In July 2017, a Class C Active Rock station that is home to the syndicated Bubba the Love Sponge morning show and the Sat Bisla-hosted Passport Approved new music program was acquired by a company led by an individual who served as GM for the FM and its three siblings before retiring in 2015.
Today, the station bears new call letters, and that company now involves another husband-and-wife partnership. However, that change of control in Big Horn Media had some issues. Now, the FCC Media Bureau’s Audio Division has negotiated a consent decree and civil penalty that resolves those concerns.
In a transaction with a total value of $200,000, the former KRZQ-FM 104.1, licensed to Fallon, Nev., and its Reno-based booster were sold to the John Burkavage-led Big Horn Media. MVP Capital was the exclusive broker in this transaction, representing Shamrock.
Today, that station is known as KUEZ-FM, and airs a “Soft Oldies” format under the “Easy” brand.
The acquisition of the FM by Big Horn closed in October 2017. John and his wife Mercedes were the sole owners. Then, just weeks later, shares in Big Horn were sold to Harry and Bonnie Dixon.
“Due to an oversight,” Big Horn never asked for prior approval of the stock sale to the Dixons — a violation of Commission rules. Big Horn asked for nunc pro tunc approval of its applications reflecting the change in Big Horn’s owner composition.
That wasn’t granted. But, the future application grant is anticipated, said Audio Division Chief Al Shuldiner.
And, because of the stock sale prior to FCC approval, a Consent Decree was agreed upon that sees Big Horn making a $8,000 payment to the U.S. Treasury and undertaking a three-year compliance plan to prevent similar future violations.
Dixon now serves as President/CEO of Big Horn.
