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FCC OKs station sale to OwensCross-ownership rule is waivedBy STEVE E. SWENSONCalifornian staff writerThe Federal Communications Commission waived one of its rules to approve the $4.5 million sale of Bakersfield’s KDOB-TV Channel 45 to country music star Buck Owens. Owens, who also owns Bakersfield radio stations KUZZ-FM and KCWR-AM, is purchasing the bankrupt station from his sister, Dorothy Owens.A two-page statement released Wednesday says the commission waived its one-to-a-market rule that normally would prohibit sale of a television station to the owner of a radio station in the same market area.The rule was waived under the “failed station’’ standard because KDOB filed for bankruptcy in October 1989, 10 months after the station began broadcasting.Four television stations that serve Bakersfield filed petitions with the FCC to oppose the sale of KDOB to Buck Owens, stating they are concerned with the economic and media clout he would have with owning both radio and television stations.Those petitions were filed by KGET-TV Channel 17, KERO-TV Channel 23 and KBAK-TV Channel 29, all of Bakersfield, and KMPH-TV Channel 26 of Visalia.The four stations alleged that Dorothy Owens and Buck Owens have collaborated since the beginning of KDOB to enable the station to be sold to Buck Owens.The FCC statement, however, said Dorothy Owens tried everything to keep her station afloat before she filed bankruptcy and offered to sell the station to her brother “as a last resort.”KERO general manager Ron Mires said Wednesday he felt the commission should have conducted a hearing on the petitions. Now that the commission has made its deci-Please turn to OWENS / B2
Newspaper Details
Bakersfield Californian
Bakersfield, California, US
Thu, Aug 30, 1990
Page 19
Full Page
Clipped by
Sammi B.
NA 15 Apr 2024
Other Publications Near Bakersfield, California
The Berkshire County Eagle
Southern Californian and Kern Weekly Courier
The Weekly Californian
Kern County Californian
Daily Californian
