Lotus Communications has begun its LMA of 980 KFWB Los Angeles and has flipped the station from South Asian “Desi 980” to Spanish Ranchera “980 La Mera Mera“.

Lotus announced its acquisition of KFWB from Universal Media Access for $11.2 million in early October. Universal Media Access had just acquired the station from CBS’ KFWB License Trust in January for $8 million and debuted the South Asian format in March.

The new format fills the gap created by 930 KHJ’s flip from Ranchera to Catholic in 2014. That format continues on “La Ranchera 96.7” KWIZ-FM Santa Ana, but that signal only covers Orange County and not the bulk of the Los Angeles market.