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found a way to import the equipment across the border. Now, with
this equipment, that station is expanding from a small local
station to the greatest power permitted in the United States,
50,000 watts. They expect to open up on the new power about
November 1st, and we are already planning on using a good Sunday
morning time on this station with "The WORLD TOMORROW" program.
NOW, We Can Own Most Powerful Voice in Hemisphere
So, both the former opportunities came and went. Now, this
very morning, a third and best opportunity yet has been offered me.
This opportunity they will hold for us about three or four weeks.
If we are not able to buy it by that time, we shall lose this
chance, too.
It seems to me that when God OPENS such marvelous
opportunities, we ought to be able to do OUR part in taking
advantage of them. God grant we will not fail this time.
Obviously, I cannot make public all the details. But a station
with full equipment capable of operating up to 250,000 watts of
power---many times more powerful than any other station in this
hemisphere---with internationally-clear channel in one of the very
BEST spots on the radio dial---a clear-channel guaranteed by the
international Havana treaty between the United States, Mexico, and
other governments---a station which can be located just across the
border near the very middle of the United States (east and west),
where this tremendous super-power on such a splendid channel would
reach just like a LOCAL STATION into every home in the United
States, Canada, and down to South America---a station which would
be heard in England, Europe, and all over the Pacific---almost
around the world---is now offered to me for $250,000.
Now that's a lot of money---a quarter million dollars.
But, if you knew what radio stations are worth and sell for, it is
RIDICULOUSLY LOW for what we would have. A station of only 1,000
watts power sold in the Pacific Northwest last week for $200,000.
A 50,000-watt station in Texas, which you could hear only with WEAK
reception compared to the 250,000-watts we would have on this
Mexican station, was purchased by its present owners for one and
three-quarters million dollars. If we owned this station and sold
time commercially, it would gross around a million dollars a year,
and its operating expense is only fifty thousand a year. Dr.
Brinkley grossed a million a year with his station, operating from
the same location I have in mind, same power, no better channel,
and netted $500,000 per year profit.
I mention these figures to show you that $250,000 is a LOW
price or such a super-powered station. Think of the tremendous
POWER! Everywhere all over the United States, at night, when
people start turning the dial, even tho the volume is turned way
down, our station would come in so strong it would be like their
local station---or even stronger than their NEAREST station where
people live, say, 50 miles from a radio station. And effectiveness
in getting out the Gospel does not depend on how many COULD hear it
---but upon how many ACTUALLY DO! Because we were able to hold a
large percent of listeners to our program regularly, we were able,
over a period of time, to develop a listening audience of around a