Religion on the radio is alive and well in Utah with a record eight stations between Ogden and Provo offering all-religious programming. That represents more than 15 percent of the 51 Wasatch Front radio stations.
KANN (AM-1120), KEYY (AM-1450), KSRR (AM-1400), KHQN (AM-1480), KLLB (AM-1510), KYFO (AM-1490, FM-92.7 and 95.5) and KUFR (FM-91.9 and 102.3) have all-religious programming. In addition, Bonneville International's LDS Radio Network airs religious programming by satellite.Only country, adult contemporary and news/talk formats are more popular forms of radio programming in the Beehive State.
Besides these all-religious stations, at
least five other stations - KSL, KALL, KTKK, KBYU and KBEE - broadcast one or more religious programs each week.
Nationally, Christian music for radio stations is diversifying and on somewhat of a decline, but not in Utah. There were seven religious radio stations along the Wasatch Front in 1993, and the LDS Radio Network has increased that by one in the past three years.
As a new century approaches, some believe there will be an increase in religious interest. However, John Marks, general manager of KALL, KKAT and KODJ, suspects that money is one reason there are so many religious stations.
He said religious stations don't worry about ratings because they don't affect these type of stations. Such stations also have low overhead and high profit potential with very little manpower required.
"It's a very profitable enterprise," Marks said, especially because Utah has so many radio stations of all types.
However, officials at Utah's religious stations say they aren't in the business to make a profit - but to promote Christian messages and values.
One owner of a religious station who strongly disagrees with the so-called profitability of religious radio programming - at least for the LDS market - is Bob Morey of KSRR.
"The LDS music market has had a full-scale retreat," Morey said, referring to some six other LDS music stations that died out.
He said LDS music stations struggle because of a lack of advertising support. KSRR has even tried membership clubs as a financial supplement and more recently added show tunes/broadway themes to its music mix.
Regarding other Christian radio stations in Utah, Morey said their numbers seem to be growing in some respects.
"The religious market has really broadened out," Morey said, explaining they now have numerous self-help, motivation or relationship-oriented programs.
Russ East, general manager for Ogden's KYFO, suspects religious programming is on the upswing nationally and in Utah. He said the most significant recent change has been Christian stations showing up on the FM dial instead of just the AM band.
His station has two FM frequencies and one on the AM. They all simulcast. KUFR also has two spots on the FM dial.
Bob Alzugarat, manager for Ogden's KANN - the state's oldest religious station - said the number of religious radio stations nationally has grown considerably over the past decade, although in the past several years the numbers have been holding steady.
As you might expect, some religious stations are more zealous than others in promoting religion. Others, like KHQN (Hare Krish-na), simply stress the importance of God and religion in general.
Most religious stations - even those that belong to a network - want to be involved in their communities, too. For example, Steve Barsuhn, station manager of Provo's KEYY, said his station airs many local community messages and upcoming calendar events.
Utah's newest religious station, the LDS Radio Network, is based on satellite reception, and most of its audience is outside of Utah. Two other ways to access the station is through a local cable TV company or with a specially adapted radio set.
- Religion on the radio has a long history both in the nation and in Utah. For example, the first radio to air religious services was KDKA (Pittsburgh) on Jan. 2, 1921, 12 years after the first U.S. radio station signed on the air.
Utah's first station, KZN (now KSL), started on May 6, 1922, with LDS Church President Heber J. Grant reading verses from the Doctrine & Covenants - one of the church's books of scripture.
In addition, the "Music and the Spoken Word" broadcasts from Temple Square have been going continuously for 66 years and is the longest-running network radio program in the nation.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Where to find all-religious stations
KANN Ogden, AM-1120 Evangelical Christian programming
KSRR Orem, AM-1400 LDS Contemporary format.
KEYY Provo, AM-1450 Christian programming.
KHQN Spanish Fork, Hare Krishna, Eastern music/philosophy.
AM-1480
KYFO Ogden, AM-1490, Conservative Christian music, talk
FM-92.7 and 95.5 (Bible Broadcasting Network from North Carolina.)
KLLB South Jordan, Black gospel/Christian format.
AM-1510
KUFR Salt Lake, FM-91.9 Ministry of Family Radio
and 102.3 (network from San Francisco).
The LDS On satellite, through Airs LDS music, scripture readings,
Radio cable TV and with devotionals, BYU sports and
Network special radio sets. related programming.
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Religious programming on other stations:
KALL AM-910 "The Lutheran Hour," Sundays 9-9:30 a.m.
KSL AM-1160 Special Sunday religious programming:
7:30 a.m. - "The Rome Report," from Vatican Radio
7:45 a.m. - News from the LDS Church.
8 a.m. - "The World of Religion."
8:30 a.m. - "Times and Seasons."
9 a.m. - "Everyday Lives, Everday Values"
with Doug Wright.
9:30 a.m. - "Music and the Spoken Word."
2 p.m. - "Religion Today," with Martin Tanner.
9 p.m. - "Hour of Decision."
9:30 p.m. - "Back to God."
10 p.m. - "Lutheran Vespers."
10:30 p.m. - Repeat of "Music and the Spoken Work."
11:30 p.m. - "Voice of Prophecy."
Also LDS General Conference sessions.
KTKK AM-630 "Religion on the Line," with Van Hale. Sundays 8-10 p.m.
KBEE FM-98.7 "The New Sounds of Sunday," a contemporary Christian
music program by Michael Webb, Sundays 8-10 a.m.
KBYU FM-89.1 Sundays: "Music and the Spoken Word,"
(11:30 a.m. and 9:45 p.m.)