Editing Family Radio (section)

===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>