File photo from a KPLU music event at Pacific Lutheran University in 2010. The university sold the broadcast rights and facilities to Friends of 88.5 FM, a nonprofit.
Justin Steyer/KPLU/Flickr
Washington public radio station KPLU avoided a sale to Seattle-based KUOW following a six-month funding drive.
A nonprofit called Friends of 88.5 FM raised $7 million to purchase the station from Pacific Lutheran University, according to a university release.
The nonprofit will retain all KPLU employees, the release states. Friends of 88.5 will apply for a license with the Federal Communications Commission, requiring the station to change its call letters.
Pacific Lutheran aimed to sell KPLU’s broadcasting rights and facilities to KUOW in November of last year.
The University of Washington, which licenses KUOW, and Pacific Lutheran allowed Friends of 88.5 FM to hold the funding drive to attempt to match KUOW’s offer.
Friends of 88.5 will assume ownership of KPLU, which broadcasts on 10 stations across Washington, sometime this fall.