Editing Family Radio (section)

==History==
Originally founded by [[Richard H. Palmquist]], with the assistance of [[Harold Camping]]<ref name="Palmquist 2009">{{cite web|url=http://truthradio.com/Camping.pdf |title=How does Harold Camping interpret the Bible? |last=Palmquist |first=Richard |date=April 4, 2009 |website=truthradio.com |access-date=July 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129202253/http://truthradio.com/Camping.pdf |archive-date=November 29, 2010 }}</ref> and Lloyd Lindquist as fellow members of the initial Board of Directors, Family Radio began obtaining [[FM broadcasting]] licenses on commercial frequencies in 1959,<ref name="Palmquist 2009" /> and by 2006, was ranked 19th among top broadcast companies in number of radio stations owned.<ref name="News Media">{{cite web |url=https://www.journalism.org/2016/06/15/state-of-the-news-media-2016/2006/ |title=State of the News Media 2016 |last1=Mitchell |first1=Amy |last2=Holcomb |first2=Jesse |date=June 15, 2006 |website=journalism.org |publisher=Pew Research Center |access-date=July 19, 2019}}</ref> Its first radio station, [[KLLC|KEAR]] in [[San Francisco, California]], then at 97.3 [[megahertz|MHz]], came on the air on Wednesday, February 4, 1959.<ref>{{Cite web|last=For a 17-minute discussion of the early history of Family Radio, see|title=The Story of Family Radio|url=https://www.dropbox.com/s/zl49p4zb63ielny/Story%20of%20Family%20Radio.MP3?dl=0|access-date=July 9, 2021}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Briggs |first1=David |title=The End foretold: Forget October |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/07/16/the-end-foretold-forget-october/ |access-date=July 22, 2024 |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |date=July 16, 1994}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Maxwell |first1=Joe |title=Camping Misses End of World |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1994/october24/4tc084.html |access-date=July 23, 2024 |work=[[Christianity Today]] |date=October 24, 1994}}</ref><ref name="CRIJ">{{cite news |last1=Ferraiuolo |first1=Perucci |title=Could '1994' Be the End of Family Radio? |url=https://christian.net/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0152a.html |access-date=July 23, 2024 |work=[[Christian Research Institute|Christian Research Institute Journal]] |date=Summer 1993}}</ref> The network's promotion of these predictions caused some nations in Asia to prevent Family Radio from commencing operations in their countries.<ref name="CRIJ"/>

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 that the church age was over and that Satan had taken over the churches, he went on to say that people could no longer be saved within churches and that Christians should not be members or attend church services of any type.<ref name="LATimes12503">"[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jan-25-me-religbriefs25.4-story.html Christian Radio Host Says to Abandon Church]", ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. January 25, 2003. Retrieved August 30, 2024.</ref> His actions led to mounting criticism from former supporters and led some Family Radio staff members to resign, as well as prompting some outside ministries 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 publicly describe Family Radio as a [[cult]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=St. Clair |first1=Katy |title=Quit Your Church! |url=https://eastbayexpress.com/quit-your-church-1/ |access-date=July 23, 2024 |work=[[East Bay Express]] |date=July 2, 2003}}</ref>

=== Finances ===
By 1994, Family Radio owned 40 radio stations nationwide.<ref name="Briggs 1994">{{cite news |last=Briggs |first=David |date=July 16, 1994 |title=Prophecy on Radio: September It's All Over |work=The Orlando Sentinel |location=Orlando, Florida}}</ref> Although listenership declined following its 1994 rapture prediction, the organization subsequently experienced a period of growth.<ref name="James 2011">{{cite news |last=James |first=Scott |date=May 20, 2011 |title=Warnings of the End of the World, Broadcast from Oakland |url=http://www.baycitizen.org/columns/scott-james/warnings-end-world-broadcast-oakland/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521110740/http://www.baycitizen.org/columns/scott-james/warnings-end-world-broadcast-oakland/ |archive-date=May 21, 2011 |access-date=July 18, 2019 |work=The Bay Citizen |location=San Francisco}}</ref> By the start of its second major campaign, the network consisted of 216 AM and FM stations and two television channels.<ref name="James 2011" />

Family Radio reported a peak in financial assets of $135 million in 2007.<ref name="Banks 2013">{{cite web |last=Banks |first=Adelle M. |date=May 14, 2013 |title=End May Be Coming for Harold Camping's Family Radio Ministry |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/end-may-be-coming-for-har_n_3274262 |access-date=July 19, 2019 |website=huffpost.com |publisher=Huffington Post}}</ref> During the second campaign, the organization's spending increased, resulting in a decline in net assets despite a steady rise in listener contributions.<ref name="James 2011" /> Total contributions exceeded $15 million in 2008.<ref>Gary Cook, "Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax," ed. IRS (Washington DC2009).</ref> In 2009, the organization maintained an annual budget of $36.7 million, with $117 million in assets and $18.4 million in contributions.<ref name="James 2011" /> IRS records from that year indicate the network employed 348 people.<ref>Cook, "Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax."</ref>

By 2010, assets decreased to $110 million while contributions rose to $18.7 million and staff levels remained stable at 346 employees.<ref>"Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax," ed. IRS (Washington DC2010).</ref> In 2011, contributions fell to $17.2 million and assets dropped to $87.6 million, accompanied by a reduction of 26 employees.<ref>"Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax," ed. IRS (Washington DC2011).</ref> By the conclusion of 2011, assets had further dropped to $29.2 million following a 70% drop in donations; the following year, the organization secured a $30 million loan.<ref name="Weber 2013">{{cite web |last=Weber |first=Katherine |date=May 14, 2013 |title=Harold Camping's Family Radio Suffering Economic Woes? |url=http://global.christianpost.com/news/harold-campings-family-radio-suffering-economic-woes-95808/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515172346/http://global.christianpost.com/news/harold-campings-family-radio-suffering-economic-woes-95808/ |archive-date=May 15, 2013 |access-date=July 18, 2019 |website=christianpost.com |publisher=The Christian Post, INC.}}</ref><ref name="Banks 2013" />

===2011 end times prediction===
[[File:Judgment Day 21 May 2011 (English).jpg|thumb|A Family Radio billboard predicting the end of the world on May 21, 2011.]]
[[File:2011-rapture-car (cropped).jpg|thumb|A vehicle advertising the network's 2011 end-times predictions and its station in San Francisco]]
[[File:Doomsdayer in New York.jpg|thumb|right|upright|A demonstrator at [[Radio City Music Hall]] holding a Family Radio placard promoting its end times predictions]]
Leading up to May 2011, Family Radio spent in the vicinity of $100 million to advertise the now-discredited [[2011 end times prediction]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/apocalypse-not-yet-rapture-hour-passes-quietly-1.1020575 | work=CBC News | title=Apocalypse Not Yet: 'Rapture Hour' passes quietly | date=May 22, 2011}}</ref><ref>Dickson, Caitlin. "[https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/05/harold-camping-spent-100-million-on-rapture-ads/351034/ Harold Camping Spent Around $100 Million on Rapture Ads]", ''[[The Atlantic]]''. May 24, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2024.</ref> 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.<ref name="Sehgal">Sehgal, Ujala. "[https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/05/sad-stories-believers-disappointed-non-apocalypse/350961/ The Sad Stories of Believers Disappointed by Non-Apocalypse]", ''[[The Atlantic]]''. May 22, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2024.</ref><ref name="TMN">{{cite news |title=An insider's look at Family Radio and its leader Harold Camping |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2011/05/20/an-insiders-look-at-family-radio-and-its-leader-harold-camping/ |access-date=July 19, 2024 |work=[[The Mercury News]] |date=May 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508044129/https://www.mercurynews.com/2011/05/20/an-insiders-look-at-family-radio-and-its-leader-harold-camping/ |archive-date=May 8, 2017}}</ref><ref name="FFRF"/> Others quit their jobs, sold their homes, and went into debt, relying on Camping's predictions.<ref name="Sehgal"/><ref name="TMN"/> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Florida man's drowning in Antioch lake related to Rapture prediction, detective says
|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2011/05/25/florida-mans-drowning-in-antioch-lake-related-to-rapture-prediction-detective-says/ |access-date=July 19, 2024 |work=[[The Mercury News]] |date=May 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204091424/https://www.mercurynews.com/2011/05/25/florida-mans-drowning-in-antioch-lake-related-to-rapture-prediction-detective-says/|archive-date=February 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>"[http://www.ktla.com/english/news/landing/ktla-palmdale-woman-attempted-murder%2C0%2C39393586.story Cops: Woman Tries to Kill Children, Self, to Avoid 'the Tribulation']", [[KTLA]]. March 19, 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Garcia |first1=Elena |title=Fearful Teen Commits Suicide Due to Harold Camping's Judgment Day Prediction |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/fearful-teen-commits-suicide-on-eve-of-harold-campings-rapture.html |access-date=July 19, 2024 |work=[[Christian Post]] |date=May 26, 2011}}</ref><ref name="FFRF"/>

The network's apocalyptic predictions, and its followers reactions to them, led to media descriptions of the network as a [[doomsday cult]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sarno |first1=Charles |last2=Shoemaker |first2=Helen |title=Church, Sect, or Cult? The Curious Case of Harold Camping's Family Radio and the May 21 Movement |journal=[[Nova Religio]] |date=2006 |volume=19 |issue=3 |pages=6–30 |doi=10.1525/nr.2016.19.3.6 |url=https://doi.org/10.1525/nr.2016.19.3.6|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Vietnam protesters lured by doomsday cult |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_670405.html |work=[[The Straits Times]] |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |date=May 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522043034/https://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_670405.html |archive-date=May 22, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Quinn |first1=Karl |title=Cult claims end of world is nigh - go figure |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/cult-claims-end-of-world-is-nigh--go-figure-20110519-1euzb.html |access-date=July 22, 2024 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=May 20, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pierce |first1=Eric |title=Church reaches out to 'victims of cult' |url=https://www.thedowneypatriot.com/articles/church-reaches-out-to-victims-of-cult |access-date=July 22, 2024 |work=The Downey Herald |date=May 12, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hess |first1=Peter |title=Hess: Watching the 'crash and burn' of an apocalyptic cult |url=https://lakeconews.com/news/community/commentary/19824-hess-watching-the-crash-and-burn-of-an-apocalyptic-cult |access-date=July 23, 2024 |work=Lake County News |date=May 21, 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/culture/5983/a_year_after_the_non-apocalypse%3A_where_are_they_now/ "A year after the non-apocalypse: where are they now?"]. ''Religion Dispatches''. May 18, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2024.</ref>

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."<ref>[http://www.radio-info.com/news/family-radio-gets-a-1-million-offer-to-sell-their-66-stations Family Radio gets a $1 million offer to sell their 66 stations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531132023/http://www.radio-info.com/news/family-radio-gets-a-1-million-offer-to-sell-their-66-stations |date=May 31, 2011 }} – ''[http://www.radio-info.com Radio-Info.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103161747/http://www.radio-info.com/ |date=January 3, 2012 }}'' (released May 30, 2011)</ref><ref>[http://abibleanswer.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=142&Itemid=36 Goodbye Harold] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718091232/http://abibleanswer.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=142&Itemid=36 |date=July 18, 2011 }} – ''[http://www.abibleanswer.org A Bible Answer]'' (released May 23, 2011)</ref>

==== Aftermath and network reorganization ====
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 (AM)|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".<ref>"Round 3 of the bidding for Family Radio FMs in two markets", News article from Radio-Info.com, {{cite web |url=http://www.radio-info.com/news/round-3-of-the-bidding-for-family-radio-fms-in-two-markets |title=News : Round 3 of the bidding for Family Radio FMS in two markets &#124; Radio-Info.com |access-date=August 9, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111224105148/http://www.radio-info.com/news/round-3-of-the-bidding-for-family-radio-fms-in-two-markets |archive-date=December 24, 2011 }} August 3, 2011; retrieved August 8, 2011.</ref> 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,<ref>[http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/54677/wkdn-philadelphia-sold/#.Tt9eXtU9Fr9 "WKDN Philadelphia Sold,"] from Radio Insight, June 12, 2011</ref> which was relaunched with a [[Talk radio|talk]] format under the [[WKVP|WWIQ]] call sign.<ref>Fybush, Scott (April 16, 2012). [http://www.fybush.com/nerw-4162012-merlin-hopes-for-high-iq-in-philadelphia/ Merlin hopes for high IQ in Philadelphia] (free preview). ''NorthEast Radio Watch''. Retrieved April 16, 2012.</ref> 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 broadcasting|commercial]]. The application quickly prompted conjecture from radio industry monitors that the station would soon be sold. The application was approved in February.<ref name=tri1>{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Tom|title=New York scramble?: Is New York-market WFME (94.7) for sale? Family Radio applies to change its crown jewel to commercial operation.|url=http://www.radio-info.com/newsletter/html/tri-01092012.html|access-date=January 10, 2012|newspaper=TRI: Taylor on Radio-Info|date=January 9, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=tri2>{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Tom|title=Gotham guessing game: Yes, Family Radio's New York-market WFME (94.7) will be for sale. But not just yet.|url=http://www.radio-info.com/newsletter/html/tri-01102012.html|access-date=January 10, 2012|newspaper=TRI: Taylor on Radio-Info|date=January 10, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=ri1>{{cite web|last=Venta|first=Lance|title=WFME Applies to Go Commercial, Prepares for Sale|url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/55227/wfme-applies-to-go-commercial-prepares-for-sale/|work=Radio Insight|access-date=January 10, 2012|date=January 7, 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cumulus buys WFME/New York.|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/111440/cumulus-buys-wfme-new-york|access-date=October 16, 2012|newspaper=ALL Access Music Group|date=October 16, 2012}}</ref> 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 music|country-formatted]] station, [[WXBK|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 [[WYMK|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, [[WRMI|Radio Miami International]], purchased the shortwave transmission complex and began broadcasting from there; the complex now operates under the [[WRMI]] call letters.<ref>McLane, Paul. "[https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/wrmi-beefs-up-big-time WRMI Beefs Up, Big Time]", ''Radio World''. January 3, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2024.</ref>

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.<ref name="MG12314">{{cite news |last1=Gryboski |first1=Michael |title=Change Family Radio, Says Spokesman |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/harold-campings-death-will-not-change-family-radio-says-spokesman-113267/ |access-date=July 23, 2024 |work=[[The Christian Post]] |date=January 23, 2014}}</ref>

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. WFME has since been taken off the air, following Family Radio's sale of its transmitter site.

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 formally ceased airing all programs featuring the voice of Harold Camping and discontinued the distribution of his literature.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-09-28 |title=End Of The World For Harold Camping's Voice On Family Radio - RadioInsight |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/170870/end-of-the-world-for-harold-campings-voice-on-family-radio/ |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=radioinsight.com |language=en-US}}</ref> This decision was a two-fold effort to move away from Camping's unorthodox theology and to reintroduce programming from outside Bible teaching ministries into the network's schedule.<ref>{{Cite web |editor=Gryboski, Michael |date=2018-09-27 |title=Harold Camping Programs Canceled by Family Radio, Says Teachings 'Not Scriptural' |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/harold-camping-programs-canceled-by-family-radio-says-teachings-not-scriptural.html |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=Christian Post |language=en}}</ref> The shift included new programming from noted Calvinist teachers such as [[John MacArthur (American pastor)|John MacArthur]], [[John Piper (theologian)|John Piper]], and [[R. C. Sproul|R.C. Sproul]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pitzer |first=Rod |date=2023-05-31 |title=MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT: Family Radio |url=https://ministrywatch.com/ministry-spotlight-family-radio/ |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=MinistryWatch |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2019, Family Radio announced that it would be moving its headquarters from Alameda, California, to [[Franklin, Tennessee]].<ref>[http://www.hisair.net/family-radio-building-new-headquarters/ Family Radio Building New Headquarters] (via hisair.net)</ref> Following the move, in 2024, parent entity Family Stations was reorganized; its assets were transferred to a new Tennessee-based entity, Loam Media, with no change in ownership or management.<ref name="ri-familystationtoloammedia">{{cite news |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=Station Sales Week of 10/11 |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/284052/station-sales-week-of-10-11-3/ |access-date=July 6, 2025 |work=RadioInsight |date=October 11, 2024}}</ref>