One year ago, three all-sports radio stations broadcasted in central Iowa. Now, that number has dwindled to one.

KJJC-FM and KLRX-FM, which carries ESPN Radio programming and St. Louis Cardinals baseball, has been sold and will switch to a Christian music format. This marks the second time in the last year an all-sports station has switched to a Christian format. Last September, KXTK-AM, which carried the Iowa Cubs, made that switch as well.

Lifestyle Communications, which owns KJJC and KLRX, has been bankrupt for more than a year. The new owner, Northwestern College and Radio of St. Paul, Minn., has signed a letter of intent to purchase the station from the Des Moines bank that holds the stations in receivership.

A firm in receivership is run by a third party on behalf on the creditors. This action often leads to the sale of all or parts of the business.

Representatives of Whitfield and Eddy PLC, the Des Moines law firm handling the station’s case, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Northwestern College, a four-year, non-denominational Christian liberal arts college, currently owns 13 radio stations in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Florida. All of the stations carry Christian programming.

Paul Virts, senior vice president for media at Northwestern, said he was not sure when the Federal Communications Commission will approve the sale.

“Our attorneys project we should be through the FCC approval process in December or January,” he said.

Virts also said the two stations will initially simulcast the same programming in order to reach as much of central Iowa as possible.

Neither station’s signal covers all of the Des Moines and Ames markets. KJJC is licensed to Osceola, while KLRX is licensed to Madrid.

“The stations have technical challenges to work through,” Virts said.

In the meantime, KJJC and KRLX will continue with its normal programming, according to station general manager Bob Dyer. He said that will include the stations’ local, syndicated and network features.

KJJC and KRLX also carry broadcasts of NFL and NCAA football games through the Westwood One radio network.

The purchase leaves central Iowa with one station dedicated to sports programming 24 hours a day. KXNO-AM is owned by Clear Channel communications, the largest owner of radio stations in the United States.

The station carries ISU football and basketball, Fox Sports Radio and Kansas City Chiefs football.

Joel McCrea, general manager for WHO and KXNO, said his station is looking into acquiring some of KJJC/KLRX’s programming. “We’ve talked to ESPN,” he said. “We’re trying to figure out right now what the options are.”