Christian group to buy local stations

0 Comments | La Crosse Tribune, Aug 22, 2001 | by Cahalan, Steve

Faith Sound Inc. in Rochester, Minn., has a preliminary agreement to buy local station's WFBZ-FM (105.5 on the FM dial) and WKBH-AM (1570 on the AM dial) from, Riverview Communications Inc. in Onalaska, Wis., and convert them to a Christian radio format on Nov. 1.

WFBZ-FM (which calls itself the Buzz) now has an alternative rock format, while WKBH-AM carries ESPN sports radio programming.

Faith Sound plans to buy the two radio stations for $1.5 million from Riverview, according to its application for Federal Communications Commission approval. The stations' studios will remain in Onalaska.

"We don't foresee any difficulty with the FCC," Faith Sound Vice President Paul Logan said Tuesday. FCC approval usually takes 45 to 60 days, he said.

The sale is expected to occur Nov. 1 if the FCC has approved it by then, Logan said. If the FCC has not yet acted on his company's application, the change in format still will occur Nov. 1 under the agreement with Riverview, Logan said.

"For the FM (station), we're going to go with Christian Hit Radio," Logan said, a format aimed mostly at young adults. "With the universities in La Crosse and Winona, we feel there's a good market for that," Logan said.

"With the AM (station), we plan on going with more of a Christian talk radio format. There are live call-in programs, along with a lot of teaching-type programs. With more of the traditional hymns and choruses, as far as music," Logan said.

"It's going to take a lot of listener support for all of this to happen," Logan said. "We don't sell commercials." He said that is because "we feel (commercials) take away from the available time for ministry." But individuals, businesses and other organizations will be able to sponsor an entire day or parts of a day of broadcasting, Logan said.

Faith Sound has until Nov. 1 to raise the $500,000 down payment that it must make to Riverview. It will finance the rest of the purchase price over 10 years, Logan said.

Anyone interested in donating money toward the down payment may call (608) 791-4864. That temporary phone number is expected to be operating by the end of this week.

Faith Sound describes itself as a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation and a listenersupported radio ministry.

Its only station, KFSI-FM, has been on the air since 1981 and broadcasts at 92.9 on the FM dial in Rochester. With its translator in La Crescent, Minn., it broadcasts at 91.9 FM in the La Crosse area. Its signal can be picked up in Onalaska and on La Crosse's North Side, but it is difficult to pick up on the city's South Side, Logan said.