Air America

Is Air America really leaving Lane County? We just heard today (Nov. 27) that Air America content might remain on the local airwaves despite the pending sale of KOPT AM 1600 to OPB. Sadie Dressekie of Churchill Media tells us Churchill “has been in discussions with a number of parties that are interested in taking over the format and putting it back on KOPT’s original signal, 1450 AM.” The frequency currently broadcasts Deportes Radio, 24-hour sports in Spanish.

Churchill’s other station is the LaX network, broadcasting Spanish language news, talk and music at 660 AM in the Eugene-Springfield area.

Breaking news: We heard from a reliable source today (Monday, Nov. 26) that KOPT AM 1600 has been sold to Oregon Public Broadcasting. KOPT will become another public radio station in partnership with KLCC. A formal press release announcing the sale is expected Tuesday, Nov. 27. No other details were available at this writing.

KOPT was owned by Churchill Media and was an Air America affiliate. The station also had a strong local news and progressive talk show element until the lay-offs in August of a string of award-winning local broadcast journalists. National programming has continued. Will the new KOPT revive local progressive talk radio? We certainly hope so.