They are stations that Jeff Warshaw-led Connoisseur Media obtained in its purchase of Alpha Media. Now, he’s secured a deal to sell the stations in the southern San Joaquin Valley.
Connoisseur has entered into an agreement to sell its Bakersfield radio stations to Frequency Broadcasting Inc. a local company in the region led by Kait and Danny Hill.
Specifically, Frequency is acquiring Class B1 Top 40 KLLY-FM “Live 95.3,” in Oildale; Class B1 Rhythmic Oldies KKBB-FM “Groove 99.3”, and News/Talk KNZR-AM & FM. KNZR-FM is a Class A licensed to nearby Shafter; KNZR-AM is a heritage Class A facility at 1560 kHz with a signal blanketing the region.
The transaction is pending regulatory approval by the FCC and is expected to close early next year; terms were not disclose. “This sale by Connoisseur is another step in the company’s efforts to concentrate on markets where it can execute its successful playbook,” it said.
Warshaw, the founder and CEO of Connoisseur Media, commented, “Bakersfield was a market that did not fit into the long-term plans we have for Connoisseur. We looked for a local operator that we felt could devote the time and energy that Bakersfield deserves. We are confident that we have found that in Frequency and the Hill family operation.”
Kait Hill added, “We have been working with the folks at Connoisseur for a while before their merger closed in September. We are excited to be acquiring these stations to serve the Bakersfield community, which is where we live and our hometown,” said co-buyer Danny Hill.
Frequency owns “Outlaw Country” KVLI-AM 1140 with K240FH in Lake Isabella, to the northeast of Bakersfield; and KRWI-FM and simulcast partner K228GB “Rewind” in the Lake Isabella area.
Connoisseur Media had legal representation by Wilkinson Barker Knauer; Frequency was represented by Smithwick & Belendiuk, P.C.
