Pattison Media has announced its intention to acquire Kelowna’s 103.9 The Lake (CKOV-FM), pending CRTC approval.
103.9 The Lake is a passion project of former Clear Sky Radio network owner Paul Larsen, who stepped in to buy the station – an early casualty of the pandemic – formerly branded as Soft 103.9 under the ownership of Castanet Media founder Nick Frost.
Larsen soft-launched 103.9 The Lake in March 2021 with a Gold-based Soft AC format aimed at appealing to the Kelowna market which counts half its residents as over age 45.
It was important to the 30-year radio veteran to also repatriate the CKOV (Okanagan Valley) heritage call letters to the city, which originally date back its first radio station in 1931.
“Rescuing CKOV-FM after it went off air at the start of the pandemic has been one of the most fulfilling accomplishments of my career,” said Larsen, in a Pattison Media release. “I am proud that together with my talented staff, we were able to save this valuable community resource. It’s been an honour to serve our listeners and clients but as I look to the future, I know the radio station will be in a stronger position long-term as part of a larger media organization. To be able to transition the ownership of CKOV-FM to Pattison Media ensures the station will remain owned by an independent, innovative British Columbia company, with the reputation and resources to take it to new heights.”
Pattison Media will take advantage of allowances made in the CRTC’s most recent radio review to own an additional station in a single market.
“With the evolving broadcasting landscape across the country, the CRTC reached a decision in the recent radio review to allow for one entity to own up to three radio stations on the AM or FM band in a single market. We are acting on that decision by positioning ourselves to compete strongly for listenership and to emerge as the first choice for listeners and advertisers in the Kelowna market,” explained Pattison Media President Rod Schween. “We are proud to be able to have the opportunity to continue the valuable service that Paul and the staff at CKOV-FM have provided to Kelowna residents.”
Pattison says the acquisition will strengthen the company’s position in the highly competitive Kelowna market and further capitalize on synergies with current stations, The Lizard (CKLZ-FM), Beach Radio (CKQQ-FM), and news portal, Kelowna10.
Paul Larsen was a guest on Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast on 103.9 The Lake’s one-year anniversary. Listen here:
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