Across the decades, a Class B AM serving the northern portion of California’s San Joaquin Valley has offered various types of Spanish-language programming. In fact, from 1955-1963, it was a pioneering station featuring José Tapia hosting en español shows each Sunday, ahead of a 24/7 change in 1964.
In fall 2008, it was a Fútbol de Primera Radio affiliate. In more recent years, it served as a simulcast partner with its FM sibling, and earlier this year was a TUDN Radio affiliate, offering Spanish-language sports.
Now, Entravision Communications, which acquired the station in April 2000 as part of a massive $475 million acquisition of Amador Bustos’ Z-Spanish Radio, is parting ways with it.
It will mark the end of Spanish-language broadcasting for the AM.
Entravision is selling KCVR-AM 1570 in Lodi, Calif., to Punjabi American Media for $250,000.
It has a 3 tower array with a directional two-pattern output, with 5kw during daylight hours and 500 watts at night.
The towers are in a largely rural agricultural area, near vineyards to the northeast of Stockton.
Even at night, KCVR can be heard across Stockton, and even Sacramento, to the north. It does cover Modesto or points south, and cannot clear the Altamont Grade separating Modesto and Stockton from the San Francisco-Oakland market.
A $12,500 deposit is being held by Dennis J. Kelly as escrow agent.
The buyer is a 50%/49% partnership between Balwinder Kaur Khalsa and Dilpreet S. Khalsa.
P.A.M. will add KCVR to a collection of California radio stations that includes KIID-AM in Sacramento, KLHC-AM in Bakersfield, KOBO-AM in Yuba City, and KWRU-AM in Fresno. FM translators are tied to each of these facilities.
For Entravision, KCVR-AM was likely a non-essential asset, as listening patterns have shifted toward FM radio. In Stockton, it will continue to have a presence through KTSE-FM 97.1 “La Suavecita” and KCVR-FM “Fuego 98.9.”
