Maier Move For AM That’s Truly Deadwood
By Adam Jacobson (Radio And Television Business Report)
There’s a corner of South Dakota famous for the cities of Deadwood, Sturgis and Rapid City. Here, a Class B AM founded by Harry and Eli Daniels has proved to be the prototypical local voice of the Northern Black Hills, with plenty of local high school sports and “Solid Gold Hits.”
Now, the current owner of this station has agreed to sell it. The buyers are local.
Heading to Loren and Pace Maier and their 4 Paws Broadcasting is KDSJ-AM 980 in Deadwood, S.D.
KDSJ has 5kw during daylight hours from 1 tower and 1kw at night from two towers.
Since 1982, KDSJ has been owned by Al and Jeanne Decker, who acquired the station from the Daniels brothers, who signed on the station in 1947 (originally at 1450 kHz) from the historic Franklin Hotel on Main Street in Deadwood.
With the sale, the Deckers made it clear that they wanted to continue with the news and information format established by KDSJ’s founders, including interviews with local officials, political figures, and the local people and organizations.
This has yielded Al Decker the South Dakota Sportscaster Of The Year Award in 2003, 2009, and 2018, voted on by the South Dakota Sportswriters and Sportscasters in the state. He has also received the Distinguished Service Award from the South Dakota High School Activities Association. He was named a friend of football by the South Dakota Coaches Association, and friend of soccer by the South Dakota Soccer Association.
Decker has also had an on-air presence, as Uncle Al’s morning show can be heard each weekday morning from 6am until noon.
All of this made KDSJ a 2013 inductee to the South Dakota Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
Now, Al and Jeanne are passing the torch to the Meiers.
A $405,000 real estate purchase agreement has been drafted and filed with the FCC that sees them acquire the facilities and license associated with KDSJ. A $5,000 earnest money deposit has been made.
Terms call for the Deckers to pay outstanding FY 2018 property taxes and pro-rated 2019 property taxes.
An additional $1 “personal property” bill of sale has also been drafted.
What’s next for the Deckers? Retirement, and perhaps continued support of Alzheimer’s Association in between family vacations.
