When it comes to independent radio broadcasters in major U.S. markets, Saul Levine is one of the last men standing. His Mt. Wilson FM Broadcasters continues to own and operate properties in Los Angeles, and until now his station roster included a silent AM serving the Monterey Bay area.
Levine is now donating the facility.
The station is KNRY-AM 1240 in Monterey, Calif., with a tower adjacent to a pier at McAbee Beach. It has an FM translator — K240EV — assigned to the AM facility.
It’s a property Mt. Wilson acquired in December 2013, and since April KNRY has been dark under a STA.
This was done after KNRY’s donation to The Balanced Radio Foundation never came to fruition.
As such, a new donation agreement has been struck, with KNRY and K240EV going to Hanford Youth Services.
The licensee is tied to Denise White, CFO and Sales and Marketing head of KKDJ Radio in Fresno.
This suggests that similar programming or a simulcast could be in the works for KNRY and the FM translator.
Serving as the legal counsel in this transaction are Melodie Virtue at Foster Garvey, representing Levine and Mt. Wilson, and Michael Couzens of Oakland, Calif., representing the buyer.
Mt. Wilson FM Broadcasters’ other stations include KIDD-AM in Monterey; KSUR-AM & KKGO-FM in Los Angeles; and an FM translator in Hawaii.
