KBLX sale - fact or rumor?

[bobgowa]

Outside of this board and Lieberman's blog, I've found no announcement of the alleged sale of KBLX to Entercom. Nothing on the Entercom site, no FCC filing.

Can anyone confirm this with an actual citation?

 

[SFStatic]

If so, they left money on the table. Heard (another rumor) that someone offered 15 mil more than Entercom to buy the place.

 

[RadioStarOne]

You've just got to wait for the LMA or a filing at the FCC. Happy waiting!

 

[DavidKaye]

You've just got to wait for the LMA or a filing at the FCC. Happy waiting!

If the "news" came from Rich Lieberman, it's likely bogus.

 

[RadioStarOne]

With all you Expert's here on the boards I would think finding out if it's true or not should be a breeze! What's the hold up already? You'd think Entercom would be shouting it from the top of KOIT tower if it was true! What's their delay in bragging about their purchase?

 

[suburbandj]

Two issues exist; one dealing with a bankruptcy situation (Inner City) and two dealing with the DOJ and FCC when operating a cluster (Entercom owning multiple stations in San Francisco).

 

[kilamanjero]

Two issues exist; one dealing with a bankruptcy situation (Inner City) and two dealing with the DOJ and FCC when operating a cluster (Entercom owning multiple stations in San Francisco).

Hmmmm, the DOJ may not clear this sale. Lately, the DOJ doesn't seem to be A'OKing of conglomerates owning a large number of existing properties to take on another station, thus increasing their market share in a DMA/radio market. I can think of how the DOJ forbid NBC Universal from selling NBC O&O station, WTVJ, to Post-Newsweek because of their existing ownership of the market's ABC affiliate, WPLG. This station's sale might wind up in limbo and the chances are great with the current patterns of the DOJ.

 

[HenryOchs]

If KBLX was for sale, maybe Eagle Communications should buy this station and another San Francisco(or San Jose) property and flip one of those stations to the Country Music format

 

[TheBigA]

Hmmmm, the DOJ may not clear this sale.

On what grounds? Entercom owns 3 stations in San Francisco. Hardly the biggest owner.

Here are the FCC rules about radio ownership:

As a general rule, one entity may own (a) up to five commercial radio stations, not more than three of which are in the same service (i.e., AM or FM), in a market with 14 or fewer radio stations; (b) up to six commercial radio stations, not more than four of which are in the same service, in a market with between 15 and 29 radio stations; (c) up to seven commercial radio stations, not more than four of which are in the same service, in a radio market with between 30 and 44 radio stations; and (d) up to eight commercial radio stations, not more than five of which are in the same service, in a radio market with 45 or more radio stations.

 

[Kent]

Hmmmm, the DOJ may not clear this sale. Lately, the DOJ doesn't seem to be A'OKing of conglomerates owning a large number of existing properties to take on another station, thus increasing their market share in a DMA/radio market. I can think of how the DOJ forbid NBC Universal from selling NBC O&O station, WTVJ, to Post-Newsweek because of their existing ownership of the market's ABC affiliate, WPLG. This station's sale might wind up in limbo and the chances are great with the current patterns of the DOJ.

If the rumor is true, the DOJ will definitely clear the deal. In order for the DOJ to object, Entercom would have to do 40% of the market's radio revenue. You'd be hard pressed to be able to assemble an entire cluster within FCC limits (which The Big A spells out) and have a cluster that does 40% of the market's revenue! There are just too many total stations!