Omega Investments, of the Omega Church International Ministries based in Florida, is now the new owner of KLAS ESPN Sports FM 89.

Founded by Jamaican Johnathan Wayne Manning in 2004, Omega has converted programming to six hours of sports and 18 hours of gospel on the main frequency. The ministry also operates the Omega Church Broadcasting Network and founded Radio WOIB FLL 2015 and other global stations.

Bishop Wayne Manning, who lives in Coral Springs, Florida, gave an update on programming during attendance at the Emmanuel Apostolic annual convention in Kingston on July 17.

He shared that the deal for KLAS was initiated in May 2022 and came after a long season of searching for broadcasting outlets on the island. The deal includes the 81.1 to 81.9 FM bands, one of which will become all-gospel, while sports will be retained on the other. Bishop Manning said at the convention that he was aware of Jamaicans’ great love of sports.

KLAS sports radio, founded in 1989, provides sports coverage in Jamaica, the Caribbean region and internationally through free-to air transmission and via the Internet. The station is an international affiliate of US-based ESPN.

Bishop Manning stated, “It is our intention eventually to utilise one of the frequencies for 24 hours of gospel,” noting that in the meantime gospel is available on the main frequency.

Manning noted that Omega is currently targeting up to 15 countries globally with the “undiluted word around the world”. In Florida the ministry has flagship stations in several communities, Central and South America and in Nottingham in the UK.

Bishop Manning shared, “We are constantly growing. We give God thanks for what he has done. Out of nothing God can create something. When one door closes he opens many others. There is a God that looks beyond your faults. You may be rejected but not abandoned.”

KLAS traditionally offers regular commentary on international sports, interviews with athletes from around the world, and claims “the best in journalism and professionalism in the examination of sports across Jamaica and the world”.

Broadcasting from its location on Haining Road in St Andrew, its former principal was executive chairman Alston Stewart, who earlier in 2022 described Omega Investments as a partnership.

He told news sources that there would be no immediate change to the name of the radio station or its programme offerings. He said also the sports format would remain and new content would be added over time.

Although affected by debt periodically, KLAS was said to be one of the most profitable, locally, due to its sports emphasis.