FCC Rejects Challenges To Hawaii, Alabama Deals

Several Actions

A 2005 sale of five BIG ISLAND stations in HAWAII by BIG ISLAND RADIO to PACIFIC RADIO GROUP has been affirmed by the FCC, which denied a Petition for Reconsideration by rival HILO BROADCASTING, LLC, licensee of KHBC-A/HILO.

The sale of Sports KKON-A (ESPN HAWAII)/KEALAKEKUA, Hawaiian-Top 40/Rhythmic KPVS (DA BEAT) and Hawaiian AC KAPA/HILO, Hawaiian-Top 40/Rhythmic KLUA (DA BEAT)/KAILUA-KONA, and Hawaiian AC KAGB/WAIMEA was challenged by HBC on several grounds, but the Commission ruled that the issues had already been considered and ruled upon in the initial proceeding and that HBC had not raised any new issues.

The Commission also has denied the Petition for Reconsideration by LEIGH THOMAS (formerly LEIGH SIMPSON) filed against transactions that transferred the licenses of seven station s in the DOTHAN, AL in 2011.  In the deals, MAGIC BROADCASTING, LLC sold Country WTVY-F and Top 40 WKMX to GULF SOUTH COMMUNICATIONS, which in turn sold its own Talk WDBT (NEWS TALK 105.3 THE VOICE, now Country WECB (B105.3)) and Classic Hits WESP (102.5 THE EAGLE, now Q102 RETRO RADIO) to SOUTHEAST ALABAMA BROADCASTERS.  SOUTHEAST ALABAMA BROADCASTERS also bought Rock WJRL (ROCK 104) and Adult Hits WLDA (STAR 100.5, now Urban 100.5 THE BEAT) from MAGIC, and MAGIC sold Urban AC WBBK (MAGIC 93.1) to ALABAMA MEDIA INVESTMENTS, LLC.  SOUTHEAST ALABAMA BROADCASTING then entered an LMA and filed to sell its four stations to ALABAMA MEDIA, LLC, owned by ROBERT HOLLADAY, brother of GULF SOUTH owner CLAY HOLLADAY.  THOMAS objected to the latter move as well, saying that the LMA and sale plans should have been disclosed before the Commission ruled on the initial sale.  On the latter, the Commission said that THOMAS failed to make a prima facie case that CLAY HOLLADAY exercises influence over his brother or the four stations; on the former, the FCC said that no new issues had been raised by THOMAS on appeal.

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