SAN JOSE, Calif. — K-LOVE Inc. has completed its reported $2 million acquisition of the 94.5 FM signal licensed to Gilroy, California, extending its nonprofit Christian radio operation into the San Jose market.

The 44-kilowatt Class B station, formerly KBAY-FM, has adopted the call letters KJNV-FM. The full-power facility reaches the South Bay and portions of the wider San Francisco Bay Area.

What changed

The FCC license had been held by Alpha Media Licensee LLC, now controlled by Connoisseur Media. The buyer is The Association for Community Education Inc., an affiliated company within the K-LOVE corporate family that operates Radio Nueva Vida.

For ownership tracking, the completed transaction reduces Connoisseur’s full-power FM count by one and increases the K-LOVE/Association for Community Education family count by one. No translators or boosters were included in the sale.

Connoisseur retained the KBAY call letters, country format and related intellectual property. Bay Country programming moved to 98.5 FM, allowing the local country brand to remain in the market while 94.5 transitions to the new owner.

How could the community benefit?

The acquisition could expand nonprofit Christian programming in the San Jose area and potentially provide additional Spanish-language religious service through Radio Nueva Vida. However, KJNV’s specific network and final programming lineup should be confirmed before assuming whether the station will carry English-language K-LOVE, Radio Nueva Vida or another affiliated service.

K-LOVE Inc. describes itself as a donor-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit with no stockholders. Its public financial materials include audited statements and IRS Form 990 filings.

What is the downside?

The transaction removes a commercial frequency from local ownership competition and places it within a large national nonprofit radio organization. National networks can provide financial stability and technical resources, but they may also rely more heavily on centralized programming than locally staffed commercial stations.

No closing announcement identified layoffs or other employee changes directly caused by this transaction. Because Connoisseur retained the Bay Country format on another full-power signal, there is no confirmed wholesale elimination of that station’s programming operation. Radio News Now will continue watching for local staffing, studio and public-service commitments from the new owner.

Ownership Watch status

Consummated and publicly reported. KJNV-FM, Facility ID 35401. Connoisseur/Alpha Media Licensee: minus one full-power FM. Association for Community Education/K-LOVE family: plus one full-power FM.

Sources

Radio News Now Ownership Watch