Christian Radio Network

[e-dawg]

What do you think about Christian Radio Network who buys or set up radio stations that is 500-3,000 miles away from the home market? What do you think about these christian radio network groups.

AFR - American Family Radio
EMF - K-LOVE
EMF - AIR 1
CSN - Calvary Sattelite Network
CSN - Effect Radio
BRN - Bolt Radio Network
BBN - Bible Broadcasting Network
FLN - Family Life Network
FLR - Family Life Radio
FR - Family Radio
MRN - Moody Radio Network
KMRO - Radio Nueva Vida
TLN - The Life Network
VCY - Voice of Christian America
WFM - WAY FM
WPCS - Rejoice Radio Network
YCC - Your Christian Companion

 

[rbrucecarter5]

What do you think about Christian Radio Network who buys or set up radio stations that is 500-3,000 miles away from the home market? What do you think about these christian radio network groups.

AFR - American Family Radio
EMF - K-LOVE
EMF - AIR 1
CSN - Calvary Sattelite Network
CSN - Effect Radio
BRN - Bolt Radio Network
BBN - Bible Broadcasting Network
FLN - Family Life Network
FLR - Family Life Radio
FR - Family Radio
MRN - Moody Radio Network
KMRO - Radio Nueva Vida
TLN - The Life Network
VCY - Voice of Christian America
WFM - WAY FM
WPCS - Rejoice Radio Network
YCC - Your Christian Companion

The only ones I listen to are Air-1 and WAY-FM, but both are kind of wimped out from what they used to be, so I don't listen that much. I've heard of some of the others, most are boring snooze fests or downright annoying in their musical blandness or programming preaching all the time instead of music. I either stream Hot or the Rock from Orlando, or over the air NGEN from Houston.

 

[R.D.P.]

WAY FM and K-Love

Are the ones I like the best.

The other ones are either too boring for me and/or I'm not too familiar with them.

R.D.P. <><

 

[anotherguyTN]

I'll just comment on the networks I'm familiar with:

Of the all music networks Air 1 and WAY-FM are the best. I know K-LOVE gets a lot of criticism for repetition but if it wasn't for them a lot of areas wouldn't have any CCM radio because local stations wouldn't give it a chance.

AFR: Actually two different networks. One is all talk and programs while the other has some of the same programs and music. The music has changed over the years from inspo to soft AC CCM. Most of the teaching programs are Biblically sound, although some political talk can go to the extreme right with some of the call in shows that they apparently don't screen callers.

Bott: One of the best in Christian talk. I may not agree totally with everyone the carry, but most programs are Biblically sound. My biggest complaint about them is that they have been known to buy CCM stations and change them to their format with no regard for the previous listeners. But a lot of the blame on that goes on the previous owners who sold to Bott knowing they had no intention of keeping a CCM format

BBN: Most of the programs I'm familiar with are Biblically sound, although there are some I'm not familiar with. But their management is very anti-CCM.

Family Radio: Hopefully if Harold Camping is off for good, they might can change their direction, but they will probably still be ultra-traditional like BBN.

Moody: Probably the best in teaching programs. What little they do with music is only the softest CCM.

VCY - I'll admit I haven't heard them much, but from looking at their schedule they're ultra-traditional. They may have some good programs, but are very anti-CCM, and get too much into conspiracy theories. They supposedly claimed at one time that their name stood for The Voice of Christian Youth, but now they need to change their name.

Rejoice: I've never heard them, but they're connected to Pensacola Christian College, who is King James Only and very anti-CCM, which is enough to make me stay away from them.

So in the networks I'm familiar with that are mostly talk, I'd rank Moody the best, and AFR and Bott good with a few possible exceptions. But I would definitely stay away from BBN, Family Radio, VCY, and Rejoice.

 

[xmusicmatt]

WayFM is another that applies the region concept.. Nashville WayFM isn't 100% the same as Florida etc. Plus they do localize even some stations that air some of the network talent and have local studios with promotions, ministry staff.

 

[stewie]

What do you think about Christian Radio Network who buys or set up radio stations that is 500-3,000 miles away from the home market?

My hunch is that this was e-dawg's primary question. Unfortunately, it's not as cut and dried as it may appear--although I will say right off the bat that this underscores why I don't like using the word "network" to describe a lot of station groups.

First, it shouldn't be assumed that all of the organizations within that list are equal in terms of their geographic spread: Family Life Network pretty much just operates within western New York and northern Pennsylvania; its coverage area may be roughly on par with (or even less than) that of, say, Michigan's Smile FM or the Houston-based KHCB group.

That said, it doesn't take a lot of stations to have a sprawling footprint. California's Living Proof Broadcasting has only a few full-power stations (and some translators), but they tend to be spread out.

Separately, it should be noted that some of the groups within that list do have multiple "home markets". At least Bott and Moody definitely operate out of regional (or even local) offices/studios.

Yes, there are a lot of cases where such "networks" operate in many areas without having any local presence. Even so, there is at least some difference (not related to programming) between Catholic broadcasters like Immaculate Heart Radio and Starboard Media/Relevant Radio (which largely operate on AM stations) and the aforementioned WPCS/Rejoice Radio (which feeds a whole lot of FM translators [via satellite] out of maybe a couple full-power FM stations).

And, this gets back to why I try to avoid using "network" in a lot of cases here--preferring to use "station group" or something similar. While Moody still produces programs that air on non-Moody-owned stations--and even EMF has K-Love and Air 1 programming on a handful of non-EMF-owned stations--many of the others tend to just carry their own programming and/or air programming that's produced by others. In other words, they don't distribute programming to non-owned/operated stations.

It also neglects the fact that there are actual networks that distribute programming (including full formats) to a lot of stations without owning many; one example that I think fits this description is Radio 74 Internationale.

So, getting back to the original question, it almost is another way of asking, "What do you think of the 'Great Translator Invasion of 2003'?" (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcast_relay_station#Great_Translator_Invasion_of_2003.)

To EJM's point, EMF operates and broadcasts from two facilities. One in Rocklin, CA and the other in Indianapolis, IN and has promotional and news offices in Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Albany, S. California, Phoenix, Baton Rouge, San Antonio and I'm sure I am forgetting a few.

 

[Kent T]

Moody Radio is the best of the preaching and teaching outlets.
Way-FM has the best CCM format.
I would rather see everyone else be split up into local outlets programmed locally. EMF I despise as they are too big, too much money and power. And they were translator pirates.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Moody Radio is the best of the preaching and teaching outlets.
Way-FM has the best CCM format.
I would rather see everyone else be split up into local outlets programmed locally. EMF I despise as they are too big, too much money and power. And they were translator pirates.

I'd call them translator hogs - not pirates, as everything EMF does is done legally. But they are nothing compared to Calvary Chapel, who try to take every translator frequency that opens up. At least Air-1 is something worth listening to, and they have finally broken the praise and worship stranglehold in Houston.

 

[anotherguyTN]

EMF has several K-LOVE translators in West TN that I wish could be changed to Air 1 and expand into the Jackson area. The Air 1 station that had been in Hayti, MO and reached into the Dyersburg area has been changed to K-LOVE, but even that may be temporary because it was in the process of being sold.

 

[[email protected]]

I find it interesting there is no mention of Salem Radio Network....they're Christian...aren't they? :

 

[skippertthomas]

Their corporate Mission Statement is a commercial company, targeting Conservative and Christian Conservatives... Format yes, but open ownership...

 

[WPHA]

Thinking of Regional... there is Blount Communications, my former employer. They have a "network" of 7 stations in the New England area. (Talk about an area that's STARVING for more Christian formatted stations!!!)

WARV, WBCI, WDER, WFIF, WSDK, WVNE and a recently acquired FM, paired with WDER.

They are similar to Bott, in that they are mostly talk. They also have high standards for content and quality. No "dollar-a-hollar" there.

BTW, I put "network" into quotes, because each station is individually programmed.

 

[justalurker]

What do you think about Christian Radio Network who buys or set up radio stations that is 500-3,000 miles away from the home market?

What is their mission? The general complaint I heard about the interlopers were from one of three groups:
1) Anti-religious people who felt that such operations should not be allowed ... the remoteness of the studio just added fuel to their hatred of religious stations.
2) Low power proponents who were blocked out of being able to start a LP station due to proposed translators already on the books.
3) Local religious themed broadcasters who did not want the competition and felt their flavor of Christian radio was what the community needed.

The remote translators may not be the most popular station in their coverage area - but few translators are. Remote full power stations have a better shot of finding a noticeable audience - and serve the community, even from thousands of miles away. I like a good local radio station but when the studio hundreds if not thousands of miles away is putting out better programming then the locals are the ones to blame ... not the interlopers.

And now my car radio is usually tuned to The Message from SiriusXM ... it is nice to have a station with a near nationwide footprint. And although no station is immune from having an announcer say something stupid from time to time the national stations seem to do a better job at staying professional and not trying too hard.

It doesn't matter where the studio is if the programming is what the listener needs to hear.

 

[skippertthomas]

Each has positive and negatives and yet, in your observation, I AGREE!

 

[xmusicmatt]

Face it.. A sad reality is that a majority of our nation would be without modern Christian Music on the radio if it wasn't for folks like EMF.. A lot of stations sold out because they could not pull it off locally anymore due to economy etc.

 

[Kent T]

Way-FM is my favorite of the networks. They have good hosts and keep it friendly and play good uplifting music.

 

[skippertthomas]

Kent.... Thanks for saying that.... Bob, Lloyd, Dusty and the whole group keep focused and relating to the world around them, without losing the salty call to share the Truth, The Way and Christ, with NO SHAME... Since 1987, and still going... Adjusting to keep solvent, but strong in their original call! I will always stand in awe to have been an original member of the first signal and the early expansions to the east coast of Florida and Nashville.. They are family and along with many other localized CCM stations and to the largest (EMF)....We are a blessed nation for all and their call to be: (as Bob and Felice taught us, at the first Way) 1....A "Spiritual Vitamin" to the young and young adult believers... To be that "extra octane" in our walk, between Sunday and Wednesday and again to Sunday! (Tune up on Sunday and the second tank of gas on Wednesdays, in those days!)... 2....A COLD CUP OF WATER to the thirsty and dying, that understand the LOVE and THE GOOD NEWS in a form that draws them in! We never started our Mission to replace the Church, but to support it as a PARA-MINISTRY... Walking along those who thought it could be used for GOD'S GLORY.... For those that thought we were too radical? Well, that's their call... We smiled and said that God would use other ways to reach who they were called to reach... Many of those, have since become some of Way's biggest supporters... Fruit was seen and Way never asked anyone to to give their tithe.... But, support beyond that, just a little to reach many....

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Kent.... Thanks for saying that.... Bob, Lloyd, Dusty and the whole group keep focused and relating to the world around them, without losing the salty call to share the Truth, The Way and Christ, with NO SHAME... Since 1987, and still going... Adjusting to keep solvent, but strong in their original call! I will always stand in awe to have been an original member of the first signal and the early expansions to the east coast of Florida and Nashville.. They are family and along with many other localized CCM stations and to the largest (EMF)....We are a blessed nation for all and their call to be: (as Bob and Felice taught us, at the first Way) 1....A "Spiritual Vitamin" to the young and young adult believers... To be that "extra octane" in our walk, between Sunday and Wednesday and again to Sunday! (Tune up on Sunday and the second tank of gas on Wednesdays, in those days!)... 2....A COLD CUP OF WATER to the thirsty and dying, that understand the LOVE and THE GOOD NEWS in a form that draws them in! We never started our Mission to replace the Church, but to support it as a PARA-MINISTRY... Walking along those who thought it could be used for GOD'S GLORY.... For those that thought we were too radical? Well, that's their call... We smiled and said that God would use other ways to reach who they were called to reach... Many of those, have since become some of Way's biggest supporters... Fruit was seen and Way never asked anyone to to give their tithe.... But, support beyond that, just a little to reach many....

Ft. Meyers 88.7 was tough to receive in Daytona Beach, but the spiritual benefits were many! I moved down the coast to the Melbourne area which made things easier, especially when the West Palm Beach outlet opened up.

 

[xmusicmatt]

Way-FM is my favorite of the networks. They have good hosts and keep it friendly and play good uplifting music.

Way FM is my favorite provider of Christian content in the US.. They totally 'get it' in terms of relating to the audience and being real and not trying to "sugar coat" the Christian walk.

 

[skippertthomas]

I think the tone of the Way group is more 18 to 44 day and 12-34 night and others tend to be more traditional to the Prostestant Female Listener between 25 to 54 or more, in the past few years 35 to 64, that grew up in the early phases of CCM.... But, Way will put it in your face with some issues and questions to get you to think and study to find yourself, approved.... Not, telling you, but challenging you to seek, pray and find out in your walk (where you stand)... No cookie cutter, there...