Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa Christian Preaching “KWave 107.9” KWVE-FM San Clemente CA is now heard throughout the Los Angeles market as it has closed on its $5 million purchase of 1110 KRDC/99.1 K256CX Pasadena from the Walt Disney Company.
KRDC has been simulcasting formerly co-owned Sports “710 ESPN” KSPN Los Angeles since the company folded “Radio Disney Country” in early 2021. The station had previously served as the flagship for the primary “Radio Disney” brand as KDIS from 2003 to 2017 after swapping programming with 710 KSPN. 1110 was best known as Top 40 KRLA through the 1960s 70s and then with R&B Oldies in the 1990s both as the home of Art Laboe.
Now operating as KWVE, the 1110 signal gives “K-Wave” coverage through Los Angeles proper pairing with 107.9’s coverage of Orange County and the Inland Empire.
The management of KWAVE, 107.9 FM, is excited to announce the dramatic expansion of its Southern California broadcast reach with the acquisition of a high-powered AM station. In June of 2023, the Christian radio station entered into a purchase agreement to buy KRDC 1110 AM, owned by The Walt Disney Company. The move greatly expands KWAVE’s broadcast coverage area with a potential reach of 16 million listeners.
For nearly four decades, KWAVE’s biblically-based programming has been sharing life, delivering truth, and giving hope to much of Southern California. The acquisition of Pasadena-based KRDC, along with KWAVE’s San Diego-focused affiliate, KSDW, now means the station’s programming can be heard uninterrupted via the FM or AM dial from as far north as Ventura County to as far south as North San Diego County and inland into Riverside and San Bernadino counties. The move enables millions more to receive the station’s rich mix of biblical teaching, call-in shows, and community affairs programs 24 hours a day.
“The acquisition of 1110 AM is the answer to many years of dreaming and praying that we might be able to expand our reach of excellent Bible-teaching programs to all of the Greater Los Angeles community and into Ventura County. We believe that through continual exposure to God’s Word, lives are transformed and people are restored and set on the path to flourishing. We look forward to serving the wonderful people of Los Angeles through this new opportunity.” – Brian Brodersen Pastor, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa
The Greater Los Angeles area is the nation’s second-largest radio market, and the medium remains a primary source for news and information. KWAVE’s success and continued growth in Southern California underscores a growing appetite for strong Christian content. The move to increase the listening radius is strategically in sync with the station’s stated mission—to faithfully proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ through solid biblical teaching and preaching.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to be able to further expand the listening audience for Bible teachers like Chuck Smith, Tony Evans, Greg Laurie, Mark Jobe, Alistair Begg, Skip Heitzig and a host of other great Bible teachers, as well as provide solid biblical programming like Pastors’ Perspective, Focus on the Family, Revive our Hearts, and Family Life Today.” – Lance Emma General Manager
Southern California listeners currently unable to receive the station’s signal should soon be able to when the transition takes effect in September of 2023. Listening via the KWAVE app or tuning in online are other ways those in or outside the frequency range can enjoy the programmer’s extensive array of gospel-based content.
Since 1985, KWAVE has been owned and operated by the Orange County-based church, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. The 50,000-watt KRDC was purchased by the Walt Disney Company in 2001 and was the prior home of Radio Disney and ESPN Radio. The new AM frequency will be rebranded as KWAVE when it debuts later this summer.
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com