Bonneville takes over KKFR and Sells the Hip Hop format

[Tig1150]

BONNEVILLE CLOSES ON KKFR ACQUISITION;
MOVES ‘POWER 92’ SOUND TO NEW OWNERSHIP
COMPANY WILL BROADCAST AWARD-WINNING NEWS-TALK

PROGRAMMING ON FM BAND; PRESERVES HIP-HOP FORMAT

July 12, 2006 Press Release

PHOENIX – Bonneville International today announced closure of its acquisition of Phoenix radio
station KKFR from Emmis Communications and now will, within the next few months, begin
simulcasting its award-winning news-talk format – currently aired on KTAR (620 AM) – on KKFR’s
92.3 FM frequency.

Concurrently, the company also announced it has reached an agreement with Riviera Broadcast
Group which will allow Riviera to continue broadcasting the “Power 92” Hip-Hop format in the Phoenix
market.

Bonneville and Riviera have entered into a Time Brokerage Agreement which will allow Riviera to
continue airing that “Power 92” format on the current 92.3 FM frequency for an interim time period, after
which it will move the “Power” Hip-Hop sound and format to another FM frequency. Kalil & Co.
represented Riviera in the transaction.

The two transitions will take place over the next few months and will give Phoenix-area listeners the
Valley’s leading news-talk and information programming on the FM band at 92.3 while continuing
“Power’s” current format and sound at 98.3 FM.
“We’re very pleased,” said Bruce Reese, President and CEO of Bonneville International, “with
these two transactions because we’re confident they will make an already-terrific Phoenix radio market
even better.

“We already have experienced terrific listener response in some of our other markets,” he
continued, “with making news and information programming available on the FM band. At the same
time, we recognize that ‘Power 92’ has been a significant and important member of the Phoenix-area
radio market, and we’re very content that through our agreement with Riviera, we’ve been able to find a
new home for that ‘Power’ format to continue.”

Bonneville Phoenix Radio Group Vice President and Market Manager Erik Hellum also expressed
his enthusiasm over the transactions.

“For years,” he said, “KTAR has been Arizona’s home for news, traffic, weather, talk, and sports,
and we’re excited to be able to provide those services on the FM dial to our listeners.”
Bonneville International is a dynamic media company which owns and operates 32 radio stations in
Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Phoenix, St. Louis, and Salt Lake City, where it is
headquartered. The company also has television, advertising, and satellite properties and is known
industry-wide for its commitment to values-oriented programming and for award-winning community
service.

# # #

 

[LineFive]

KTAR on FM

At last, I will get to hear Connie Weber and Ned Foster the way that God intended...in sweet stereo!

Thank you Bonneville, dreams really can come true.

 

[MASTER_CONTROL]

new freq promos ?

 

[ajhenderson]

Yea, they really botched the imaging when KSL added KSL-FM (first KQMV).

 

[gyrony]

Re: KTAR on FM

At last, I will get to hear Connie Weber and Ned Foster the way that God intended...in sweet stereo!

Thank you Bonneville, dreams really can come true.

Hmmm....does that mean they'll have to recut all the commercial and promotional content to be "sweet stereo"?
Otherwise it will be a waste of that fm fidelity....

-30-

 

[fiazco]

They probably should just turn off the pilot and run in mono.

 

[AZJoe]

What is 98.3? There isnt anything there right now, will it be a new allocation?

 

[KeithE4]

What is 98.3? There isnt anything there right now, will it be a new allocation?

98.3 is KKLD, currently licensed to Prescott Valley but soon to change to Mayer (read: Phoenix) after they upgrade.

Yet another half-a**ed attempt to move into the Phoenix market from a stick 80 miles away. They'll need a booster/translator or two to cover the metro. They should do OK north of Shaw Butte.

Link: RadioLocator.com info for KKLD
Link: KKLD post-upgrade coverage map

 

[AZJoe]

There go the ratings. Even quality programming makes it hard to get good #s when your stick is that far out. The only station I can recall getting good #s from a distant, weaker signal was KPTY103.9 back in the 90s when they had less than 4KW from Coolidge, but still had good numbers as Arizona's Party Station.

 

[salad dressing]

This leaves it wide open for Kiss to go into even more of a Rhythmic direction and totally dominate the demographic.

 

[EricStein]

There go the ratings. Even quality programming makes it hard to get good #s when your stick is that far out. The only station I can recall getting good #s from a distant, weaker signal was KPTY103.9 back in the 90s when they had less than 4KW from Coolidge, but still had good numbers as Arizona's Party Station.

Actually, 95.1 and 97.5 (in which 98.3's new signal will compare with) reach much of the west side adequately. But, the stations are shadowed by North Mountain, Shaw Butte, and Camelback Mountain on the east side, which make east Valley coverage spotty. But, there have been some rimshots across the country that have picked up an established format (think KJUL in Las Vegas - I know the demographics are completely different and the older audience likes familiarity) that have retained much of its audience despite losing its full-market signal.