Chuck Lontine's Blog

Marconi Foundation Charities - 2010

2010-02-03T20:14:00.000-08:00

Marconi's Chuck Lontine is pleased to announce its first foundation event of the new year.

As part of the Mercedes-Benz of Littleton Jazz Series, Marconi produced a remarkable musical evening in Denver with jazz artist Darren Rahn & Friends. The January event was a sold out, huge success and raised thousands for The Childrens Diabetes Foundation of Denver. The event was hosted by Stags Leap Winery at Indulge Wine Bar in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

This is the first in several events to be produced by Marconi in 2010. The goal is to find creative and inovative ways to raise money and awareness for Colorado based charities within the current client base of Marconi Media Ventures, with mediacasting & publishing.

This first event was co-sponsored and underwritten by Mercedes-Benz of Littleton, Stags Leap and Colorado View Magazine. Our radio sponsor was, of course: KKHI-FM in Denver.

As always, special thanks to Bustos Media CEO Amador Bustos.

New Media in 2010

2010-01-04T15:33:00.000-08:00

Marconi is very pleased to welcome two new strategic partners in the Denver-Boulder media market.

First, Colorado View Magazine. This new glossy is the latest publishing entry from GrayMorrill Media. Now in its second issue, the magazine (and website) is proving to be the next wave of relevant media reaching women, with lifestyle and helpful content.

Marconi is providing media, sales strategy and marketing expertise to publishers Ellen Gray & Kim Morrill.

Our second new entry for 2010 is Custom Channels, the new sound of business.

This innovative new media company provides on-premise custom music brands for the likes of Whole Foods, Chipotle & Floyd's Barbershops. CC is the brainchild of Boulder based SBR Creative, which has been providing AAA format radio stations all over the planet with consulting and music programing expertise for many years.

Marconi is providing media and sales expertise to grow this strategic brand.

May You Live in Interesting Times: 2009

2009-10-30T08:34:00.000-07:00

This year and its current economic challenges have unlocked tremendous creativity!

One of my favorite banking clients turned to me to be the primary jobrunner on a distressed AM radio asset in Northern Colorado. I was able to work out a transfer debt from one broadcaster to another. The end result is a wonderful full signal AM, serving the Catholic community. The new station is called K-Pio (KPIO). Its named after St. Pio of Pietrelcina and is doing quite well.

Another banking project allowed me to help Gap West Broadcasting (who's CEO is Erik Hellum - and a very good man), enter into an LMA agreement of KLMI-FM in Rock River, Wyoming (Laramie). The end result is a new soft rock entry to its heritage radio cluster called "The River", which I think is pretty clever. Once the economy improves, the parties hope to actually enter into a purchase agreement for the station

In both transactions, I proudly represented the lenders and the licensee's (WP Media Lending of Washington and Greeley Broadcasting Company).

For more information about the stations:

www.1061theriver.com

www.kpio.org

Inside Radio features Marconi's Chuck Lontine

2008-10-31T10:40:00.000-07:00

This weeks edition of Mike Kinosian's Inside Radio profile takes a closer look at Marconi's Managing Director Chuck Lontine.

Since the 1980's Inside Radio has become the industry standard for news & financial information. Every morning, Inside Radio is read online by thousands of broadcasters, bankers and media investors.

For a complete archive of past interviews with other executives visit: www.insideradio.com

KCFR-FM returns to the Denver airwaves.

2008-10-03T20:54:00.000-07:00

In 2001, Colorado Public Radio president Max Wycisk and Marconi's Chuck Lontine reached an agreement for CPR to purchase KCFC-AM for $1.2mm. Thus, expanding CPR's News & Information channel into the Boulder market.

Seven years later, CPR relied on Marconi again when it was time to expand even further into the Denver-Boulder market with the $8.2mm purchase of KFDN-FM from The Educational Media Foundation.

Today, CPR listeners can now hear both classical music & CPR's News & Information channel on the new KVOD-FM (88.1 MHz) and KCFR-FM (90.1 MHz).

After over three years of thoughtful negotiation between Marconi Media Ventures & Public Radio Capital, a final deal to add the new FM channel was reached earlier this year and the new stations signed on this summer (2008).

We are very proud to have represented EMF if this transaction and to have a continued positive impact on Denver radio. Special thanks to Max Wycisk, Jenny Gentry & Marc Hand from Colorado Public Radio. And, special thanks to our wonderful client Joe Miller at Educational Media Foundation.

For more information about Colorado Public Radio visit: www.cpr.org

KKHI-FM signs on in Denver

2008-09-19T23:12:00.000-07:00

Marconi Media Ventures is please to announce the return of smooth jazz in the Denver/Boulder radio market.

KKHI-FM (101.9 MHz) signed on the airwaves this summer (2008) and the response has been wonderful. K-High is a unique blend of contemporary jazz, soft rock & rhythmic pop serving the market at 101.9 MHz.

After engineering the $21mm (cash & stock) sale of 101.9 to Bustos Media in 2006, the final transaction closed in February 2008. Marconi Media Ventures represented the seller in this transaction. Post close - Bustos Media turned to Marconi to research the best use for the new radio station.

As part of the K-High project for Bustos Media, Chuck Lontine assembled a team of highly skilled, dedicated radio professionals from within the Denver radio market. We were able to perform this task based on Chuck's extensive background in radio broadcasting, built on over thirty (30) years in the radio industry.

The K-High team now Includes Steve Hamilton (former Entercom program director at KOSI-FM), Pete McKenna (former Clear Channel general sales manager from KFRX-FM) and Patti Ford (the voice of Bose Audio and the former production director at SJ/Boston).

Special thanks to Bob Call, Sr. VP/Market Manager of Lincoln Financial in Denver, Clear Channel Regional VP Lee Larsen and Vic Michael, founder and owner of Mountain States Radio.

Both Mr. Call & Larsen advised Lontine on the programing and sales dynamic and history of the Smooth Jazz format in the Denver radio market. Mr. Michael and his engineering team both advised and executed the technical optimization of the radio stations actual signal.

Our primary goal was to build an effective infrastructure and launch a high value radio operation for Bustos Media and its investors. Hopefully our efforts will result in long term growth and a high return on investment for Bustos Media, LLC.

We would like to also thank our client, Halyard Capital of New York, for entrusting us with this project in Denver.

For more information about K-High: www.khighdenver.com

Nola says Hola: Marconi client Mayavision Signs on Telemundo TV in New Orleans.

2007-12-19T12:02:00.000-08:00

Marconi Media Ventures client Ernesto Schweikert (CEO/KGLA-TV) signs on Channel 42 as the latest Telemundo Spanish TV affiliate in New Orleans.

The new station is owned and operated by Schweikert's Mayavision Inc. The company also owns and operates KGLA Radio in New Orleans as "Tropical 1540".

Marconi's Chuck Lontine provided investment banking and strategic consultation to Mayavision in securing a senior debt facility for market expansion into Television in this growing Latino media market.

WP Media Lending of Seattle's Dave Westburg was the lead banker representing the lender.

Inside Radio features Marconi's Chuck Lontine

2007-12-12T12:57:00.000-08:00

The Media Industries most trusted source for radio news & financial information is Inside Radio (www.insideradio.com).

In today's edition, Marconi managing director Chuck Lontine was interviewed for his financial forecast of the Merger & Acquisition enviroment for 2008.

NRC Broadcasting brings Jack FM to Denver with $16mm purchase

2007-11-13T15:29:00.000-08:00

Marconi is pleased to announce that NRC Broadcasting has purchased KJAC-FM Radio from Mr. Vic Michaels for $16 million. In a joint agreement, Marconi represented both buyer and seller in this transaction. The station, which transmits at 105.5 MHz, is the first Jack-FM (Popular Adult Hits) format in the US.

In addition to KJAC, Marconi also brokered the sale of KCUV Radio to NRC (then Newspaper Radio Corporation) in 2003 for $3.2mm. Marconi represented the seller in that transaction with Serafin Brothers Investment Bank of Tampa, Florida.

NRC is a portfolio company of the Anschutz Investment Co of Denver.

Recent banking, broadcasting & brokerage projects:

2007-11-12T13:46:00.000-08:00

Marconi Media Ventures is please to announce the creation of Loveland Radio LLC. LR will serve as a transitional management company re-building the assets of KSXT-AM Radio in Loveland, Colorado.

Marconi is pleased to announce the sale of KIMB-AM to NE Colorado Broadcasting. The seller is Vic Michaels Kimball Radio, LLC. Marconi represented the seller. The total purchase price was $50,000.00 and closed in the summer of 2008.

Marconi is pleased to announce the sale of two FM Radio Construction Permits ("CP") to Alfredo Placencia's Lazer Communications of California serving the Bakersfield, CA radio markets. The purchase price was $3.7mm. The seller was Chris Devines' College Creek Radio, LLC. Marconi represented the seller.

Marconi is please to announce that New Radio Ventures, LLC of Colorado has secured a $2.5mm senior debt facility from CityWide Banks of Colorado for future acquisitions and market expansion. Marconi represented NRV in this banking transaction.

Marconi is please to announce that Telemundo Television has secured a senior debt facility for expansion into markets effected by Katrina in New Orleans, LA from WP Media Lending, LLC of Seattle, Washington. Marconi represented the borrower in this banking transaction.

About Marconi

2007-11-12T13:36:00.000-08:00

Marconi is a Denver based media investment bank and M & A firm.

Its primary deal focus is in the Rocky Mountain West and the California coast. Its Managing Director, Chuck Lontine, has brokered the sale of more radio stations in the Denver-Boulder radio market than any other source. Including, KJAC-FM, KKCS-FM (now KKHI), KFDN-FM (now KVOD), KCUV and Colorado Public Radio's NPR affiliate in Boulder, Colorado.

Total gross sales of $56mm ranks the firm 13th in the nation amoung all merger & acquisition firms in the country (US).

For more information - go to: www.marconi.cc

You can reach Chuck directly: chucklontine@aol.com

Marconi: Record Sales in 2006

2007-11-12T12:28:00.000-08:00