Northwestern Media: From 1949 into the Future 

Big growth always has to start with a first step—and it may be the most important one you’ll ever take. Here is Northwestern Media’s story of how one step started a dynamic media ministry! 

The History of KTIS and Northwestern Media 

For Northwestern Media, a media ministry of University of Northwestern – St. Paul, the first leap of faith from “nothing into something” took place on February 7, 1949, when KTIS-AM went on the air for the first time. Billy Graham, evangelist and then president of the school, led this effort (KTIS: Serving Christ for 50 Years, 1999). Little did he know that putting KTIS-AM on the air that day would be the start of something big! 

The idea to start a radio station at Northwestern emerged in the 1930s with founder and president of the school William Riley, but it didn’t become a reality until Graham became president in 1947, shortly after Riley’s death. Under Graham’s leadership, KTIS first went on the air at Memorial Hall, across from Loring Park in Minneapolis, where the school was located at the time (KTIS: Serving Christ for 50 Years, timeline chart, 1999). Northwestern, established in 1902, was a Bible and missionary training school (A Cloud of Witnesses, 2002).  

In 1970, Northwestern purchased their current campus in Roseville, Minnesota (A Cloud of Witnesses, 2002), and KTIS started broadcasting out of Nazareth Hall—the site of Nazareth Chapel and many classrooms and offices today. In the 2000s, the station moved to the Mel Johnson Media Center, where KTIS and Faith Radio’s studios remain today.  

Radio has remained an integral part of Northwestern since the beginning. In the 1960s (before Northwestern purchased their current location), they were on the hunt for a new campus and seriously considered purchasing a location in Plymouth. But one of their big decision-making factors was the ability to build a radio tower on their new location, and when the city told them they couldn’t, they decided not to move forward with that property (A Cloud of Witnesses, 2002). This showcases just how important radio has been (and still is) to the history, mission, and vision of Northwestern.  

Early Programming on KTIS 

The early version of KTIS and its signals planted the seed for the radio station 98.5 KTIS (Minneapolis/St. Paul) that you can listen to today, along with other Northwestern Media stations across the country broadcasting Christian music in their local communities. 

But what listeners heard on the original KTIS was a lot different than the contemporary Christian music you hear on KTIS today. At that time, programming was a mix of news, Bible teaching programs, instrumental music from faculty, student vocal ensembles, and more (First Anniversary, KTIS: From The Ground Up).  

As the surrounding culture evolved, so did the music and programming on KTIS, and the station slowly evolved into what it is now. Over the years, many more signals and stations were added in locations across the Midwest, sharing music and programming meant to spread the Good News. 

Northwestern Media: Where We’re at and Where We’re Headed 

To date, Northwestern Media has acquired or started 14 Christian music radio stations that broadcast across the Midwest and beyond. Those stations are located in places like Kansas City, Missouri; Omaha, Nebraska; Madison, Wisconsin; and Camdenton, Missouri; along with many more cities and states throughout the United States.  

These stations all play contemporary Christian music, but each have their own on-air personalities, staff, and unique listenership. 

In addition to Christian music stations, Northwestern Media also oversees Faith Radio, which plays clear Bible teaching and compelling conversations from various pastors, speakers, and authors. Faith Radio’s signals reach many of the same areas as the music stations, in addition to newer signals in Montana and Connecticut. They also have listenership all over the world with their website and app—and their growing podcast network, Faith Podcasts. 

Though a lot of growth has happened in the past 76 years, we’re not slowing down; Northwestern Media continues to make steps, big and small, to spread the Gospel.  

One of these steps happened last summer when Northwestern Media acquired their first Christian music radio station with listenership on the East Coast: Sound of Life in upstate New York. That station leads the way for more upcoming stations, signals, and translators in other areas of the United States, not just the Midwest.  

Jason Sharp, senior vice president of Northwestern Media, shared that he would love to see “a Northwestern station in each quadrant of the country … north, south, east, and west” in the next 5–10 years. In addition, his vision for the organization is “to be smart and go to the right places.” He added, “We don’t want to go where we’re not invited or where God’s not giving us an opportunity.”  

So, it’s not growth for the sake of growth, and more coverage on the map isn’t the goal. It’s intentionally, strategically working to expand the reach with more signals, translators, and stations—in the right places—so that more people can hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

Kingdom growth. That’s the kind of growth that makes an eternal difference! And it all started with that small first step back in 1949. 

Spreading the Gospel Through Projects Outside Radio 

And growth won’t just be measured geographically with new stations added in new locations; Northwestern Media will continue to work on projects outside of radio, with the goal of sharing the Gospel.  

Sharp shared: “Growth beyond going into new markets is considering new projects that will move the Gospel forward, which helps us accomplish our mission, but [also] can bring the … Christian radio industry together to accomplish something bigger than ourselves. I think those special projects will be a key part of our future, and I’m really excited about that.” 

One such project is The Christ Podcast, a podcast audio drama launching in Easter 2026 that centers on the life of Christ, with characters voiced by Hollywood actors and talent. Northwestern Media is inviting other radio stations outside the network to join in and share this podcast with their listeners so this message can reach as many people as possible.    

Through new radio stations and projects like The Christ Podcast, Northwestern Media pursues the Great Commission, which Jesus first shared with His disciples soon after He rose from the dead: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20, NIV). 

This was not only an encouragement to the disciples to hear that Jesus (through the Holy Spirit) would always be near to them, but it was also a challenge that was both daunting and exciting. And that’s the same challenge that we are called to fulfill today, no matter what role we’re in or what part of the world we live in: to step out into the world and share Jesus’ love. 

For Northwestern Media, that means adding more signals and radio stations and launching projects like The Christ Podcast—all with the goal to see God’s Kingdom grow here on earth … and in heaven. 

Northwestern Media radio stations will continue using their time and talents to the best of their abilities to fulfill their mission: to lead people to Christ and nurture believers in their spiritual growth through Christ-centered media.  

And without that big step of faith Billy Graham and the team took back in 1949, none of this would’ve happened. Sometimes, that first step can make all the difference. 

Find out more about Northwestern Media’s stations here.  

Thank you to Greg Rosauer for pointing me to resources on the history of Northwestern and for a helpful conversation that informed my writing.