Relevant Radio
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Type | Radio network |
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Country | United States |
Availability | United States |
Owner | Starboard Media Foundation |
Key people | Trish Leurck |
Launch date | December 12, 2000 |
Website | www.relevantradio.com |
Relevant Radio is a trademark of Starboard Media Foundation, and is the largest Catholic talk radio network in the United States, with 17 stations and 18 affiliates in 15 states. The network's National Headquarters and network studios are in Green Bay Wisconsin, with additional studios in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Chicago, IL.
The network airs a a variety of programming aimed at conservative Catholics, mostly in a listener-interactive talk format. "Morning Air", which the network describes as "a classic drive-time format that combines inspiration & entertainment" was the first program developed by Relevant Radio in 2003. The network now airs almost exclusively programming developed internally. It is the only Catholic radio network in the country to be recognized by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as a national media outlet.
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[edit] History
The network was founded by a group of dedicated conservative Catholic business men, including Mark Follett of Allouez, Wisconsin, who had been the owner of Anchor Foods, an Appleton-based distributor of frozen appetizers. Starboard bought the license to a radio station in Kaukauna, Wisconsin (WJOK) that had been carrying all-sports programming, and turned it into an all-Catholic station, saying the call letters stood for "Jesus Our King." The station received its license from the FCC on December 12. 2000, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is the patron saint of Relevant Radio.
The network has rapidly grown to 17 stations, including five in the top 25 radio markets, and 18 affiliated stations that carry some or all of Relevant Radio programming. It also offers live streaming from its website and podcasts of favorite show segments.
The network's current chief executive officer is Trish Leurck. Leurck had been the Chief Development Officer until her appointment as CEO on September 12th, 2006.
Former CEO's include: Mark Follett (One of the founders of Relevant Radio), Richard L. Lyles (Host of Networks Saturday Show Lifeworks until its discontinuation in September 2006)
On October 18, 2006, the network announced it was laying off 28 people, 14 of them at its Wisconsin headquarters. In a release, the network said planned revenues for 2007 would not support the previous level of staffing. The network will not sell any stations or change its programming, the release said.
[edit] Station list
State | City | Callsign | Freq. | Area | Website |
Florida | Fort Myers | WMYR-AM | 1410 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers | website |
Naples | WCNZ-AM | 1660 | Naples-Marco Island | website | |
Indiana | Gary | WWCA-AM | 1270 | Chicagoland | website |
Illinois | Sandwich | WAUR-AM | 930 | Chicagoland | website |
Willow Springs | WAIT-AM | 820 | Chicagoland | website | |
Minnesota | Minneapolis | WLOL-AM | 1330 | Twin Cities | website |
Montana | Bozeman | KOFK-FM | 98.3 | Bozeman (affiliate) | [] |
Helena | KNEH-FM | 97.3 | Helena (affiliate) | [] | |
Pennsylvania | Carnegie | WZUM-AM | 1590 | Pittsburgh | website |
Texas | Del Valle | KIXL-AM | 970 | Austin | website |
Wisconsin | Appleton | WOVM-AM | 91.1 | Appleton | website |
Birnamwood | WYNW-FM | 92.9 | Wausau | website | |
Eau Claire | WDVM-AM | 1050 | Eau Claire | website | |
Kaukauna | WJOK-AM | 1050 | Green Bay | website | |
La Crosse | WKBH-AM | 1570 | La Crosse | website | |
Lake Geneva | WZRK-AM | 1550 | Milwaukee | website | |
Nekoosa | WMMA-FM | 93.9 | Wisconsin Rapids | website | |
Port Washington | WPJP-FM | 100.1 | Milwaukee | website | |
Poynette | WHFA-AM | 1240 | Madison | website |
[edit] Sources
- "Catholic network calls Green Bay home", Green Bay News-Chronicle, date uncertain, 2004. (Newspaper now defunct)