The Federal Communications Commission is sending a fresh signal that it is likely to relax ownership limits with a decision to allow Sun Broadcasting to blow past the current limits of how many stations a single operator can own in the Fort Myers-Naples, FL market. The FCC is not only allowing the Jim Schwartzel-led Sun to buy a pair of FMs from Beasley Media Group, but the company has been cleared to purchase a second full-power television station in the market.
Sun Broadcasting already has a significant footprint in the market. Its properties include “Fox News 92.5” WFSX, “Fly 98.5” WFFY-FM, “Trump Country 93.7” WHEL-FM, and classic rock “94.5 The Arrow” WARO-FM, as well as the CW affiliate WXCW-TV and three low-power TV stations.
Seeking a bigger radio footprint, the company struck a $9 million deal with Beasley in August to buy classic rock “96 K-Rock” WRXK, CHR “B-103.9” WXKB, and three FM translators — the Bonita Springs-licensed W268AH (101.5), the Suncoast Estates-licensed W243BM (96.5), and the Naples-licensed W286AK (105.1). Together, the translators are used to create the classic hip-hop formatted “The Bounce” station relayed off the HD2 channel of WXKB. Then a month later, Sun struck a $40 million deal to buy “Fox 4” WFTX-TV from the E.W. Scripps Company…