Disney is undergoing cost cutting measures as the company restructures operations, slashing content from Disney+, conducts a series of layoffs, and prepares to buy out Hulu. One of the most recent changes is selling its last remaining radio station, which has been on the potential chopping block for several years.
Calvary Costa Mesa, a religious broadcaster, is buying Disney’s AM radio station KRDC 1110 for $5 million. KRDC was formerly called KRLA and has a focus on Chicano artists and R&B jams, as well as CHR and some talk radio shows. It’s been a broadcast staple in the Los Angeles area for years. As part of the deal, Calvary Costa Mesa will also receive ownership of an FM translator, K256CX on 99.1 FM airing in Pasadena, California.
The clear channel station is a 50,000-watt daytime AM reaching a possible audience of around 15 million listeners. KRDC’s signal will be added to Calvary Costa Mesa’s established KWVE airing from the Orange County FM station.
Radio Disney has had a long history of radio play under The Walt Disney Corporation and has a long evolution leading up to the current sale to Calvary Costa Mesa. Starting as Radio Disney in 2003 through 2017, the station then became Radio Disney Country until 2021 before adapting to ESPN Radio Los Angeles’ KSPN.
KRDC isn’t getting the same mega-million deals as the other stations the company has already sold. Disney has been selling other radio stations since 2021, selling the company’s sports AM stations in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago to Good Karma Brands for $15 million. Disney sold another AM station to VCY America for $9.22 million the same year before listing KRDC for sale last year.
The sale of KRDC to Calvary Costa Mesa marks the end of Disney’s involvement in radio altogether, now focusing more on its streaming platforms and other content services.