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KISR 93.7 Sale

E

exRadioDude

Guest
Waaaaay back when, (I think about 6 or 7 years ago). Does anyone know the story figure whenever Fred Baker was talking to Clear Channel (Then CapStar Broadcasting) about the sell of KISR? I had heard that he had agreed to $3 Million, and when they were ready to start moving forward, he changed his mind & said $5 Million.
Is there any truth to this? Does anyone know the REAL story? Someone brought this up to me the other day, and it just made me curious.

...I wonder if he'd be ready to sell in a few years?...
 
> Waaaaay back when, (I think about 6 or 7 years ago). Does
> anyone know the story figure whenever Fred Baker was talking
> to Clear Channel (Then CapStar Broadcasting) about the sell
> of KISR? I had heard that he had agreed to $3 Million, and
> when they were ready to start moving forward, he changed his
> mind & said $5 Million.
> Is there any truth to this? Does anyone know the REAL
> story? Someone brought this up to me the other day, and it
> just made me curious.
>
> ...I wonder if he'd be ready to sell in a few years?...
>


I remember the day he decided not to sale... at least the day he kicked off the "Golden Bone" hunt.... He announced all day that there would be a big announcement. Of course someone "left the mike on" and said, "I can't believe Fred is actually going to sell..."

Of course... he came on and announced that he had been offered an outrageous amount of money for the stations. And then he declared war on corporate radio and said he was NOT selling and then started taking calls on "what that announcement could be...."

That was a HUGE hunt for him.... He is the best radio promoter in the business. Only Gordon McLendon can even think of beating him....
 
> Waaaaay back when, (I think about 6 or 7 years ago). Does
> anyone know the story figure whenever Fred Baker was talking
> to Clear Channel (Then CapStar Broadcasting) about the sell
> of KISR? I had heard that he had agreed to $3 Million, and
> when they were ready to start moving forward, he changed his
> mind & said $5 Million.
> Is there any truth to this? Does anyone know the REAL
> story? Someone brought this up to me the other day, and it
> just made me curious.

I don't know. I never heard that one, but it really wouldn't surprise me. Of course, rumor had it that Clear Channel almost ended up with KISR about 15 years ago when it filed bankruptcy. If I remember correctly, it was a Chapter 11, and Fred managed to work out a reorganization plan that satisfied the company's creditors thus keeping a liquidation (as well as Clear Channel and any other would-be suitors) at bay.
 
Fred Baker is a unique one-of-a-kind broadcaster and there are not many like him left in radio. I learned so much working with him at KISR and have taken much of that knowledge with me over the years. He taught me promotions because he was (and still is), the best at coming up with the greatest sounding promos and promotions. I worked at KISR from 1982 to 1985 and it was three years of wonderful radio. He was difficult to work with at times, god knows he would freekin' scream at me at the top of his lungs when I was running the board for him at a remote if something wasn't right, but I had much respect for him.

I think it's terrific that he has taken the anti-corporate stance and I hope he never sells.

My biggest surprise since leaving KISR was when I dropped in Fort Smith to see the station in 2001. I hadn't been back to KISR since 1985 and it was shocking to see that virtually nothing had changed. The same speakers hung in the control room, the same 70's shag carpeting on the walls....everything was if I had never left. As cool as that was in many ways, I wondered how I would feel working for Fred for 20 years and working in the same enviroment for 20 years without change!

In any case, I thought I'd throw my 2 cents in. I'm now an OM/PD in Waterloo/Cedar Rapids, Iowa.






> I remember the day he decided not to sale... at least the
> day he kicked off the "Golden Bone" hunt.... He announced
> all day that there would be a big announcement. Of course
> someone "left the mike on" and said, "I can't believe Fred
> is actually going to sell..."
>
> Of course... he came on and announced that he had been
> offered an outrageous amount of money for the stations. And
> then he declared war on corporate radio and said he was NOT
> selling and then started taking calls on "what that
> announcement could be...."
>
> That was a HUGE hunt for him.... He is the best radio
> promoter in the business. Only Gordon McLendon can even
> think of beating him....
>
 
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