KSQD seeks expansion with purchase of radio signals

Natural Bridges Media, licensee of community radio station KSQD in Santa Cruz, Calif., will expand its reach with the purchase of two signals. 

Natural Bridges is buying KNVM in Prunedale, Calif., and a translator in Monterey from Christian broadcaster Educational Media Foundation for $375,000, according to an asset purchase agreement. 

The organization raised $400,000 through a capital campaign that began last year to purchase the stations, according to an announcement last week on its website. 

The acquisitions will increase KSQD’s potential audience from 175,000 to 645,000 when the new stations sign on, according to the announcement. The broadcaster expects the expansion to be finalized this spring. 

The station, which was founded in 2019, airs a mix of music and news/talk programming. It is looking to add programs and hosts from the communities that it will soon serve. The station’s founders previously volunteered for KUSP in Santa Cruz before it went bankrupt. 

“Since the original signal at 90.7 FM does not reach the entire county, such as parts of Watsonville and Aptos, the board of directors has been in search of ways to expand its signal since its inception,” the station said.