By Jeffrey Yorke
For years, Art Bell ruled his world and the darkness of America's nights from ?The Kingdom of Nye? studios in Pahrump, Nev., a very fast hour's drive over the hill from Las Vegas. And his para-normal-themed radio show, Coast to Coast, was one of the most popular overnight programs and among the most lucrative ? WBAP-AM's overnight trucking show out of Dallas was also a cash cow. Bell, an R&R Talk Radio Seminar ?Lifetime Achievement Award? winner, retired from active nighttime duty in 2003, and then from weekend work last July 1 to spend more time with his new wife and newborn daughter.
While he occasionally does fill-in, he's now sold his station, KNYE at 95.1 FM, a classic hits/talk outlet, to staffer Karen Jackson for $600,000. Jackson was busy in production, cutting commercials ? already a good sign -- when R&R called her and could not comment on the deal. She owns no other stations.
Nevada
KNYE-FM/Pahrump
PRICE: $600,000
TERMS: Asset sale for cash
BUYER: Karen Jackson. Phone: 775-537-6100. It owns no other stations. This represents its entry into this market.
SELLER: Pahrump Radio Inc, headed by President Art Bell. Phone: 775-537-6100
FREQUENCY: 95.1 MHz
POWER: 6kw at -93 feet
FORMAT: Classic Hits/Talk
COMMENT: Pahrump Radio's KNYE-FM/Pahrump, NV to Karen Jackson for $600,000.
interesting.... sad... but interesting...