Los Angeles' KPLS Sells -- Home to Putnam, Imus, Boortz

The Southern California radio station that features broadcasting veterans George Putnam, Don Imus and Neal Boortz is being sold to a new Hispanic radio network, according to filings made Thursday with the FCC.

Subject to federal approval, the 50,000 watt KPLS (830 AM), based in the heart of Orange County and covering much of Los Angeles, will be purchased by L.A.-based RadioVisa LLC.

Radio Visa is headed by Stephen Lehman, who founded Premiere Networks -- the home of talk radio giants Rush Limbaugh and Dr. Laura Schlesinger.

The conservative talk station is being sold by the Catholic Radio Network, which once planned to use KPLS as the anchor station for its defunct Catholic Family Radio Network. Catholic Radio Network has been backed by Dominos pizza magnate Tom Monaghan.

The change of station ownership may not happen quickly. It takes the FCC an average of six months to approve the sale of a radio station, although its approval timetable has lengthened recently because of protests and confusion over the FCC's new media ownership rules.

A top talk radio expert tells NewsMax that Putnam, Imus and other KPLS personalities should remain on the air awhile longer as the station moves to a new Latin format.

The sale price for KPLS is reported to be $38 million.