KPLU public radio will soon have new call letters – KNKX, which will be pronounced, “Connects.”
That was the word on Friday from Friends of 88.5 FM, the nonprofit group that raised the money to buy the public radio station from Pacific Lutheran University.
The group said the name change will take effect after it formally takes ownership of the station, scheduled for Aug. 30.
Last November, PLU announced its intent to sell the news and jazz station to KUOW Public Radio.
But that would have closed KPLU's newsroom and led to layoffs, which prompted fans of the south Sound station to start a “Save KPLU” campaign.
PLU and the University of Washington, which holds KUOW’s license, agreed to give the community group a chance to raise $7 million to buy the station.
The group succeeded and the deal has been made official.
