WBCQ purchases World Harvest Radio (WHRI)

WBCQ’s Ampegon antenna at the Monticello transmitting site.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Benjamin, who shares the following news tip via Radio Insight:

Family Broadcasting Corporation is selling shortwave Christian “World Harvest Radio” WHRI Furman SC to Allan Weiner for $1.25 million. Weiner also owns shortwave Talk “The Planet” WBCQ Monticello ME as well as Talk/Rock 780 WXME/98.3 W252DW and Classic Country “Kixx 94.7” WBCQ-FM Monticello. The seller owns multiple Christian television stations as well as Christian AC “Pulse-FM” 103.1 WHME South Bend IN, 96.9 WHPZ Bremen IN, and 92.1 WHPD Dowagiac MI.

Click here to read this item at Radio Insight.

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25 thoughts on “WBCQ purchases World Harvest Radio (WHRI)

  1. Chuck E.

    I’ll really miss the very progressive Contemporary Christian music that WHRI was playing during the weeks before they left the air. A great personal loss for me.

    Reply
  2. Serena

    I have 2 questions regarding shortwave I’d like to ask.
    1. Is it possible that Allan might move all WBCQ programming to WHRI, and then shut down WBCQ? Or, might he move all Christian programming to WHRI?
    2. I have a pop music radio program I’d like to put on shortwave. It is not Christian in nature. I was told a long time ago that WBCQ is the only US station accepting non-Christian programming. Is this still true?

    Reply
    1. John

      To answer your second question, WRMI also airs secular programming and has a very good reach, I’d recommend contacting them.

      Reply
  3. Neil Gates

    Without Brother Stair most of the stations that air his programming would be in serious financial difficulties

    Reply
  4. Tracy K Wood

    You can read the actual asset purchase agreement at FCCDATA.ORG by keying-in WHRI in the callsign search field then scrolling to the transactions at the bottom of the page. It’s interesting to note that the 500kw unit is referred to as “WBCW” in the official filing.

    Hey! Hans Johnson cleared $37.5K in the sale as broker. Sure pays better than being a QSL manager!

    https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101819423&formid=314&fac_num=26978

    Reply
  5. Gbristol

    Our ubiquitous Brother Stair. Dial another frequency and he’s still there!
    Probably holds records for air time.

    Reply
  6. Donald J Glocka

    Brother Stair and others like him have done more damage to shortwave radio than the Internet ever did.

    Reply
    1. Jack Kerouac

      Are you insane? Brother Stair is AMAZING! I also like the screaming preacher, Pastor Peter J. Peters, and Barbie Bridges (Melissa Scott) Those people are what Shortwave radio is really all about! They make the world a better place!

      Reply
  7. Benon Germano

    I didn’t see in the news if WBCQ bought the Palau station, but I hope it will be back on the air soon.

    Reply
  8. John Figliozzi

    Oh goody… Another place for Brother Stair to show up on tge bands and the political wing nuts to show up.

    Reply
    1. Paul B. Walker, Jr.

      John, unfortunately.. they are what keeps shortwave stations afloat.. if it werent for them, WBCQ would be reduced to almost nothing, WRMI would be severely cutback too

      Reply
      1. Bruce B

        Have to agree. Over the years I’ve produced quite a few different features on WRMI (ranging from 60 seconds to 30 minutes), have loved working with Jeff White, a super guy, and may be back soon. I love shortwave radio and Jeff is one reason why.

        Having said that, although I’m an unapologetic Christian, Brother Stair is far from my cup of tea on several levels but he DOES have a right to buy airtime and his checks are a big reason WRMI is able to pay the bills. I may cringe whenever things I produce have been adjacent to his programming but have accepted it because without revenue from Brother Stair, I may have NO access to a worldwide radio audience. It’s part of the bargain.

        Reply
    1. Joe Hill

      Very sad . I was the Ops Mgr fr WHR from 1992-2001 (employed by WHR from 1987-2001). The currents owners just gave it away. But honestly it is very much a cash eating operation.

      Reply
      1. Shortwave Dude

        Joe: you mean when WHRI was located in Noblesville, Indiana, correct? The station being discussed in this thread is the one located near Furman, SC. Does the original WHRI building in Noblesville still exist, or was it torn down?

        Reply
  9. Benjamin

    Not only was the news of the sale a surprise but the fact that I found it on a website that normally focuses on AM and FM radio stations. Maybe it’s nostalgia talking but I still remember when this site was transmitting WSHB who was using it to broadcast the Christian science Monitor worldwide. Like a lot of the readers on this site I will definitely be very curious to see what the future brings.

    Reply
    1. Shortwave Dude

      The Christian Science Monitor built and owned the original WSHB shortwave radio station and originated 100% of it’s programming…..

      Reply
  10. Dan Srebnick

    I had to check that this was not an old April 1 post resurfacing…

    The real story here may be who is financing this deal. Could it be the flat earthers? Another part of the story may be that WHRI was probably seen by its owners as a white elephant and could not wait to get if off their hands.

    Or it could just be that Allan is tired of the cold of Northern Maine.

    Reply
    1. Anode Cathode

      Dan the funder is likely the foreign biscuit magnate, the money man for World’s Last Dance. If the flat earth programming shows up on WHRI or whatever this station will henceforth be named, that will be your answer.

      Reply
      1. Shortwave Dude

        According to an open letter posted on WBCQ’s website, the FCC is the problem with the delay in selling/buying the station…..

        Reply

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