Four operators all based in the state of Kansas will split the twelve stations auctioned off by Rocking M Media as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.
Bill Wachter’s My Town Media will acquire seven stations including all of Rocking M’s properties in and around Wichita. My Town Media was the winning bidder for 97.1 KIBB Haven for $504,647, 100.5 KVWF Augusta for $429,026, 92.7 KWME Wellington for $220,000, 1130 KLEY/100.3 K262CQ Wellington for $17,000, and 1550 KKLE for $10,000. The $1.18 million total for those five stations is well below the $6,188,645 that Rocking M would have received for them plus 92.3 KKGQ Newton (sold to Pinnacle Media for $623,000 in 2021) had its 2019 sale to Allied Media Partners closed if not for liens placed on the stations.
My Town Media will also acquire 1470 KSMM Liberal (currently simulcasts Classic Hits “Superhits 95.5” KAHE Dodge City) for $20,000 and Classic Country “The Mighty 1290” KMMM Pratt for $41,000.
White Communications will pay $270,000 for Conservative Talk “107.9 The Patriot” KZRS Great Bend/Hays to add to its four stations in Concordia and Russell.
Great Plains Christian Radio will acquire CHR “92.7 The New Zoo” KZUH Minneapolis/Salina for $280,000.
Chris Shank’s Ad Astra per Aspera Broadcasting will acquire three stations adding Rock “95.5 The Rock” KVOB Lindsborg/Salina for $112,000 and Classic Country “Kansas Country 96.7” KSOB Larned and KZRS simulcaster 1510 KNNS Larned for a combined $40,000. Ad Astra per Aspera owns six station in Central Kansas.
All but two of the stations have backup bids in place with other participating bidders in the process including Bluebonnet Management, Community Broadcasting, Eagle Communications, Intrepid Communications, and Steckline Communications. The bankruptcy court has approved the purchases, which now must be filed with the FCC for approval.
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com