KFAC-AM and FM Sold to Heifetz Kin for $33.5 Million

In what may be the first foray of a classical music broadcast war, KFAC-AM (1330) and FM (92.3) have been sold for $33.5 million to a new company headed by violinist Jascha Heifetz’s daughter-in-law.

For the moment, the extremely stable music and on-air personality lineup of Los Angeles’ oldest and only commercial classical stations remain unchanged, according to Classic Communication President Louise Heifetz. She said there will be changes in 1987, however, beginning with the departure Jan. 1 of longtime program director and “World of Opera” host Carl Princi.

Robert Goldfarb, an executive with noncommercial classical station KUSC-FM (91.5) until he left for a broadcast position in Buffalo, N.Y., two years ago, will return to Los Angeles to replace Princi as KFAC director of programming and operations, Heifetz said.

“We are definitely committed to classical music,” she told The Times. “We are not going to go country after the first of the year.”

At KUSC, that news was met with mixed emotions because Goldfarb is not the only KUSC veteran whom KFAC’s new owners have tried to hire.

Shortly after the sale of KFAC became final on Dec. 8, Classic Communication recruited KUSC announcer Gail Eichenthal. Until this week, KUSC officials thought they had lost Eichenthal, who has gained a national reputation as the announcer for Los Angeles Philharmonic broadcasts.

“She will not be joining us, primarily because she has decided to change directions in her own career,” Heifetz said on Wednesday.

Eichenthal could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but KUSC General Manager Wallace Smith said that the station will attempt to retain her services. The Los Angeles Philharmonic broadcasts are carried by satellite nationally over Minnesota-based American Public Radio, and KUSC is the primary APR affiliate in the Los Angeles area.

Both Smith and Heifetz said they are geared up for a little competitive rivalry, if not all-out war.

“There’s nothing wrong with a little competitive spirit,” Heifetz said.

“I really do believe that the community will be better served,” said Smith, whose station depends upon subscriber support rather than the sale of commercial advertising time. “If this community can support two contemporary art museums, it can support two classical music services.”

KFAC-AM and FM, which have been for sale for more than a year, have carried the most stable lineup of deejays in Los Angeles, some of whom have been with the station for more than a decade.

In addition to Heifetz as its president and chief executive officer, Classic Communication’s chairman and chief operating officer is Edward Argow, who has been KFAC executive vice president and sales manager for the last 12 years, Heifetz said.