THE MORMONS ARE COMING

You’d never suspect the Mormons of being media moguls, but if they have their way, they’ll have a little empire started right here in Dallas before long. Bonneville Broadcasting, based in Salt Lake City and wholly owned by the Mormon Church, is negotiating to buy KAFM radio here. It is also negotiating to buy WRR-AM, the financially beleaguered, city-owned outfit.

But there’s a bit of a hitch, because Bonneville also happens to own a five percent chunk of the Times Mirror Corporation, parent company for the Los Angeles Times and the Dallas Times Herald. Media empire building in a single You’d never suspect the Mormons of being media moguls, but if they have their way, they’ll have a little empire started right here in Dallas before long. Bonneville Broadcasting, based in Salt Lake City and wholly owned by the Mormon Church, is negotiating to buy KAFM radio here. It is also negotiating to buy WRR-AM, the financially beleaguered, city-owned outfit.

But there’s a bit of a hitch, because Bonneville also happens to own a five percent chunk of the Times Mirror Corporation, parent company for the Los Angeles Times and the Dallas Times Herald. Media empire building in a single community has become a touchy matter with the FCC, whose rulings suggest that it doesn’t like the idea of one media concern acquiring both broadcast and print interests in a single market.

But if anyone can back the FCC down on the question, it’s Bonneville. They’ve done it before. By placing its Times Mirror stock in a special trust, the company recently convinced the FCC that its interests in two Los Angeles area radio stations did not represent local media overindulgence. Whether the argument will translate to Dallas remains to be seen, but Bonneville, for one, doesn’t appear worried. community has become a touchy matter with the FCC, whose rulings suggest that it doesn’t like the idea of one media concern acquiring both broadcast and print interests in a single market.

But if anyone can back the FCC down on the question, it’s Bonneville. They’ve done it before. By placing its Times Mirror stock in a special trust, the company recently convinced the FCC that its interests in two Los Angeles area radio stations did not represent local media overindulgence. Whether the argument will translate to Dallas remains to be seen, but Bonneville, for one, doesn’t appear worried. The company anticipates FCC approval of the KAFM purThe company anticipates FCC approval of the KAFM purchase by year’s end and the WRR acquisition some time in 1978 – despite its ownership in the Times Herald.

Meanwhile the negotiations are holding up the sale of Dallas powerhouse KRLD radio to another conglomerate, Metromedia of New York. KRLD has been placed in limbo until its sister station, KAFM, settles with Bonneville.

You’ll be glad to know that Bonneville broadcasting doesn’t specialize in Mormon music-. But if your radio alarm clock should happen to pop on one morning with the strains of the Tabernacle Choir, you can probably figure that the sale went through.

chase by year’s end and the WRR acquisition some time in 1978 – despite its ownership in the Times Herald.

Meanwhile the negotiations are holding up the sale of Dallas powerhouse KRLD radio to another conglomerate, Metromedia of New York. KRLD has been placed in limbo until its sister station, KAFM, settles with Bonneville.

You’ll be glad to know that Bonneville broadcasting doesn’t specialize in Mormon music-. But if your radio alarm clock should happen to pop on one morning with the strains of the Tabernacle Choir, you can probably figure that the sale went through.