Sales of Carson radio stations closes, formats unchanged

Radio listeners are hearing the same voices on radio stations KPTL-AM and KZZF-FM today, but the disk jockey and rest of the station personnel are working for a new owner, Los Angeles-based Moon Broadcasting.

And despite plans announced in May to convert the FM station to a regional Mexican programming format, both stations will retain the current staff and "oldies" music format for now.

"The papers are signed, the money's in the bank and as of midnight tonight the staff will be working for Moon," Michael Millard, who is giving up his post as general manager for the two stations, said Wednesday afternoon. "For the employees, it will just be business as usual."

Millard's father, Dwight, sold the stations to Moon for $3 million. The younger Millard will become general manager of the family's Plaza Hotel.

"Dwight and I want to say how great the employees here have been," he added. "I think a lot of people in the community appreciate the employees we've had here."

A general manager from Moon Broadcasting's main office, Irene Escalante, was to arrive in Carson City on Wednesday evening to handle the transition, Millard said.

"The Federal Communication Commission has approved the transfer of the license and was waiting for notification the sale had been completed. That went out this afternoon so given the time difference on the East Coast that will be completed Thursday morning," Millard said.

Moon Broadcasting is owned by the DeLuna family and operates six radio stations in California and two in Washington. Several use the Regional Mexican programming format, Moon President Abel A. DeLuna said in an earlier interview.

DeLuna had said in May the company planned to convert the FM station, KZZF, to the Mexican music format but keep KPTL as an oldies station. He also said at the time he hoped to retain much of the existing staff.

The sale had been expected to be completed in mid-June but additional time was requested by Moon to complete the transaction, Dwight Millard said last month. Moon was given until mid-August to complete the purchase.