Any future for CCM radio in Indianapolis?

[MightyFrenchman]

Any chance that commercial contemporary Christian radio will return to Indianapolis? K-Love's a rimshot signal and is merely a rebroadcast of a satellite feed. Indy's a big enough market to support a commercial station. Love 98 did it for over 22 years followed by The Song that did an outstanding job for a couple of years until Susquehanna sold it to Cumulus who then dumped the format. As of today there is not one commercial CCM station in Greater Indianapolis, with a population of one and a quarter million. Whose Super Bowl Champion coach is a born-again Christian!

 

[BehindTheLines]

It's just a matter of time, my friend.

More than likely...it'll have to be someone local.

 

[gr8oldies]

Dude, all you did was complain about The Song not saying Jesus enough!

 

[War Of Attrition]

As of today there is not one commercial CCM station in Greater Indianapolis, with a population of one and a quarter million. Whose Super Bowl Champion coach is a born-again Christian!

I don't see what Tony has to do with anything. He is just one person. For all we know, he may not even like CCM, it's not a spiritual requirement you know.

 

[MrJoey]

Sadly, INDY has many CCM stations that are on the frindge in the city. When INDY does get a new CCM...hire Kurt Wallace. He deserves it!

 

[MightyFrenchman]

Dude, all you did was complain about The Song not saying Jesus enough!

I was the original Program Director of Love 98 and for Love 98's last 14 years I was in sales. IF Jesus in His sovereignty permits another commercial CCM station to go on the air in Indy and He graciously allows me to have some part in its set-up, it will be a ministry-oriented station like Love 98 was. Our on-air people were allowed to say Jesus' name on the air and not only were our listeners not offended, our advertisers were amazed at the great response they received from advertising on Love 98. Merely saying His name or a single Bible verse once in awhile is hardly cramming religion down someone's throat as you have suggested in the past.

 

[ChiefEngineer]

CCM in the Indy Metro is growing strong.

WJCF has additional translators still going on the air. Ministry oriented as staff is all volunteer.

An opportunity to be a part of our ministry staff is always available.

We still can't get into the Indy Christian Yellow pages because of politics. In our 7 years on the air we are still locked out for political reasons.

We are in teh Christian Blue pages though. They haven't tried to put one ministry over another.

 

[War Of Attrition]

Any chance that commercial contemporary Christian radio will return to Indianapolis? K-Love's a rimshot signal and is merely a rebroadcast of a satellite feed. Indy's a big enough market to support a commercial station. Love 98 did it for over 22 years followed by The Song that did an outstanding job for a couple of years until Susquehanna sold it to Cumulus who then dumped the format.

I wouldn't be surprised if EMF was trying to get another station for the east side of town to compliment WIKL. Maybe AU will finally unload WQME.

Beyond that, I don't see a lot of possibilities. There are not many companies launching commercial CCM stations in recent history (not even Salem). While Indianapolis is probably a large enough trade area for Salem's taste there aren't many things to purchase and they are not interested in a stand-alone facility. This is why WRFD in Columbus is probably going to be sold soon if Salem cannot convince WCVO's owner to sell (efforts have been ongoing for years).

 

[BehindTheLines]

I can tell you that as long at WCVO in Columbus keeps making money hand-over-fist like they currently are, there won't be any selling going on. Besides, that group is heavy into the acquisition phase right now.

They just bought a translator in Richmond, Indiana and at least two more in other places in Ohio.

Don't look for WCVO to sell anything soon, except for their current land. I could see CVCO buying WRFD before I could see Salem buying CVO.

 

[Shadow Catcher]

IF Jesus in His sovereignty permits another commercial CCM station to go on the air in Indy and He graciously allows me to have some part in its set-up,

I hear you Mighty, My resume' and Mp3 are ready to send. I think I miss being a part of the Song as much as you miss Love 98.

 

[MightyFrenchman]

IF Jesus in His sovereignty permits another commercial CCM station to go on the air in Indy and He graciously allows me to have some part in its set-up,

I hear you Mighty, My resume' and Mp3 are ready to send. I think I miss being a part of the Song as much as you miss Love 98.

I need to update my resumé, I may have an aircheck reel from the last time I was on the air in the mid 80s, but I do make good coffee and I'm willing to take out the trash! I also have the "Sales Guy 2000" track record to show.

 

[neutralobserver]

...it will be a ministry-oriented station like Love 98 was.

...and we remain exactly where we were the last time this came up -- with no definition whatsoever of exactly what that means.


(And, for those who weren't here then, let me clarify that I'm not necessarily - and we can probably even say "certainly not" - against whatever that means...it's just that we don't know!)

 

[Shadow Catcher]

...it will be a ministry-oriented station like Love 98 was.

...and we remain exactly where we were the last time this came up -- with no definition whatsoever of exactly what that means

I think a 'ministry- oriented' definition will be different to us all. As for me I want to do really great radio. I want to entertain. I think ministry happens when we do just that.

I need to update my resumé, I may have an aircheck reel from the last time I was on the air in the mid 80s, but I do make good coffee and I'm willing to take out the trash! I also have the "Sales Guy 2000" track record to show.

Better get that reel on to a hard drive! I don't think I've seen a Reel to Reel in over 3 years. And I'd love to get a decent cup of coffee. ;D

 

[neutralobserver]

I think a 'ministry- oriented' definition will be different to us all. As for me I want to do really great radio. I want to entertain. I think ministry happens when we do just that.

I do, too.

"Minister" means "meet needs." A "ministry" is "an organization that meets needs." Friendship, companionship, entertainment, information, and "safe refuge" are all needs, and they're needs that a radio station can meet. I happen to think that demonstrating that Christians are "normal" people and not the weirdoes the press usually portrays us as being is a definite need, and that, too, is a need that a radio station can help meet. All of those things are positives.

As I seemed to recall almost immediately after hitting "post," the previous poster's definition of "ministry" was centered on his own on-air "sharing of his heart" when it came to the ills, toils, and troubles of people who called in to him. Such a depressing use of a BROADcast facility is not for me when the potential for positive impact is sooooo much greater.....

 

[Retro]

I was in Indianapolis recently and caught something on 90.5. It didn't come in real well though. There are some good stations in Southern Indiana as well.

 

[Shadow Catcher]

I was in Indianapolis recently and caught something on 90.5. It didn't come in real well though. There are some good stations in Southern Indiana as well.

Probably a K-LOVE. I don't care enough about a K-LOVE to bother finding out if it is. Maybe somebody knows?

 

[MightyFrenchman]

I was in Indianapolis recently and caught something on 90.5. It didn't come in real well though. There are some good stations in Southern Indiana as well.

Probably a K-LOVE. I don't care enough about a K-LOVE to bother finding out if it is. Maybe somebody knows?

90.5 is K-Love. It's on a station licensed to Greencastle. That's why it doesn't cover the northeast or east sides of Indy very well. And while it's good that they are playing CCM and their on-air people aren't prohibited from saying Jesus' name, it's unable to be the personal medium that radio can be. Because it's only a rebroadcast of a satellite feed, there's no local involvement whatsoever. You've gotta have that no matter what your format is if you're going to be relevant.

 

[gr8oldies]

Plenty of people I know listen to K-Love and don't give a darn whether John and Sheri are sitting in a studio locally or in California. In fact, several of them are happy that they can hear the same station when they travel. The locals have had nearly 50 years to go CCm and they aren't going to do it.

 

[MightyFrenchman]

Plenty of people I know listen to K-Love and don't give a darn whether John and Sheri are sitting in a studio locally or in California. In fact, several of them are happy that they can hear the same station when they travel. The locals have had nearly 50 years to go CCm and they aren't going to do it.

They sound like the extremely small percentage of people who listen to satellite radio and for whom the local involvement of a radio station, whatever the format, means nothing. Radio stations, whatever the format, aren't going to reach them.

 

[War Of Attrition]

Plenty of people I know listen to K-Love and don't give a darn whether John and Sheri are sitting in a studio locally or in California. In fact, several of them are happy that they can hear the same station when they travel. The locals have had nearly 50 years to go CCm and they aren't going to do it.

They sound like the extremely small percentage of people who listen to satellite radio and for whom the local involvement of a radio station, whatever the format, means nothing.

Huh? What are you even trying to say?

Comparing a syndicated morning show and a pay satellite service that requires a new radio is absurdly hilarious. Listeners like a local radio station in the sense that they can easily hear it on radios in their car, home, and work. They do not care if the programming is originating on the moon as long as it is entertaining and engaging. Is their added benefit for sprinkling local references and being able to do meet and greets with listeners? Sure, but that is gravy and certainly not a metric by which the audience will reject a show or station.