A buyer has emerged for Arkansas stations owned by Monte Spearman’s High Plains Radio Network, which filed for bankruptcy protection for its stations across Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas last year. Christie Tate’s E Radio Network has struck a $1 million deal to buy 10 stations and an FM translator in what will be the first of several deals for Spearman.
“We are very happy to be doing the transaction with the E Radio Network group. They are a solid and growing newer radio network and they want to work with the smaller communities, which is and has always been my personal priority,” Spearman says, telling staff more sales are coming. “The goal now is to sell the stations to quality buyers and to resolve all issues possible,” Spearman, a 30-year small market radio veteran, says in an email.
The stations being sold to E Radio Network include a trio FMs airing the classic rock “Arkansas Rocks” format, including KWPS, Caddo Valley, AR (99.7); KYXK, Gurgon, AR (106.9); and KCMC, Viola, AR (94.3)…