Radio Day By the Bay 2012 at KRE (Photo: J. Waits)
California Historical Radio Society (CHRS) is in the process of fundraising in order to purchase the vintage KRE radio station building in which the society is housed in Berkeley, California.
CHRS has been located in the KRE building (also home of the annual Radio Day by the Bay) and would like to remain there following the bankruptcy of the former owner, Inner City Broadcasting (which owned KBLX and KVTO-AM). As of yesterday, CHRS still needs to raise $96,000 to reach its goal in order to purchase the station building.
In a letter on the society’s website, CHRS President Steve Kushman writes:
“CHRS is in a serious situation right now and the only way we can prevail is with your help. Things are moving very quickly and we are committed to buy this property…This is a rare opportunity, not available to many vintage radio societies. We can’t lose this place and we are still $96,000 short. I commend and hold in great esteem, each and every person and group who continues to support this effort.”
According to the CHRS website, KVTO 1400 AM “operates its transmitter and tower from the KRE site. When KVTO is sold, CHRS will immediately purchase the building and land from the new station owner.”
On September 12, 2012, the FCC granted consent to the assignment of KVTO-AM (as well as KVVN-AM in Santa Clara) from Urban Radio III (a subsidiary of Inner City) to YMF Media California. A consummation notice was accepted by the FCC on October 23, 2012. According to Kushman, YMF has placed KVTO up for sale and “the bidding on the stations owned by [YMF] Media, including KVTO is complete. Negotiations for the sale of KVTO are in progress.”
CHRS is accepting donations on its website and is also taking pledges via email. Those committing a pledge to donate will not need to supply the funds immediately.
