Radio and Television Transactions

Until now, listeners of Educational Media Foundation's KLOVE Christian Contemporary network had two choices — an FM signal to the far north, near the border with Arizona; or a metro signal that sees its Primm, Nev., based tower boosted with a 70-watt signal off Arden Peak. Still, reaching much of metropolitan Las Vegas was a challenge. Now, EMF is doing something about it.

On June 1, RBR+TVBR first reported on the proposed sale of WTMD-FM 89.7 in Towson, Md., an eclectic Adult Alternative noncommercial operation within the Baltimore market, to Your Public Radio Corporation. On November 10, "Public Radio Music Day" across the U.S., the transaction closed.

For Washington, D.C., area residents, a trip to the beach may involve a drive east on U.S. 50 and an excursion to the beaches of Delaware. Among the towns popular with those in the National Capital Region is Rehoboth Beach. It is here that a 41-year old FM that is presently "The Talk of Delmarva" is being spun.

It is a low-powered TV station that in summer 2018 was heading to HC2 Holdings, with a $400,000 transaction proposed. Then, HC2 was a much different company, with spending under the guise of former CEO Philip Falcone. He's now at Sovryn Holdings, and that 2018 deal never came to fruition. Now, the LPTV facility has found a new buyer, and it is paying significantly less for it.

In early September, RBR+TVBR first reported on the sale of a low-power CP that doesn’t need to be built until 2023 in Boise, Idaho. The property is one of several put on the market by Corpus Christi, Tex.-based Mako Communications. And, the buyer was an entity headed by the former CEO of HC2 Holdings. Now, a second deal has been consummated between the two parties.

Ahead of a Form 314 filing with the FCC, Mike Flood has announced the consummation of a transaction that, pending regulatory approval, will make his company the largest broadcasting operation in the state of Nebraska.

One is a Class C AM with 1 tower, emitting 630 watts of power. The other is a Class C2 FM with a Country format. Both stations serve Palestine — the small city in Texas due southwest of Tyler, that is. And, they've just traded hands in a transaction brokered by Media Services Group.

Over the last three years, a Minnesota-based nonprofit corporation tied to a private evangelical Christian college has been an active buyer and seller of radio stations. Now, the entity comprised of religious noncommercial full-power FM stations and FM translators is growing again.

Frank Copsidas has bought and sold many LPTVs. Now, he's spinning a property licensed to a town of less than 2,000 in the Deep South. The buyer? Gray Television.

It's a city of roughly 26,000 residents that bills itself as a "first choice for families" and a "great choice for opportunity." This municipality, which is part of a DMA that includes Bismarck and Minot, N.D., is four hours to the west of Fargo. Here, a 100kw Hot Adult Contemporary FM is being sold. It's a "totally amped" transaction, thanks to the station's seller.

At 1490 kHz on the AM dial, a 1kw Class C facility with a largely directional signal serves the Laredo, Tex., area. Until now, it has been associated with regional entity MBM. Soon, an individual will be the licensee of this station, pending FCC approval.

An AM/FM combo, along with an FM translator, serving a small Ohio municipality is being spun.  That could explain the buzzards flying around the building, if you will.

The Big Bend region of Florida is still one of the more desolate, bucolic portions of the ever-growing Sunshine State, attracting more hurricanes than travelers or Snowbirds. It's bigger communities include Apalachicola and Port St. Joe, due east of Panama City. It is here that a 100kw FM is being spun, putting a "Cross Country" move in play.

In late June RBR+TVBR first told readers about Dartmouth College's decision to place its 6kw Class A FM, branded as “99Rock,” on the market. The commercially licensed radio station that is advertiser-driven doesn’t shy from loud, hard rock. Soon, it will be up to a new owner to determine whether or not acts such as Seether, Godsmack and Alice in Chains will remain on the station's playlist.

In August, RBR+TVBR shared with readers the details of two "unique" low-power TV station permits that had just been sold by Mako Communications. These LPTV permits don't need to be constructed until 2023, giving the buyer a big window for getting the stations on the air. The transaction involving this LPTV-to-be pair just closed.