99.1FM KFUO-FM/Clayton, 100kw, HAAT 1027 feet
Unfortunately, the LCMS missed the window for immensely profitable radio station sales, offering it up way too late to cash in on the frenzy for broadcast stations that tapered off over a year ago.Sarah Bryan Miller of the Post-Dispatch did a nice job in explaining her difficulty in touching base with JoyFM principals here, and in partially covering the story. It looks like JoyFM has something...or a lot...to hide.
Here's the rest of the story...
The prospective purchaser, Gateway Creative Broadcasting, runs two listener supported Christian stations under the common banner of JoyFM. Neither of the two stations adequately cover the STL market. I haven't taken the extra step of going through the FCC database to find more detailed info; what's presented here is all correct and developed through RadioLocator.
JoyFM's mission statement: For over 15 years St. Louis had a contemporary Christian music station (commercial station). In 1997, that station was sold, and St. Louis was without Christian music for three and a half years. In 2001, JOY FM came on the air as a non-commercial, listener supported station. That means we rely fully on the generous, faithful support of our listeners and can never be sold. It also means that instead of listening to commercials, you get at least 55 minutes of music every hour.
Well, and can never be sold is the kind of absolute statement that just begs to be challenged.
Gateway Creative Broadcasting, Inc. properties:
97.7FM KHZR/Potosi, 26.5 kw, HAAT 679 feet
Optimistic coverage map:
94.1FM KPVR/Bowling Green: 7500 watts, HAAT 592 feet
Optimistic coverage map:
There is no way that a listener-supported Christian radio company can afford to pay the full market value of a 100kw signal in the 20th market.
One final note: years ago, RKO Radio attempted to buy classical music formatted WGMS-FM, serving Washington DC and turn it Top 40 and/or AOR. They were literally run out of town and shortly thereafter the company lost their privilege to own radio licenses altogether. Lesson learned?
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