WIBX
Encyclopedia
WIBX is a talk radio
station based in Utica, New York
. The station is owned by Townsquare Media.
. Initially operating at 1460 kHz, WIBX moved to 1280 kHz in late 1926, and then to 1260 kHz in April 1927.
The Boston Store acquired the station in early 1928, a move intended to keep WIBX in Utica; that April, the station was taken over by John C. Drummond. The Federal Radio Commission
moved WIBX to 1200 kHz on November 11; on December 1, the station moved its studios to the First National Bank Building. The Buffalo Broadcasting Corporation, which operated several stations in Buffalo
(including WGR
, WKBW
, and WMAK
), acquired WIBX in August 1929; in March 1931, the station was sold to a partnership of Percy B Brown and Scott Howe Bowen. Bowen soon acquired Brown's stake; his family would maintain ownership for nearly five decades. WIBX affiliated with the Columbia Broadcasting System
(CBS) on October 14, 1934; it would remain a CBS Radio Network
affiliate for 76 years.
The North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement
moved WIBX to 1230 kHz on March 29, 1941. However, the station was limited to 250 watt
s on this frequency (as had been the case at 1200 kHz), and was not able to serve Rome
at night, leading the Rome Sentinel to apply for a 5,000-watt station serving both cities in 1946. Afraid that the new station, which eventually became WRUN
, would prove more attractive for CBS, WIBX sought to upgrade to its own 5,000-watt facility, and on May 2, 1947 the Federal Communications Commission
granted the station a move to 950 kHz from a transmitter site in Whitesboro
, with the new facility going on the air in early 1948. The WIBX studios would relocate to Whitesboro as well in the early 1960s. An FM
sister station at 98.7, WIBQ (now WLZW
), was added January 1, 1974; an earlier WIBX-FM at 96.9 FM was opened in October 1946, but had left the air during the early 1950s.
The Bowen family sold WIBX to Marathon Communications in 1979. Soon afterward, the station's longstanding full service
format began evolving away from music in favor of increased news, talk, and sports programming; after REBS, Inc. acquired WIBX in 1985, music programming was dropped entirely (outside of the station's Sunday morning Polish language
program, Polonaise). Maritime Broadcasting bought the station in 1988; the station was then sold to 950 Communications Corporation in 1992, to Forever Broadcasting in 1996, and to Regent Communications (the predecessor to Townsquare Media) in 1999. Regent moved its stations to studios in Marcy
in 2003. WIBX ended its long affiliation with CBS on February 28, 2011, when it joined Fox News Radio
.
programming. The station's schedule is a mix of local and syndicated programming, including a local morning news program in the morning drive and a local sports talk show in the afternoon. Syndicated programming includes the Glenn Beck Program
, The Rush Limbaugh Show
, The Sean Hannity Show
, Lars Larson
, The Laura Ingraham Show
, Coast to Coast AM
, The Kim Komando Show
, Moneytalk with Bob Brinker
, Doug Stephan
, Clark Howard
, and Dean Edell
.
The station conducts a radiothon for the American Heart Association
every March; it was first held in 1971 in memory of Ralph Allinger, a WIBX staffer that had died of a heart attack. In subsequent years, the American Heart Association has also held additional fundraisers in the Mohawk Valley
, including a run and walk, to supplement the radiothon.
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...
station based in Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
. The station is owned by Townsquare Media.
History
WIBX went on the air December 5, 1925. The station was originally owned by Grid Leak, Inc., a local radio dealer, with WIBX's facilities being housed at the store; the following April, Grid Leak transferred the station to a subsidiary, WIBX, Inc., and a month later a new facility was opened at the Hotel UticaHotel Utica
Hotel Utica is a historic hotel building in Utica, New York. It was designed by Eisenvein & Johnson, an architectural firm from Buffalo, and is located on the northwest corner of Lafayette Street and Seneca Street...
. Initially operating at 1460 kHz, WIBX moved to 1280 kHz in late 1926, and then to 1260 kHz in April 1927.
The Boston Store acquired the station in early 1928, a move intended to keep WIBX in Utica; that April, the station was taken over by John C. Drummond. The Federal Radio Commission
Federal Radio Commission
The Federal Radio Commission was a government body that regulated radio use in the United States from its creation in 1926 until its replacement by the Federal Communications Commission in 1934...
moved WIBX to 1200 kHz on November 11; on December 1, the station moved its studios to the First National Bank Building. The Buffalo Broadcasting Corporation, which operated several stations in Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
(including WGR
WGR
WGR, or WGR Sports Radio 550, is an all sports radio station in Buffalo, New York that broadcasts on 550 AM. It is the flagship station of the Buffalo Sabres and the Buffalo Bandits, and is currently the only full-time sports talk station in the city of Buffalo. Its studios are located in Amherst,...
, WKBW
WWKB
WWKB is an AM radio station in Buffalo, New York that operates on a frequency of 1520 kHz. It is owned and operated by Entercom Communications. The station carries a progressive talk radio format. Declaring itself as A New Voice, A New Choice, The Voice of the New Majority; WWKB carries a number...
, and WMAK
WBEN (AM)
WBEN is an AM and FM radio station serving the Niagara, Buffalo and Western New York area, broadcasting on 930 AM and, as of April 5, 2011, simulcasting on sister station WLKK at 107.7 FM. It previously simulcasted between 1946 and 1960 on 102.5 FM as WBEN-FM. Both stations retained the WBEN...
), acquired WIBX in August 1929; in March 1931, the station was sold to a partnership of Percy B Brown and Scott Howe Bowen. Bowen soon acquired Brown's stake; his family would maintain ownership for nearly five decades. WIBX affiliated with the Columbia Broadcasting System
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
(CBS) on October 14, 1934; it would remain a 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 ....
affiliate for 76 years.
The North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement
North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement
The North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement, usually referred to as NARBA, is a treaty that took effect in March 1941 and set out the bandplan and interference rules for mediumwave AM broadcasting in North America. Although mostly replaced by other agreements in the 1980s, the basic bandplan...
moved WIBX to 1230 kHz on March 29, 1941. However, the station was limited to 250 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s on this frequency (as had been the case at 1200 kHz), and was not able to serve Rome
Rome, New York
Rome is a city in Oneida County, New York, United States. It is located in north-central or "upstate" New York. The population was 44,797 at the 2010 census. It is in New York's 24th congressional district. In 1758, British forces began construction of Fort Stanwix at this strategic location, but...
at night, leading the Rome Sentinel to apply for a 5,000-watt station serving both cities in 1946. Afraid that the new station, which eventually became WRUN
WUTI
WUTI is a radio station broadcasting a talk format. Licensed to Utica, New York, USA, the station serves the Utica area. The station is currently owned by Leatherstocking Meida Group, Inc., and simulcasts with WFBL in Syracuse.-History:...
, would prove more attractive for CBS, WIBX sought to upgrade to its own 5,000-watt facility, and on May 2, 1947 the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
granted the station a move to 950 kHz from a transmitter site in Whitesboro
Whitesboro, New York
Whitesboro is a village in Oneida County, New York, United States. United States. The population was 3,943 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Hugh White, an early settler.The Village of Whitesboro is inside the Town of Whitestown....
, with the new facility going on the air in early 1948. The WIBX studios would relocate to Whitesboro as well in the early 1960s. An FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
sister station at 98.7, WIBQ (now WLZW
WLZW
WLZW is an Adult Contemporary radio station in Utica, New York formerly owned byRegent Broadcasting, currently owned by Townsquare Media.-History:The station ran a Beautiful Music format under the call letters WIBQ until abruptly...
), was added January 1, 1974; an earlier WIBX-FM at 96.9 FM was opened in October 1946, but had left the air during the early 1950s.
The Bowen family sold WIBX to Marathon Communications in 1979. Soon afterward, the station's longstanding full service
Full service (radio format)
The full service radio format consists of a wide range of programming. Mostly found on the AM band, the format can be found on a handful of FM stations...
format began evolving away from music in favor of increased news, talk, and sports programming; after REBS, Inc. acquired WIBX in 1985, music programming was dropped entirely (outside of the station's Sunday morning Polish language
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
program, Polonaise). Maritime Broadcasting bought the station in 1988; the station was then sold to 950 Communications Corporation in 1992, to Forever Broadcasting in 1996, and to Regent Communications (the predecessor to Townsquare Media) in 1999. Regent moved its stations to studios in Marcy
Marcy, New York
Marcy is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 9,469 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Governor William L. Marcy....
in 2003. WIBX ended its long affiliation with CBS on February 28, 2011, when it joined Fox News Radio
Fox News Radio
Fox News Radio is an American radio network programmed by Fox News Channel.- History :In 2003, Fox News began syndicating one minute radio updates to radio stations via syndication service Westwood One. On June 1, 2005, Fox News Radio employed 60 people and provided five minute newscasts at the top...
.
Programming
WIBX primarily broadcasts conservative talkConservative talk
Conservative talk radio is a talk radio format in the United States and Canada devoted to expressing conservative viewpoints of issues, as opposed to progressive talk radio...
programming. The station's schedule is a mix of local and syndicated programming, including a local morning news program in the morning drive and a local sports talk show in the afternoon. Syndicated programming includes the Glenn Beck Program
Glenn Beck Program
The Glenn Beck Program is an American talk radio show hosted by commentator Glenn Beck on Premiere Radio Networks. Since its inception as a nationally syndicated show in 2002, the program has become one of the highest rated radio programs...
, The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show is an American talk radio show hosted by Rush Limbaugh on Premiere Radio Networks...
, The Sean Hannity Show
The Sean Hannity Show
The Sean Hannity Show is a talk radio show hosted by Sean Hannity on Citadel Media and Premiere Radio Networks. The program is broadcast live every weekday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m...
, Lars Larson
Lars Larson
Lars Larson is a conservative U.S. talk radio show host based in Oregon. Larson hosts a national talk radio show, which as of 2009 is syndicated by Compass Media Networks...
, The Laura Ingraham Show
The Laura Ingraham Show
The Laura Ingraham Show is a three-hour American radio show hosted by conservative commentator Laura Ingraham on Talk Radio Network. , the show is broadcast live on Channel 2, from 9 a.m...
, Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM is a North American late-night syndicated radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics, but most frequently ones that relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was created by Art Bell and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. The program currently...
, The Kim Komando Show
The Kim Komando Show
The Kim Komando Show is a commercial talk radio program focusing on personal computers, the use of the Internet, and the complexities of consumer electronics....
, Moneytalk with Bob Brinker
Bob Brinker
Bob Brinker is the host of the radio show Moneytalk, which has been on the air nationally since 1986. He previously had a show on local New York radio on WMCA. Prior to that Brinker hosted talkradio programs on WCAU and WWDB in Philadelphia...
, Doug Stephan
Doug Stephan
Doug Stephan is an American radio talk show personality and hosts the nationally syndicated Doug Stephan's Good Day.-Radio Programs:Doug Stephan's Good Day is a "call-in" and interview show airing live Monday through Saturday featuring a fast paced format covering variety of topics...
, Clark Howard
Clark Howard
Clark Howard , is a popular U.S. talk radio host of the nationally syndicated consumer advocate program The Clark Howard Show. The show covers consumer and financial news, with advice on how to spend less, save more and avoid rip-offs...
, and Dean Edell
Dean Edell
Doctor Dean Edell is an American physician and broadcaster who hosted the Dr. Dean Edell radio program, a syndicated radio talk show which aired live from 1979 until December 10, 2010.- Private life :...
.
The station conducts a radiothon for the American Heart Association
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
every March; it was first held in 1971 in memory of Ralph Allinger, a WIBX staffer that had died of a heart attack. In subsequent years, the American Heart Association has also held additional fundraisers in the Mohawk Valley
Mohawk Valley
The Mohawk Valley region of the U.S. state of New York is the area surrounding the Mohawk River, sandwiched between the Adirondack Mountains and Catskill Mountains....
, including a run and walk, to supplement the radiothon.