Noalmark Buys Two El Dorado Radio Stations

Noalmark Broadcasting Corp. of El Dorado has closed a $600,000 deal to buy two El Dorado radio stations, KDMS-AM and KLBQ-FM, from El Dorado Broadcasting Co., owned by Edward R. Partridge.

The purchase gives Noalmark a virtual monopoly in the El Dorado commercial radio market, where it now owns eight stations along with two others in Magnolia, about 35 miles away. Led by Board Chairman Edwin B. Alderson Jr. and President William C. Nolan III, Noalmark already had KAGL-FM, KMRX-FM, KMLK-FM, KIXB-FM, KELD-AM and KELD-FM.

The stations run the gamut from classic rock and urban contemporary to sports and news talk. Noalmark also owns two stations licensed to Magnolia, about 35 miles away, KVMA-AM and KVMZ-FM.

KDMS, a Christian station, and KLBQ, a 14,000-watt country outlet, were welcomed “into the Noalmark family” by Nolan, the son of Noalmark founder William C. Nolan Jr.

“With our 40-year history of broadcasting excellence in south Arkansas, the addition of these stations will allow us to even better serve our local community, customers and listeners,” Nolan said in a news release last week.

The stations immediately came under the leadership of Kevin Bonner, general manager of Noalmark’s stations in south Arkansas. The company also owns seven stations in the New Mexico markets of Hobbs and Roswell. Bonner, whose father owned and operated radio stations in south Louisiana, has been in broadcasting for 44 years, he said, starting “as a board operator at the ripe age of 13.”

Noalmark will be operating all but the two Magnolia stations out of its studios at 2525 N. West Ave. in El Dorado, a consolidation of operations that Bonner sees as a boon to efficiency.

“I think it’s a chance to bring everything into one building and consolidate, and we already have people in place to do the work,” said Bonner, who began working for Noalmark in December 2007 in Roswell, New Mexico. “They approached us to buy them. Noalmark of course was started in El Dorado, and this pretty much does give us a monopoly here.”

“It’s a blessing to be part of our corporate office in El Dorado,” he added, noting that Noalmark is inheriting some El Dorado Broadcasting Co. employees. “Everything is going smoothly. We’re operating two offices for now, but we will be consolidating.”

Noalmark has three buildings at its El Dorado headquarters: the main studio, a sales office and a corporate office building.

“My personal goal once everything is together is to create great-sounding stations, report factual news and empower our employees to be part of the great communities we live in,” Bonner said.

KAGL has a classic rock format, while KELD-FM is news talk radio, KELD-AM is sports, KIXB is country, KMLK is urban adult contemporary, and KMRX is Top 40.

The purchase came in the wake of Noalmark’s decision to sell four Hot Springs stations in March: KLAZ-FM, KYRC-FM, KHRK-FM and KBHS-AM. Central Arkansas Radio Group, headed by Greg Shinn, bought the stations for $1.6 million.