AFR Starts New Talk Network - CCM and Classic Gospel Networks Dropped

[richllewis]

There has always been a need for a Christian Talk Radio stations in smaller communities, especially in the local market of Jackson and Meridian, Ms. Here in Forest, Ms this is a change for the better since in this area we have five radio stations that do preaching and teaching programs; two of AFR talk, one of AFR inspiration, and one from Moody somewhat since the play a little music in between.I hear one of AFR talk's station is licensed to the Jackson Metro Area and one AFR talk station for Meridian, Ms. This is the type of Christian talk radio you will find in New York, Philadelphia, Dallas (which has quite a few), Memphis, Little Rock, New Orleans and other large cities. This complements, In the case of Jackson you add K-Love, a CCM station from Clinton,Ms, a couple of black Gospel Stations, and a station that plays southern Gospel and country gospel; and in Meridian one station playing CCM and K-Love and a couple of gospel stations I do not know which format they are.By the way there is also Air 1 as a low power station. Don't cry about Tupelo and Columbus, Ms losing a CCM station because recently K-Love added a station in Starkville on 104.5. And in Forest, Ms our local AM station plays southern Gospel.

 

[R.D.P.]

I'm just glad that we have Faith Radio from Montgomery, Moody and AFR in my market.  Christian radio would be scarce if we didn't have them.  Although I'm still working on my project, I still find myself listening to these three stations, despite their heavy tilt towards talk and Preaching.  I'm not knocking it though.  Glad that they're reaching an area that had a real need for Christian radio, to begin with.

R.D.P. <><

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I'm just glad that we have Faith Radio from Montgomery, Moody and AFR in my market. Christian radio would be scarce if we didn't have them. Although I'm still working on my project, I still find myself listening to these three stations, despite their heavy tilt towards talk and Preaching. I'm not knocking it though. Glad that they're reaching an area that had a real need for Christian radio, to begin with.

R.D.P. <><

I am, of course glad that Christian radio exists to "feed the sheep". However, Christian radio and churches in general lose kids when they become young adults, and they do not come back when they are young marrieds and professionals. This is a ghastly situation, and puts Christianity in the realm of a minority faith on the run in a post-modern world. Persecution cannot be far behind - and the church has always survived and even flourished under such conditions. I lay the fault, though, for our present situation squarely on the church and Christian radio, because both have failed to keep up with the times, and both have failed to reach young people. Now we will reap what we have sown.

 

[anotherguyTN]

From what I could see on the coverage map for K-LOVE on 104.5 in Starkville MS I'm not sure how much of a signal it has into Tupelo, but it appears to cover Columbus pretty well. I also found out that K-LOVE has station in Fredonia, KY that reaches into Paducah so they may not be without a CCM format like I was afraid of. Also, areas South of Paducah can get Air 1 on 88.9 in Union City, TN.

I think that most Christian stations that lean toward teaching/talk formats either don't get it that there needs to be Christian programming geared toward younger listeners (Some to the point that they're actually anti-CCM) or they have the attitude that it isn't what God is leading them to do, and that someone else should do it. Unfortunately that doesn't happen very often. I think that is where AFR is at. I don't think they're anti-CCM, but like I said earlier I think the CCM network was more of an afterthought for what to do with a second station in an area and it wasn't done very well. Unfortunately too many station owners see the talk programming as "more important" than reaching younger listeners.

My biggest concern isn't so much the dropping of the CCM network in areas where there may already be more options for CCM. I am concerned though, when the local programs that were geared toward teens are dropped, like what happened at least in Jackson and Paducah, and possibly other areas.