WIBW (AM)
Encyclopedia
WIBW is a Topeka, Kansas
, area news
, talk
, and sports
radio station
that airs such local programming such as On the Other Hand with Raubin Pierce and Megan Mosack, Sports Sanity with Bruce Steinbrock, and SportsTalk with Mark Elliott. WIBW also carries national programs such as Glenn Beck
, Mark Levin, and Kim Komando
. WIBW is owned by Morris Communications
.
Due to WIBW's location near the bottom end of the AM dial and the region's flat terrain, the station's 5,000-watt signal decently covers most of the Kansas City metropolitan area
during the day, and provides city-grade coverage as far south as Wichita
. It provides at least grade B coverage as far north as Omaha
and Lincoln
and as far south as Tulsa.
, KKSU, which was owned by Kansas State University
. From 1929 to 2002, KKSU and WIBW shared the 580 AM frequency — while it was common for stations to share frequencies in the early days of radio, such a concept became outmoded in the 21st century. During the period the stations shared the frequency, KKSU would be on the air in the afternoons, while WIBW would be on during other times of the day.
. After dueling lawsuits between KSU and WIBW's owners, the school sold its afternoon ownership of the frequency to WIBW, and the station ceased broadcasting Kansas State football. The university hence lost a powerful voice in communicating its programs and farm programming to the station's large rural audience.
Three years after WIBW and KSU parted ways, the station began carrying football and basketball games of the archrival Kansas Jayhawks
, much to the chagrin of Wildcat fans. In addition to its extensive coverage of high school sports, WIBW also broadcasts the Washburn Ichabods
and the Kansas City Royals
. The station carries national broadcasts as well, including the NFL, major league baseball
, and college football
and basketball
, as part of radio networks including ESPN Radio
, Westwood One
, and Sports USA.
The station is an affiliate of the CBS Radio Network
and broadcasts CBS News updates on the hour.
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
, area news
News Radio
News Radio can refer to:* NewsRadio, the NBC sitcom which aired from 1995–1999.* News radio, the all-news or news/talk radio format....
, talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
, and sports
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
that airs such local programming such as On the Other Hand with Raubin Pierce and Megan Mosack, Sports Sanity with Bruce Steinbrock, and SportsTalk with Mark Elliott. WIBW also carries national programs such as Glenn Beck
Glenn Beck
Glenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
, Mark Levin, and Kim Komando
Kim Komando
Kim Komando is the host of an American talk radio program based on the popularity of personal computers, the use of the Internet, and the complexities of consumer electronics. The Kim Komando Show is broadcast and syndicated on over 450 radio stations in the U.S. and two stations in Ontario, Canada...
. WIBW is owned by Morris Communications
Morris Communications
Morris Communications of Augusta, Georgia is a privately held media company with diversified holdings that include newspaper and magazine publishing, outdoor advertising, radio broadcasting, book publishing and distribution, visitor publications and online services. Newspapers are the foundation...
.
Due to WIBW's location near the bottom end of the AM dial and the region's flat terrain, the station's 5,000-watt signal decently covers most of the Kansas City metropolitan area
Kansas City Metropolitan Area
The Kansas City Metropolitan Area is a fifteen-county metropolitan area that is anchored by Kansas City, Missouri and is bisected by the border between the states of Missouri and Kansas. As of the 2010 Census, the metropolitan area has a population of 2,035,334. The metropolitan area is the...
during the day, and provides city-grade coverage as far south as Wichita
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
. It provides at least grade B coverage as far north as Omaha
Omaha
Omaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
and Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
and as far south as Tulsa.
Shared frequency
Until the fall of 2002, WIBW shared time with a radio station in Manhattan, KansasManhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
, KKSU, which was owned by Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
. From 1929 to 2002, KKSU and WIBW shared the 580 AM frequency — while it was common for stations to share frequencies in the early days of radio, such a concept became outmoded in the 21st century. During the period the stations shared the frequency, KKSU would be on the air in the afternoons, while WIBW would be on during other times of the day.
Programming
Many Kansans were shocked by the demolishing of KKSU radio, which occurred after Kansas State University officials decided to cancel its long-time relationship with WIBW after WIBW (Morris communications) tendered a much lower bid than the rest of the bidders. K-State officials awarded the contract to a rival broadcaster from Wichita, KansasWichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
. After dueling lawsuits between KSU and WIBW's owners, the school sold its afternoon ownership of the frequency to WIBW, and the station ceased broadcasting Kansas State football. The university hence lost a powerful voice in communicating its programs and farm programming to the station's large rural audience.
Three years after WIBW and KSU parted ways, the station began carrying football and basketball games of the archrival Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas Jayhawks
The sports teams at the University of Kansas are known as the Jayhawks. They are one of three schools in the state of Kansas that participate in NCAA Division I. The Jayhawks are also a member of the Big 12 Conference...
, much to the chagrin of Wildcat fans. In addition to its extensive coverage of high school sports, WIBW also broadcasts the Washburn Ichabods
Washburn University
Washburn University is a co-educational, public institution of higher learning in Topeka, Kansas, USA. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and business. Washburn has 550 faculty members, who teach more than 6,400 undergraduate students and...
and the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. The station carries national broadcasts as well, including the NFL, major league baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, and college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
, as part of radio networks including ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
, Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
, and Sports USA.
The station is an affiliate of the CBS Radio Network
CBS Radio Network
The CBS Radio Network provides news, sports and other programming to more than 1,000 radio stations throughout the United States. The network is owned by CBS Corporation, and operated by CBS Radio ....
and broadcasts CBS News updates on the hour.
Former hosts
- Greg Sharpe, radio announcer for the Nebraska CornhuskersNebraska CornhuskersThe Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
- Mitch HolthusMitch HolthusMitch Holthus, the "Voice of the Kansas City Chiefs", is the play-by-play announcer for the Kansas City Chiefs on KCFX and the Kansas City Chiefs Football Radio Network. Additionally, he hosts "Chiefs Insider" on television station KCTV, Kansas City....
, radio announcer for the Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...