Type | Radio network |
---|---|
Country | |
Programming | |
Format | Catholic radio |
Ownership | |
Key people | Rev. Francis Joseph Hoffman, JCD, CEO and Chairman of the Board; Drew Mariani, Show Host; Patrick Madrid, Show Host. |
History | |
Launch date | December 12, 2000 |
Coverage | |
Availability | United States |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen live |
Website | www |
Relevant Radio (corporate name Relevant Radio, Inc.) is a radio network in the United States, mainly broadcasting talk radio and religious programming involving the Catholic Church. Relevant Radio broadcasts "talk radio for Catholic life" over a network of 206 stations. Relevant Radio owns and operates 133 stations, and distributes programs to an additional 73 affiliates.
Relevant Radio is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois, with additional studios in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
The network airs a variety of programming aimed at Catholics and others interested in the Catholic Church.
The network was founded by a group of 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, Wisconsin-based distributor of frozen appetizers. Starboard Media Foundation, Inc. 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 Federal Communications Commission on December 12, 2000, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is the patron saint of Relevant Radio along with Pope John Paul II.
"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.
On October 13, 2016, Relevant Radio announced that it would merge with Loomis, California-based Immaculate Heart Radio, which owned and operated 36 stations in the western United States at the time of the merger. [1] The merger was completed on July 31, 2017, with all stations being licensed to Immaculate Heart Media, Inc., while Relevant Radio continued as the on-air branding. [2] The corporate name was changed to Relevant Radio, Inc. in February 2020. [3]
In 2019, Immaculate Heart Media purchased 13 AM stations and seven translators from Salem Media Group. [4] [5] [6]
In October 2019, Immaculate Heart purchased the 6 radio stations owned by Northern Michigan-based Baraga Broadcasting, as well as assuming the LMA of affiliate station WMQU, which is currently owned by Blarney Stone Broadcasting. [7] On May 17, 2021, the five stations carrying Relevant Radio's Spanish-language service began carrying the English-language network.
In 2022 and 2023, Relevant Radio acquired stations in Baltimore, Maryland; Seattle, Washington; Tucson, Arizona; Honolulu, Hawaii; Toledo, Ohio; Detroit; Chicago; Austin, Texas and Houston.
Owned and operated stations [8] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
State | Location | Call sign | Frequency | Area |
Florida | Atlantic Beach | WZNZ | 1600 | Jacksonville |
St. Petersburg | WWMI | 1380 | Tampa Bay | |
Winter Park | WHOO | 1080 | Greater Orlando | |
Illinois | Granite City | KXFN | 1380 | St. Louis |
Indiana | Gary | WWCA | 1270 | Northwest Indiana |
Texas | Harlingen | KJJF | 88.9 | Rio Grande Valley |
McAllen | KHID | 88.1 | Rio Grande Valley | |
WWDJ is a Catholic radio station licensed to Boston, Massachusetts. Owned by Relevant Radio, Inc., the station serves Greater Boston. WWDJ does not broadcast any local programming, functioning as a repeater for the Relevant Radio network. WWDJ's studios and offices are co-located with the network in Lincolnwood, Illinois, and the station transmitter are located in Lexington.
WQOF is a commercial radio station licensed to Washington, D.C., and serving the Washington metro area. The station is owned and operated by Relevant Radio, based in Wisconsin, and broadcasts its nationally syndicated catholic–talk radio programming. WQOF is one of two Catholic stations in the Washington area; the other is EWTN affiliate WMET.
KXFN is a radio station in St. Louis, Missouri. It is owned by the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod and airs a simulcast of station KFUO's daytime signal and nighttime live stream. The station has a colorful history as a Top 40 station KWK.
WSDZ is a radio station licensed to Belleville, Illinois, and serving the Greater St. Louis radio market. It is owned and operated by Relevant Radio, Inc. WSDZ carries a catholic–talk radio format supplied by the Relevant Radio network. WSDZ, along with 1120 KMOX, are responsible for activation of the St. Louis area Emergency Alert System.
KTNO is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Plano, Texas, and serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The station airs a Spanish Christian radio format known as "Radio Luz Dallas" and is owned by the Salem Media Group. Studios and offices are on North Belt Line Road in Irving. The transmitter is located on County Road 409 in McKinney.
KKDD is a radio station in San Bernardino, California. The station is owned by Relevant Radio, Inc. It airs a Catholic talk format for the Inland Empire region of Southern California including Riverside and San Bernardino.
WXCX is a radio station licensed to Siren, Wisconsin. WXCX transmits with 6 kW at 100 meters from a tower in central Burnett County. The station broadcasts a classic country format. It is owned by Zoe Communications, Inc. and has studios in Shell Lake, Wisconsin.
KRDY is an AM radio station in San Antonio, Texas. It is owned by the non-profit organization Relevant Radio, Inc., based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The station is an affiliate of its catholic–talk radio network.
WWMI is a radio station licensed to St. Petersburg, Florida, and serving the Tampa Bay radio market. It is owned by Relevant Radio, a non-profit Catholic broadcasting organization based in Wisconsin. WWMI carries its Relevant Radio network programming.
KDMT is a radio station licensed to Arvada, Colorado, and serving the Denver-Boulder radio market. The station is owned by Relevant Radio, Inc., and broadcasts a Catholic talk radio format, as part of the Relevant Radio network.
KEXB is a radio station, licensed to University Park, Texas, and serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. It is owned and operated by Relevant Radio, Inc., and carries a Catholic talk and teaching radio format. Most of the programming comes from the Wisconsin-based radio network known as "Relevant Radio."
WGTK is a commercial AM radio station in Louisville, Kentucky. It is owned by the Word Media Group with the license held by the Word Broadcasting Network, Inc. It airs a conservative talk radio format, calling itself "970 The Answer", similar to many talk stations carrying the Salem Radio Network. Its studios and offices are on Corporate Campus Drive in Louisville.
WHKZ is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Warren, Ohio, featuring a Catholic–based Christian format as an owned-and-operated station in the Relevant Radio network. The station serves both Sharon, Pennsylvania, and Youngstown, Ohio. WHKZ's transmitter resides on Calson-Salt Springs Road in Warren, operating at a continuous power of 5,000 watts; the directional antenna pattern uses two towers during the day, and six towers at night.
KTEK – branded Relevant Radio – is a non-commercial Catholic radio station licensed to Alvin, Texas. Owned by Relevant Radio, Inc., the station serves Greater Houston but does not broadcast any local programming, instead functioning as a repeater for the Relevant Radio network. KTEK also simulcasts over three Houston licensed translators K222CX, K241CM and K245CQ. The KTEK transmitter is located in Alvin, while the transmitter for K241CM resides in Friendswood and the K245CQ transmitter is near MacGregor Drive and Texas State Highway 288, just south of downtown Houston.
WVMP is a commercial radio station licensed to Vinton, Virginia, and serving the Roanoke metropolitan area. WVMP is owned by Todd P. Robinson's WVJT, LLC. It broadcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format, with some programming provided by the Salem Radio Network. National religious leaders heard on WVMP include Greg Laurie, David Jeremiah, John MacArthur, Alistair Begg and Chuck Swindoll
WAFS is an AM radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia which broadcasts Catholic talk programming, as an affiliate of Relevant Radio. The station is classified as a Class D AM broadcast station according to the Federal Communications Commission, with 25,000 watts of power during the daytime using a non-directional antenna. WAFS also operates pre-sunrise (PSRA) with 350 watts and post-sunset (PSSA) with power levels from 54 to 150 watts.
KJPG is a radio station broadcasting a Catholic radio format as a network affiliate of Relevant Radio. Licensed to Frazier Park, California, it serves the Bakersfield metropolitan area. The station is owned by Relevant Radio, Inc., which is based in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
WLCC is a radio station broadcasting a Christian radio format, simulcasting WTBN. Licensed to Brandon, Florida, United States, it serves the Tampa Bay area. WLCC is owned by Salem Media Group.
WQOS is a radio station licensed to Coral Gables, Florida, serving the South Florida Metropolitan Area, including Miami. The station is owned by Relevant Radio, Inc. and is an affiliate of Catholic talk network Relevant Radio. The transmitter is located in Everglades, Florida. Programming is also heard on low-powered FM translator W249DM in Miami.
WXBN is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Sweetwater, Florida, and serving the Miami–Fort Lauderdale radio market. It is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., and airs a black-oriented news format as an affiliate of the co-owned Black Information Network.