Clear Channel's new Christian CHR

[jegrant]

As one of their potential HD Radio formats, CC has developed a Christian CHR. I have listened to it for a few days, and find it sounds surprisingly like WAY-FM (but maybe just a bit hotter) in terms of the music mix. It also includes short spots with Bible verses (always referred to as "The Book") and clean comedy bits.It's part of the HD Format Lab:http://www.clearchannelmusic.com/formatlab/religious.htm(The CHR stream I refer to is called "Hits On High")I must admit I was surprised to hear the Bible verses on a commercially owned station, and even the clean comedy bits were an interesting find. Obviously they have done their research, and are duplicating what many successful stations do.Any thoughts?

 

[GaryTheThompson]

Well, they obviously see that there's a market for it. Successful networks and stations in markets nationwide have proven this. Any entity that does it's homework and finds out what it audience wants will include whatever that is in the product...even if it is scripture.Let me preface what I'm about to say by saying that I'm sure there are some great Christian people who work for the corporate companies who are happy to be a part of Christian radio for spiritual reasons. But as far as corporations go...if it's proffitable...it's going to get put on the radio. If there was more money standing on a street corner shouting scripture than there was in drug dealing...the cartel would be running bibles instead of cocaine. Money. But the way I see it, the message is getting heard. Like Paul said; "Whether by pure motive or impure...the gospel is preached."

 

[Retro]

Now how do they compare to their former Nashville Station "101 the one?"

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I am glad to hear this. I have been saying for years that churches do NOT know how to program radio stations, and that I would rather hear a professionally done format run by non-believers than a KJV-only anti-CCM rant station run by a believer. If this is what it takes to weed out the unprofessionally run marginal Christian stations, then so be it. Christians didn't seem to mind that the Chronicles of Narnia was produced by a secular company, and I know a lot of Christian families advidly watching "Teen Nick", Disney channel, and Discovery Kids for their high quality, clean programming. So why not radio, too?!

 

[ccmfan]

I don't doubt that CC could do an excellent format, but when they don't make enough money to suit them or they decide to change to another format that makes more money, they'll drop it. That's what happened with 101.1 in Nashvillle, and that's why I don't trust CC to stay with any Christian format, whether it's on the primary station, or an HD subchannel.

 

[wprt949]

I am glad to hear this. I have been saying for years that churches do NOT know how to program radio stations, and that I would rather hear a professionally done format run by non-believers than a KJV-only anti-CCM rant station run by a believer. If this is what it takes to weed out the unprofessionally run marginal Christian stations, then so be it. Christians didn't seem to mind that the Chronicles of Narnia was produced by a secular company, and I know a lot of Christian families advidly watching "Teen Nick", Disney channel, and Discovery Kids for their high quality, clean programming. So why not radio, too?!

i think this station WXHL in de is owned by a church or something check it out www.wxhl.com they sound ok for a little station

 

[William_Yeager]

I listened to it for a while, and it's not bad. I wouldn't be surprised to see Clear Channel set up a station like this somewhere now that they have The River in Austin; a lot of Christian AC stations don't have much success with the younger demographics, and there are markets that already have 2 Christian CHRs (Nashville, TN and Valdosta, GA, for example). I could see this working in places like Atlanta, Louisville, Birmingham, etc.-and not just on the HD2 subchannel.

 

[gregdymon]

I don't doubt that CC could do an excellent format, but when they don't make enough money to suit them or they decide to change to another format that makes more money, they'll drop it. That's what happened with 101.1 in Nashvillle, and that's why I don't trust CC to stay with any Christian format, whether it's on the primary station, or an HD subchannel.

Well... as far as the making money thing... you've got to understand that its commercial free programming anyway, so are ALL of the HD formats being developed by CC and a handful of other conglomerates. So, maybe its not as much about making money (right now) as it is driving listeners to purchase HD radios.