VCY America explained

Network Name:VCY America
Country:United States
Network Type:Radio network
Former Names:Milwaukee Youth for Christ
Headquarters:Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Founded:1954
Founder:Vic Eliason
Owner:VCY America, Inc.
Webcast:Listen Live
Website:https://www.vcy.org/

VCY America, Inc. is a traditional, evangelical, conservative Christian ministry based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The VCY America Radio Network maintains a format of Christian talk and teaching, as well as traditional Christian music through its broadcast outlets.

History

Originally known as "Milwaukee Youth For Christ", and later, "Greater Milwaukee Youth For Christ", it left the national YFC organization in 1973 and became known as the Wisconsin Voice of Christian Youth (WVCY) until 1995, when it changed to its present name. Its flagship stations in Milwaukee, WVCY-FM and WVCY-TV, share a call sign which refers to the ministry's original name.

Radio network

The ministry operates 39 VCY America-owned radio stations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. It also broadcasts over 26 low-power FM translators.[1] VCY America radio also provides programming such as Crosstalk, Worldview Weekend, and Music 'til Dawn to stations throughout the country via satellite. Additionally, VCY has a Christian bookstore in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin which is promoted on air and ships throughout the United States as an additional source of revenue.

VCY has attempted to expand into the San Francisco Bay Area, Las Vegas, and the Coachella Valley through the lease and attempted purchase of a group of three stations in a bankruptcy action: KFRH, KREV and KRCK-FM. In early 2022, the original owner sued successfully to nullify the bankruptcy action against them, and the bankruptcy debtor in possession and trustee was forced to return to the stations to them and nullify the VCY America leases. In October 2023, VCY America participated in a bankruptcy auction for these stations and was the winning bidder for KFRH, KRCK-FM, and two translators in the Palm Springs area for $2,445,952.88.[2] KFRH in North Las Vegas, Nevada's call sign was changed to KVPH and it began airing VCY America's programming on March 18, 2024.[3]

In December 2022 VCY America announced it would purchase WFAS-FM in the New York City area from Cumulus Media, pending final approval from the Federal Communications Commission.[4] RadioInsight.com "VCY America Enters New York City with WFAS-FM Purchase Dec. 8, 2022 Renamed WVBN, the acquisition, completed on February 6, 2023, gave VCY America its first broadcast outlet on the East Coast.[5] VCY America added to its Northeastern expansion in August 2023 with its purchase of WJBR-FM in Wilmington, Delaware, from Beasley Broadcast Group.[6] VCY took control of the station October 6, changing its call sign to WVCW; the move brings its programming into the Philadelphia market.

Programming

VCY America's radio programming includes Christian talk and teaching programming, among them:

VCY America also airs a variety of vocal and instrumental traditional Christian music, as well as children's programming such as Ranger Bill.[7] Notably, the network (including WVCY-TV) eschews any programs featuring Contemporary Christian music, and has dropped programming which has switched to it in any form, including as theme music.

Television

The ministry also owns WVCY-TV (Channel 30) in Milwaukee, which holds a commercial license but is completely viewer supported. As of January 2018, it is carried under a channel share agreement with commercial station WITI, owned by Fox Television Stations. It vacated its former independent frequency in the FCC's spectrum repack auction, the proceeds of which ($76.3 million,[8] plus donations and bookstore purchases since) have been utilized to expand VCY's radio network. WVCY-TV is also carried in the Wausau television market via translator W26EE-D, licensed to Wittenburg.

In 1994, WVCY-TV rejected an offer to be purchased by CBS and become the network's new Milwaukee affiliate, following WITI's defection to Fox as part of the 1994–1996 United States broadcast television realignment.

Other efforts

The ministry also operates a summer camp, near Hillsboro, Wisconsin, called, "Trail Ridge Camp"[9] as well as its religious bookstore, with a physical location in Wauwatosa, a suburb of Milwaukee, and its online presence.

Leadership

The ministry is run by a team formerly headed by the late Vic Eliason, a former Youth for Christ worker, ordained Christian minister and a recipient of an honorary doctorate from Bob Jones University, in 2001.[10] Jim Schneider is the current Executive Director.[11]

List of stations

Call signdata-sort-type="number" FrequencyCity of licenseStateClassdata-sort-type="number" Power
(W)
data-sort-type="number" ERP
(W)
data-sort-type="number" Height
(m (ft))
FCC info
88.3 FM C1 22,500 304m (997feet)
KVCC 88.5 FM A 1,500 115m (377feet)
97.7 FM A 1,600 197m (646feet)
99.5 FM B 50,000 152m (499feet)
1520 AM D 500 (day)
13 (night)
88.1 FM A 2,900 61m (200feet)
106.3 FM A 1,400 134.8m (442.3feet)
99.3 FM A 5,300 95m (312feet)
89.7 FM C1 100,000 151m (495feet)
KVCY 104.7 FM C3 16,000 125m (410feet)
91.7 FM C2 11,500 228m (748feet)
WVCN 104.3 FM C1 100,000 262m (860feet)
WVCM 91.5 FM A 500 183m (600feet)
WQRN 88.9 FM C3 16,000 70m (230feet)
850 AM B 50,000 (day)
14,000 (c.h.)
KVCS 89.1 FM C3 12,000 138m (453feet)
WRVX 91.7 FM C2 27,500 116m (381feet)
107.7 FM C3 11,700 146m (479feet)
104.3 FM C 24,500 1128m (3,701feet)
106.7 FM C0 44,000 592m (1,942feet)
103.9 FM A 980 162.1m (531.8feet)
91.7 FM A 6,000 97m (318feet)
KVCF 90.5 FM C2 9,000 246m (807feet)
101.5 FM C1 100,000 195m (640feet)
KVCH 88.7 FM C1 60,000 161m (528feet)
KVFL 89.1 FM A 400 113m (371feet)
97.7 FM C 100,000 579m (1,900feet)
103.3 FM C 98,000 606m (1,988feet)
104.7 FM C1 100,000 224m (735feet)
92.7 FM C1 100,000 182m (597feet)
104.1 FM A 2,450 158m (518feet)
WVCF 90.5 FM A 1,600 112m (367feet)
WVFL 89.9 FM A 1,000 117m (384feet)
107.7 FM B 43,000 161m (528feet)
690 AM B 250 (day)
77 (night)
WVCS 90.1 FM C3 1,900 153m (502feet)
98.9 FM C0 100,000 300m (1,000feet)
105.9 FM C1 100,000 226m (741feet)
WVRN 88.9 FM C2 25,000 147m (482feet)

Notes:

+ Broadcast translators of VCY America
Call signdata-sort-type="number" Frequency
(MHz)
City of licenseStatedata-sort-type="number" ERP
(W)
data-sort-type="number" Height
(m (ft))
ClassFCC info
K251BX 98.1 158 193m (633feet) D
K293AO 106.5 250 34.8m (114.2feet) D
K214DE 90.7 10 731m (2,398feet) D
W213AW 90.5 55 46m (151feet) D
W287BY 105.3 135 90m (300feet) D
W249CX 97.7 250 164m (538feet) D
K292FX 106.3 250 60.7m (199.1feet) D
K203EZ 88.5 10 509.1m (1,670.3feet) D
K218AK 91.5 63 18m (59feet) D
K207CQ 89.3 100 12m (39feet) D
K211CW 90.1 57 99m (325feet) D
K250AB 97.9 205 42.5m (139.4feet) D
K220CE 91.9 82 918m (3,012feet) D
K212EH 90.3 2 461m (1,512feet) D
W232CQ 94.3 13 108m (354feet) D
K206EQ 89.1 250 41m (135feet) D
K258AG 99.5 250 86m (282feet) D
K293BQ 106.5 250 22.8m (74.8feet) D
K278BK 103.5 250 78.2m (256.6feet) D
W286DS 105.1 120 68m (223feet) D
W216BL 91.1 120 30m (100feet) D
W211AU 90.1 13 105m (344feet) D
W260DL 99.9 155 83m (272feet) D
K208FO 89.5 205 19.6m (64.3feet) D
W275CH 102.9 13 96m (315feet) D
W235AG 94.9 18 95m (312feet) D
W218CC 91.5 85 16m (52feet) D

Notes and References

  1. https://www.vcyamerica.org/radio/ Radio
  2. "KEXP, VCY America & AutoPilot FM To Acquire Stations From Ed Stolz Auction", RadioInsight. December 12, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  3. "KVPH 104.3 FM Las Vegas on the air!", VCY America. March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  4. https://www.insideradio.com/free/cumulus-media-s-exit-from-new-york-market-nearly-complete-with-sale-to-vcy-america/article_fe84d8d0-7730-11ed-9267-cb6d947d5b23.html InsideRadio.com "Cumulus Media to Exit from New York Market with Sale to VCY America" Dec. 8, 2022
  5. News: Venta . Lance . VCY America Debuts In New York - RadioInsight . February 7, 2023 . RadioInsight . February 6, 2023.
  6. News: Venta . Lance . VCY America Acquires WJBR . August 15, 2023 . RadioInsight . August 15, 2023.
  7. "VCY America Central Time Schedule" VCY America. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  8. Web site: FCC Broadcast Television Spectrum Incentive Auction Auction 1001 Winning Bids. April 13, 2017. April 14, 2017.
  9. "Trail Ridge Camp" Trail Ridge Camp. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  10. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; May 22, 2001
  11. "Jim Schneider, Executive Director", VCY America. Retrieved April 22, 2021.