For over 75 years, Christian radio has been a key component of the ministries of Moody Bible Institute. While Moody Radio has spread from coast to coast and won numerous awards, we are still committed to bringing Christian radio that edifies, equips, and encourages to as many people as possible. What began as a single radio station in Chicago has expanded to Moody Broadcasting Network (MBN) including owned and operated stations, repeater stations, and satellators. You’re probably familiar with an owned and operated station, but what are repeaters and satellators?
A
satellator is a small, low-power facility that receives its signal from
satellite and broadcasts to a very small geographic area. This technology
allows MBN to rebroadcast a signal that originates in Chicago and deliver
inspirational radio to the listener in the community of a satellator
station. “This allows high-quality radio programming to be available to a
smaller
community that might not be able to support a fully-staffed operation,”
explains Doug Hastings, division manager of programming and operations. In
fact, we’ve recently added three new satellator stations to the network:
WMBL-88.1 FM in Mitchell, Indiana; KMDY-90.9 FM in Keokuk, Iowa; and
KMBN-89.7 FM in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
A repeater station rebroadcasts the signal of another full-power station in the same regional area. For example, the programming from WCRF-103.3 FM in Cleveland, Ohio, is also broadcast via repeater stations for the communities of New Castle, Pennsylvania, Meadville, Pennsylvania, and Sandusky, Ohio. We’re excited that a repeater station will launch soon in Millersburg, Ohio, (also repeating WCRF), and WMBV-91.9 FM in Dixons Mills, Alabama, will be repeated in both Tuscaloosa and Selma, Alabama.
Many factors go into MBN’s decision to open a new station, including need, available frequencies, community interest, and funding. “In most of these cases, we had a group of local people who really wanted to have Moody radio in their community,” explains Hastings. “They worked in the area to raise the funds needed to apply for a station in their community.” And finding the funds for a station is an important piece of the puzzle.
The costs associated with starting a new radio station, especially in large cities, are often insurmountable. The frequency alone can cost millions of dollars–a commercial frequency in Chicago recently sold for $161 million! And while MBN does have stations in several of the nation’s top 50 markets, MBN also puts a lot of value on the work that can be done in smaller communities that are often best served by satellator and repeater stations. At current count, MBN has 34 owned and operated stations in the United States with three more launching soon.
MBN also has an international presence that stems from satellite broadcasts that send English and Spanish-language programs across the world. A partnership with HCJB World Radio allows MBN to provide tangible assistance to struggling Christian stations and networks in places like Latin America and Central Europe. “We see ourselves in a support role internationally,” explains John Maddex, division manager of broadcast stations. “There are wonderful ministries already in existence that need our help and training.” This assistance has taken the form of financial help, equipment, CDs, and on-site training for station managers, producers, and pastors. As Maddex points out, “Our name does not have to be on it to fulfill our obligation to bring the gospel via radio to all parts of the world.”
That’s the critical mission of Moody Broadcasting Network – to use available technology to share the hope and power of the gospel through radio. If there’s a Moody station in your area, tune in for encouraging music and teaching. And if there’s no station near you now – there may be soon! As we expand from Sandusky to Slovenia, we are excited to see how MBN can reach even more people for Christ through great radio programs.
Reprinted from the July 2002 issue of TODAY IN THE WORD
Moody Bible Institute, Stewardship
Department,
820 N. LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60610
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