Contact: Rob Taylor, General Manager, The Bridge Christian Radio Network, 732-588-0861

OLD BRIDGE, N.J., Nov. 28, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- When The Bridge Christian Radio Network, based in Old Bridge, NJ, gained authorization to expand its Christian Bible teaching broadcasts into New York City in November 2013, no one could have anticipated the battle that would ensue before the station could actually begin broadcasting on its own frequency, 95.1FM in the heart of Manhattan.

Unauthorized broadcasters, or "pirates," had co-opted over 80 percent of The Bridge's signal on 95.1FM. As a result, listeners tuning into 95.1, expecting The Bridge's signature Bible teaching, could hear anything but that, including a variety of music formats all illegally broadcasting on the signal.

"We brought the pirate problem to the government's attention," said Lloyd Pulley, CEO of The Bridge and senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Old Bridge, which owns the station.

"We fought hard, and we won. While the pirates continue to encroach on the signal in some areas, we are delighted that The Bridge is now broadcasting clearly in 70 percent of its own coverage area, which covers from the Bronx to Lower Manhattan."

A listener-supported, noncommercial Christian teaching station, The Bridge originally launched in 2004. The station's David v. Goliath battle with radio pirates is not the only unique aspect of the station's expansion into New York. Currently, The Bridge is the ONLY Christian FM radio station broadcasting directly from New York City. The addition of this tower, located near the United Nations Building, makes it possible for The Bridge to reach over four million more potential listeners, in addition to the potentially seven million already reached throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania on the station's other frequencies.

One New York listener notes, "We have waited a long time to hear clear, precise, and doctrinally sound, powerfully relevant Bible teaching for some time, and now we have The Bridge."

The station's expansion into New York enables The Bridge to share its message of hope in Christ to people from every tribe and tongue, including the approximately 600 language groups residing in New York.

As well as being the only Christian FM station broadcasting from Manhattan, The Bridge is also unique in its format. "The Bridge has not followed the trend of many other Christian radio stations to broadcast primarily music, and continues to air some of the finest Bible teaching in the nation," says Rob Taylor, general manager of The Bridge. "With this format, the Word of God is taught without compromise 24 hours a day, 7 days week, 365 days a year."

In addition to its New York frequency, 95.1FM, The Bridge can currently be heard on several frequencies throughout the Tri-state area, including 89.7FM in Monmouth and Ocean Counties in NJ, 91.9FM in Southern Middlesex and Northern Monmouth Counties in NJ, 103.1FM in Northern NJ, and nationwide via its mobile app or bridgeradio.org.

The Bridge Christian Radio, Bridgelight, LLC is a radio ministry of Calvary Chapel Old Bridge, NJ. Learn more about The Bridge 95.1FM by visiting bridgeradio.org.