Two Merced radio stations under new ownership

Merced radio stations 96.3 FM KUBB Country and KHTN Hot 104.7 FM are under new ownership.

Alpha Media on Dec. 31 announced they closed the purchase of the radio stations. The two Merced stations were among several stations the Portland, Ore., company purchased from Buckley Broadcasting of California and Buckley Communications, according to an Alpha Media press release.

Additional stations purchased by Alpha Media included four Bakersfield stations: KKBB (FM), KLLY (FM), KNZR (AM) and KNZR (FM). The amount of the purchase was not disclosed in the release.

According to the release, the purchase brings the total number of stations owned by Alpha Media to 86. “We are privileged to buy these stations from such great operators. The Buckley clusters are a great addition to our live and local West Coast footprint,” said Larry Wilson, chairman of Alpha Media, in the release.

Joseph Bilotta, president and CEO of Buckley Broadcasting and Communications, said in the release: “As we close this transaction with Alpha, Buckley Broadcasting is effectively void of broadcast assets for the first time in 58 years. To all who worked for our family owned and operated business over these decades, we thank you again and wish Alpha great success in Bakersfield and Merced.”

This story was originally published January 5, 2015 at 4:11 PM with the headline "Two Merced radio stations under new ownership."