Radio and Television Transactions

There's a facilities swap that's set to take place in a section of New York famous for wineries, waterfalls, glass, and NASCAR. Meanwhile, the "Heart & Soul of Richmond" is trading hands. Those are the two deals profiled in RBR+TVBR's TRANSACTIONS TODAY.

Vic Michael has appeared in RBR+TVBR's TRANSACTIONS TODAY numerous times over the last several weeks, as the owner of radio stations in Hawaii and FM translators across the western U.S. has been actively engaged in several deals. Now, he's agreed to the sale of a pair of translators in the Rocky Mountain State, while putting his seal of approval on an asset exchange. Also today: Two TV deals that saw Kalil & Co. represent the buyers have closed.

A heritage rock 'n' roll station serving Puerto Rico for decades will soon be serving up its eclectic mix of active rock, reggae and alternative beats for one final time. Thanks to a just-consummated deal filed today with the FCC, "Alfa Rock" will soon be saying adios to its listeners across the island. What's coming? The sounds of such artists as Jeremy Camp, Chris Tomlin, and tobyMac — following a shift to noncommercial status.

The Adult Alternative format of Northern Kentucky University's WNKU, which airs on three stations in the Cincinnati market, is now officially in jeopardy. That's because the school has agreed to sell the last of the trio of facilities used for WNKU, and the buyer is considering all formats, with revenue and ratings the key criteria.

A 6kw Class A FM serving Texas' Hill Country to the northwest of San Antonio is trading hands. The move means "The Buck" has been hunted, and captured, and Radiodog Media will be saying goodbye to the facility playing "Today's Best Country." It's the top deal n RBR+TVBR's TRANSACTIONS TODAY for Friday, July 21.

A Class D non-directional, two-pattern AM station in Kentucky with a Talk lineup that includes such syndicated personalities as Larry Elder, Dave Ramsey, Laura Ingraham, and Rick & Bubba is trading hands. The buyer isn't likely to keep the format, or English-language programming, given its other nearby holdings.

A "hometown Country station" on the east side of the Wasatch Front's Twin Peaks is trading hands. Meanwhile, a Class B AM to the east of Atlanta has been sold. These are the deals in detail in RBR+TVBR's TRANSACTIONS TODAY for Thursday, July 20.

In a sign of the times, Wisconsin's "most powerful radio station" is getting a translator as it attempts to lure FM radio listeners who rarely, if ever, go to the AM band. We've got an RBR+TVBR Observation on the subject, which begs the question if radio companies should just turn off AM stations already.

A Class C3 facility located just north of the Saginaw-Bay City, Mich., market is trading hands. However, there's likely one "promise" that current listeners to this facility's Christian-themed programming may not like. That's because the station is set to switch from noncomm to commercial status, and become a sibling to an AM/FM combo in this non-rated city. That's the top deal in RBR+TVBR's TRANSACTIONS TODAY, which also sees a trio of translators trading hands.

In a transaction filed with the FCC today and finalized June 30, Scranton, Pa., based Shamrock Communications has agreed to sell the rimshot facility serving Nevada's second-biggest market. The buyer is quite familiar with the station: He built the property and is the since-retired GM of the company's cluster in this market.

A big Class C3 noncomm to the north of Houston is trading hands. As a result, its current Spanish-language religious "Vidavisión" radio programming will soon be coming to an end. While the facility will continue to superserve Hispanics, with similarly themed non-secular programming, the new owners will be installing English-language religious programming. That's the top deal in RBR+TVBR's TRANSACTIONS TODAY for Monday, July 17.

From December 2015 through March 6, 2017, Riviera Broadcasting used an FM translator licensed to the city of Phoenix to give its CHR/Rhythmic Class C KKFR-FM "Power 98.3" in Mayer, Ariz., a metro-area boost. Riviera is now using a different translator for KKFR, and as a result its now-silent former simulcast organ is being sold. Kalil & Co. is the exclusive broker for this transaction. 

The owner of a Class A serving an area of the Mountain State south of West Virginia University has agreed to donate his facility to a non-profit entity that recently made headlines for its involvement in Univision Radio's exit from the Albuquerque market. That's the lone deal in RBR + TVBR's TRANSACTIONS TODAY for Friday, July 14.

Three more Notice of Unlicensed Operation notices were distributed by the Commission this week—further proof that the FCC under Chairman Ajit Pai is aggressively going after the buccaneers of broadcasting.

Catholic Radio of the Texas High Plains sure knows the way to Amarillo. That's because it has just consummated a deal with a Texas-based LLC for an AM in the market, and its FM translator. It's the top deal in RBR+TVBR's TRANSACTIONS TODAY for Wednesday, July 12.