Rocking M Auction Nets $2.8 Million Offer For Ten Kansas Stations.

This article first appeared on www.insideradio.com

Kyle Bauer emerged as the highest bidder during a bankruptcy auction for the ten Rocking M Media stations Thursday. The Kansas broadcaster beat out two other suitors with ties to the state with an offer to pay $2,845,500 for the stations. Bauer, whose Taylor Communications already owns AC KCLY (100.9) and “Farm Radio 550” KFRM in the Salina-Manhattan, KS market, not only had the biggest offer, but also was the only bidder seeking to acquire all ten stations. They include:

  • Dodge City, KS: classic hits “Super Hits 95.5” KAHE, regional Mexican “La Mexicana” KZRD (93.9), country “96.3 The Marshal” KERP, and talk KGNO (1370)
  • Goodland, KS: classic rock “102.5 U-Rock” KKCI, “Fox Sports 730” KLOE
  • Colby, KS: hot AC “The Ride 100.3” KRDQ, “Flyover Country 97.9” KWGB, classic country KXXX (790)
  • Liberal, KS: regional Mexican “La Mexicana” KSMM (101.5)

Bauer beat out a bid put up by Belate, one of Rocking M’s lenders. It had offered the $1.855 million it is owed by Rocking M in a credit bid to fund most of its $1.995 million offer to buy the stations in Goodland and Colby.

Robert Young-led Murfin Media offered to pay $273,000 for the Rocking M stations in Dodge City and Liberal, KS. Murfin Media already owns 30 stations in Kansas, including seven stations in the western part of the state.

“I was encouraged by the turnout, given the current station-trading market,” says broker Greg Guy of Tideline Partners, who was hired by the court to market the stations. “Bauer’s company is a strong local broadcaster and will do well with the stations,” he said.

It is not the first time Rocking M stations have gone to auction. A dozen Kansas stations were sold in 2022 in Wichita, Salina-Manhattan, and the Great Bend-Hays markets, as well as in several small towns in the state, attracting bids totaling $1,988,674. But after Rocking M was unable to come up with a reorganization plan that satisfied debtholders, founders Monte and Doris Miller asked the court in November to liquidate their remaining assets.

The next step will be a hearing set for Feb. 15 during which U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dale Somers can either approve or reject the high bid. It will also need to be cleared by the Federal Communications Commission.

Rocking M Media filed for bankruptcy in March 2022 and its pending sale brings to a close a long story in Kansas media. The family-owned company traces its origins back to the 1900s, beginning with the Bellville Telescope newspaper.