ZIMMERS WANT FCC APPROVAL FOR STATION BUYS

Don Zimmer, of Zimmer Radio Group, expects the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to grant licenses to operate three new radio stations in Jefferson City.

But Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon has urged the FCC to deny the sale of the three Jefferson City stations to the Zimmer Family, which owns and operates a number of companies.

The attorney general, presenting a 24-page argument to the FCC on Aug. 3, charged that the proposed purchases in Jefferson City would create more concentrated market that would reduce both competition for advertising and editorial diversity on the air.

"We have followed all FCC criteria and don't expect any problems," said Don Zimmer

Although broadcast ownership rules were relaxed by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the FCC still limits how many stations companies can control in a market. While there is no defined number locally, the FCC still tries to avoid monopolization of markets.

"We hope to hear from the FCC within the next month," said Zimmer.

The application to purchase the three stations -- KTXY-FM, KLIK-AM and KATI-FM -- was filed in January of 1997.

The Zimmer family owns and operates 29 radio stations in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois.

The latest purchases, which have been approved, include two stations in Lawrence, Kan. and Malden, Mo.

Two of the companies are involved in the Jefferson City agreement. Zimmer Radio of Mid-Missouri Inc., filed applications to buy KTXY and KLIK. Another Zimmer company, involving two other Zimmer brothers, filed to purchase KATI.

Zimmer companies already own five stations in the Columbia/Jefferson city area.

If sales are approved, said Nixon's filing, the Zimmer family would control all five Jefferson City stations and total of 12 in the Mid-Missouri area.

The Zimmer brothers claim their companies are completely separate and have distinctly different advertising departments.

The Nixon filing disputes that claim.