The University of Minnesota Duluth has initiated the process of selling KUMD, its Duluth public radio station, to WDSE, a Public Broadcasting Service television station.
UMD Chancellor Lendley Black introduced a letter of intent to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents on Thursday to sell the station to WDSE for $175,000.
The final details will be worked out over the next few months, but the Board of Regents has engaged in talks of a sale since 2018, citing financial challenges that don't allow support for KUMD's ongoing operations and equipment needs.
"Although I enjoy KUMD quite a bit and appreciate its many contributions to our community, campus community and the larger community, it has become increasingly difficult for us to provide much-needed financial support for the ongoing operations and maintenance of KUMD and its broadcasting equipment," Black said during the regents' finance and operations committee meeting.
KUMD has five full-time employees, who would all be offered jobs under the deal. The station would remain in Duluth and remain a public radio station.
"This transaction retains a local public radio presence in Duluth, Superior, and northeast Minnesota. WDSE understands and honors the community commitment that has been a long-standing tradition of KUMD," Black said.
Maija Jenson, former program director for KUMD and faculty member, said keeping the station public is "a huge relief and a huge boon to the community and to students."
For 63 years, UMD has operated the station, which offers music and local programming to listeners in an 80-mile radius at 103.3 FM and worldwide at kumd.org.
