San Diego's AAR Station KLSD, Turning to ALL SPORT! Unless we stop them!

Strong, new voice in S.D.

Spanish firm buys operating rights for 690 AM, heard from Baja to L.A.

By Hiram Soto
and Rachel Laing
STAFF WRITERS

April 27, 2005

In an effort to expand its media empire in the Americas, Spanish media conglomerate Grupo Prisa has struck a $28 million deal with Clear Channel Communications for the rights to operate XTRA/AM 690.

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Agreements such as the one Clear Channel has with Xetra Clear Channel enable a company to legally operate more stations in San Diego than is allowed under Federal Communications Commission ownership limits.

Under federal ownership laws, one company may own up to eight stations in a market, with no more than five stations per band. But because leases of foreign-owned signals do not count toward the limits, Clear Channel has de facto ownership of an additional four stations that broadcast to the San Diego market.

That has given Clear Channel an estimated 45 percent market share in San Diego, far surpassing that of its closest rival, Jefferson-Pilot Communications.

Under FCC rule changes that take effect this year, the lease of foreign-owned stations will count toward ownership – meaning Clear Channel will find itself with four too many stations on its hands.

The company has been in negotiations with buyers for its over-limit properties for several months, and the 690 AM deal is the first to go through.