The Salt Lake radio landscape will change significantly if and when the Federal Communications Commission approves an ownership request by Simmons Media to absorb the three stations currently owned by Millcreek Broadcasting/3 Point Media.
According to G. Craig Hanson, president of Simmons Media (owner of KXRK and four other Salt Lake stations), Simmons and Millcreek have explored mutual opportunities.
This involves Simmons purchasing three Millcreek stations — KUUU ("U-92"), KUDD ("Mix 107.9") and KYLZ (FM-104.7), pending FCC approval.
However, because that purchase would put Simmons beyond the limit of station ownership in FCC regulations, Simmons hopes to put two of its stations — KJQN ("Jack FM") and KZNS ("The Zone" AM-1280) — in a trust, to be operated by other owners.
This means Simmons would retain KXRK, KEGA (FM-101.5) and KYMV (FM-100.7), plus the three stations purchased from Millcreek.
Hanson said it still could take months to complete the deal with FCC approval.
Millcreek has been involved in bankruptcy, so this could provide economic relief.
Hanson said that if the deal goes through, the plan would be to move the three former Millcreek stations into Simmons' current studios and offices at Trolley Corners. However, he stressed that while there is room to accommodate this plan nothing is being renovated or prepared there yet.
The organizers of Munchkin radio, an online-only station, also hope they can find an investor so they can purchase one of the two Simmons stations that would go into a trust, thus giving Munchkin a presence on the airwaves too.
TEN YEARS AGO IN SALT LAKE — Martin Davies leaves KTKK and starts a new talk show on KIQN. … Mark Van Wagoner and Danny Kramer move to KKDS radio after leaving KDYL a month earlier. … Scott Seeger replaces Rod Arquette on the KSL afternoon show with Mario Shilaos. … KXRK DJs Kerry Jackson and Bill Allred report from their second Summer Olympic Games.
e-mail: lynn@desnews.com