STORY AND PHOTO BY KARENE BOSSICK

Boise State Public Radio has purchased the Wood River Valley’s classic music station.

The organization gained ownership of KWRV 91.9 FM in Sun Valley from Minnesota Public Radio this week.

The station, which went on air 31 years ago in 1993 with the help of funding from Sun Valley-area families, will be featured alongside Boise State Public Radio’s flagship news service—KBSS at 91.1 FM—and on 100.3 FM. Boise State Public Radio paid $120,000 to buy the station, according to FCC files.

The public radio station, founded 45 years ago, has expanded its broadcast sites across Idaho, with additions in Lewiston, Pocatello, and Cambridge in the past few years, said Tom Michael, Boise State Public Radio general manager.

“We hope to super-serve the residents of the Wood River Valley with this music service, complementing our existing news service,” he added.

The new KWRV will continue to feature classical music, along with eclectic music programs on weekday evenings and weekends. Longstanding programs, such as Classical Music, Performance Today and Pipedreams, which features pipe organ music and interviews with organists and builders, will remain.

Other programs, like Boise Philharmonic Showcase and Sunday Concert Hall, which features a sampling of different historical musical periods, such as Baroque, will be added. Those who love Americana, folk and rock can find them on World Café on weekday evenings. Tamara Ansotegui’s Open Range Radio, which features Americana, folk, rock and country, and Private Idaho, which features music that defies boundaries, will be featured on Saturday mornings using local hosts.

“This is a great outcome for the station and the community,” said Duchessne Drew, president of Minnesota Public Radio. “We know KWRV is in good hands with Boise State Public Radio.