By Maria Altman, St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis, MO. – The Federal Communications Commission has approved the sale of KFUO-FM, a long-time classical music station in St. Louis.
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is selling the station to Gateway Creative Broadcasting for $26 million.
Gateway plans to brand KFUO "Joy FM" and play Christian contemporary music.
As the only classical music station on the air in St. Louis, many listeners fought to keep the sale from going through.
But there were also opponents within the church, such as Rev. Robert Bergt. He says he views the 62-year-old station as an inheritance.
"I think it was a gift to us and that we should never have sold it so long as we had the wherewithal to keep it open and going," Bergt said.
LCMS spokeswoman Vicki Biggs says the church will use the assets to fund new opportunities for missions and ministry worldwide.
She says the transfer of the station's ownership will take place on a mutually agreeable date, but that has yet to be chosen.