TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – For decades, East Texans have listened to Christian radio station KVNE. Starting Sept. 1, people in Arkansas will be able to do the same. The flagship station’s owner, Tyler-based Encouragement Media Group, is expanding its reach by purchasing a Christian music station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
“We purchased 93.3 (The Fish) in Little Rock, Arkansas,” said Jennifer Bailey, vice president of marketing.
The Arkansas station will simulcast Tyler’s KVNE, which it already does via a signal in Shreveport.
“We’re in three different places and we want to be local in all three places,” said Mike Harper, KVNE morning show co-host and vice president of communications. “So we have to memorize some street names and landmarks and make sure we pronounce the names of the cities correctly. We’ve already done some of that in Shreveport.”
Harper joined KVNE in 1989 and just celebrated his 35th anniversary on the air.
“People come to KVNE to hear something encouraging, something light-hearted, something funny, something engaging, good music and a good message,” Harper said.
KVNE is a non-profit station that relies on the support of its listeners. The station broadcasts contemporary Christian music performed by hosts who share messages of hope and joy.
“If you can tune in, you’ll hear something positive and uplifting,” Bailey said. “It tells you a story of hope. It points you back to your Creator – to Jesus. It gives a person hope for the future.”
The new Little Rock station will expand the group’s radio network, which already includes a worship music station, a Bible study station and a network of Spanish-language Christian music stations. While the new station will air KVNE programming, Encouragement Media Group plans to hire some staff in the Little Rock area.
The expansion comes immediately after KVNE’s historic ratings successes.
“We had our highest ratings ever, with a 12.3% market share,” Bailey said.
A share is a percentage of radio listeners who tuned into the station. The spring 2024 ratings made KVNE not only the most listened to station in East Texas, but also the most successful Christian station in the country, Bailey said.
“I have never seen a place blessed with as much growth and opportunity as KVNE,” Harper said.
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