Relevant Radio
Encyclopedia
Relevant Radio is a trademark of Starboard Media Foundation, and is the largest Catholic
talk radio
network in the United States
, with 20 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, Madison, WI and Chicago, IL.
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 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.
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 previous chief executive officer is Thomas Vorpahl.
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 and his termination.)
Trish Leurck. Leurck had been the Chief Development Officer until her appointment as CEO on September 12, 2006.
On June 23, 2009, Relevant Radio's media contact Nancy Jensen released an announcement regarding a new programming line-up. This update revealed that On Call w/ Dr. Ray would now be replaced with On Call as hosted by Wendy Wiese.
to 950 AM WNTD
. WNTD now airs Relevant Radio 13 hours a day. Relevant Radio's lease agreement with WAIT, set to expire at the end of November, was not renewed.
Relevant Radio also lost its Appleton, Wisconsin
station, 91.1 FM WOVM
, in November. WOVM, which is being sold to Music That Matters, Inc., began stunting with Christmas music immediately and was set to begin beta testing a new hybrid adult hits
(mixture of adult contemporary, classic rock and country) music format being developed by Music That Matters' sister company, Sovereign City Radio Group, in January 2008 (2). WisconsinBroadcasting.com reported that WOVM's new format, called "Your Oasis on the Radio," debuted on January 7, 2008. Relevant Radio will still be heard in the Appleton area on WJOK
1050 AM in Kaukauna
.
Sovereign City discontinued the "Oasis" format later in 2008 and switched WOVM to "The Avenue," an eclectic mix of jazz, standards, pop and adult alternative vocals. "The Avenue" went into nationwide distribution in January 2010 and is now heard on several current and former Relevant Radio affiliates, including WOVM, WMYR/WCNZ in southwest Florida, and WNTD in Chicago (which airs the format nightly from 6 pm to 5 am).
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
network in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with 20 stations and 18 affiliates in 15 states. The network's National Headquarters and network studios are in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, with additional studios in Minneapolis, Madison, WI and Chicago, IL.
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 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.
History
The network was founded by a group of dedicated Catholic business men, including Bob Atwell and John Cavil (who founded WJOK 1050AM 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.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 previous chief executive officer is Thomas Vorpahl.
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 and his termination.)
Trish Leurck. Leurck had been the Chief Development Officer until her appointment as CEO on September 12, 2006.
On June 23, 2009, Relevant Radio's media contact Nancy Jensen released an announcement regarding a new programming line-up. This update revealed that On Call w/ Dr. Ray would now be replaced with On Call as hosted by Wendy Wiese.
Affiliation Changes
On November 25, 2007, Relevant Radio's affiliate station in Chicago switched from 820 AM WAITWAIT (AM)
WAIT is a radio station located near Crystal Lake, Illinois. It was purchased by Newsweb Corporation in 2004. Original call letters were WIVS....
to 950 AM WNTD
WNTD
WNTD is an AM radio station in Chicago, Illinois. It is owned by Sovereign City Radio Services LLC. Its frequency is 950 AM and has separate day-time and night-time transmitter locations. It is currently one of three stations in the Chicago market that airs Relevant Radio, a Catholic talk...
. WNTD now airs Relevant Radio 13 hours a day. Relevant Radio's lease agreement with WAIT, set to expire at the end of November, was not renewed.
Relevant Radio also lost its Appleton, Wisconsin
Appleton, Wisconsin
Appleton is a city in Outagamie, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is situated on the Fox River, 30 miles southwest of Green Bay and 100 miles north of Milwaukee. Appleton is the county seat of Outagamie County. The population was 78,086 at the 2010 census...
station, 91.1 FM WOVM
WOVM
WOVM is an American radio station licensed to Appleton, Wisconsin. The station is owned by Music That Matters, Inc and serves as the flagship station for the national Timeless Cool format....
, in November. WOVM, which is being sold to Music That Matters, Inc., began stunting with Christmas music immediately and was set to begin beta testing a new hybrid adult hits
Adult hits
Adult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
(mixture of adult contemporary, classic rock and country) music format being developed by Music That Matters' sister company, Sovereign City Radio Group, in January 2008 (2). WisconsinBroadcasting.com reported that WOVM's new format, called "Your Oasis on the Radio," debuted on January 7, 2008. Relevant Radio will still be heard in the Appleton area on WJOK
WJOK
WJOK is a Christian formatted radio station licensed to Kaukauna, Wisconsin, that serves the Green Bay and Appleton-Oshkosh areas. The station is owned by Green Bay-based Starboard Broadcasting and airs Starboard's Relevant Radio network....
1050 AM in Kaukauna
Kaukauna, Wisconsin
Kaukauna is a city in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States, on the Fox River, approximately 100 miles north of Milwaukee, with a population of 12,983. It is a part of the Appleton, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, Wisconsin Combined...
.
Sovereign City discontinued the "Oasis" format later in 2008 and switched WOVM to "The Avenue," an eclectic mix of jazz, standards, pop and adult alternative vocals. "The Avenue" went into nationwide distribution in January 2010 and is now heard on several current and former Relevant Radio affiliates, including WOVM, WMYR/WCNZ in southwest Florida, and WNTD in Chicago (which airs the format nightly from 6 pm to 5 am).
Station list
- All of these stations are O&OOwned-and-operated stationIn the broadcasting industry , an owned-and-operated station usually refers to a television station or radio station that is owned by the network with which it is associated...
, unless noted as "affiliate".
| State | City | Callsign | Freq. | Area | Website |
| Indiana Indiana Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is... |
Gary Gary, Indiana Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known... |
WWCA WWCA WWCA is a radio station in Gary, Indiana. It is part of the Relevant Radio Christian network.-History:Radio station WWCA, an ABC Radio affiliate in Gary, experienced its peak in popularity during the 1960s and 1970s primarily because of its community commitment and the popularity of its on-air... |
1270 | Chicago market | website |
| Ft. Wayne | WLYV WLYV WLYV, "Reedemer Radio," is an AM radio station located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The station operates on the AM radio frequency of 1450 kHz and airs Catholic programming for the Northeast/East Central Indiana region. It was purchased by Fort Wayne Catholic Radio Inc. in 2005.WLYV has a rich... |
1450 | Ft. Wayne (affiliate) | ||
| Illinois Illinois Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,... |
Sandwich Sandwich, Illinois Sandwich is a city in DeKalb, Kendall, and LaSalle counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 6,509 at the 2000 census. The 2008 population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau for the city is 7,337.-History:... |
WAUR WAUR WAUR is a radio station broadcasting a Religious format. Licensed to Sandwich, Illinois, USA, the station serves the Chicago area. The station is currently owned by Starboard Media Foundation.... |
930 | Chicago market | website |
| Chicago | WNTD WNTD WNTD is an AM radio station in Chicago, Illinois. It is owned by Sovereign City Radio Services LLC. Its frequency is 950 AM and has separate day-time and night-time transmitter locations. It is currently one of three stations in the Chicago market that airs Relevant Radio, a Catholic talk... |
950 | Chicago market | website | |
| Decatur Decatur, Illinois Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,... |
WDCR WDCR (FM) WDCR is an FM radio station licensed to Oreana, Illinois & broadcasts to the Decatur area on 88.9 MHz. It advertises itself as the 193rd Catholic radio station. It began broadcasting on May 25, 2011.-External links:*... |
88.9 | Decatur Decatur, Illinois Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,... (affiliate) |
website | |
| Minnesota Minnesota Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state... |
Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... |
WLOL | 1330 | Twin Cities | website |
| Montana Montana Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,... |
Bozeman Bozeman, Montana Bozeman is a city in and the county seat of Gallatin County, Montana, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. The 2010 census put Bozeman's population at 37,280 making it the fourth largest city in the state. It is the principal city of the Bozeman micropolitan area, which consists... |
KOFK-LP | 98.3 | Bozeman Bozeman, Montana Bozeman is a city in and the county seat of Gallatin County, Montana, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. The 2010 census put Bozeman's population at 37,280 making it the fourth largest city in the state. It is the principal city of the Bozeman micropolitan area, which consists... (affiliate) |
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| Helena Helena, Montana Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the... |
KNEH-LP KNEH-LP KNEH-LP is a radio station broadcasting a religious format. Licensed to Helena, Montana, USA, the station serves the Helena area. The station is currently owned by Helena Community Educational Association.... |
97.3 | Helena Helena, Montana Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the... (affiliate) |
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| North Carolina North Carolina North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte... |
Wilmington Wilmington, North Carolina Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina... |
WBPL-LP WBPL-LP WBPL-LP is a radio station licensed to Wilmington, North Carolina, USA, and serving the Wilmington area. The station is owned and operated by Archangel Gabriel Association. It airs a Catholic talk-show format.... |
92.7 | Wilmington Wilmington, North Carolina Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina... (affiliate) |
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| North Dakota North Dakota North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S.... |
Fargo Fargo, North Dakota Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777... |
KVXR KVXR KVXR is a radio station located in Moorhead, MN airing Catholic programming from EWTN, and is owned by Real Presence Radio. The station is a simulcast of KWTL in Grand Forks, North Dakota.-History:... |
1280 | Fargo Fargo, North Dakota Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777... (affiliate) |
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| Pennsylvania Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... |
Carnegie Carnegie, Pennsylvania Carnegie is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 7,972 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Carnegie is located at . It is approximately southwest of Pittsburgh... |
WZUM WZUM WZUM was a radio station in Carnegie, Pennsylvania. WZUM is owned by Sovereign City Radio Services LLC.- History :WZUM began in the 1960s as an R&B and top 40 station, owned by popular Pittsburgh polka bandleader Jimmy Pol. During the 1970s, WZUM was a freeform AOR outlet from 10:00 am until sunset,... |
1590 | Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States... |
website |
| Texas Texas Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... |
Del Valle Del Valle, Texas Del Valle is an unincorporated community in southeastern Travis County, Texas, United States. It is about miles southeast of Downtown Austin, and is part of the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area... |
KIXL | 970 | Austin Austin, Texas Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in... |
website |
| Robstown Robstown, Texas Robstown is a city in Nueces County, Texas, United States, and a western suburb of Corpus Christi. It was founded about 1906, and was named for Robert Driscoll Jr., a landowner... |
KLUX-FM | 89.5 | Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, Texas Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the... (HD-2 HD Radio HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals... affiliate) |
website | |
| Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is... |
Birnamwood | WYNW WYNW WYNW is a radio station broadcasting a religious format. Licensed to Birnamwood, Wisconsin, USA, the station is currently owned by Starboard Media Foundation, Inc. and features programming from Relevant Radio.... |
92.9 | Wausau Wausau, Wisconsin Wausau is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city. The city is adjacent to the town of Wausau.According to the 2000 census, Wausau had a population of 38,426 people... |
website |
| Eau Claire Eau Claire, Wisconsin Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,... |
WDVM WDVM WDVM is a radio station in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA. It is part of the Relevant Radio Christian network. It was also the call sign for Channel 9, now WUSA in Washington, D.C.-External links:*... |
1050 | Eau Claire Eau Claire, Wisconsin Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,... |
website | |
| Kaukauna Kaukauna, Wisconsin Kaukauna is a city in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States, on the Fox River, approximately 100 miles north of Milwaukee, with a population of 12,983. It is a part of the Appleton, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, Wisconsin Combined... |
WJOK WJOK WJOK is a Christian formatted radio station licensed to Kaukauna, Wisconsin, that serves the Green Bay and Appleton-Oshkosh areas. The station is owned by Green Bay-based Starboard Broadcasting and airs Starboard's Relevant Radio network.... |
1050 | Green Bay Green Bay, Wisconsin Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,... |
website | |
| La Crosse La Crosse, Wisconsin La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485... |
WKBH WKBH (AM) WKBH is a radio station broadcasting a Catholic format. Licensed to Holmen, Wisconsin, USA. The station is currently owned by Starboard Media Foundation, Inc..WKBH began broadcasting in 1984.... |
1570 | La Crosse La Crosse, Wisconsin La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485... |
website | |
| Nekoosa Nekoosa, Wisconsin Nekoosa is a city in Wood County, Wisconsin, United States. Its name derives from the Ho-Chunk word, "Nakrusa" which translates to "running water." The population was 2,590 at the 2000 census... |
WMMA WMMA WMMA is a radio station in Nekoosa, Wisconsin. It is part of the Relevant Radio Christian network.-External links:*... |
93.9 | Wisconsin Dells-Baraboo Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin Wisconsin Dells is a city in south-central Wisconsin, with a population of 2,418 as of the 2000 census. It straddles four counties: Adams, Columbia, Juneau, and Sauk. The city takes its name from the dells of the Wisconsin River, a scenic, glacially formed gorge that features striking sandstone... |
website | |
| Port Washington Port Washington, Wisconsin Port Washington is the county seat of Ozaukee County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The city is about 25 miles north of Milwaukee and 110 miles north of Chicago. In the 2000 census Port Washington had a population of 10,467... |
WPJP WPJP WPJP is a radio station licensed to Port Washington, Wisconsin, and licensed to Starboard Media Foundation, Inc. They have been airing Catholic-based religious programming as "Relevant Radio" since March 2003.-History:... |
100.1 | Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the... |
website | |
| Poynette Poynette, Wisconsin Poynette is a village in Columbia County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,266 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... |
WHFA WHFA WHFA is a radio station licensed to Poynette, Wisconsin, USA. The station serves the Madison area. It currently broadcasts a Catholic format. The station is currently owned by Starboard Media Foundation. WHFA previously had the call letters WIBU. The station is an affiliate of Relevant Radio.... |
1240 | Madison Madison, Wisconsin Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison.... |
website |
Sources
- "Catholic network calls Green Bay home", Green Bay News-Chronicle, date uncertain, 2004. (Newspaper now defunct)