In FCC filings, it was revealed that 95.3 was sold to the Educational Media Foundation, or EMF, which owns hundreds of Christian radio stations in the United States, and is expected to air religious content on the frequency, making the switch later this year.
Also making the news significant is that KRTY was one of the last independently-owned radio stations in the market, and one of the few independently-owned country radio stations in the United States. Started by Bob Kieve who was a former speechwriter for President Dwight D. Eisenhower, he died in 2020 at the age of 98.
The station began broadcasting in 1989 right as country music’s “Class of ’89” (Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Clint Black, et al) were making a big splash. At that time KRTY was one of numerous country stations in the region.
VP/General Manager Nate Deaton says, “This is the end of a magical era. Bob [Kieve] would be sorry to see the end of Country Radio in San Jose, but we know he would be proud to see how the employees at the station have honored his legacy since they lost Bob two years ago. We extend our congratulations and compliments to the entire team at EMF.”
According to Nielsen, ratings for the radio station were quite strong, with a 7.5 share in San Jose, and a 1.8 share in San Francisco. The station is reportedly being sold for $3.1 million to EMF. The sale is scheduled to close on June 1st, or when the FCC approves it. The changeover in format is expected to happen soon afterwards.
Another major market in the United States will no longer have a major country music radio station. New York City lost its final station in October of 2021 when WNSH 94.7 Nash FM switched formats. Now the San Jose-based Country 95.3 KRTY has been sold and will be signing off as a country station as well, leaving the greater San Francisco metropolitan area without a country station.
In FCC filings, it was revealed that 95.3 was sold to the Educational Media Foundation, or EMF, which owns hundreds of Christian radio stations in the United States, and is expected to air religious content on the frequency, making the switch later this year.
Also making the news significant is that KRTY was one of the last independently-owned radio stations in the market, and one of the few independently-owned country radio stations in the United States. Started by Bob Kieve who was a former speechwriter for President Dwight D. Eisenhower, he died in 2020 at the age of 98.
The station began broadcasting in 1989 right as country music’s “Class of ’89” (Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Clint Black, et al) were making a big splash. At that time KRTY was one of numerous country stations in the region.
VP/General Manager Nate Deaton says, “This is the end of a magical era. Bob [Kieve] would be sorry to see the end of Country Radio in San Jose, but we know he would be proud to see how the employees at the station have honored his legacy since they lost Bob two years ago. We extend our congratulations and compliments to the entire team at EMF.”
According to Nielsen, ratings for the radio station were quite strong, with a 7.5 share in San Jose, and a 1.8 share in San Francisco. The station is reportedly being sold for $3.1 million to EMF. The sale is scheduled to close on June 1st, or when the FCC approves it. The changeover in format is expected to happen soon afterwards.
No comments :
Post a Comment