Kelowna-based soft rock and hits station 103.9 The Lake has been acquired by Pattison Media, which is looking to strengthen its position in the market.

The station first began broadcasting as an adult hits station under the name 103.9 The Juice, owned by Vista Broadcasting. The station was later sold to Avenue Radio in 2017, and was then changed to an oldies format and, later, a soft contemporary station.

Avenue Radio filed for bankruptcy in March 2020, citing challenges brought on by the pandemic. Paul Larsen, a former co-owner of Clear Sky Radio, purchased the station and resumed broadcasting the following year under its current branding and format.

“Rescuing CKOV-FM after it went off air at the start of the pandemic has been one of the most fulfilling accomplishments of my career,” Larsen said in a statement. “I am proud that together with my talented staff, we were able to save this valuable community resource […] but as I look to the future, I know the radio station will be in a stronger position long-term as part of a larger media organization. To be able to transition the ownership of CKOV-FM to Pattison Media ensures the station will remain owned by an independent, innovative British Columbia company, with the reputation and resources to take it to new heights.”

According to the station’s website, 103.9 The Lake reaches 38,500 listeners in the Kelowna area weekly.

Pattison’s other radio stations in the Kelowna region are rock station 104.7 The Lizard and adult hits station Beach Radio. It also owns local news website Kelowna10.

The company said in its release that the new acquisition will allow it to expand on synergies with its other Kelowna properties. Rod Schween, president of Pattison Media, added that buying The Lake is part of an effort to “compete strongly for listenership and to emerge as the first choice for listeners and advertisers in the Kelowna market,” after a recent CRTC ruling capped ownership of radio stations in a single market at three.