Golden West Broadcasters

Golden West Broadcasters was an umbrella investment company founded and co-owned by late actor/singer Gene Autry (1907–1998) and late two-time All-American and former Detroit Lions tackle Bob Reynolds (1914–1997).[1][2] Headquartered in Hollywood, California, in addition to broadcast television and radio, Autry and Reynolds also invested in real estate as well as ownership stakes in the Hollywood Stars baseball team of the Pacific Coast League and the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball. The company owned and operated several television and radio stations from 1951 to 1982, and also provided services to and for other third-party, non-owned stations through the Golden West Radio Network.

For the similarly named broadcasting company in Canada, see Golden West Broadcasting.
Golden West Broadcasters
TypeDefunct
IndustryBroadcast television
broadcast radio
Founded1951
FounderGene Autry (1907–1998)
Bob Reynolds (1914–1997)
Defunct1997
FateLiquidation of television
and radio assets
Headquarters
Hollywood, California
,
United States

History

In 1951, Autry and Reynolds formed Golden West Broadcasters with their acquisition of KMPC (now KSPN) 710 AM in Los Angeles,[3] while Reynolds served and worked as the station's manager. They followed that up by taking its first ever television station, KOPO-TV (now CBS affiliate KOLD-TV) in Tucson, Arizona[4] to the air in two years later, and then with additional acquisitions including most importantly, KTLA in Los Angeles, which continues to operate from the very same site at which the company and the station co-existed on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood to this very day. Over time, Autry took control of the company with other co-investors in later years. Golden West also operated several cable television systems across the country during the 1970s and into the 1980s. Autry began their gradual exit from the broadcasting industry beginning in 1982 with the sale of KTLA to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, culminating with the sale of KSCA 101.9 FM in Glendale, California – within the Los Angeles area, to Heftel Broadcasting Corporation in 1997.

Broadcast Properties

Television
  • 1 Operated in facilities shared with the company.
  • 2 Stations built and signed onto the air by either Golden West or by Gene Autry personally.
  • 3 A late acquisition, Autry kept the station even after the company folded.
DMAMarketStation
PSIP (RF)		Years OwnedSold ToPresent Day
2Los Angeles, CAKTLA1 5 (35)1964–1982Kohlberg Kravis Roberts – 1982CW network affiliate owned and operated by Nexstar Media Group
11Phoenix – Mesa, AZKOOL-TV2 10 (10)1953–1982Gulf Broadcasting – 1982Fox network owned and operated KSAZ-TV
43Oklahoma City, OKKAUT-TV3 43 (19)1979–1985Rollins Communications – 1985Once again an independent station, now owned and operated by Nexstar Media Group
65Tucson – Sierra Vista – Douglas – Nogales, AZKOPO-TV/KOLD-TV2 13 (32)1953–1969Universal Communications – 1969CBS network affiliate owned and operated by Gray Television

AM Stations
RMS RankMarketStationYears OwnedSold ToPresent Day
2Los Angeles, CAKMPC 7101952–1994Capital Cities/ABC – 1994ESPN Radio station KSPN, owned by Good Karma Brands
4San Francisco, CAKSFO 5601956–1983King Broadcasting – 1983Talk radio owned and operated by Cumulus Media
12Seattle – Tacoma, WAKVI 5701959–1994Fisher Communications – 1994Conservative Talk owned and operated by Lotus Communications
13Detroit, MI – Windsor, Ontario, CanadaWCAR/WCXI 11301977–1986Shamrock Broadcasting – 1986All-News WDFN owned and operated by iHeartMedia
14Phoenix, AZKARZ/KOOL 9601956–1985Adams Radio Group – 1985Talk Radio owned and operated by Salem Media Group
23Portland, ORKEX 11901967–1984Taft Broadcasting – 1984News-Talk owned and operated by iHeartMedia
62Tucson – Sierra Vista – Douglas – Nogales, AZKOPO 1450TBDTBDFox Sports Radio network affiliate owned and operated by iHeartMedia

FM Stations
RMS RankMarketStationYears OwnedSold ToPresent Day
2Los Angeles, CAKUTE/KMPC-FM/KLIT/KEDG/KSCA 101.91985–1997Heftel Broadcasting – 1997Regional Mexican owned and operated by Univision Communications, licensed to Glendale
12Seattle – Tacoma, WAKETO-FM/KVI-FM/KPLZ-FM 101.51976–1994Fisher Communications – 1994Hot Adult Contemporary owned and operated by Lotus Communications
13Detroit, MI – Windsor, Ontario, CanadaWCAR-FM/WTWR/WCXI-FM 92.31977–1986Shamrock Broadcasting – 1986Urban adult contemporary WMXD owned and operated by iHeartMedia
14Phoenix, AZKOOL-FM1956–1985Adams Radio Group – 1985Oldies owned and operated by Audacy, Inc.
23Portland, ORKQFM/KKRZ 100.31978–1984Taft Broadcasting – 1984Top 40 owned and operated by iHeartMedia

References
  1. Gene Autry's bio at 710 KMPC
  2. Bob Reynolds' obituary at latimes.com
  3. Broadcasting Yearbook 1954 Page 86
  4. Television Stations in the United States and Construction Permits Granted to February 10, 1953
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