Alpha Purchases Buckley Stations in California

10-10-14

Larry Wilson's Alpha Media announced today they have entered into a definitive agreement to purchase radio stations from Buckley Broadcasting of California and Buckley Communications. Buckley Broadcasting and Buckley Communications own six radio stations; four stations located in Bakersfield, California which include KKBB(FM), KLLY(FM), KNZR(AM) and KNZR-FM and two radio stations in Merced, California; KHTN(FM) and KUBB(FM).

Wilson will add the Buckley clusters to the seventy stations (which includes two under LMAs) currently in the Alpha Media portfolio when all pending deals are completed, bringing the total number of stations owned by Alpha Media to seventy-four. Commenting on the acquisition, Wilson said, ?The Buckley clusters in California will be a great addition to the west coast footprint. Merced is a unique city with a thriving arts scene and adventurous community. As one of the fastest growing regions in the nation, Bakersfield is a rich and vibrant city full of live and local opportunities.?

Joseph Bilotta, President and CEO of Buckley Broadcasting and Communications said, ?In Alpha we will pass the mantle and stewardship of our broadcast facilities in Bakersfield and Merced, CA. We have owned these wonderful stations for over 20+ years and our employees, audiences and advertising partners will benefit from the energy and considerable

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Rick Perry Recruiting California Residents With Radio

2-5-13

Texas Governor Rick Perry is using six radio stations in California to recruit residents out of that state and into his state. The ads tell California residents they can always "come check out" Texas if they want lower taxes. California recently passed a huge tax increase on residents. The ads are being played in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and San Diego.

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Google's Self Driving Cars Legal in California

9-25-2012

All Things D and CNN are reporting that California Governor Jerry Brown stopped by Google Tuesday to sign a bill that legalizes self-driving cars. The bill establishes safety guidelines and performance standards for autonomous vehicles operating on California?s roads and highways. Self-driving cars can now be tested on public roadways ? as long as a licensed human driver is seated at the wheel and able to take over in the event of a malfunction.

?Today we?re looking at science fiction becoming tomorrow?s reality,? Gov. Brown said. ?This self-driving car is another step forward in this long march of California pioneering the future and leading not just the country, but the whole world.?

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California Pirate Hit With $17,000 Fine

7-3-2012

Brian Ragan is the licensee of  KBRS in Suisun City, California, according the th FCC. However, the feds say he's been operating at 104.9 on the dial without a license and they've fined him $17K for violating the law. When agents visited Mr. Ragan's home they heard the station operating in the garage bit Ragan did not answer the door when they knocked. Ragan called the FCC and admitted he was operating the station and said he was scared to answer the door because the agents announced they were from the FCC.

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Feds Eye Radio Ads in California

Federal prosecutors are preparing to target radio stations that advertise medical marijuana dispensaries in California. This month, U.S. attorneys representing four districts in California said they would single out landlords and property owners who rent buildings or land where dispensaries sell or cultivators grow marijuana. The media could be their next target.
U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy said marijuana advertising is the next area she's "going to be moving onto as part of the enforcement efforts in Southern California." "I'm not just seeing print advertising," Duffy said in an interview with California Watch and KQED. "I'm actually hearing radio and seeing TV advertising. It's gone mainstream. Not only is it inappropriate ? one has to wonder what kind of message we're sending to our children ? it's against the law."
Federal law prohibits people from placing ads for illegal drugs, including marijuana, in "any newspaper, magazine, handbill or other publication." The law could conceivably extend to online ads; the U.S. Department of Justice recently extracted a $500 million settlement from Google for selling illegal ads linking to online Canadian pharmacies.
Duffy said her effort against TV, radio or print outlets would first include "going after these folks with ... notification that they are in violation of federal law." She noted that she also has the power to seize property or prosecute in civil and criminal court.
Broadcast attorney David Oxenford says California stations should think twice about taking these ads. "Whether or not these prosecutions will be successful on their own may be subject to debate, but broadcasters, as Federal licensees, need to be particularly careful in their actions.  There is rumored to be at least one complaint pending at the FCC against a broadcaster who ran medical marijuana ads.  As an agency of the Federal government, whose Justice Department has said that pot is not a legal drug, the FCC would be hard-pressed to say that it is alright for a station to advertise for a marijuana clinic.  With license renewals now pending or about to be filed by all broadcast stations, the opportunities for more objections, and sanctions based on any such complaint, are many.  So, once again, we caution restraint when a broadcast station is offered the opportunity to make a few dollars from a clinics ads.  The dollars you make may be far overshadowed by the dollars you spend defending a legal action - whether it be before the FCC or before a Federal court."

Seven states, including California, allow for medical marijuana to be distributed in dispensaries, though more than 200 California cities and nearly two dozen counties have bans or moratoriums in place on storefront pot businesses. The industry has otherwise exploded in recent years, including a marked increase in delivery services.

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