KPBS Provides First English Language Public Radio Service
To Imperial Valley Residents
SAN DIEGO – Residents in the Imperial Valley are now able to tune in to KPBS San Diego on 97.7 FM. This marks the first English Language Public Radio service available to residents in the fast growing Imperial Valley.
“With the flip of a switch, the approximately 150,000 residents of the Imperial Valley [were given] access to the high quality news and information that KPBS already provides to San Diego County,” said Doug Myrland, KPBS’ General Manager.
KPBS and Hanson Broadcasting have signed an agreement to transfer the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license to San Diego State University, which also owns KPBS’ license.
The two stations have signed a programming agreement to broadcast KPBS programming on 97.7 FM in Calexico. That programming agreement took effect Monday, November 22 2005 at 12:01am, and allowed KPBS to immediately begin broadcasting across the Imperial Valley.
“KPBS is proud to be able to expand its service to the growing population of Southeastern California,” said 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.”
KPBS-FM has been a broadcast service of San Diego State University since the mid-1960s.
“Providing KPBS programming to 97.7 FM is a logical extension of the University’s mission,” said Myrland. “With the existing Imperial Valley Campuses in both Calexico and Brawley, it makes sense that KPBS be available to those same communities.”
“San Diego State University is proud to be a part of KPBS-FM’s expansion into the Imperial Valley,” said Stephen Weber, President of San Diego State University. “The University already knows how important the Imperial Valley is to Southern California, and by providing residents with KPBS-FM’s extensive lineup of quality programs, we are signaling our commitment by bringing a valuable public service to the residents in that area.”
Public Radio Capital (PRC) represented KPBS in its negotiations and purchase of 97.7 from Hanson Broadcasing, which took approximately a year to settle.
“Clearly, KPBS is an industry leader in expanding public radio service to new areas, and we are thrilled to have helped them achieve this goal in Southeastern California,” said Marc Hand, PRC Managing Director. “In our work throughout the country, we see how eager listeners are for more public radio. This [servic should be greatly appreciated.”
97.7 FM has been operating as a Spanish language Top 40 commercial station. KPBS will operate the station as a non-commercial public radio station.
97.7 FM is based in Calexico on the Mexican border about 114 miles east of San Diego and 61 miles west of Yuma, Arizona. The station’s signal extends south into Mexico and north up to Brawley.
KPBS is a broadcast service of San Diego State University, serving the region with TV, radio and Internet content that is educational as well as entertaining – and free of commercial interruption.
Since its founding three years ago, Public Radio Capital has played a critical role in the preservation and expansion of public radio services. Public Radio Capital’s mission is to help strengthen our country’s democratic traditions by protecting and expanding public radio’s critical role as a national and local forum for public discussion and debate. PRC accomplishes this mission by providing public stations access to urgently needed capital and expertise in negotiating station acquisitions. The result of PRC’s work is a measurable increase both in public radio’s audience overall, and in the programming diversity and financial health of local public radio in both large and small markets.
