Two radio stations in Richfield have been sold by the Sevier Valley Broadcasting Co. to Mid-Utah Radio, Inc.
Kent Colby sold his interests in KSVC-AM and KKWZ-FM to Marianne Barton of Manti, owner of the respective broadcast firms.Brian Hart, who previously worked for stations in Alaska, is managing the stations in Richfield. He said possible changes in some formatting will be studied during January.
Sevier Valley Broadcasting has been owned by Colby, who has been praised for his interests and promotional programs of the south-central Utah area. He said he plans to move to Alaska and perhaps establish a radio station on property he owns in that state.
KSVC initially went on the air in 1947 as a daytime station with 1,000 watts of power - the first in south-central Utah. Night broadcasting became a reality in 1954 and then reverted back to daytime in 1973.
The FM station became part of the operation in 1978 as KJMC under the ownership of the late James Clawson. Colby became affiliated with the company in 1980 and purchased it in 1984. The FM station was changed to KKWZ and went operational 24 hours per day in 1991.
Colby has served as president of the Intermountain Network Affiliates Association, a director in the Utah Broadcasters Association and vice chairman of the Utah Emergency Broadcasters Systems Committee.
He has also found time to serve in civic capacities. One of his most notable accomplishments was organizing the Sevier County Fair Foundation, in which he served as charter president.
He has held offices in the Richfield and Salina chambers of commerce, vice chairman of the Sevier Community Theatre, commander of the Sevier Squadron of the Utah Civil Air Patrol and chairman of the Job Service employers committee.