KSBJ to Acquire Another Houston Signal

KSBJ Educational Foundation (KSBJ) and University of Houston System (UHS) announced today that they have entered into a purchase agreement for KSBJ to acquire KUHA-FM from UHS. KUHA-FM is a 50,000-watt noncommercial station serving the Houston market area.  The transaction requires Federal Communications Commission approval which is expected later this spring.

KSBJ intends to use the newly acquired signal to broadcast sister station NGEN radio, which would expand NGEN radio’s Houston-area reach with their ministry. With numerous signals throughout the Gulf Coast Region, NGEN radio has been reaching a younger generation with Christian hip-hop and pop music for over five years.

“This is a significant milestone for KSBJ. For 34 years, we have dreamed of having a full power FM station covering all of Houston that reaches young people,” says Tim McDermott, president of KSBJ. “We are so excited about having this and the impact for good it will have on our city.”

Currently KUHA-FM is licensed to UHS and operates as Houston Public Media’s Classical 91.7. Last August the Board of Regents of UHS approved the transition of its continuous classical music programming to all-digital distribution in recognition of the superior broadcast quality and greater efficiency of digital broadcasting.

“Our commitment to multi-platform arts and culture coverage is stronger than ever before as we are now incorporating online video and television programming in addition to classical music for the Houston community,“ said Lisa Shumate, associate vice president and general manager of Houston Public Media where broadcast operations also include News 88.7 (KUHF-FM), NPR in Houston and TV 8 (KUHT-TV) Houston PBS.

“We’re happy that the ownership of KUHA will stay in local hands with an experienced broadcaster and look forward to working with KSBJ on a smooth transition,” said Shumate.

Shumate added that, since the announcement of the transition last year, Houston Public Media has continued broadcasting classical on KUHA-FM while educating listeners about this coming change and how they can access the all-classical digital broadcast through a variety of channels including 88.7 HD-2, Houston Public Media classical app, streaming online at Houstonpublicmedia.org, and via television at TV 8.5.