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Sinclair selling KOMO, KVI & KPLZ

DN14224 said:
Check back after January and let’s see how these “heritage radio stations” are faring…
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Don't be negative; Lotus is a good, "live and local" focused broadcaster with extremely good sales operations.
 
DN14224 said:
Not being negative, David… Just being realistic. Everything seems fine and good now, but things can change. January will be a good time to see what happens after the honeymoon ends.
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Could they make the stations any worse, ratings' wise? If the new owners are competent in other markets, it seems that at least KPLZ and KOMO would hold up the way they are now... KVI is the one that probably could use some help.
 
boombox4 said:
Could they make the stations any worse, ratings' wise? If the new owners are competent in other markets, it seems that at least KPLZ and KOMO would hold up the way they are now... KVI is the one that probably could use some help.
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Lotus is a private, debt free company. They don't have to answer to investment analysts, outside shareholders or anyone else except the Kalmenson family. Howard has been in radio ownership since the 1960's, and his father was a theater operator before him. In fact, back in the 60's and 70's the company was known as Lotus Theater Company, as it was the remains of the movie house business Howard Kalmenson's father had operated.

If they bought the stations to maintain the formats, they will do their best to run them well and to make them profitable. Lotus had 41 stations prior to this transaction, and was billing over $60 million a year.

I remember going to lunch at a Chinese restaurant with Howard and Larry Mazursky, the GM of KWKW back in the 70's. Howard wanted to treat us to something that was on the pricier side of the menu. We were all dressed casually in what might be called Hollywood style; the waiter seemed hesitant; Howard looked at Larry and said, "tell him I can afford it."

I'd say the same thing now. Lotus can afford to do what is right in Seattle.
 
The fact that Lotus has made the effort and built new studios and offices in the area, seem to indicate that they intend on making a go in the Seattle/Tacoma market. If they really wanted to keep operating expenses low, they could have satellite-ed all the Seattle stations out of Los Angeles.
 
As noted above, everything may look rosy now - no format changes, building new studios, etc., but let’s see where things are in a few months once Lotus gets to daily drive the properties they bought on due diligence.
 
We should probably repeat that Lotus paid $5 million for these stations. That's $5 million cash. No debt. The rest of the $18 million is in trade. There won't be any morning hangover from this deal.
 
bobdavcav said:
Do they get the use of the KOMO calls until they move out of the studios?
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Give it a few days from the close. They've probably already applied for new calls as part of the transaction closing. The FCC will send them an approval to use the new calls, along with the reassigned license pretty soon. Once the new calls are approved, KOMO-AM will no longer exist, so they would need to start doing the TOH ID at that time.
 
Kelly A said:
Give it a few days from the close. They've probably already applied for new calls as part of the transaction closing. The FCC will send them an approval to use the new calls, along with the reassigned license pretty soon. Once the new calls are approved, KOMO-AM will no longer exist, so they would need to start doing the TOH ID at that time.
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They haven't applied for new calls.
 
Maybe this has been covered, but is Lotus getting the Vashon Island real estate?
 
Here's what the article at the start of the thread says:

The deal also includes a Transition Agreement allowing Lotus to utilize Sinclair’s traffic systems, IT and web services, human resources, and microwave for up to 18 months as needed for a share of the costs. The company can also sub-lease the station’s current studios during that term if needed.
 
Kelly A said:
The fact that Lotus has made the effort and built new studios and offices in the area, seem to indicate that they intend on making a go in the Seattle/Tacoma market. If they really wanted to keep operating expenses low, they could have satellite-ed all the Seattle stations out of Los Angeles.
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But in LA they only have a very local Spanish language sports station, a Farsi station and a very traditional Mexican Regional music gold station. They have no studios and no staff to do the Seattle formats. And none of the LA formats is suitable for Seattle... and, they don't "import" formats in their markets except for some English language AM sports content in markets where they have more than one sports station like Las Vegas.
 
Kelly A said:
Not sure how you know that Scott. The database is WAY behind.
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There are ways on the FCC databases to look up pending call letter changes that Scott and I are both aware of.

There are ZERO pending applications for any of Lotus' Seattle properties to change call letters. However, EMF has pending call letter changes at the two stations it is acquiring in upstate New York that were requested yesterday and as such will likely hit the FCC database next Wednesday when the change takes effect. 94.7 WYUL will become WQLR and 96.5 WVNV will become WZWA.
 
The call letter change is about to happen. I'm not a Radio Insight premium subscriber, so I don't know what the new calls and branding are. But that's where I found out. In time for the new year.
 
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