Deal brings changes to Las Vegas radio stations

By Steve Green

Friday, May 29, 2009 | 2:35 p.m.

Las Vegas radio listeners may soon find their favorite programming on different frequencies under a deal announced today.

Beasley Broadcast Group Inc. of Naples, Fla., announced a deal to sell a Las Vegas sports programming radio station, and assets in two other Las Vegas stations, to Silver State Communications LLC.

Beasley will sell KBET-AM, which used to have a country legends format but this week began transitioning to a sports format and will carry Los Angeles Dodgers games.

Silver State is also buying certain assets of country station KCYE-FM and Top 40 station KFRH-FM. In all, it's paying about $15.25 million cash.

Under the deal, Beasley plans to move its KCYE Coyote Country format to a new frequency at 102.7 FM.

Silver State is acquiring the Top 40 format of KFRH that is now at 102.7 FM. Silver State is buying Coyote Country's old frequency at 104.3 FM, but officials couldn't immediately say whether the Top 40 format would move to 104.3 FM.

Beasley Chairman and CEO George Beasley said in a statement, "This transaction reflects our long-term commitment to the Las Vegas market as well as our focus on further de-leveraging our balance sheet. Upon completion of the transaction, Beasley Broadcast Group Inc. will own three stations in Las Vegas including Coyote Country 102.7 KCYE-FM, Classic Hits 96.3 KKLZ-FM, and NewsTalk 720 KDWN-AM. Notwithstanding the current economic and market challenges, we continue to believe that Las Vegas remains one of the most vibrant and promising radio markets in the country and that our cluster will be well positioned as the economy and industry rebounds."

Edward Stolz, president of Silver State Communications, said in a statement, "The acquisition of KBET-AM and KFRH-FM marks Silver State’s entrée into the Las Vegas market, the nation’s 33rd largest radio market when ranked by revenue. We look forward to offering Las Vegas listeners entertaining programming and local and national advertisers effective on-air and online marketing solutions."

Federal Communications Commission records indicate Stolz is associated with Royce International Broadcasting Group, which is affiliated with station KRCK in Palm Desert, Calif. He could not immediately be reached for further comment.