KPBS-FM TO SWITCH TO CLASSICAL FORMAT

Radio station KPBS-FM (89.5), a non-commercial public radio station, will begin broadcasting classical music in October, ending a five-year experiment with a newsmagazine format.

The move, aimed at improving the quality of KPBS’ programming, is in line with a goal of doubling the station’s audience by 1990, a station spokesman said Wednesday. It also gives the San Diego radio market a second classical music station. KFSD-FM (94.1) now serves that audience.

Craig Dorval, program director for KPBS, said the station chose classical music because it holds the potential for a larger audience. “We know there’s room in the city for two classical music radio stations,” Dorval said. KPBS brass studied a possible change for two years, including broadcasting jazz music which is played by KIFM-FM (93) and KSDS-FM (88.3).

When asked about KPBS’ coming change, Hal Rosenberg, senior vice president of Lotus Communications in Los Angeles which owns KFSD, said, “Good for them. When we bought the station (in 1973), they were classical. The more classical programming, the more it helps the city and the performing arts.”

Dick Warshaw, who was named KFSD vice president and general manager last week, doubted that the shift would affect his station’s advertisers. However, it could affect the number of listeners, he said.

Dorval said KPBS had not dropped its commitment to news and information programming. Although it will drop its weekday local news and information program, Contact 89, KPBS will continue to broadcast “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered,” two nationally syndicated programs. The popular “A Prairie Home Companion,” also will be retained.

“We gave it a shot,” Dorval said of the newsmagazine format, noting that overall, KPBS’ audience had risen during the five-year period, due to its nationally syndicated programs. KPBS’ overall audience share is 1.5%, Dorval said.

When the station shifts to the new format Oct. 1, it will also go to a 24-hour broadcast schedule. Its broadcast day now ends at midnight and resumes at 5 a.m.

Although programming details have not been completed, Dorval said classical music will air daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in place of “Contact 89” and will replace the Spanish-language program “Contacto 89,” which now airs from 8 p.m. to midnight.

“Music Through the Night,” a taped program from the American Public Radio Service, will air weeknights after “All Things Considered.”

Two newsmagazine producers will be replaced with classical music producers in the change to musical programming, Dorval said. Also cut will be the Sunday night big-band program, “Pacific Ballroom,” which will be replaced with an as yet unnamed Spanish-language program.