DeKalb station WCPT-FM bought out by Educational Media Foundation

DeKALB – A local radio station officially will be bought out by a nonprofit religious corporation within the next few months.

Educational Media Foundation, a California nonprofit that operates radio networks such as K-Love and Air1 and features contemporary Christian music, has agreed to buy WCPT-FM, which is licensed out of DeKalb from WDEK Inc., an Illinois corporation, for $1.6 million.

The purchase is pending Federal Communications Commission approval, which could take up to three months, WCPT general manager Mark Pinski said. Despite the station no longer being independently owned, “We’ll be fine, and listeners will be fine,” he said.

Pinski said he is not expecting any changes in staffing because of the sale. He said changes in programming, including segments such as The Stephanie Miller Show and Out Chicago, will not be affected by the sale, either.

“The progressive message will continue on 820 Chicago,” Pinski said.

Pinski said the station will continue to broadcast at 820 AM out of Chicago and 92.5 FM in the far west suburbs of the city. He said people also still will be able to listen at WCPT820.com.

The news comes after 94.9 WDBK-FM, a contemporary music station, was sold for $610,000 to Mid-Way Radio Inc. in late June.