With the decision by Journal Broadcast Group to sell its radio and television broadcast holdings to The E.W. Scripps Co., the company led by Adam Symson ultimately decided to focus on visual media growth opportunities and divest all of its audio content creation and distribution platforms.
In Tucson, Lotus Communications, the West Coast broadcasting company owned by the Kalmenson family, snapped up the Scripps radio stations. On August 1, Lotus signed off on a deal that will tweak its collection of radio properties in Southern Arizona.
Lotus’ Tucson station group is comprised of six over-the-air brands — Classic Rock KLPX-FM 96.1; Active Rock KFMA-FM 102.1; regional Mexican KCMT-FM 92.1 and K239CF at 95.7 “La Caliente“; Spanish-language Adult Hits KTKT-AM 990 and K232FD at 94.3 MHz “La Buena“; Adult Contemporary KMXZ-FM 94.9 “Mix FM,” and ESPN Radio affiliate KFFN-AM 1490 and K285DL at 104.9 MHz.
The FM translator for the ESPN Radio affiliate is in play. At present, K285DL covers the northern portion of metropolitan Tucson, including Marana and Casas Adobes. Right down the road, with a signal blanketing the city of Tucson from the base of Molino Canyon below Mt. Lemmon, is KWCX-FM 104.9.
The station is operated by Lotus, and is a simulcast partner of KFFN. However, it is licensed to the Todd Robinson-led KZLZ Inc. and licensed to Tanque Verde, Ariz.
Howard Kalmenson, Lotus’ CEO, has now signed off on paperwork that would see KFFN and K285DL become KZLZ Inc.-owned properties. In return, Lotus would also obtain from KZLZ Inc. the FM translator K277CV — presently a 1-watt microtranslator at 103.3 MHz that will relocate to 93.3 MHz. It is presently rebroadcasting KZLZ-FM “La Poderosa,” a regional Mexican station that Bustos Media is in the process of acquiring. Bustos began operating KZLZ under a LMA on April 1.
The transaction does include a monetary payment on the part of both parties. Robinson is paying a token price of $1. Lotus, on the other hand, is paying $200,000 to KZLZ Inc.; a $25,000 downpayment has been made to Robinson by Lotus.
Upon closing, Lotus will have K285DL for ESPN Radio should it choose to continue providing the 24/7 sports talk network to listeners in Tucson.
What are Robinson’s post-closing plans for KWCX and K285DL? They will continue operating as a “combined signal,” with Robinson already drafting paperwork that will see their transfer of control upon regulatory approval to a third-party buyer. This buyer is a non-secular, non-commercial religious broadcasting company, RBR+TVBR has confirmed.
Should K285DL cause interference to KWCX at any point within the first year from the closing date, there’s an out clause for Robinson — Lotus can repurchase K285DL at a cost of $100,000.
