Lotus Communications will acquire Variety Hits “100.7 Big-FM” KFBG San Diego from Local Media San Diego.
Update 12/20: Lotus will pay $3.5 million for KFBG. Local Media San Diego retains all of the station’s intellectual property other than the call letters.
The deal will mark Lotus’ re-entry into the San Diego market after previously owning 94.1 KFSD in the 1990s. It owns 46 stations Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, and Washington. Terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed. Kalil & Company served as broker of the deal.
Local Media San Diego will continue to operate its three Mexican licensed stations in San Diego: CHR “Z90.3” XHITZ-FM, Alternative “91X” 91.1 XETRA-FM, and Rhythmic AC “Magic 92.5” XHRM-FM. LMSD acquired the former KFMB-FM in December 2019 along with then-sister 760 KFMB in December 2019 for $5 million. It would divest the AM to iHeartMedia for $1.2 million and launched the “Big-FM” brand following its closing in April 2020.
KFBG currently ranks third in the San Diego market with a 5.5 share.
This is actually a re-entry into San Diego for Lotus. It owned the old classical KFSD 94.1 until the mid-90’s. Can’t remember if it sold it before or after the Telecommunications Act of ’96 passed, but it seems like it was around the same time. Nationwide acquired KFSD 94.1 from Lotus, and, if I remember correctly, spun it to Jacor for KSLX, which it immediately sent to Sandusky for KEGL in Dallas.
Meant entry as in owns nothing else currently in the market.