Malibu’s newest radio station has just gone on the air. And not only will the station deliver local news, but today, it received the green light to carry programming from National Public Radio.
97.5 KBU was launched by longtime Malibu resident and veteran newsman Hans Laetz.
After a year long effort, Laetz proudly declares that KBU is the newest and smallest NPR station in the country. According to Laetz, popular programs such as “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered” will reach out to listeners as early as April.
In addition to a full catalogue of music, the station will also feature National Public Radio shows as well as local breaking news, traffic emergency alerts and of course, surf reports. “We have an interface that is major market quality,” Laetz told The Malibu Times. “But it’s going to be real simple and we are going to have a lot of fun.”
The station can be heard throughout western Malibu from Kanan Dune Road South to areas near Bluffs Park. It can also be picked up in some areas near Carbon Canyon and Las Flores on to portions of Santa Monica.
It comes as a great relief for residents who count on local weather and traffic reports in an area notorious for poor reception.
There are plans to bring a second station into eastern Malibu with talks in negotiation.
Laetz has been testing out the station’s equipment for weeks but with a few tweaks but assures local audiences that it won’t be long before the signal is ringing out loud and clear.