We now have the sale prices for both of the non-commercial FMs changing hands in San Francisco. Entercom is applauding the multi-part deal that allowed it to exit the Classical format on a commercial station, but maintain community goodwill by giving it a new non-comm home.
In addition to paying $2.725 million for KNDL-FM Angwin, 89.9 MHz, as a North Bay simulcast signal, we now know that Classical Public Radio Network will pay $3.75 million for the main signal, the current KUSF-FM San Francisco, 90.3 MHz. That deal was brokered by Greg Guy of Patrick Communications for the seller, the University of San Francisco.
The new two-signal Classical simulcast will be identified as KDFC, presumably with some similar calls for the second signal. The domino deal allowed Entercom to offload the Classical format to a non-commercial entity and flip the 33 kw/319 meters signal on 102.1 MHz to a simulcast of recently acquired KUFX-FM San Jose which will create a Classic Rock powerhouse “K-Fox.” The format changes will all become effective at noon Monday, January 24th.
“Entercom is both pleased and honored to entrust the outstanding listeners, employees and iconic heritage of KDFC to the esteemed organization of KUSC,” said Dwight Walker, Vice President/Market Manager at Entercom San Francisco. “At the same time, we are excited about creating the Bay Area’s first full-metro mainstream Classic Rock station by building on the 20-year heritage and success of KFOX from San Jose. Bay Area listeners will now be able to Rock (and listen to the San Jose Sharks) from Santa Rosa to Santa Cruz on 98.5 and 102.1,” he added.
How did this deal come about? “These changes follow a long trend of classical stations moving from the commercial to the non-commercial model, which has proved more sustainable for classical music because of the passion of its listeners. Because classical music has been transitioning, we contacted Entercom to ask if they were willing to work with us on a managed transition,” said Brenda Barnes, President of Classical KUSC, the Los Angeles-based classical station that has been run by the University of Southern California (USC) for over 60 years. USC is part owner of the new entity, Classical Public Radio Network, which will be based in San Francisco.
