More on KDB

Having gotten my first attempt at this completely wrong, here’s more up-to-date and accurate info about the disposition of KDB in Santa Barbara.  From Ben Mook at Current:

Under a deal announced Tuesday, KCRW will buy 93.7 KDB-FM, a commercial classical station for 88 years, but will not broadcast on the frequency. Instead, all-classical KUSC will move to the channel and transfer its 88.7 FM signal in Santa Barbara to KCRW. KCRW will turn its new acquisition into an outlet for its hybrid format of news and contemporary music, with localized content within NPR newsmagazines…

After the FCC approves the deal, classical music lovers in Santa Barbara won’t have to reset their radios, as the format will continue on 93.7 FM.

KUSC will also retain KDB’s call sign, said KUSC President Brenda Barnes. “KDB’s been the place to go for classical music in Santa Barbara since the late 1920s,” Barnes said. “This switch made perfect sense to us — it’s an honor for us to step in and maintain that heritage and history.”

KUSC will add local programming to KDB and continue to broadcast performances by local classical music groups. It will drop local news and traffic reports, however, because KDB will not have a newsroom or studio, Barnes said. KDB’s staff and general manager were not included in the asset purchase agreement, but Barnes said they would be considered for any open positions. She did not yet know whether KUSC would add staff for the station.

So, the good news for listeners is that KDB, which was a commercial station, will now be a public station. The unknown news is what will happen to the KDB personnel.