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Signal Media acquires KHLR

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RadioK

From Radio Online:

"Signal Media Acquires KHLR-FM (94.9)/Little Rock
Signal Media has agreed to acquire CC's former Gospel KHLR-FM (94.9)/Little Rock, a 16kw signal licensed to Benton, AR, from the Aloha Station Trust for $2 million. The station, the third outlet that Signal owns in the market, joins Talk KABZ-FM and Classic Rock KPPT-FM. Signal is headed by Philip R. Jonnson.

The Aloha Station Trust currently houses stations that formerly were owned by Clear Channel, to hold spinoffs and stations that lost grandfather status when the company was purchased by Thomas H. Lee Partners and Bain Capital. (04-11-11)"

What will Signal Media do with this...flip? Any guesses?
 
I think they're confusing the frequency. 106.7 is the one that is licensed to Benton, which swapped formats with 94.9, which is probably why there is confusion now. The power here also sounds like 106.7. It used to be the old KAKI-FM 107.1 when it was actually broadcasting out of Benton, before getting approval for an upgrade in the late 80s.
 
This was also on All Access:

"ALOHA STATION TRUST, LLC is selling another CLEAR CHANNEL spinoff, with SIGNAL MEDIA OF ARKANSAS, INC. picking up Gospel KHLR (106.7 HALLELUJAH FM)/BENTON, AR for $2 million."

Either way, it looks like Signal Media has a new radio station to program.
 
I'm guessing it changes formats, but your guess is as good as mine as to what it will become.

I remember 106.7 as being "The Maverick," but I do vaguely remember riding between Little Rock and Hot Springs and seeing a billboard for "K-107" off of I-30. At the time, I was too busy listening to Zoo-98 and KKYK to pay it much attention. By the way, didn't the Landers Auto Group own KGKO/KAKI for awhile?
 
You do wonder what format that Signal would switch it to? Will it be country, Top 40, Urban-oriented, even Spanish language?? The next few weeks ought to be interesting.
 
Hope it is not country - central Arkansas needs another country station like it needs.....well, you know what I mean....we don't need another one. It will be interesting to see what happens, although I don't think it will create much of a wave in central Arkansas radio.
 
A good commercial indie-rock station or a decent Adult Alternative hybrid (NOT a redux of the old 1997-99 Alice) would be welcome for Central Arkansas. However, too many in the industry go for the "tried and true". Signal may keep 106.7 Urban Gospel with minor changes, or attempt an oldies/classic hits format. I do agree with another poster, Country is pretty well locked up in the market with KSSN and The Wolf bookending things.
 
I think a good country radio station in this market would do well. Play newer music to compete against KSSN's older sound. KSSN has an all male air staff with an older sound. A station that will appeal to a younger, female audience would do well, if done right.
 
I think an Urban AC format would be good for the station. If you look at the playlists of Urban AC stations, a good portion of the songs they play are Gospel anyway, so switching the format to Urban AC wouldn't be such a drastic change. It would be nice to give 102.1 KOKY some direct competition. As for other possible formats, I think the market is saturated with Country and Rock stations. I mean think about it, for Country you have KSSN 96, 105.1 The Wolf, US97 covers the southern metro, and Y-107.1 covers the northern metro pretty well. As for Rock, you have Big Rock 93.3, 94.1 The Point, 100.3 The Edge, and Alice 107.7 is a rock-leaning CHR. Just my two cents.
 
Signal Media should close on the purchase soon. They've registered 1067TheBeatLR.com
CHR, Urban, or Rhythmic are likely candidates with a name like that. A Rhythmic CHR would be nice with KLAL's lean towards the Rock side of CHR.
 
Rubber, I would agree with you there. I wonder if they're going to try and "redo" the format like the old 96.5FM? If I read correctly, the deal was supposed to close around the 1st of July, which is next Friday. Sounds like things are coming together.
 
Yep - as of yesterday evening, they're now going by the name "Heartbeat 106.7", with rhythmic oldies. I suppose the "1067thebeat" domain name works with this, too.
 
I'd have liked to see a 2nd CHR, especially with Cumulus coming in and screwing up KLAL, which they will.

KHITS has a decent opportunity here. The music is pretty on-point for a CHR in 2011, but the imaging, jocks, and promotions are just non-existant and they don't compete.
 
I'm giving them a listen right now, nothing special and a wasted opportunity once again for a unique Central Arkansas radio station. KHLR (Hearbeat 106.7, et al) still has their IBOC/"HD Radio" operating and its decoding sporadicly (I'm too far away even with the outdoor antenna for DXing for a consistant lock from 106.7).
 
I have no dog in this show.... so this is a totally unbiased opinion.

But with their music mix, and the demographics in Central Arkansas, this station will be Top 5 in two books. I would bet money on it.
 
Media Mogul said:
I have no dog in this show.... so this is a totally unbiased opinion.

But with their music mix, and the demographics in Central Arkansas, this station will be Top 5 in two books. I would bet money on it.
Click to expand...

Sadly, you're probably right. I find the music playlist inferior to KOKY. But folks in Central Arkansas like stale classic rock, standard-definition local TV newscasts, and brown gloop "Mexican" food so mediocrity does well in these parts. Heartbeat's only saving grace is that they can be heard in Pine Bluff and Hot Springs.
 
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