WBCN (AM)
| |
|---|---|
| Facility ID | 4437 |
| Class | B |
| Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 26°46′30″N 81°50′51″W / 26.775°N 81.8475°W |
| Translator(s) | See § Translators |
| Repeater(s) | 96.1 WRXK-FM HD2 (Bonita Springs) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | espnswfl.com |
WBCN (770
Using a directional antenna, WBCN broadcasts with 10,000 watts by day. Because 770 kHz is a clear channel frequency reserved for Class A WABC in New York City, WBCN must reduce power at night to 630 watts to avoid interference. The transmitter is off Huffmaster Road in North Fort Myers and the studios and offices are on South Tamiami Trail in Estero, Florida.[2] In addition to its AM signal, WBCN uses two FM translators to air its programming: 104.3 W282BY and 98.1 W251AL, both in Fort Myers.[3]
Programming
WBCN carries
WBCN used to broadcast NBA, Major League Baseball, and college football games from ESPN Radio. NASCAR races from Motor Racing Network and Performance Racing Network moved to the then-WWCN from WCKT in 2006. Miami Dolphins games not aired on WRXK-FM, mostly in the preseason, are heard on WBCN, which carried the team full-time before picking up NASCAR.
History
WBCN first
For much of the 1990s and early 2000s, it used the
On June 28, 2013, WJBX dropped its simulcast with WWCN 99.3 FM and switched to
On June 16, 2016, WJBX changed its format back to talk.
The call sign was changed from WJBX to WBCN on February 5, 2021, with the WJBX call sign being moved to the 1660 AM facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, which had been WBCN. The Charlotte station went silent on December 31, 2020, as the result of the sale of its transmitter site land.[9]
On May 28, 2021, WBCN changed their format from news/talk to sports, branded as "ESPN Southwest Florida", with programming from ESPN Radio; the format moved from WWCN.[10]
Technology
WBCN enjoys the largest daytime coverage area of any AM radio station in Southwest Florida. As a music station (
Translators
It was announced on July 2, 2012 that Beasley Broadcasting would purchase the two translators from Reach Communications for $150,000, to serve as rebroadcasters for WWCN's sports radio format (via WRXK-HD2):[11] On June 20, 2013, these translators changed their format to alternative rock, relaying WRXK-HD2. Then in 2016, the translators began simulcasting WJBX's talk radio format.
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT |
Class | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W251AL | 98.1 FM | Fort Myers, Florida | 139037 | 230 | 129.2 m (424 ft) | D | LMS |
| W282BY | 104.3 FM | Fort Myers, Florida | 139201 | 250 | 92 m (302 ft) | D | LMS |
Previous logo
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WBCN". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "WBCN-AM 770 KHZ - North Fort Myers, FL".
- ^ "Beasley Adds New Talker to Southwest FL at WJBX". 17 June 2016.
- ^ "News & Press". floridaeverblades.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ "Broadcasting Yearbook 1984" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com.
- ^ "Broadcasting Yearbook 1990" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com.
- ^ "Beasley Launches Fort Myers Newstalker". radioinsight.com.
- ^ "Resources and Information". ww16.wjbxnewstalk.com. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ Venta, Lance (January 14, 2021). "WBCN Goes Dark As Beasley Sells Tower Property". RadioInsight. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- ^ "Playa & ESPN Move to New Locations in Fort Myers". radioinsight.com.
- ^ "Music & Radio Station News | AllAccess.com". All Access. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
External links
- WBCN website
- WBCN in the FCC AM station database
- WBCN in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- W268AH in the FCC FM station database
- W282BY in the FCC FM station database