Sacred Heart Radio

What Sacred Heart Radio does

Sacred Heart Radio, Inc. is a privately held, listener-supported Catholic radio station headquartered at 100 E 8th Street in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded around 1999 and operating as WNOP 740 AM, the station broadcasts Catholic programming including live call-in shows, daily Mass, catechetical teachings, apologetics content, and pro-life perspectives to individual Catholic listeners seeking faith formation and prayer resources. The station celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2024, reflecting over two and a half decades of continuous operation.

The core technology infrastructure combines traditional AM radio broadcasting with digital distribution channels. Online audio streaming is delivered via SecureNet Systems, the website platform is powered by Skyrocket Radio, and on-demand content is distributed as podcasts through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, and Amazon Alexa integration. The station supplements original programming (Son Rise Morning Show, Driving Home the Faith, Best of the Journey Home) with syndicated EWTN Radio content including Catholic Answers Live, Open Line, and Mother Angelica Live Classics. A Weatherology-powered local weather widget and a Kindful-managed donor account system round out the digital stack.

The business model is primarily donation-driven, relying on voluntary listener contributions through an online portal and donor accounts. Secondary revenue streams include local advertising and sponsorships via the Angel's List program, optional premium subscription services referenced in the Terms of Use, and merchandise sales (yard signs, bumper magnets, rosary CDs) through an online storefront. The go-to-market approach is community-led, anchored by scheduled parish visits, sponsorship of pro-life and faith formation events, and partnerships with local Catholic organizations, complemented by digital content distribution and organic social media engagement.

Name

Sacred Heart Radio

Legal name

Sacred Heart Radio, Inc.

Website

https://sacredheartradio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sacred Heart Radio is a listener-supported Catholic radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio, broadcasting on WNOP 740 AM and streaming globally via podcasts and digital platforms to Catholic listeners seeking faith formation, apologetics, and prayer content since approximately 1999.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Catholic Broadcasting (MPABALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Christian Broadcasting (TV & Radio) (MPABALAA), Religious Radio Broadcasting (MPAIAEAF)

Keywords

• Catholic radio
• Religious broadcasting
• Faith programming
• Catholic media
• Talk radio

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Listener Donations: Primary revenue source through voluntary listener donations and support. The station emphasizes its listener-supported status and provides multiple donation mechanisms including online donation portal and donor accounts.
2. Advertising and Sponsorships: Revenue generated through advertiser sponsorships on the Angel's List program, featuring local Catholic businesses and organizations as sponsors. Display advertisements are shown on the website.
3. Premium Services Subscriptions: Optional premium services may be offered with subscription fees for enhanced features or content, as referenced in the Terms of Use discussing 'Premium Services' with periodic recurring charges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sacred Heart Radio operates as a listener-supported Catholic radio station broadcasting on WNOP 740 AM from Cincinnati, Ohio. The station provides Catholic programming including live call-in shows, daily Mass, catechetical teachings, apologetics, and pro-life content, distributed via traditional AM broadcast, online streaming, podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud), and Amazon Alexa voice integration.

Product overview

Sacred Heart Radio operates as a listener-supported Catholic radio station broadcasting on WNOP 740 AM from Cincinnati, Ohio. The core offering is live radio programming distributed through traditional broadcast, online streaming, and podcast platforms. The programming portfolio centers on three flagship call-in shows: the Son Rise Morning Show (morning drive), Driving Home the Faith (afternoon drive hosted by Fr. Rob Jack), and Open Line (various rotating hosts covering apologetics, Bible, and theology). Additional syndicated programs include Catholic Answers Live, Women of Grace, Mother Angelica Live Classics, Christ is the Answer, The Doctor is In, and Take 2 with Jerry & Debbie. Content is distributed on-demand via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, and Amazon Alexa. The station also provides local weather information and monthly Catholic reflections as supplementary content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sacred Heart Radio (WNOP 740 AM) Listener-supported Catholic radio station broadcasting on WNOP 740 AM from Cincinnati, Ohio, providing Catholic programming including call-in shows, catechetical teachings, daily Mass, apologetics, and pro-life content. Programming is delivered via traditional AM broadcast, online live streaming, podcasts (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud), and Amazon Alexa voice integration for listeners in the Cincinnati region and a global streaming audience.
• Sacred Heart Radio Online Store Online merchandise store operated by Sacred Heart Radio selling Catholic-themed items including yard signs, bumper magnets, rosary CDs, and related products. The store supports the station's mission and provides listeners a way to purchase branded merchandise.
• Angel's List Sponsorship Program Sponsorship program offering local Catholic businesses and organizations on-air acknowledgment and brand association with Sacred Heart Radio programming. Provides advertisers access to the station's engaged Catholic audience in the Cincinnati market in exchange for sponsorship support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25+ years of continuous Catholic radio broadcasting

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSacred Heart Radio broadcasts EWTN Radio programs including Catholic Answers Live and Open Line, and streams EWTN's Catholic Mundial radio content. EWTN is a major Catholic media network reaching over 230 million viewers in 140+ countries.
• Companions on a JourneyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Catholic grief support organization that partners with Sacred Heart Radio for event promotion. Sacred Heart Radio promotes Companions on a Journey grief support groups through its event listings.
• Gate of Heaven CemeteryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Catholic cemetery that co-sponsors grief support events promoted through Sacred Heart Radio's event calendar.
• Helpers of God's Precious InfantsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPro-life prayer organization whose weekly rosary procession events are promoted through Sacred Heart Radio's event listings.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Hallow: Hallow is a Catholic prayer and meditation mobile app that has scaled rapidly with digital-native Catholic audiences. It competes for the same faith-formation engagement minutes and is gradually drawing donation and subscription dollars away from traditional Catholic radio.
• Word on Fire Catholic Media: Word on Fire is a growing Catholic media organization producing digital content, podcasts, and Bishop Barron's programming. It represents the digital-first shift in Catholic media that competes for the same audience's time and donations as Sacred Heart Radio.
• Catholic Answers (Catholic Answers Live): Catholic Answers produces Catholic Answers Live, which airs on Sacred Heart Radio via EWTN syndication. As a media organization with podcasts, publications, and broadcast content, it is a partial comparable and an upstream content source rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Relevant Radio: Relevant Radio is a Catholic talk and catechetical radio network with stations across multiple U.S. markets. It competes for the same listener-supported Catholic audience and advertiser pool as Sacred Heart Radio, using a similar EWTN-affiliated content strategy.
• Immaculate Heart Radio: Immaculate Heart Radio is a Catholic listener-supported radio network operating stations across several U.S. states. It shares Sacred Heart Radio's nonprofit, donation-funded model and similar programming mix of apologetics, catechesis, and call-in shows.
• Ave Maria Radio: Ave Maria Radio operates Catholic-formatted stations (including WDEO in Michigan) with listener-supported funding. It is a direct comparable in the niche Catholic AM/FM radio space and competes for donor mindshare in the same faith community.
• St. Gabriel Catholic Radio: St. Gabriel Catholic Radio is a regional listener-supported Catholic station serving markets in the Midwest. It operates a similar business model with parish partnerships, listener donations, and EWTN syndicated programming.

Regional players

• Holy Spirit Radio: Holy Spirit Radio operates Catholic stations in markets outside Cincinnati (e.g., Louisiana). It serves as a regional comparable illustrating how the listener-supported Catholic radio model performs in smaller, more concentrated broadcast territories.

Broad incumbents

• EWTN Radio: EWTN is the parent content provider and a global Catholic media network reaching 230M+ viewers in 140+ countries. It is the direct source of most flagship programming aired on Sacred Heart Radio, making it both a content partner and the dominant incumbent in Catholic radio.

Others

• National Catholic Register: The National Catholic Register is a Catholic news publication reaching engaged Catholic readers. It is adjacent to Sacred Heart Radio in that both serve the same audience segment for faith formation and Catholic perspective, though it competes more for attention than for donations directly.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubesoundcloud.com/sacred-heart-radio
• Xx.com/sacredheartradi
• Facebookfacebook.com/SacredHeartRadio740
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sacred-heart-radio-a-m-1050

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sacred Heart Radio