Is The End near for Family Radio?

[rtc]

Donations down 70 percent:

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-world-may-end-for-harold-camping-and-family-radio

 

[travisl5678]

They won't be missed, there average listener is about the same age as Harold Camping himself.

 

[boombox]

For what it's worth, I didn't mind the shortwave outlet, WYFR.

I would sometimes listen to the Spanish programming to practice my Spanish, because some of the Spanish preachers spoke slowly enough for someone relearning the language to comprehend what was being said.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

It still amazes me how the "Family" in Christian stations that advertise or brand family - doesn't serve listeners over 12 and under 50.

 

[HamptonRoadsMediaFan]

Donations down 70 percent:

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-world-may-end-for-harold-camping-and-family-radio

I wonder if things are getting desperate enough for Harold (or whoever's in charge there) to decide to drop his resistance to selling to a religious broadcaster (something I remember being mentioned in my days as a "lurker").

 

[R.D.P.]

Here's an idea for Mr. Josh.

Check into getting these two stations, should Family go out of business and decide to sell off their few remaining stations.

WBRF 89.5 FM Birmingham Alabama
WFRC 90.5 FM Columbus Georgia

Now the B-Ham station does have a few issues.  A 100 watt signal does go out far but when one is surrounded by hills and mountains, the signal can get a bit choppy.  WDJC was having that same issue, as I was traveling through Pelham yesterday, to get my Cracker Barrel eat on.

Don't usually travel to Columbus.  Far as I know, that signal goes out very far.  Been know to pick it up some here in Selma, when the winds are blowing right.

Just a thought I had.

Hope you'll entertain it Mr. Josh.

R.D.P. <><

 

[xmusicmatt]

Here's an idea for Mr. Josh.

Check into getting these two stations, should Family go out of business and decide to sell off their few remaining stations.

WBRF 89.5 FM Birmingham Alabama
WFRC 90.5 FM Columbus Georgia

Will be interesting if Family divests their non coms who they sell them too... FR has not (with one exception in Florida) wanted to sell their FMs to another Christian Broadcaster.

I could see Family divesting some of their stations to BBN ..

Btw speaking of Christian Radio -- I didn't realize that near Birmingham there is an FM that is doing Christian Rock/Hiphop:

http://www.myrevradio.com/

 

[anotherguyTN]

I won't be surprised if the shortwave stations end up being sold to WWCR or some other similar dollar a holler outfit.

 

[xmusicmatt]

Sold 3 stations to EMF ... Something they would have NOT done years ago

http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/83887/family-radio-sells-trio-to-emf/

 

[anotherguyTN]

When the stations switch to K-LOVE or Air 1 Family Radio's listeners probably will think it's the end of the world. :

 

[rtc]

Per the DX Forum,

Family Radio has announced that the WYFR shortwave

station in Florida will cease all broadcasts as of June 30th:

http://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/2013/06/wyfr-to-close-all-shortwave-services.html

The $64 question:

will FR break tradition and sell it (to who?)

or simply bulldoze it-in-place?

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

My guess: Family Radio may sell the WYFR site to a real estate developer who will tear down the towers and develop the land.

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

I would think a possible buyer for the AM station Family Radio has in San Francisco (KEAR-610; supposedly the fourth-best AM signal in the Bay Area behind KNBR-680, KCBS-740 and KGO-810) might be Bloomberg Media, to broadcast Bloomberg Radio 24/7 into the area.

Although not California's largest city or most populous metropolitan area, San Francisco is the business and financial center of the West Coast, and additionally, Silicon Valley (San Jose and vicinity) gets a strong signal from 610 day and night (according to Radio-Locator.com signal maps).

And Bloomberg originates a daily show from Silicon Valley on technology titled "Bloomberg West" which is carried on both Bloomberg TV and Radio.

 

[wprt949]

I wonder what will happen with WKDN-AM 950 in Philly they Just brought that station last year seemed Like a waste of Ca$h

 

[Gregg]

I don't think any of the AM stations will go on the market. 610 in SF is essentially their flagship, since the operation is based in Oakland CA. Remember, those AMs already replaced FM stations that Family Radio sold off, even before the End of The World debacle. And the TV network and handful of stations also seem to be safe.

After getting rid of full-power FMs in NYC, Philadelphia and Washington-Baltimore, they still need money. You'd think getting $40 million for NYC and probably around $20 million for each of the others, they'd have enough. But as noted above, this week they're even selling off weaker non-commercial FM outlets in lesser markets, Rochester NY, Corpus Christi and No. California Coast, for a few hundred thousand dollars.

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

I would think a possible buyer for the AM station Family Radio has in San Francisco (KEAR-610; supposedly the fourth-best AM signal in the Bay Area behind KNBR-680, KCBS-740 and KGO-810) might be Bloomberg Media, to broadcast Bloomberg Radio 24/7 into the area.

Come to think of it, I can also see Bloomberg Media going after Family's WKDN-950 Philadelphia as well, maybe buying both it and KEAR in a "package deal".

WKDN's former owners (Greater Media, when the station was called WPEN) upgraded the station's signal, and the coverage area (especially during the day) also covers nearby Wilmington, Delaware, a major banking center for the Northeast (according to Radio-Locator.com signal area maps).

KEAR and WKDN would be excellent acquisitions for Bloomberg.

 

[Gregg]

As far as I know, Bloomberg isn't buying stations. They own 1130 NYC and that's it. Bloomberg offers its service to other operators, including Clear Channel (1200 WXKS Boston) and Cumulus (overnights on 810 KGO San Francisco).

Family Radio just bought 950 in Philadelphia from Greater Media to replace FM 106.9, sold to Merlin. I don't think they went through that trouble, only to turn around and sell 950 months later. Family Radio isn't selling everything. As I said above, they're holding onto their TV stations and network. And so far they're holding onto their AM stations, which they bought after selling off FM stations.

 

[William_Yeager]

WFRW would be interesting as an Air1 affiliate, as it gets a signal into both Rochester and Syracuse. K-Love is already in Rochester and Syracuse.

KXBC should go Air1 as well - K-Love covers most of the same footprint with KLVG.

KIFR could make a decent simulcast with KKWV in Corpus Christi since they favor opposite halves of the market. KKLM has K-Love on a much bigger signal.

It doesn't surprise me that EMF paid cash - $655K is nothing to them. If they're still reserving 10% of their budget for acquisitions, this deal was funded by 16,375 listeners pledging $40 for one month.

KRLE in Carbon Hill, Alabama needs some help in Birmingham - WBFR would be just the ticket. I'm sure WAY-FM would love to have it too, although their translator doesn't do too bad. I'm not sure how K-Love gets a better signal in Tuscaloosa or Huntsville/Decatur, though short of upping the wattage on the existing stick.

 

[fybush]

WFRW would be interesting as an Air1 affiliate, as it gets a signal into both Rochester and Syracuse. K-Love is already in Rochester and Syracuse.

WFRW has no usable signal in Onondaga County; it's blocked out both by terrain and by the HD carriers of WAER on 88.3. It has already requested a main studio waiver to relay K-Love.

 

[kenglish]

Anybody monitoring WYFR Shortwave today?