From Rob Scobey, Senior Producer for International English
Bible Miniseries a Ratings Winner
If you were tuned into KNLS on February 18, 20, or 22, you were among the first to learn about The Bible miniseries shown on the History Channel during March. Paul Ladd interviewed the show’s producers, Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, for KNLS. We had no idea whether The Bible would attract many viewers at the time the interviews ran on KNLS. It turns out the five-part series drew between 11-13 million viewers—on each of the five Sunday nights it ran. On at least one night—The Bible attracted more viewers than American Idol!
No, we’re not claiming our interview segment is the reason it did so well. But neither are we finished talking about The Bible on KNLS (either the miniseries or The Book.) Doug Poling will report on its success in the ratings on Today’s News & the Good News. The miniseries is now out on video, and Bob Waliszewski of Plugged-In Movie Review will take an honest look at its content and rate it for family friendliness.
The Pacific Rim
The Pacific Rim is the reason KNLS broadcasts in English. It’s that part of the Eastern Hemisphere that encompasses the English-prevalent countries of the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. Additionally—English is widely spoken in Indonesia. And English is the official language of government and commerce in India.
KNLS is on the air daily from 800 hours UTC (Universal Coordinated Time, also known as Greenwich Mean Time) to 1800 hours UTC. Eastern Daylight Time is four hours behind UTC; Central Time is five hours behind. So, if you’re in Dallas, Nashville, or Chicago, you can listen between 5:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. If you’re in Atlanta, Miami, or New York, you can listen between 6:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.. Outside the U.S.—if you’re in Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, or Singapore, you can listen between 5:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. If you’re in New Delhi or Mumbai, there’s an additional half-hour offset. Listening times are between 3:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m.
You can also use this website, www.knls.org to listen to the English Hour if you’re not into shortwave radio. You can also access KNLS through the Safari or Google applications on your I-Phone or Droid.
The KNLS English Hour is the Pacific Rim’s source for music to love, news to know, and a message to live. The KNLS signal stretches throughout the English-speaking world—including the planet’s most populous (1.2 billion people) democracy—India—that has English as its official language.
While we work to provide a geographical balance in the topics we feature, news about the USA is of great interest to many listeners around the world. The English Hour does tell stories about life in the United States and KNLS’ home state of Alaska. Two of the programs are titled The American Highway and Postcard from Alaska. They often include a discussion of “American” principles—principles rooted in Christianity that are universally understood and applied. And our Eye on the World stories often show the interdependence of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
Since our target audience is mostly non-Christians, our content is different from a typical Christian format station in America. While we provide our share of positive, uplifting content, some of our programming also provides an honest look at the dark side of life on Earth. Indeed, some program segments may raise questions that a thoughtful truth seeker will ask. And other segments, such as the Bible or Christian lifestyle lessons, serve to answer those questions.
Music to Love
Music is a universal language. Probably 80 per cent of the world’s pop tunes are sung in English, and are enjoyed by people everywhere, many who are themselves not proficient in English. The KNLS English hour features your favorite songs of the 80’s, 90’s, and today. International pop charts show that your favorite music is also the favorite of people who are culturally diverse—whether in Nairobi, Sydney, Singapore, or Jakarta.
The songs are rock, pop, r&b, and hip-hop, with an occasional selection of country music that crosses over to the pop charts. The KNLS English Hour generally features music by artists from the U.S., the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
In April, you can hear new music from Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding, Demi Lovato, The Goo Goo Dolls, Jay Sean, Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris, Of Monsters and Men, Phillip Phillips, Pink featuring Nate Reuss, Taylor Swift, and will.i.am featuring Justin Bieber.
Once an hour, we take a break from pop music and present Profiles in Christian Music with Gayle Crowe. These include acapella versions of newer songs that have been on Christian hit radio charts.
Souder & Friends
It may bring a smile or it may bring a tear. Award-winning videographer Larry Souder continues his series of fascinating people and interesting places. He brings them to radio for KNLS.
It’s a stringed musical instrument of Appalachian origin. Larry Souder treats us to the unique sound of a dulcimer on Souder & Friends. And staying with the theme of American country music, Larry also takes us to Uncle Dave Macon Days in Murfreesboro, TN, USA.
News to Know
The English hour features reports about topics of current interest. Marcy Bryan reports about entertainment, business, and religious news. Kelly Ann Monahan has the latest developments in medicine, science, and computer technology. Paul Ladd provides special reports about diverse topics, religious and secular. Doug Poling provides commentary on the news from a Christian perspective on Today’s News & the Good News. George Penk and Eden McCulloch of New Zealand’s Life FM discuss relevant topics of culture and entertainment. And George joins with Nerice Collins to discuss topics related to social media. Bob Waliszewski of Focus on the Family provides Plugged-in Movie Review. Bob rates the latest movies according to family friendliness. This is in addition to Marcy Bryan’s regular movie reviews in her Eye on Entertainment reports, Paul Ladd’s features about faith-based movies, and movie discussions by George and Eden in Culture & Entertainment. And Fred Osterman reports about the latest news in the world of radio.
Upcoming Reports for April 2013:
What is a hashtag? And what does it have to do with Twitter? George Penk and Nerice Collins explain on Social Media.
George & Eden also explain new Facebook notifications.
Dermot Cole reports on efforts to protect polar bears, considered to be a threatened species on Eye on Alaska.
Dermot also reports on reasons why Shell Oil, for the time being, has given up shallow water drilling in Alaska.
He’s the pastor of a church that draws members from 40 nationalities. Dr. David Ireland discusses cross-cultural friendship with Paul Ladd.
Paul also speaks with author Lisa Terkeurst about the spiritual basis of obesity on Refiner’s Fire.
Astronomers have located the tiniest planet discovered thus far. Kelly Ann Monahan reports.
Kelly Ann also reports about the popularity of online viewing compared with traditional TV.
Bob Waliszewki rates, for family friendliness, the movies The Croods, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, and G.I. Joe Retaliation—as well as The Bible miniseries, now out on video.
Dick Brackett, Marcy Bryan, and Paul Ladd join forces to bring KNLS listeners the stories behind some of the idiomatic sayings of the English language. This is for the benefit of listeners who practice English as a second language—as well as the rest of us who claim to know English.
A Message to Live
This is what we’re about and why we’re on the air and on the internet. Our mission is to present the lessons of the Bible, including and emphasizing the Good News in an interesting, non-threatening way.
Ongoing Series
Andy Baker’s Prayer Lesson
Author’s Journal with Dick Brackett
Author’s Journal with Wesley Paine
Bible Archaeology—Proofs from the Earth with Bill Humble
Bible Miniseries a Ratings Winner
