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To Hear 24/7 Star Trek Talk, Boldly Go Online

Trek Radio is Earth’s definitive source for all things Trek and sci-fi

Whether it’s breaking news about the latest Star Trek movie or TV show, dueling over the finer points of Klingon culture or holding virtual dance parties for ST online game players in real-time, Trek Radio is the planet Earth’s definitive source for all things Trek and science fiction.

Vic Mignogna, Captain Kirk in the “Star Trek Continues” web series, with Trek Radio’s Holquinn and Michelle Sprecht, who plays Doctor McKennah, at a fan convention.

Found at www.trekradio.net, this 24/7 internet radio station is a labor of love for the fans who produce its content. Besides broadcasting online, they take Trek Radio on the road to various sci-fi conventions; setting up remote production studios on location in the United States and Europe to interview actors and writers from Star Trek and other sci-fi movies and series.

“Collectively, we serve out over half a million minutes of content every month via our on-air audio stream, livestream video and premium on-demand content such as interviews and event coverage,” said David Holquinn (Klingon name DeyvID HolQIn).

He is Trek Radio’s director of marketing and communications; plus host of the “Warriors Den,” a live music and talk show in which Holquinn shares his knowledge of Klingon fandom and discusses the Klingon language, culture and costuming. “Every month, we reach about 10,000 unique listeners in over 115 different countries,” he said.

Nick Duguid, right, of the popular online gaming site Star Trek Online is interviewed by Trek Radio’s DeyvID HolQIn (David Holquinn).

Trek Radio broadcasts live at a Star Trek fan convention.

THE JOURNEY BEGINS

Launched as Star Trek Online Radio, this all-things-Trek internet radio station began its voyage through cyberspace in June 2010. In the first five months, the station evolved and changed its format from concentrating solely on Star Trek gaming to a wider focus, encompassing all of Star Trek fandom, science fiction and genre media.

During this transitional period, STO Radio reached out to CBS Studios for guidance in order to not run afoul of the franchise holders’ legal teams. In November 2010, the station adopted a new name and new look, re-launching itself as Trek Radio, the first online radio station dedicated to the Star Trek and sci-fi fan community.

“We have maintained an open dialogue with CBS Studios and Paramount Pictures since our inception,” said Lisa Guetzkow, the station’s chief operations officer and co-owner. “Updates have been made over the years to sustain a healthy relationship and prevent copyright infringement.”

In this way, Trek Radio has been able to avoid lawsuits and “live long and prosper.”

Having taken care to keep Star Trek’s brand owners happy, Trek Radio has been able to boldly go throughout cyberspace, broadcasting its original content worldwide.

“Over the years, our staff has grown; adding a variety of live DJs and show hosts, increasing our roster of syndicated shows and covering more live events, such as conventions, movie screenings, concerts and red-carpet premieres,” Holquinn said. “Our social media has grown steadily over the years with Twitter, Facebook and Instagram engaging our audience with information and entertainment.”

Trek Radio’s Tom Cruz, left, interviews Manu Intiraymi, who played Icheb on “Star Trek: Voyager.”

WHAT’S ON?

Trek Radio’s regular schedule is a mix of ST-themed talk and music shows; plus wider-ranging sci-fi shows that look at comic books, cosplay (fans dressing up as their favorite characters), movies, television, and video games.

Again, the majority of the content is original; produced and voiced by Trek Radio’s many volunteers around the world. In addition to DeyvID’s show “The Warriors’ Den” — sometimes featuring head-banging anthems such as “We’re Not Going to Take It” (sung in the original Klingon by the Klingon Pop Warrior) — “we stream shows such as ‘Harmless Content’ hosted by DJ Atomos, which features an on-going original audio fiction written and voiced by Atomos in between music segments,” said Holquinn.

Other Trek Radio originals include “The Singularity” hosted by Suzanna that features virtual dance parties held inside the popular MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) Star Trek Online; and the longest-running show on the network, “Terra Nova,” where the co-hosts discuss entertainment headlines, movie reviews and box office updates and new technology. Content is available in streaming format from the station itself, and specific interviews are also offered as on-demand audio clips.

In addition to the station’s original content, “we syndicate popular podcasts focussing on Star Trek and sci-fi, as well as audio fiction shows that present original fiction in the Star Trek universe similar to old-time radio plays,” Holquinn said. “We also provide live and recorded coverage of conventions and events that offer our listeners a unique look at these events so they feel like they are there when the listeners are unable to attend. Even when our listeners are at the same event as us, we often provide them with information and content they would not otherwise have access to.”

Trek Radio takes part in a Star Trek podcasting panel at San Diego Comic-Con International.

DEDICATED FANS ON BOTH SIDES

Trek Radio would not exist without two key universal forces: The content creators who produce the shows (and keep Trek Radio running), and the fans who tune in on a regular basis.

“Our dedicated volunteer staff is comprised of those who want to share their love of Star Trek and sci-fi with the community and engage in conversation about the franchises we love,” said David Holquinn.

“We have staff in various parts of the US as well as the UK, Canada and Australia. Some of our staff had previous experience working in terrestrial radio, while some never worked in broadcasting before joining Trek Radio. The experience gained while working for us in Internet radio has led to some staff getting paid employment in traditional radio.”

On the flip side, “our listeners are followers of science fiction and genre media who want to interact with other like-minded fans to share interests and gain new insights,” he said. “Our role in the Star Trek and sci-fi community is to serve as an online source for entertainment and information, while also providing an outlet for celebrities, merchants, fan groups, and event organizers to promote their projects to a targeted audience. We often have celebrities and event organizers approach us for help promoting their latest projects.”

Now in its eighth year, Trek Radio shows no sign of slowing down, seeking out new and exciting content for its online stream.

“We are also always recruiting quality on-air talent and DJs for Trek Radio as well as behind-the-scenes staff to assist with editing audio and video for our website,” said Holquinn. “We are looking for interactive individuals or teams with personality, plus excellent microphone and interpersonal skills. Beam aboard and join the Trek Radio family!”

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