List of children radio networks
| Founded | 1984 by William Osewalt |
|---|---|
| Owner | William Osewalt |
|
First air date
|
March 1990 |
|---|---|
| Founded |
1988 by Matt Leibowitz |
| Owner |
|
| Established | 1988 |
|
Former names
|
Kids' Choice Broadcasting Network |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| Owner | Ragan Henry |
|
Key people
|
Mel Diamond (President) |
Children radio network are radio networks which are targeted to children. These networks attempted to form in the late 1980s to 1990s. The more notable ones Radio AAHS and Radio Disney, while Children's Radio Network was the first on the air.
Children's Radio Network was the first children's radio network which went to the air twice.
Children's Radio Network started broadcasting from its flagship station in Jacksonville in 1984. It was founded and funded by William Osewalt. The network built up to six affiliated stations. Osewalt ran into some personal financial problems, forcing a shutdown of the network in 1986.
Osewalt relaunched the network on WWTC in Minneapolis in May 1990. As of May 1991, the network had no addition affiliates but expected to add some by the end of the year.
Imagination Station Network, also called Kids' Choice Broadcasting Network, was a children's radio network. Most of the programming was music with the rest being stories, call-ins from children and radio host chatter.
In 1988, Matt Leibowitz approached his friend Peter Yarrow about how a kid's radio network would be designed. They were initially joined by three other primary investors. Leibowitz became the network's chairman while Yarrow was appointed vice president for creative programming. Yarrow wrote and performed original music for the network, including the station's march song and theme songs for its seven daily program segments. He then moved into promoting the network and seeking investors. The network projected to have 100 affiliates at the end of its first year. WPRD station owner, Metroplex Communications, invested in the network.
Kids' Choice Broadcasting Network started broadcasting in late March 1990 on WPRD, its originating and only station. The network changed its name to match the branded name of its originating station, Imagination Station Network. A second affiliate, KSCO in Santa Cruz, signed up by September 1990. 20 stations were expected to affiliate by the end of the first year. The network added another affiliate in Salt Lake City,KKDS, which was an affiliate to the network's first sign off.
Audience-survey companies like Arbitron Ratings Co. rarely interview kids under age 12. With only two affiliates, the network did not attract national advertising, and thus lacked the funds to get more affiliates. Additional equity funding could not be found. On February 27, 1991, the Imagination Station Network stopped broadcasting. Metroplex withdrew as an investor from the network. However, KKDR continued using the Imagination Station format.
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