KPLU Supporters Raise $1M

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KPLULocal KPLU(FM), Seattle supporters have raised more than $1M in less than three weeks in an effort to buy the station.


However they still have a ways to go to meet the $8M price Pacific Lutheran University was going to get from the University of Washington for the station.

The universities were modifying the purchase agreement so the community group could make an offer.

Friends of 88.5FM have seven months to raise the rest of the funds. If successful, the U.W .will step aside and allow that entity to buy the station.

If purchased by the community group, KPLU would become independent, with oversight from a community-based governing board, according to Save KPLU campaign.

When the universities announced the sale in November, the plan was to fold KPLU into the operations of University of Washington’s KUOW. The University of Washington intended to buy KPLU, keep the jazz format but transfer its news programs to KUOW.

Community members wanted a chance to make a counter-offer; hence the origin of the Save KPLU campaign.