The New 88.5 Blankets SoCal
• California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA announced a groundbreaking shared programming agreement between their respective public radio licensees — Triple A KCSN-FM and Jazz KSBR-FM and joining forces to create a new KCSN/KSBR Triple A simulcast, rebranded as “The New 88.5. ” This newly combined signal will significantly increase the stations’ reach in Los Angeles and Orange Counties and parts of Ventura County, providing a single station of Triple A programming to a potential audience of 11.5 million listeners — a huge boost from their previous combined reach of two million. “This is a significant event in public radio broadcasting,” said Dianne F. Harrison, President of CSUN. “This partnership is being hailed by broadcast engineering experts as providing the largest increase in service area in public radio history and will be one of the largest non-commercial coverage areas in the country. Beyond the expansion in coverage, more importantly, this is an expansion of our service to the region, our students and the arts.”
Next Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 10am, KCSN’s legendary Nic Harcourt will officially flip the switch and launch the New 88.5 in its expanded coverage area. Programming will originate from both campuses’ studios in Northridge and Mission Viejo, CA, as well as from KCSN’s remote studio at The Village at Westfield Topanga in Canoga Park. The new station will stream online at 885fm.org.
KCSN GM & PD Sky Daniels will be the PD of the New 88.5, and Daniels and KSBR Director of Broadcast Operations Jim Rondeau will serve as co-GMs. Daniels said, “I want to thank both institutions for recognizing how the programming serves the needs of performing musicians in an era where they find it increasingly difficult to maintain careers. 88.5 FM’s mission is to serve musicians. This partnership will provide Southern California with a much-needed influential artistic development platform, as well as connecting students from both institutions to the entertainment industry, radio and great music.”
• The New 88.5 FM celebrates this expansion with a special benefit concert from Grammy winner Sheryl Crow at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles on Oct. 23.
Crow, a longtime listener and supporter of KCSN, was delighted to be asked to help the station with this benefit concert, as she commented, “There’s something magical on the dial at 88.5 FM. The station’s passionate dedication to supporting artists, providing them a home on the airwaves and introducing listeners to the best of new local talent, is unmatched. It’s wonderful that listeners all over Southern California will now have a chance to hear what they’re doing.” Tickets for Sheryl Crow’s show are on sale at AXS.com.
