The Signs Seem To Be Pointing...

[R.D.P.]

Towards an Internet only station. Still seeking God's will on this. Hope something will soon happen.

For those who are advising me to go that route, I may do it after all.

Thanks to everyone who continues to Pray for me. I appreciate it very much.

R.D.P. <><

 

[radioboy]

RDP,

I've taken this route, so feel free to let me know if you need some help.

It is a way to at least get something on the air, and the young folks are savvy enough to figure out how to listen if you let them know it's there.

In the case of my station, I did end up switching the primary format as Tallahassee has something like 8 Christian-formatted stations now. But I still do my classic CCM show most Sunday mornings.

 

[R.D.P.]

My mother may have issues with the idea.  She contends that this station won't receive the "Funds" needed to stay on.  She even made reference to the fact that many folks would be unable to listen to me, if I did Internet only.

I had to remind her of these facts though: (1) The Internet station would do very well.  (2) Many of the newer model vehicles now have Internet Access.  (3) My friend, from Moody Radio South, stated to me that most folks now download their music from the Internet anyway.  (4) It would be cheaper and less expensive to start up and then maintain. and (5) I would have more listeners with this set up, than I would with an FM station anyway.

Besides those facts, I also reminder her of this: (1) I won't have to worry about getting an app. with the FCC to pursue this station. (2) Won't have to worry about finding a perfect channel, on the FM side, to locate on. (3) I could have the freedom to play any Christian song I want. (Meaning I could go the CHR/Rock Route) (3) I could broadcast my home Church service, more than once a week. (4) And I could cover the entire world with this broadcast.  (Unlike an FM station that'll only cover between a 35 to around a 65 mile radius, depending on various factors, like the amount of power, height of the tower and transmitter)

One other factor, I reminded her of was: I wouldn't have to go far to fix any tech issues if any occurred.  Since the station would originate from my bedroom and Apple Computer, I could fix any issue from the comfort of my set up and not have to brave "The Elements" to get things fixed and running again.

Doing this Internet station has many great advantages indeed.  More than I would have if I were to do a FM broadcast station.

R.D.P. <><

P.S. If God does lead me in this direction and I know for certain that He's doing it, then I'll contact you and let you help me get things up and running.

B.T.W. I wouldn't have to relocate my music collection from my bedroom, to a new spot.  Since I have an ever growing collection of CD's, I can keep them in the room and play them from the set up.  Amazing isn't it.

 

[radioboy]

Dan,

I do understand your mother's concerns.

There ARE drawbacks to the Internet, certainly. It is more difficult for folks to find the station, but not that many folks seem to "surf" the radio dial as they once did.

There's no certainty that any station, be it terrestrial or Internet, will receive the funds necessary to stay on. I formerly managed an AM station. At 5,000 watts daytime only, the power bill was generally $750, or sometimes more in the heat of summer. It took bringing in $5000 a month to break even with expenses.

That meant running Focus on the Family, In Touch, etc. for several hours a day just to cover the basics. We did play CCM, and I was able to sell some ads in those times. But for the most part, it became almost expensive to just play music. Thank God for Christian business folks!

I would share your dream with your home church, and ask if they would make some sort of commitment to helping with funding in exchange for airing the church service. I've had preachers run on my station and it can help in that area. Have a PayPal account for listeners to donate. It won't overflow the bank, but..

I've with Live365 with a package that costs about $60 a month. I did go on iTunes for a time, but those royalty costs were just too much for the time being. But this month, the donations came out to around $250. July and August is already funded.

There's no one on these boards that would be any happier for you than I. For many years I, too, prayed, pleaded, and tried everything under the sun to get an over the air station. The application process can take years.

You can also watch for an LPFM window and check out Christian Community Broadcasters at http://www.ccbroadcasters for information.

There is a very underserved population where I live, althoough it's not really the Christian market. It's more the older demo that advertisers don't buy that often. If an LPFM window comes open, I haven't ruled out trying again.

Outside of radio I am in training to be a grant-writer for nonprofits (and other organizations.)

My Internet stream will be 9 years old on July 9. It wasn't really what I thought I wanted in 2001, but 166,019 listener streams later, it seems worth it, after all.

It is a step of faith, for this or any other venture. I think you have such a passion for this, that you could make it work. Share some of your verses and/ministry writings with your audience.

My parents had concerns when I was at the stage you are at. Now they are donors, too.

 

[R.D.P.]

Thanks for the response and assistance.  I'm going to lay this request, at God's doorstep and let Him handle the rest.  If God wants it to happen, then He'll see me though.

R.D.P. <><

P.S. My programming would be a block presentation.  Meaning I would do the Classic CCM, Current CCM, Reformed Worship Songs, Traditional Hymns Music and some Preaching/Teaching from God's Word.  For sure my home Church would have a spot on here.  I'm thinking about broadcasting them, at least three times a week, if it works out for me.  I'm going this route to make sure that this station has major success and reaches out to the most people possible.

 

[amisdead]

I would strongly advise you against an Internet-only station. It will be a hobby forever and always a money loser.

The Internet is a lot of fun because there is seemingly so much potential, but for traditional linear broadcasting (the non-Pandora kind), it's a total mess. Too many stations. Too few listeners. No centralized tuning service (ala AM and FM). No good business models.

Scrap the Internet-only idea. Your game plan ought to be :

1) Scrape up as much cash as you can. Family, friends, your personal accounts, etc.

2) Gather a group of people who are willing to pledge financial, physical and prayer support over the first year and beyond.

3) Draft up a nice proposal to Moody for the acquisition of WRNF. Include perspectives of how a sale might benefit Moody, The Kingdom, and Selma, Alabama. Do NOT disparage Moody. I would also suggest you convey a willingness to continue carrying some of their network programming.

4) Call up Doug Hastings and tell him you are coming up to Chicago and would like to have a brief meeting regarding the future of WRNF.

And finally...

5) Actually do something. Make it happen. Talking and planning can be great, but if you actually want it to happen, you'll have to go beyond the message boards.

I hope this is helpful to your goal.

 

[R.D.P.]

Thanks for the response.

I don't think Moody and their local station manager would be willing to sell WRNF at this time. They seem to be doing very well here, despite their heavy tilt towards the talk and slower type songs.

I might still be able to set up my own FM broadcast, providing that God allows it. Unless that happens, I'm no longer going to pursue this dream.

I like the radio business and enjoyed my time when I was in it. Would like to make a return again. Hope God will soon find me a way to do it.

R.D.P. <><