Classical 89 to remain on the airwaves after all

Classical 89 to remain on the airwaves after all

(John Wilson, KSL TV, File)


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PROVO — Classical music fans, rejoice! Classical 89 won’t be removed from the airwaves, after all.

The 24-hour classical music station was slated to merge with BYUradio June 30, BYU Broadcasting, which owns both stations, first announced in October 2017.

However, BYU Broadcasting manager Michael Dunn announced Thursday the department was able to reach an agreement to buy KUMT-FM (The Mountain 107.9) and BYUradio will move to that station. Classical 89 will remain at 89.1 on the radio dial.

The announcement also means BYUradio, which Dunn said is available to more than 30 million people nationwide via satellite radio, will be more accessible to listeners along the Wasatch Front.

The announcement is also a big win for fans of classical music, who started petitions back in October to save the station. Those petitions combined to garner more than 15,000 signatures.

Those at BYU Broadcasting took notice of the response.

“We’ve really been looking for solutions, alternatives to satisfy this demand for classical music ever since we announced it and still do it in a responsible way,” Dunn said. “We just started looking at alternatives, and lo and behold, KUMT 107.9 popped up that it was for sale.”

That wasn’t an option back in October when BYU Broadcasting announced wholesale changes to television and radio programming. In addition to merging Classical 89 and BYUradio, the department announced it was dropping its PBS affiliation, and instead, will be broadcasting more of BYUtv’s original content.

Thursday’s announcement didn’t alter those plans, Dunn added.

He hoped Thursday’s announcement will satisfy both classical music fans and those hoping to listen to BYU’s national content.

“I’m thrilled to accommodate both things because it was never about we don’t like classical music, it’s just how do we simplify, reduce and find a strategic focus?” Dunn said. “This allowed us to really do both things, which I think is a win for everybody.”

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Carter Williams is an award-winning reporter who covers general news, outdoors, history and sports for KSL.com.

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