Relevant Radio
 | |
| Type | Radio network |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Availability | United States |
Key people | Thomas Vorpahl, Chairman of the Board; Rev. Francis J. Hoffman, JCD, Executive Director |
Launch date | December 12, 2000 |
Official website |
www |
Relevant Radio (corporate name Starboard Media Foundation, Inc.[1]) is a radio network in the United States, mainly broadcasting talk radio and religious programming involving the Catholic Church. It is the largest Catholic radio network by owned station base. The network has 22 stations and 45 affiliates with an estimated reach of 29 states and 65 million people; though the radio network of EWTN is larger with 275 affiliates with a 45-state reach, that network owns only one shortwave station.[2] The network originates from studios in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with additional studios in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Madison, Wisconsin, Chicago, Illinois, Austin, Texas, and Newark, New Jersey.
The network airs a variety of programming aimed at practicing 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 exclusive programming developed internally, which also is available to stream live or by podcast on a free mobile app.
History
The network was founded by a group of dedicated Catholic businessmen, including Bob Atwell and John Cavil (who founded WJOK in 2000) and Mark Follett, 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, 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. Saint John Paul II is also a patron saint.
The network has grown to 22 stations, including five in the top 25 radio markets, and 45 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.
On October 13, 2016, Relevant Radio announced it would merge with Loomis, California based Immaculate Heart Radio which owned and operated 19 stations in the western United States at the time of the merger.[3]
Station list
See also
Sources
- "Catholic network calls Green Bay home", Green Bay News-Chronicle, date uncertain, 2004. (Newspaper now defunct)
References
- ↑ "Company Overview of Starboard Media Foundation, Inc.". Bloomberg Businessweek. Businessweek.com. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
- ↑ http://ewtn.com/radio/radioaffiliatemap
- ↑ "Catholic Radio Organizations Plan to Unite. - Immaculate Heart Radio". Immaculate Heart Radio. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
- ↑ Relevant Radio Stations - Relevant Radio
- ↑ Affiliate Stations - Relevant Radio