November 20, 2004

KPBS hits airwaves Monday

By MARC SCHANZ, Staff Writer

CALEXICO - Listeners to Calexico's KQVO Mix 97.7 FM will be greeted with a new format on their radio come Monday.

San Diego State University has signed a deal with the station's owner, Calexico-based Hanson Broadcasting Co. of California, which transfers ownership of the Spanish contemporary station's Federal Communications Commission license to KPBS, SDSU's public broadcasting service.

KPBS is based on SDSU's San Diego campus and serves San Diego County with public television and radio programming.

The purchase will mark the first English-language public radio service available to residents in the Imperial Valley, according to Nancy Worlie, KPBS' communications director, although KUBO in El Centro does broadcast many English-language and bilingual program.

The new SDSU station will broadcast National Public Radio news and information programs, several KPBS talk programs and classical music.

"Ideally we are going to be on the air Monday morning, Nov. 22, just after midnight" Worlie said.

Information wasn't available on whether there would be any SDSU-IV-generated programming on the station.

SBC is working on upgrading the phone lines at the station and should be finished by Saturday, she added.

"This was one of the largest areas in the country that did not have any (NPR) or Public Radio International service. We are thrilled to be changing that," said Doug Myrland, KPBS' general manager.

Englewood, Colo.-based Public Radio Capital, a public radio advocacy organization, represented KPBS in negotiations to buy the station from Hanson Broadcasting.

According to a filing with the Federal Communications Commission, the station was purchased for $1.1 million in what was called a "bargain asset sale for cash."

KQVO Program Director David Fuentes wouldn't comment on the deal Thursday, saying he had to contact the owner for details on what would happen with staff at the station. The station had been broadcasting Spanish-language popular music.

John Renison, SDSU-Imperial Valley Campus' development director, said an offer had been made by the university a year ago, but the station's ownership did not take it. A deal had been in the works for nearly three years, with pressure coming from SDSU administration to expand KPBS into the Valley.

"They felt that with two campuses out here, it was important to have a presence," Renison said.

The FCC had cited the station for a violation within the last few weeks, saying its antenna facilities were not properly maintained, according to a Nov. 2 notice of violation.

An FCC inspector found the antenna structure of the station was "severely faded and discolored" and the station needed to clean and repaint the antenna to maintain good visibility.

According to Worlie, the operations of KICO 1490 AM, the sister station of KQVO, will not be affected by the sale.

Copyright © 2004 Imperial Valley Press.