Berkeley: Historic Radio Station Building Sold

A proposed sale of two radio stations will most likely leave the California Historical Radio Society looking for a new home for itself and the Bay Area Radio Museum and Radio Hall of Fame.

According to contracostatimes.com, stations KVTO-AM in Berkeley and KVVN-AM in Santa Clara are to be sold by YMF Media Inc. to Pham Radio Communication LLC pending Federal Communications Commission approval of the deal. An application to transfer the licenses was filed on June 6.

Included in the deal are the historic KRE studios near Aquatic Park in Berkeley, which the CHRS uses as the Bay Area Radio Museum. KVTO is the successor to KRE, which was the first 24-hour station in Northern California.

CHRS President Steve Kushman said his organization had its first meeting with representatives of Pham Radio Communication on Monday.

"After a cordial meeting between CHRS and PRC, indications still remain that CHRS is secure at KRE for the near future," Kushman said. "Another meeting will be held between July 10-20."

Earlier, Kushman said, "Nobody's kicking us out of there. We're not going to have to suddenly move thousands of books and thousands of radios."

CHRS had been using the studios on a rent-free license granted by the station's previous owners in exchange for restoring the building. The property was dilapidated and covered with graffiti when CHRS first took it over.

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