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Which Denver radio FM station will? And who are the potential buyers?
Insiders suggest the spinoff station will be the all-sports “104.3 the Fan” KKFN. And word is, it could be snapped up by a noncommercial suitor. Frankly, I’d love to see Colorado Public Radio’s Open Air (KVOQ 1340 AM) get an FM position so that those of us listening in cars wouldn’t have to depend on the weaker AM signal.
Assisting in this guessing game is , a broadcasting veteran and retired investment banker with many Denver radio station deals to his credit.
“This is a perfect opportunity for CPR to acquire a strong FM,” Lontine said. The idea would be either to boost KVOD to a stronger channel or move Open Air to an FM home on 88.1.
He also suggests Rocky Mountain PBS, which owns jazz KUVO-FM at 89.3, could use a partner, while Community Radio for Northern Colorado’s KUNC at 91.5 “has longed to enter the Denver-Boulder metro for many years.”
Does KUNC have the means to buy into the market? “I believe that KUNC’s followers are in a strong enough position to make a Denver signal both a reality and attainable. Station manager Neil Best is one of the more passionate individuals I have have ever worked with and I strongly believe that he could get it done.”
Lontine told a radio trade report there are possible suitors on the Christian radio side and in the commercial arena, including Latino Broadcasting’s heritage KBNO at 1280, which has “a remarkable opportunity to enter the FM world, to compete with powerhouse Entravision” and its regional Mexican KXPK at 96.5.
Add to the list of guesses: Maybe the spinoff won’t be The Fan but instead “Cruisin’ Oldies 950” KRWZ. Any others?
