Press Releases
Classical 89.5, KMFA secures full funding
for High Definition (HD) Conversion
Jeff & Gail Kodosky, Bettye & Bill Nowlin, and
Carla Goodman unite to match CPB funds
September, 2007 (Austin, TX) – Classical 89.5, KMFA-FM continues its 40th anniversary year long celebration by announcing directed gifts and grants totaling $182,000 designated to fund its conversion to High Definition (HD) by September of 2008.
In early September, KMFA was awarded a $75,000 grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting - representing 40% of the total estimated funds needed for the project. After learning of the station’s critical need for matching funds to start the project - KMFA is pleased to announce that community leaders Jeff & Gail Kodosky and Bettye & Bill Nowlin have each committed over $50,000 towards the remaining funding needed. Additional revenue for the project was also committed by Carla Goodman, as well as Dr. William Schleuse.
Upon notifying Jack Allen, KMFA station manager, Jeff Kodosky stated, on behalf of the Nowlins and Kodoskys, “We are proud of KMFA and excited to be part of this momentous project.”
“The Central Texas classical music lover is the real recipient of these gifts,” said KMFA General Manager, Jack Allen. “This support allows us to greatly improve our service to them. Conversion to HD allows us to provide a higher quality broadcast signal, replace 27 year old equipment and gives us a second channel for programming exploration.”
KMFA Board Member, Pat Robertson, said, “In this, our 40th anniversary year, as we celebrate the founding mentality of the Central Texas community that provided the initial funding for the station in 1967 - the Kodosky, Nowlin, and Goodman gifts represent a new founders mentality that will be needed to succesfully launch the station into the next 40 years. We are very grateful for their vision and leadership.”
HD radio converts current AM and FM signals (analog radio) into digital signals achieving a number of dramatic benefits to listeners - including better reception and the radio display of additional information, such as composer and composition titles. 75% of all public radio stations have already made the conversion as well as roughly 50% of Austin’s radio stations.
“As one of few remaining all classical, listener supported public radio stations in the country, KMFA is indeed a treasured asset to our community. We sincerely thank the Kodoskys and the Nowlins for their recognition of this fact through their significant gifts. They will truly make a difference in how well we can serve our listeners going forward, “stated KMFA Board President, Steve Moore.
“We are thrilled to make a difference for Austin music lovers,” said Bettye Nowlin, who also let the station know that her daughter, Carla Goodman (a UT Radio-Television & Film Graduate), upon her recent return to Austin a few years ago, finds KMFA’s programming a welcome and “refreshing change”.
About Classical 89.5, KMFA: Classical 89.5 KMFA is a listener supported, community radio station – incorporated in 1967 - relying on 85% of its funding from direct listener and business contributions. A noncommercial, classical format station – KMFA features both local programming and nationally distributed programming from Public Radio International, American Public Media and Minnesota Public Radio.
For more information on KMFA, visit www.kmfa.org
