHeart Talker KOGO-AM 600 is presently airing on KFMB-AM, and iHeart President for its San Diego/Arizona Region Melissa A Forrest says it’s “fingers crossed” that the company will outright acquire KFMB-AM soon.
An asset purchase agreement will likely be filed with the FCC this week.
Unique programming for KFMB-AM is expected within 48 hours.
As RBR+TVBR reported on Dec. 30, 2019, Local Media San Diego purchased KFMB-AM and Adult Hits sibling KFMB-FM 100.7 from TEGNA for a bargain price of $5 million. TEGNA had operated the stations for 11 months before announcing the stations’ sale — something anticipated upon TEGNA’s purchase of them — and CBS affiliate KFMB-8 in San Diego.
RBR+TVBR on Dec. 17, 2017 noted that TEGNA paid $325 million for the television station and the AM/FM pair.
For Local Media San Diego, operations will comprise Z90, 91X and Magic 92.5, all Mexico-licensed stations, and KFMB-FM.
