ESPN Arkansas acquires 93.7 frequency, KISR to move to 93.1 FM

KISR 93.7, the Fort Smith-based radio station long known for unique promotional events and coverage of the Fort Smith metro, is being sold to Pearson Broadcasting Group. The 93.7 FM frequency will become an ESPN station, according to Pearson.

The KISR format will move to 93.1 FM, according to Monday’s (April 13) press release from Pearson Broadcasting. Pearson owns several radio stations in the state and is primarily affiliated with ESPN Arkansas. The 93.7 frequency will be the ESPN Arkansas station for the Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas metros.

The deal, which will require Federal Communications Commission approval, is expected to close this summer, according to Pearson. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“This marks a significant expansion for Pearson Broadcasting and ESPN Arkansas, which will now serve all the Fort Smith, Hot Springs, Northwest Arkansas, Harrison, Mountain Home, and much of Eastern Oklahoma,” Pearson said in the statement. “Top rated KISR will continue to serve the River Valley from just below its previous dial position, moving to 93.1 FM.”

Tommy Craft, general manager of ESPN Arkansas, said the deal allows Pearson to build upon what Baker built and expand sports coverage in the two metro areas.

“We are excited to expand and grow the footprint and coverage areas of our ESPN Arkansas Radio Stations,” Craft said in a statement. “The addition of a 100,000-watt station to our roster of current stations is a true game changer. Fred Baker and KISR have spent more than 55 years building something that is far more than just a radio station for so many people, and we are humbled to be able to continue that kind of commitment to listeners. We live in a state where the sports we love and the daily conversations about the teams we follow matter. The opportunity to expand our coverage so that more of the great people in Arkansas can join in the conversation with our live and local sports talk radio shows is a thrill, and we can not wait to get started.”

Fred Baker, president of the Baker Family Trust, which owns the KISR brand, said the move helps keep the station “live and local.”

“Kisser was always intended to be a live and local station, not a regional station,” he said. “Almost two years ago, KISR moved its tower to between Fort Smith and Fayetteville. Kisser’s coverage became phenomenal. However, it’s difficult to be local when you serve a whole region. At the same time, Razorback fans are everywhere, and ESPN Arkansas has by far the best Razorback coverage in the state. Pearson Broadcasting is the perfect transaction partner for us because of their dedication to live and local radio and their intent to invest in the future of live and local broadcasting as well as our community.”

According to the press release, the Baker Family Trust operates 6 area stations: KISR now 93.7 moving to 93.1; KREU 92.3; KFSA 950; Outlaw 94.1; The River 101.9; and The Rooster 105.5.

Pearson Broadcasting Management Services, Inc. operates multiple stations, including KTTG 96.3 FM in the River Valley/Hot Springs, KERX 95.3 FM in Fort Smith, KBCN 104.3 FM in Harrison/Mountain Home, and KAKS 99.5 FM in Northwest Arkansas.