Ventura County, Calif., Broadcasters Consider Buying Santa Barbara Station.

Byline: Jim McLain

Jul. 12--Two Ventura County broadcasters said Friday they are considering offering to buy a troubled Santa Barbara radio station that was put up for sale earlier this month.

Officials of Oxnard-based Lazer Broadcasting Co. and Salem Communications Corp. of Camarillo said they are looking at KEYT-AM (1250), an independent news and talk station plagued by low ratings and declining advertising revenues. Both companies emphasized, however, they are in the early stages of deciding whether to make offers.

Owned by Alfredo Plascencia of Oxnard, Lazer Broadcasting operates 10 Spanish-language radio stations in Central and Southern California, including three in Ventura County. Salem Communications (Nasdaq: SALM) is the country's largest owner of religion-oriented radio stations. Headed by Edward G. Atsinger III of Camarillo, Salem owns 85 …