November 20, 2004

KPBS brings public radio to the Imperial Valley

By Preston Turegano

UNION-TRIBUNE ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT WRITER

San Diego's public radio station, KPBS/FM 89.5, is buying KQVO/FM 97.7 in Calexico for $1.1 million and expects to start broadcasting on the frequency at noon Monday.

The Calexico station has been a Spanish-language Top 40 commercial-music outlet for several years, and can be heard north to Brawley and south into Mexico. Until the Federal Communications Commission approves the sale, KPBS has an agreement with KQVO owner Hanson Broadcasting to manage and operate the station.

"With the flip of a switch, the approximately 150,000 residents of the Imperial Valley will have access to the news and information that KPBS provides to San Diego County," said KPBS general manager Doug Myrland. "This was one of the largest areas in the country that did not have any National Public Radio or Public Radio International service. We are thrilled to be changing that."

Besides NPR and PRI, KPBS has its own news-gathering staff. On Tuesday, KPBS canceled its early-evening interview show, "The Lounge," in order to put more resources into production of its morning current-events show, "These Days." In the evening and pre-dawn hours, the station plays classical music fed from St. Paul, Minn., to San Diego by satellite.

By expanding to Imperial Valley, KPBS' fund raising most likely will flourish. Like its sister TV operation, KPBS/Channel 15, the radio station periodically conducts on-air membership pledge campaigns, but also solicits potential supporters by mail. The radio station's fall membership campaign resulted in the highest-grossing campaign ever; $408,643 from 2,536 contributors.