RCF, Radio Notre-Dame, KTO… the revival of Christian radios

We know their names, their programs, their presenters, without necessarily having a clear vision of the landscape of Christian radios. Three axes structure it. That of RCF (Radio chrétienne francophone), of Radio Notre-Dame (RND) which broadcasts in Paris and in Île-de-France and, finally, the autonomous Christian radios (often linked to a diocese which finances them) broadcasting in the region. In total, this universe includes nearly 80 stations grouped together since 1984 within the French Federation of Christian Radios, which claims a total of more than 3.6 million listeners.

How can this audience be expanded while being more effective in a difficult budgetary context? The French episcopate asked itself the question in 2021 and tasked Mgr François Touvet, president of the communication council of the Conference of Bishops of France, with seeing things more clearly. “With a working group, I began a tour of several stations in November 2022, in order to take stock of the situation, understand the needs and define strategies to be implemented,” says the prelate, coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon (Var) since 2023. He presented his conclusions at the Conference of Bishops in March 2024. First observation: several local radio stations are experiencing financial difficulties. They were therefore advised to pool their resources to be able to continue broadcasting.

Morning with two voices

RND and RCF have understood the message well. To the point of initiating, from this fall, the construction of a large Christian radio station that will have a dual vocation, national and local, by pooling their resources. In Paris, the two stations now share common premises, those of RND, and some programs, like the broadcasts In search of meaning And Listening in the nightwhich listeners can follow simultaneously on both channels.

The big new feature is the joint morning show launched on September 2, co-hosted by Pierre-Hugues Dubois (RCF) and Louis Daufresne (RND). On the menu: local news, the editorial report, an interview with a personality on a social issue, a debate… In total, three and a half hours of “proximity, analysis and spirituality,” promise the two channels. “We cultivate doing things together,” says Philippe Lansac, CEO of RCF. “With the savings generated by this merger, we are going to reallocate resources to digital by expanding our podcast offering and listening via smartphones, in order to win over new audiences.”

Heading for digital

This redeployment responds to another observation of Bishop Touvet’s mission, according to which “technical and technological means are changing, opening up other opportunities”. This is what prompted the KTO television channel last year to request and obtain from Arcom* a DAB+ frequency (digital modulation and transmission technology for radio), also called “digital terrestrial radio” (which does not use the terrestrial network or, a fortiori, the FM band). Since September 4, 2023, KTO Radio has been broadcasting its programs on this digital medium. One year after this launch, Philippine de Saint-Pierre, general manager of the KTO television channel, believes that it is still too early to take stock: “For this 2024 school year, we are strengthening our offer of debate content, training and testimonies to support the life of faith and prayer of Catholics.”

Furthermore, without necessarily establishing formal partnerships, KTO Radio allows all local Christian stations, including many located in French-speaking Africa, to freely rebroadcast its programs. Similarly, many stations, including RCF, RND and KTO Radio, rebroadcast programs from Radio Vatican, the oldest Christian radio station in the world. A beautiful synergy approved by Philippe Lansac, CEO of RCF: “Let’s not compete, the main thing is that all these Christian radio stations can flourish, by betting on the attractiveness of audio in this changing world invaded by screens, in order to be able to speak to people who are in the Church as well as to those who are outside.” With the aim of realizing this wish of Bishop Touvet: to achieve “a radiophonic communion at the service of the Mission.”

* Audiovisual and digital communications regulatory authority.