WIBC (FM)
This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2022) |
Broadcast area | Indianapolis metropolitan area |
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Frequency | 93.1 MHz (HD Radio) |
Branding | 93 WIBC |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Format | News/talk |
Subchannels |
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Affiliations | Fox News Radio Premiere Networks Radio America WISH-TV |
Ownership | |
Owner |
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History | |
First air date | December 5, 1960[1] |
Former call signs |
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Call sign meaning | Indianapolis Broadcasting Company |
Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 19524 |
Class | B |
ERP | 13,500 watts |
HAAT | 302 meters (991 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 39°46′03″N 86°00′12″W / 39.7675°N 86.0033°W |
Translator(s) |
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Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen Live Listen Live (HD2) |
Website | wibc.com 1075thefan.com (HD2) |
WIBC (93.1
For nearly seven decades, WIBC broadcast on the
WIBC broadcasts in HD, using its HD2 signal for WFNI's local sports format, also heard on translators 93.5 W228CX and 107.5 W298BB. WIBC's HD3 signal carries a simulcast of WIBC's HD2 signal.
History
Early years and heyday as WNAP
93.1 FM in Indianapolis first signed on as WIBC-FM on December 5, 1960.[1] It aired an automated classical music format.
On July 22,
Demise of "The Buzzard"
On March 4, 1986, suffering from a fall in ratings due to competition from
WNAP returned at 5:00 p.m. on September 9, 1994, when WKLR was changed back to a classic hits station with a strong focus on the "greatest hits of the 70s."
Radio Now 93.1
After weeks of stunting, WNAP changed to
Orbital 93.1
In 2006, WNOU launched an HD2 subchannel, dubbed "Orbital 93.1", which offered a rhythmic contemporary format with emphasis on current and classic dance music. On October 9, 2007, Orbital was discontinued, being replaced with the Radio NOW format for one day after the format ended on 93.1, and before it moved to 100.9, serving as a buffer for the format.
WIBC moves to FM
On October 8, 2007, at Noon, after playing "When You're Gone" by Avril Lavigne, 93.1 began stunting with Christmas music under the placeholder callsign of WEXM, being promoted as "The 93 Days of Christmas." The Christmas format was a place holder as part of the transition to moving the talk programming of WIBC from 1070 AM to 93.1 FM. Initially planned, as the branding implied, to last 93 days from October 8 to January 8, the change-over was moved up to December 26. The switch came after Emmis acquired local radio rights to the Indianapolis Colts football team. To prevent frequent preemption of programming and tedious shufflings of games on its stations, it was decided to move WIBC to the FM frequency immediately after Christmas, and make 1070 AM a sports station as "AM 1070 The Fan", with its call sign changing to WFNI. This time, the "-FM" suffix was not required on 93.1's call sign because there would no longer be a WIBC on the AM band.
Upon the demise of "Radio Now", Radio One (now Urban One) purchased the intellectual property of the station from Emmis Communications. Two days later, on October 10, the "Radio Now" branding, format and logo were installed on the new 100.9 WNOU (formerly WYJZ, now WHHH).[11] Local Radio One management said that they would offer the displaced staffers of WNOU the first chance of joining the new station's lineup, and would use the same imaging as the former WNOU at 93.1. Emmis also stated that they would release displaced Radio Now staffers from their "non-compete" contracts.[12]
On June 13, 2022, Emmis announced that it would sell its Indianapolis stations to Urban One.[13] The sale, at a price of $25 million, was consummated on August 31, 2022.
References
- ^ a b "Broadcasting by Station WIBC-FM to Start Monday". Indianapolis News. December 1, 1960. p. 61. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WIBC". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "WIBC to Make Switch to FM". WIBC. October 8, 2007. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011.
- ^ Inman, Julia (July 26, 1968). "Revamped FM Radio Outlet Promises a 'Young Sound'". Indianapolis Star. p. 17.
- ^ "Naptown Rock Radio Wars". Retrieved December 26, 2022.
- ^ "Trivia". Naptown Rock Radio Wars.
- ^ "WKLR -FM/Indy Now '70s WNAP" (PDF). R&R. September 16, 1994. p. 11. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
- ^ "It's 'Radio Now' at WNAP/Indianapolis" (PDF). R&R. March 31, 2000. p. 15. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
- ^ Montieth, Mark (November 24, 2004). "Artest sidelined? No way". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
- ^ "Artest mixes regret with CD self-promotion". espn.com. Associated Press. November 24, 2004. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
- ^ Smith, Erika D. (October 11, 2007). "WNOU revived; Radio One buys site". Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007.
- ^ "RadioNow Returns To Indianapolis : RadioInsight".
- ^ "Emmis Sells Indianapolis Stations To Radio One". RadioInsight. June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
External links
- Official website
- WIBC in the FCC FM station database
- WIBC in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- W228CX in the FCC FM station database
- W228CX at FCCdata.org
- W298BB in the FCC FM station database
- W298BB at FCCdata.org
- WIBC-AM history
- Indiana Radio Archive, WIBC
- Jeff Pigeon Leaving WIBC