| Family Stations, Inc. | |
| Trading Name: | Family Radio |
| Type: | Non-profit |
| Genre: | Religious, Christian |
| Location: | Franklin, Tennessee (HQ) Alameda, California (Network Ops) |
| Products: | Radio, television |
| Website: | www.familyradio.org |
Family Radio, also known by its licensee name Family Stations, Inc., is a non-profit Christian radio network based in Franklin, Tennessee with network operations located in Alameda, California, United States. Established in 1959, Family Radio airs religious programming. The network is most widely known for its false 2011 end times predictions.
One of Family Radio's oldest broadcasts was a telephone-talk program called Open Forum in which Harold Camping, the network's co-founder, president and general manager, responded to callers' questions and comments, as they relate to the Bible, and used the platform to promote his various end-time predictions. The program was finally cancelled not long after Camping's third failed "rapture-less" prediction and a stroke which he suffered in June 2011. Other programs that have aired on Family Radio over the years include the morning programs Rise and Rejoice and The Christian Home; Family Bible Reading Fellowship, a half-hour Bible reading program; Radio Reading Circle, featuring readings of Christian books; the overnight program Nightwatch; Echoes, which features recordings of sermons delivered by pastors from churches around the world); Music to Live By, an afternoon program; the nighttime program The Quiet Hours; Family Bible Study; and Beyond Intelligent Design. Outside programming broadcast over the Family Radio network was limited as Camping considered the organized church apostate, and therefore devoid of God's Spirit and under Satan's control.
Originally founded by Richard H. Palmquist, with the assistance of Harold Camping[1] and Lloyd Lindquist as fellow members of the initial Board of Directors, Family Radio began obtaining FM broadcasting licenses on commercial frequencies in 1959, and by 2006, was ranked 19th among top broadcast companies in number of radio stations owned.[2]
In 1958, the radio broadcaster Richard Palmquist met Harold Camping and persuaded him to provide the financial backing needed for them to co-found Family Radio, joined with other individuals of Christian Reformed and other Calvinist churches to purchase an FM radio station in San Francisco, California, KEAR, then at 97.3 MHz. After months of preparations, Family Radio came on the air on Wednesday, February 4, 1959.[3]
Many program productions broadcast throughout the Family Radio station network were produced in the Oakland, California facilities. The production process involved pre-recording two weeks of broadcast programming on reel-to-reel tapes distributed to each local Family Radio station for broadcast on the specified date. Free broadcast time was provided by Family Radio to national fundamentalist and evangelical ministries—outside ministries' programs were sent in cassette and reel-to-reel tape formats to respective Family Radio stations for local broadcast. Popular network announcers and the programs they hosted included Jon Arthur (The Quiet Hours, Big Jon & Sparky, Radio Reading Circle); Omar Andeel (The Morning Clock); Harold Hall (The Christian Home); Ken Boone (Music to Live By); Bob Swenson (Transition); and Jerry Edinger (Nightwatch). Each local Family Radio station had local board operators providing world, national, and local news and weather at various intervals throughout the day; regular public service announcements and daily public affairs programming; and local traffic reports via phone call-in during morning and afternoon weekdays. "Walk with the King" with Dr. Robert A. Cook, originally known as The King's Hour, still airs today, although now often edited in places deemed incompatible with Camping's odd end-times and "apostate church" doctrinal stands.
By the late 1980s, programming was delivered via satellite, local news was taken off the stations in favor of a various national news from a Christian news source, and all but a few local announcements are produced at their Oakland, California facilities.
In 1992, Family Radio began teaching that the Great Tribulation began in May 1988, and that the rapture would occur on September 6, 1994, later adjusting the predicted date to between September 15 and 27, 1994, and telling listeners not to make any long term plans.[4] [5] [6] The network's promotion of these predictions caused some nations in Asia to prevent Family Radio from commencing operations in their countries.[6]
Beginning in the late 1990s, Family Radio began gradually dropping outside ministries because of doctrinal changes in the network. As board members left the organization, they were not being replaced. Harold Camping's controversial teachings, as they were changing, became the focus of the entire network. Up until the late 1980s, Family Radio endorsed local church attendance but once Camping stated the church age was over, he went on to say that Christians should not be members or attend church services of any type. His actions led to mounting criticism from former supporters and led some Family Radio staff members to resign as well as some outside ministries and churches to leave the network. The loss of these programs from the Family Radio schedule gave Camping more airtime to express his teachings. Around this time, former Family Radio employees, pastors, cult specialists, and others, began to publically describe Family Radio as a cult.[7]
Leading up to May 2011, Family Radio spent in the vicinity of $100 million to advertise the now-discredited 2011 end times prediction.[8] [9] In the lead up to the predicted day of the rapture, many followers of Family Radio's teachings spent their life savings to donate to Family Radio or personally advertise the predicted rapture date.[10] [11] Others quit their jobs, sold their homes, and went into debt, relying on Camping's predictions.[10] [11] Several suicides were attributed to the station's apocalyptic teachings, and a woman in California tried to kill her two daughters and herself, believing that she was sparing them the tribulation that would occur following the rapture predicted by the station.[12] [13] [14]
The network's apocalyptic predictions, and its followers reactions to them, led to media descriptions of the network as a doomsday cult.[15] [16] [17] [18] [19] Scholars of apocalyptic groups found the various responses among Family Radio's followers to be consistent with what they expected to see among members of a cult, with disillusioned followers concurring that Family Radio is a cult.[20]
Two days after the forecast "Rapture" failed to happen, A Bible Answer, a Bible teaching ministry who had been tired of the "Rapture" predictions, offered to buy 66 full-powered radio stations from Family Radio founder Harold Camping in an effort to get him to resign from preaching this doctrine. The offer came with a catch – they were not to take possession of the stations until October 22, the day after Camping's revised set-date for the end of the world. A Bible Answer's website called for Camping to resign from the Family Radio board, citing "the self-proclaimed expert on the Bible has brought reproach upon Christ, the Bible, and the church," and added "After taking the money of his supporters, let Harold give up all he has, to show he believes what he is preaching. He does not or else he would sell. It is time to get new leadership at Family Radio."[21] [22]
On August 3, 2011, the radio industry website Radio-Info.com reported that Family Radio was putting two of its full-powered FM stations up for sale. These stations were: WKDN in Camden, New Jersey (covering Philadelphia), and WFSI in Annapolis, Maryland (covering Baltimore and Washington, D.C.). The article indicated that the network may have sold the stations to pay off "operating deficits accumulated over the last several years".[23] WFSI would be purchased in November 2011 by CBS Radio, which converted the station to a Spanish language dance music format under the WLZL call sign. Merlin Media, LLC struck a deal in December 2011 to acquire WKDN,[24] which was relaunched with a talk format under the WWIQ call sign.[25] WWIQ was later sold to Educational Media Foundation in late 2013, and became WKVP, a K-Love affiliate station.
In January 2012, Family Radio applied to the FCC to change the license of station WFME in Newark, New Jersey, near New York City, from non-commercial to commercial. The application quickly prompted conjecture from radio industry monitors that the station would soon be sold. The application was approved in February.[26] [27] [28] Those rumors were confirmed on October 16, 2012, when it was announced that Family Stations would sell WFME to Atlanta-based Cumulus Media for an undisclosed price.[29] A November message from Camping posted on the Family Radio website admitted, "Either we sell WFME or go off the air completely." The 94.7 signal would be relaunched as country-formatted station, WNSH. Concurrent with 94.7's sale to Cumulus, Family Radio purchased FM station WDVY in Mount Kisco, New York from Cumulus, which would soon after adopt Family Radio's programming and the WFME-FM callsign.
After 40 years on the air, WYFR, Family Radio's shortwave station located in Okeechobee, Florida, ceased operations on July 1, 2013. In December 2013, Radio Miami International, purchased the shortwave transmission complex and began broadcasting from there; the complex now operates under the WRMI call letters.
Harold Camping died from a fall on December 15, 2013, in his home in Alameda, California. His death was confirmed by an employee of the network. Following Camping's death, the network reaffirmed its commitment to his teachings, specifically the belief that all churches had become apostate, and that true Christians should not attend church.[30]
On November 21, 2014, The Walt Disney Company announced it would sell WQEW in New York City to Family Radio for $12.95 million, part of Disney's decision to end terrestrial distribution of the Radio Disney format. The sale was approved on February 10, 2015, and the station returned on the air on February 27 as the new WFME (AM), thus giving Family Radio full coverage of the New York City metropolitan area for the first time in two years. Concurrent with the sale, the FCC converted WFME's broadcasting status from commercial to non-commercial.
During 2016, Family Radio moved its corporate offices and main studios from Oakland, where it had been based since the network's inception, to the adjacent East Bay city of Alameda.
In September 2018, Family Radio announced it would no longer air programs featuring the voice of Harold Camping, and would no longer distribute literature of Camping's teachings. The decision was made as part of an effort to both move away from Camping's theology, and to reintroduce programs from outside ministries into the network's schedule. The changes went into effect on October 8, 2018.
Just a few years after its restructuring, Family Stations, Inc., announced on October 28, 2019, that it would be moving its headquarters from Alameda, California to Nashville, Tennessee.[31] However, Family Radio kept its satellite up-link facility in Alameda, California.[32]
In 1958, Camping sold his construction business and, with the funds, purchased KEAR-FM in San Francisco. He then grew his broadcast empire so that by 1994 Family Radio comprised forty radio stations nationwide.[33] The listenership of Family Radio understandably declined after the failed 1994 prediction, but before long the organization was growing at a rate much higher than it had previously experienced.[34] From 1994 to 2009, it grew at an even faster rate than before; by the time of his second campaign, the organization boasted 216 AM and FM radio stations, along with two television channels.[34]
With a growing national profile, the financial viability of the non-profit also grew. Financial strength hit a peak in 2007 when Family Radio reported $135 million in assets.[35] As net assets declined from that point forward, listener contributions steadily increased. Upon the outset of the second campaign, the organizations assets dropped while contributions simultaneously rose indicating an increased level of spending by the organization, far surpassing the increase in income.[34] In 2008, total contributions were well over $15 million.[36] 2009 saw an annual budget of $36.7 million with $117 million in assets and $18.4 million in contributions. IRS records also indicate that Family Radio employed 348 persons in 2009.[37] In 2010 assets were down to $110 million while contributions rose to $18.7 million while the station maintained 346 employees.[38] In 2011 contributions fell to $17.2 million and assets dropped to $87.6 million, while the organization also lost 26 employees.[39] By the end of 2011 the organizations assets had dropped to $29.2 million, and the next year was forced to take out a $30 million loan.[40]
Central to Camping's teaching was the belief that the Bible is the Word of God and completely true. However, he emphasized, this does not mean that each sentence in the Bible is to be understood only literally. Rather, the meaning of individual Biblical passages needs to be interpreted in the light of two factors. The first is the context of the Bible as a whole. The second is its spiritual meaning: in Camping's words, "the Bible is an earthly story with a Heavenly meaning." In Camping's publication, "We are Almost There!", he stated that certain Biblical passages pointed unquestionably to May 21, 2011, as the date of "Rapture", and pointed to October 21, 2011, as the end of the world. This event did not occur on May 21 or October 21 of that year, and no acknowledgment of false teaching has yet been offered concerning the October 21 event.[41] The organization's website became inaccessible early that day, and wasn't reachable until the early morning of May 22.
As a result of spending millions of dollars to promote his "end of the world" theory, many people sold everything they owned and donated it to Family Radio, sometimes even hundreds of thousands of dollars. The California Attorney General's office has been asked by the Freedom from Religion Foundation to investigate Camping and Family Stations, Inc. for "Fraud and Deceit".[42]
After leaving the Christian Reformed Church in 1988, Camping taught doctrines that largely conflicted with doctrines of the Reformed Church and traditional Christian teaching. The principles of Biblical hermeneutics upon which Camping framed his present teachings are:
Following Camping's death, the network reaffirmed its commitment to his teachings, specifically the belief that all churches had become apostate, and that true Christians should not attend church.[30] For several years after Camping's death in 2013, Family Radio continued to air some of his past broadcasts and distribute his literature. But in October 2018, Family Radio discontinued using any of Camping's commentary and content, after outside ministries expressed a reluctance to allow their shows on the network while Camping's programs aired, stating "so much of it still contains elements that are very difficult."[44]
The flagship station for the network of both full-power and low-power translator stations is KEAR in San Francisco. With the sale of KEAR-FM to CBS Radio in 2005, broadcasts from San Francisco moved to an AM radio frequency. Due to FCC rules regarding translator stations, the legal primary station for the translators was changed to KEAR-FM in Sacramento, after the former primary FM station in San Francisco was sold to CBS Radio.
+  United States | |||||||||||
| Call sign | data-sort-type="number" | Frequency | City of license | State | data-sort-type="number" | Power (W) | data-sort-type="number" | ERP (W) | data-sort-type="number" | Height (m (ft)) | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBFR | 89.5 FM | 100 | 205m (673feet) | ||||||||
| KFRB | 91.3 FM | 2,800 | 417m (1,368feet) | ||||||||
| KHAP | 89.1 FM | 12,000 | 87m (285feet) | ||||||||
| 910 AM | 5,000 | ||||||||||
| KFNO | 90.3 FM | 2,200 | 594m (1,949feet) | ||||||||
| KEFR | 89.9 FM | 1,800 | 653m (2,142feet) | ||||||||
| 1280 AM | 1,000 | ||||||||||
| KEBR | 88.1 FM | 8,400 | 303m (994feet) | ||||||||
| 610 AM | 5,000 | ||||||||||
| KFRS | 89.9 FM | 250 | 93m (305feet) | ||||||||
| KPRA | 89.5 FM | 1,600 | 346m (1,135feet) | ||||||||
| KFRY | 89.9 FM | 870 | 647m (2,123feet) | ||||||||
| 1170 AM | |||||||||||
| WJFR | 88.7 FM | 8,000 | 107m (351feet) | ||||||||
| 1190 AM | 4,700 day 230 night | ||||||||||
| WWFR | 91.7 FM | 2,650 | 152m (499feet) | ||||||||
| WJCH | 91.9 FM | 50,000 | 151m (495feet) | ||||||||
| KDFR | 91.3 FM | 32,000 | 136m (446feet) | ||||||||
| 920 AM | 5,000 day 2,500 night | ||||||||||
| 860 AM | 2,500 day 66 night | ||||||||||
| WOFR | 89.5 FM | 10,000 | 42m (138feet) | ||||||||
| KFRD | 88.3 FM | 2,800 | 527m (1,729feet) | ||||||||
| KXFR | 91.9 FM | 12,000 | 74m (243feet) | ||||||||
| 92.7 FM | 2,000 | 159m (522feet) | |||||||||
| WFRS | 88.9 FM | 1,500 | 132m (433feet) | ||||||||
| 1150 AM | 5,000 day 500 night | ||||||||||
| WOTL | 90.3 FM | 700 | 115m (377feet) | ||||||||
| WYTN | 91.7 FM | 900 | 181m (594feet) | ||||||||
| KYOR | 88.9 FM | 35 | 274m (899feet) | ||||||||
| KPFR | 89.5 FM | 2,900 | 513m (1,683feet) | ||||||||
| KQFE | 88.9 FM | 1,250 | 290m (950feet) | ||||||||
| WEFR | 88.1 FM | 630 | 131m (430feet) | ||||||||
| 950 AM | 43,000 day 21,000 night | ||||||||||
| WFCH | 88.5 FM | 29,500 | 93m (305feet) | ||||||||
| KTXB | 89.7 FM | 9,000 | 173m (568feet) | ||||||||
| KUFR | 91.7 FM | 130 | -63m (-207feet) | ||||||||
| KJVH | 89.5 FM | 100 | 238m (781feet) | ||||||||
| WMWK | 88.1 FM | 1,100 | 276m (906feet) |
Notes:
In addition to its full-powered stations, Family Radio is relayed by an additional 23 FM translators:
| + United States (translators) | ||||||
| Call sign | data-sort-type="number" | Frequency (MHz) | City of license | State | FCC info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K220EY | 91.9 | |||||
| K268AJ | 101.5 | |||||
| K213BZ | 90.5 | |||||
| K214CA | 90.7 | |||||
| W218CW | 91.5 | |||||
| W233AD | 94.5 | |||||
| W295AF | 106.9 | |||||
| K206DU | 89.1 | |||||
| W252AQ | 98.3 | |||||
| K216GT | 91.1 | |||||
| K220GM | 91.9 | |||||
| K211GA | 90.1 | |||||
| W213AC | 90.5 | |||||
| K214BO | 90.7 | |||||
| K223AO | 92.5 | |||||
| K203BE | 88.5 | |||||
| W208AF | 89.5 | |||||
| W207AE | 89.3 | |||||
| K219BX | 91.7 | |||||
| K220EI | 91.9 | |||||
| W207AX | 89.3 | |||||
| W220BD | 91.9 | |||||
| K219CA | 91.7 |
Until July 1, 2013, Family Radio also offered international coverage via short wave radio station WYFR in several languages; its short wave service ceased operations on July 1, 2013.[45]