Las Vegas radio station sold to network

Wednesday, April 19, 2000 | 11:06 a.m.

A company that is relocating its two radio networks from suburban Boston to Las Vegas this summer is acquiring a Las Vegas radio station to enter the local market.

Paul Lyle, executive vice president of Talk America Radio Networks, said today his company is buying AM-1340 KRLD from Far West Broadcasting for $3 million.

The sale is contingent upon Federal Communications Commission approval, which could take several months. However, Lyle said the company would take over programming at the station May 1.

Lyle said the company plans no changes in staffing at KRLD and may gradually integrate some Talk America syndicated talk shows into the station's lineup. The station will be headquartered at 1455 E. Tropicana Ave.

Lyle said one immediate change for the station would be to incorporate Talk America Radio Networks' news product. The networks offer world and national news, sports and national weather on the hour and news headlines and weather on the half hour all day. KRLD currently offers news from the USA Network.

The company will continue to use the Metro News Network for local news and traffic.

Talk America Radio Networks plans to raise $150 million in a public stock offering to buy radio stations in the top 25 U.S. metropolitan markets to generate more listeners for network personalities that include Gene Burns, Pat Choate, Jim McKay, Dr. Gabe Mirkin, Jackie Mason and Ken Dashow.

The company expects to move from Canton, Mass., this summer, saying Las Vegas will give the networks a steady stream of guests from the entertainment industry.