Salem Communications

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Salem Communications (NASDAQ: SALM) is a media company operating in the United States, with 99 U.S. radio stations (pending acquisitions) that are primarily concentrated in the nation's biggest markets, including 65 stations in 23 of the top 25 markets. It specializes in religious and conservative talk radio formats. In the top 25 markets, Salem is the third largest radio station owner after Clear Channel and CBS Radio. When purchasing radio stations, the company focuses on acquiring outlets with powerful transmitters. This is the opposite of how many Christian broadcasters operate, where a common practice is to purchase large numbers of low-power translators.

1 Market
2 Syndicated Programming
- 2.1 General Market (Secular) Programs
- 2.2 Christian Programs
3 External links

[edit] Market

Salem operates three strategic radio formats: Christian talk and teaching, contemporary Christian music, and a conservative News/Talk format. Salem also owns a few oldies stations, a country station, a sports station in the Cleveland market and a Hawaiian music station in the Honolulu market. The company's Salem Radio Network subsidiary produces several leading talk radio shows as well as a 24-hour news service that are distributed to more than 1900 radio affiliates. Salem Radio Network also operates three satellite feeds with either a contemporary Christian music, traditional Christian worship music, and gospel music for Christian radio stations with small budgets.

The company also publishes magazines and websites, notably CCM Magazine, TheFish.com, crosswalk.com, christianity.com, ChristianJobs.com, and oneplace.com.

In 2006, Salem acquired the political site Townhall.com. Salem also develops open source broadcast software through its Salem Radio Labs group.

[edit] Syndicated Programming

Salem syndicates a number of programs in two separate streams - secular (mostly politically conservative) talk, and Christian talk. This programming is distributed, mainly to Salem-owned stations but also to non-Salem-owned stations, under the banner of the Salem Radio Network.