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TheBuzz Erika Engle |
Maui radio group
adds to stable with
4 Big Island stationsMaui-based Pacific Radio Group Inc. will purchase the four Big Island radio stations owned by Connecticut-based Maverick Media Inc. The purchase price was not disclosed.
"We've been interested (in purchasing the stations) for awhile," said Chuck Bergson, president and chief operating officer of Pacific Radio Group. "We've looked at other things but the timing just was right for this particular acquisition. It was all a timing thing."
Pacific Radio Group owns KPOA-FM 93.5, KJMD-FM 98.3, KNUI-FM 99.0, KLHI-FM 101.1, KMVI-AM 550 and KNUI-AM 900. It is adding to its fold adult contemporary stations KKBG-FM 97.9 and KLEO-FM 106.1, top 40 station KKOA-FM 107.7, and oldies formatted KHLO-AM 850.
The Maui stations each have their own on-air staffing, record some programming for airing at other times (a practice known as voice-tracking) and use some satellite programming, such as on ESPN affiliate KMVI, which has an all-sports format.
Phil Brewer, general manager of the Big Island stations, was once their owner. He sold them to Maverick predecessor Emerald City Radio Partners in 1999 and returned to the Big Island late last year to serve in his present post for Maverick.
Brewer said he will stay on in a managerial and consulting capacity after the deal closes.
"I couldn't ask for a better guy to be the manager," said Bergson. "We're keeping him. He's an important part of the deal."
The deal will give Pacific Radio Group a total of about 50 full- and part-time employees once the dust settles.
Incoming radio station owners are known to use one or more standard lines in announcing intentions to nervous staff members, such as: "We plan no major changes at this time," or the more specific: "We plan no personnel or format changes at this time," or "We're in it for the long haul."
Asked which of these were used in yesterday's announcements, Bergson laughed.
"The plan is to basically keep the team that is there in place and build from there," he said. "We're really excited about it. Just being based here in Hawaii, it gives us good experience at doing business in Hawaii and good insight in how to best serve the local community here."
The deal requires Federal Communications Commission approval, which is expected within 90 to 120 days.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com