“Public radio station KCRW-FM (89.9), the Santa Monica-based NPR-affiliate, is acquiring Santa Barbara’s oldest radio station, classical broadcaster KDB-FM (93.7), for about $1 million to improve its reach to California’s Central Coast,” writes Ryan Faughnder in Tuesday’s (2/18) Los Angeles Times. “Starting in the spring, KCRW will air its programming on 88.7 for Santa Barbara listeners, bringing them national shows such as ‘Morning Edition,’ ‘All Things Considered’ and ‘This American Life.’ … KDB’s owner since 2003, the Santa Barbara Foundation, announced last year that it was putting the commercial classical outlet on the market, and there was interest from multiple potential buyers. However, this does not mean the end of classical music in Santa Barbara. Los Angeles-based classical station KUSC-FM will combine with KDB and continue to broadcast works of Mozart and Tchaikovsky from the 93.7 signal.… KCRW’s Santa Barbara outlet will broadcast from the Antioch University campus, where the studio will be staffed by interns and at least two employees. The local alternative weekly paper, the Santa Barbara Independent, will contribute reporting to local broadcasts of ‘Morning Edition’ and ‘All Things Considered.’ KCRW will also partner with Mission and State, a local investigative journalism nonprofit.”
Posted February 20, 2014
