He presently owns some 29 radio stations across Arkansas under a series of different licensee names, which operate under the East Arkansas Broadcasters name. Now, Bobby Caldwell has signed off on a transaction that will yield him six additional stations.
As first reported by Streamline Publishing’s Radio Ink, The Bobby D. Caldwell Revocable Trust is agreeing to a deal that will give it ownership of Phoenix Broadcasting Group’s Hip-Hop KAMJ-FM 93.9 in Gosnell, Ark., and presently silent KQXF-FM 107.3 in Osceola, Ark; Sudbury Services’ KHLS-FM 96.3 “Thunder Country” in Blytheville, and Newport Broadcasting Company’s silent KNBY-AM 1280 and KOKR-FM 96.7 in Newport, Ark., and KOSE-AM 860 in Wilson, Ark.
The stations are all controlled by Harold Sudbury, who is earning $1.1 million from the transaction. A $55,000 escrow deposit has been made by Caldwell and is being held by Dan J. Alpert, the veteran communications attorney.
Caldwell is agreeing to advance the funds necessary to pay the stations’ regulatory fees with the Commission, and has pledged to bring the four properties silent under Special Temporary Authority back on the air before the deal’s closing date.
For Sudbury, ownership of Newport Broadcasting Company’s KXAR-AM & KHPA-FM in Hope, Ark., the birthplace of President Clinton, will continue; both are dark under STAs due to storm damage incurred in July 2023.
The Sudbury transaction follows the September 13 report from RBR+TVBR that Caldwell has agreed to purchase KHGA-FM in Earle, Ark., at 103.9 MHz, for $250,000.
