-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
WQFL and WGSL sold
- Thread starter jjschim
- Start date
E
EnergyDeKalb2
Guest
That is what has happened in their other markets when they came in.
jjschim said:
QFL will likely become "KLove"
GSL will likely become "Air1"
and yes, the cloest thing to local is the 10 second ID that will air at 55: and the big satellite dish outside the transmitter sites that will be a local home to wasps and bees in the summer.
The Good News is the stations will stay a Christian format. Otherwise they may have been sold to someone who would go in a different direction.
WGSL 91.1 has a stronger signal then WQFL 100.9 and K-Love usually gets the strongest signal. I hope Air1 gets the stronger signal since they are what I like but my guess is WQFL 100.9 will be Air1 and WGSL 91.1 will be K-Love.
I just heard about this. As a former QFL staffer I'm saddened by it and what it means to local radio. As much as I dislike the Obama administration and the current direction of things, I dislike the nationalization of Christian radio by Klove and Air1...well not more, but I dislike it a lot too.
QFL came on the air in 1974, a project of Open Bible Church. A split in that church resulted in the necessity of a sale, and First Assembly purchased it sometime in the late 70s. At that time and for many years after, WGSL was just a dream, tied up in a lengthy court battle with NIU in Dekalb.
When I was there, (1983-85) WQFL was truly a ministry for those involved, an outreach to the community for all of us. I know radio changed in 1996 with the Telecommunications Act, concurrent with the introduction of modern voice tracking. Corporate radio succumbed to that in order to maximize profts for the investors, but did QFL and GSL? There were no profits to maximize, there was only ministry to maximize. I hope they did that.
I wasn't there to know, but I see Ron Tietsort and Cindy Swanson are still listed on the web page. Those are two great, solid people, and Ron was with QFL from day one.... 35 years.
Frankly, I hope the localism talk now rumbling about at the FCC will result in operators like EMF have to sell off stations for local people to actually serve their cities of license.
QFL came on the air in 1974, a project of Open Bible Church. A split in that church resulted in the necessity of a sale, and First Assembly purchased it sometime in the late 70s. At that time and for many years after, WGSL was just a dream, tied up in a lengthy court battle with NIU in Dekalb.
When I was there, (1983-85) WQFL was truly a ministry for those involved, an outreach to the community for all of us. I know radio changed in 1996 with the Telecommunications Act, concurrent with the introduction of modern voice tracking. Corporate radio succumbed to that in order to maximize profts for the investors, but did QFL and GSL? There were no profits to maximize, there was only ministry to maximize. I hope they did that.
I wasn't there to know, but I see Ron Tietsort and Cindy Swanson are still listed on the web page. Those are two great, solid people, and Ron was with QFL from day one.... 35 years.
Frankly, I hope the localism talk now rumbling about at the FCC will result in operators like EMF have to sell off stations for local people to actually serve their cities of license.
Reported online and in print last Friday/Monday:
K-LOVE owner takes over Rockford radio stations By Thomas V. Bona
BusinessRockford.com Jun 05, 2009 @ 01:15 PM
One of the largest Christian radio operations is coming to Rockford, though it’s not yet clear in what form. Educational Media Foundation, owner of contemporary Christian music networks K-LOVE and Air 1, bought WQFL (101 FM) and WGSL (91.1 FM) in Rockford last month. The stations had been owned by local church Rockford First for more than two decades. EMF is studying whether to convert the stations to its K-LOVE and/or Air 1 formats, keep them as they are, or make some kind of blend. The organization will decide in the next two months.
“It depends on what the community wants, what it needs, how well the station is doing,” EMF President/CEO Mike Novak said. “If the station is really doing very well, we come alongside them and provide the knowledge that we have in our ministry to sort of raise the bar.” WQFL plays contemporary Christian music, while WGSL focuses on more traditional music and teaching. K-LOVE plays popular Christian artists such as Michael W. Smith, Newsboys and MercyMe, while Air 1 features rockier Christian artists such as Jars of Clay, Skillet and Lifehouse.
The stations’ 15 employees will be asked to reapply for their jobs once EMF decides on formats and staffing. Rockford First, also known as Rockford First Assembly of God, was looking to sell the stations to ensure that they would survive long-term, lead pastor Jeremy DeWeerdt said. The stations need some costly improvements, he said, including the possibility of digital service. “We started looking at some of the future of radio and also our ability to carry radio into that future,” DeWeerdt said. “I didn’t want to see the two stations fade away.”
Rockford First bought WQFL from Open Bible Center Church in 1979 and founded WGSL in 1988. Terms of the sale to EMF were not disclosed, but DeWeerdt hopes to put the proceeds to paying down debt, freeing money for ongoing operations.
Comments: If this were to happen, it would be unprecedented.....in every market EMF goes into, the staffs are let go and in return, there would be NO localization.
I also know that EMF has filed for a main studio waiver for the stations alrwady in advance of the sale so what Mike Novak said is essentially a smokescreen.
Sad, sad, sad.
K-LOVE owner takes over Rockford radio stations By Thomas V. Bona
BusinessRockford.com Jun 05, 2009 @ 01:15 PM
One of the largest Christian radio operations is coming to Rockford, though it’s not yet clear in what form. Educational Media Foundation, owner of contemporary Christian music networks K-LOVE and Air 1, bought WQFL (101 FM) and WGSL (91.1 FM) in Rockford last month. The stations had been owned by local church Rockford First for more than two decades. EMF is studying whether to convert the stations to its K-LOVE and/or Air 1 formats, keep them as they are, or make some kind of blend. The organization will decide in the next two months.
“It depends on what the community wants, what it needs, how well the station is doing,” EMF President/CEO Mike Novak said. “If the station is really doing very well, we come alongside them and provide the knowledge that we have in our ministry to sort of raise the bar.” WQFL plays contemporary Christian music, while WGSL focuses on more traditional music and teaching. K-LOVE plays popular Christian artists such as Michael W. Smith, Newsboys and MercyMe, while Air 1 features rockier Christian artists such as Jars of Clay, Skillet and Lifehouse.
The stations’ 15 employees will be asked to reapply for their jobs once EMF decides on formats and staffing. Rockford First, also known as Rockford First Assembly of God, was looking to sell the stations to ensure that they would survive long-term, lead pastor Jeremy DeWeerdt said. The stations need some costly improvements, he said, including the possibility of digital service. “We started looking at some of the future of radio and also our ability to carry radio into that future,” DeWeerdt said. “I didn’t want to see the two stations fade away.”
Rockford First bought WQFL from Open Bible Center Church in 1979 and founded WGSL in 1988. Terms of the sale to EMF were not disclosed, but DeWeerdt hopes to put the proceeds to paying down debt, freeing money for ongoing operations.
Comments: If this were to happen, it would be unprecedented.....in every market EMF goes into, the staffs are let go and in return, there would be NO localization.
I also know that EMF has filed for a main studio waiver for the stations alrwady in advance of the sale so what Mike Novak said is essentially a smokescreen.
Sad, sad, sad.
eatsbreathesradio said:Comments: If this were to happen, it would be unprecedented.....in every market EMF goes into, the staffs are let go and in return, there would be NO localization.
I also know that EMF has filed for a main studio waiver for the stations alrwady in advance of the sale so what Mike Novak said is essentially a smokescreen.
Sad, sad, sad.
It's a shame reporter Thomas V. Bona didn't have the interviewing skills to ask Mike Novak if there had ever been a case when his company took over a radio station and kept the existing staff and format.
And if they are seeking a waiver on the main studio rule, that can only mean they don't intend to maintain 1½ employees as required for a "main studio". (A "main studio" can be a mic, CD player, and a shure mixer in the closet of an office. The big requirement is the staff necessary to maintain "business hours" where members of the public can come and view the public file.)
I wonder what will happen to the buildings? My guess is First Assembly keeps all of them except the transmitter building.
To answer the question if EMF has ever bought a station and kept it local the answer is yes. EMF bought KOBC 90.7 Joplin, MO last year and has kept it local. I am sure that comes as a surprise to the people posting here who are so sure they never have.
I believe they are truly deciding what to do which may or may not be local. If they do not keep it local then everyone can say I told you so. People can not give them credit for at least studying the decision. Message boards are a place to vent however I understand.
I believe they are truly deciding what to do which may or may not be local. If they do not keep it local then everyone can say I told you so. People can not give them credit for at least studying the decision. Message boards are a place to vent however I understand.
Kent said:
I can't imagine them changing the call letters if they are keeping the stations with any kind of Christian format, local or not.
"Quest For Life" and "God So Loved" were chosen specifically for that format, and are the only call letters either station has EVER had. To change the calls would be to highlight the change rather than the continuity.
brian.marchand said:
Hmmmm...somehow I missed that one, but I do remember reading about the sale and had a feeling KOBC would bite the dust after that sale was approved, which happened in August '08. They're still operating as is, so I guess the possibility exists for KLOVE to keep 'QFL & 'GSL going as they are - we'll see.
BTW, they did also apply for a main studio waiver for KOBC and it is in place - I'd imagine it would depend on their support base if they were to ever use it and flip the switch.
Thanks for setting the record straight on all this Brian.....my memory is getting a trifle short in its old age.
Most people here should be happy that I read on http://www.hisair.net/news1.htm tonight that WQFL 100.9 will remain local but WGSL 91.1 will become K-Love apparently. So one local station for the people in Rockford it sounds like. I was listening online tonight to WQFL and I did not like it much. Just the same boring ccm stuff heard everywhere. I am very disappointed Air1 is apparently not coming to Rockford which I like much better then adult ccm. It does not make sense to me. K-Love and WQFL are both currently adult contemporary Christian and play pretty much the same music. So how can they both co-exist? It would seem to me either the website has the info wrong or EMF will move WQFL to more christian chr? After being bored listening to WQFL I went back to listening to Air1 tonight.
It has to be about the listener donations - K-Love receives a lot more in donations than Air1 does.
I agree - that's stupid to have two CCM's - Air1 would be an excellent Christian alternative to the CCM available in the Rockford area. There are plenty of youth that would listen to Air1. I prefer Air1 to K-Love any day.
I agree - that's stupid to have two CCM's - Air1 would be an excellent Christian alternative to the CCM available in the Rockford area. There are plenty of youth that would listen to Air1. I prefer Air1 to K-Love any day.
I do not think they will sell WQFL. EMF likes having 2 or 3 stations per market. It just did not make sense having 2 adult christian music stations. So I questioned the report.
brian.marchand said:
Guess what happened in Joplin yesterday? Yep.......KOBC is now KLOVE.
It was bound to happen eventually. Me thinks EMF will do a flip eventually to 'QFL but we'll see.
I saw that KOBC in Joplin, MO flipped to K-Love on Friday also. It did not interest me to listen to KOBC online but I think KOBC may have been a little softer than K-Love. So maybe its a good thing. I wish I knew a little more about why they flipped now after about 10 months. Maybe the donations are not coming in as well as they would like. I did go to college in northwest AR near Joplin, MO back in the early 90's before there upgrade to 60k and had listened to KOBC in the car driving to AR back then every time.
Of course it is very possible WQFL could flip eventually also. I live in Springfield, IL and do listen to the local WIBI here a lot. But my main hope is having a christian CHR like Air1 expand in IL. I can barely get Air1's WARW 89.5 just north of Saint Louis sometimes. WQFL used to be Christian CHR and then they ruined it so I am hoping EMF switches it back to christian CHR in Air1. Christian AC gets more support though.
Of course it is very possible WQFL could flip eventually also. I live in Springfield, IL and do listen to the local WIBI here a lot. But my main hope is having a christian CHR like Air1 expand in IL. I can barely get Air1's WARW 89.5 just north of Saint Louis sometimes. WQFL used to be Christian CHR and then they ruined it so I am hoping EMF switches it back to christian CHR in Air1. Christian AC gets more support though.
I'm a bit skeptical like a few others here on the long-term plans for WQFL. It doesn't really make any sense that EMF plans to operate two Christian ACs with overlapping coverage. Perhaps they'll look at the fundraising dollars and make a final decision down the road.
In the mean time, its good to hear EMF made an exception and spared some jobs (albeit making staffers reapply).
In the mean time, its good to hear EMF made an exception and spared some jobs (albeit making staffers reapply).
K
kentuckymedia
Guest
Look at the recent purchase of WKLU in Indianapolis!
K-Love has made an agreement to not only purchase the station, but the studios, etc. Russ built out 5 on-air facilities and 3 production rooms too. K-Love has said they plan on opening up a possible new format dedicated to the mid-west and everything will be ran out of Indy.
Not sure if they will keep the K-Love name or something else, but K-Love recently purchased the naming rights for "The Bridge" and "Praise Radio". The bought "The Bridge" from Clear Channel for over 5 Million, so I assume they will be using it. They also bought "Home" from Spring Arbor College...so see them using that soon too!
K-Love is investing in new formats dedicated to specific markets. The Indy one is going to really focus on Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky. They have over 60 radio stations within these states.
K-Love has made an agreement to not only purchase the station, but the studios, etc. Russ built out 5 on-air facilities and 3 production rooms too. K-Love has said they plan on opening up a possible new format dedicated to the mid-west and everything will be ran out of Indy.
Not sure if they will keep the K-Love name or something else, but K-Love recently purchased the naming rights for "The Bridge" and "Praise Radio". The bought "The Bridge" from Clear Channel for over 5 Million, so I assume they will be using it. They also bought "Home" from Spring Arbor College...so see them using that soon too!
K-Love is investing in new formats dedicated to specific markets. The Indy one is going to really focus on Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky. They have over 60 radio stations within these states.
- Status