In August 2022, BAAZ Broadcasting Corp. emerged as the buyer for expanded band Class B KNTS-AM in Seattle. The transaction closed 11 months later, leading the licensee to submit a Petition for Declaratory Ruling with the FCC seeking approval of a stock sale that would give 100% ownership of BAAZ to Sukhdev Dhillon.
A pleading cycle has now been established by the Media Bureau, during which time it will seek public input on whether or not Dhillon, a Canadian citizen, should be the station’s sole owner.
Now getting the official filing listing of MB Docket No. 23-356, the Bureau established a comment date of November 20, and a reply comment date of December 5.
BAAZ is today owned 80% by Mohan Cheema, a U.S. citizen, and 20% by Dhillon. The proposal is to have Cheema’s shares sold to Dhillon, and with 100% ownership create a new organization, Amar Broadcasting Inc. Amar would be a U.S.-based corporation. Cheema would earn $75,000 USD from the sale of his shares in BAAZ Broadcasting.
BAAZ acquired the expanded band AM at 1680 kHz from Salem Media Group-affiliated Inspiration Media Inc. for $225,000, and on July 21, 2023 closed on the acquisition of the facility.
Cheema and Dhillon are also the lead equity interest holders in KZIZ-AM & KKDZ-AM in Seattle — each of which air “Radio Punjab.”
Handling the filing for BAAZ is Anthony T. Lepore of Radiotvlaw Associates.
