WXNT

WXNT (1430 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Indianapolis, Indiana. The station is owned by Cumulus Media, and carries an all-sports radio format, as an affiliate of the CBS Sports Radio Network.[2][3] WXNT airs a local Indianapolis-centered sports talk show in the afternoon with Kent Sterling. The remainder of the schedule is CBS Sports Radio shows and live sporting events.

WXNT
CityIndianapolis, Indiana
Broadcast areaIndianapolis
BrandingCBS Sports 1430
Frequency1430 kHz
First air dateNovember 29, 1926 (1926-11-29)[1]
FormatSports
Power5,000 watts
ClassB
Facility ID47145
Transmitter coordinates39°50′18″N 86°11′55.1″W
Call sign meaningX (Crossroads of America) News/Talk
Former call signsWKBF (1926–1935)
WIRE (1935–1990)
WFXF (1990–1992)
WCKN (1992–1994)
WMYS (1994–2001)
Former frequencies1400 kHz (1926–1941)
AffiliationsCBS Sports Radio
OwnerCumulus Media
(Radio License Holding SRC LLC)
Sister stationsWFMS, WJJK, WNTR, WNDX, WZPL
WebcastListen Live
Websitecbssports1430.com

WXNT studios and offices are located on N. Meridian Street, along with sister stations 99.5 WZPL and 107.9 WNTR. The transmitter and antenna are located off Knollton Road at West 46th Street, on the northwest side of Indianapolis.[4] WXNT operates at 5000 watts around the clock, using a non-directional antenna by day. But at night a directional antenna is required to protect other stations on AM 1430 from interference.[5]

History

WXNT first signed on as WKBF in 1926 at 1400 kHz. Eleven years later, the station changed its call letters to WIRE, as announced by the Federal Communications Commission on March 16, 1935.[6] In 1941, the station moved to its current dial position at 1430 kHz, when the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement or NARBA required many AM stations to change their frequencies.

The station was mentioned as officially opening its new studios on the show "Nightbeat" on October 27, 1950. For most of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, its programming consisted of country music, which proved an enormous ratings success. In 1970, WIRE's country format was number one in the Indianapolis radio market with a 25.6 Pulse rating share, also making it the highest-rated country station in the nation, according to a 1970 Billboard magazine article.[7] But over time, country music fans shifted their listening to FM radio.

On November 28, 1990, the station became WFXF, which simulcast then-sister station WFXF-FM 103.3 and its classic rock format known as "103.3 The Fox." (Today that station is alternative rock/active rock X-103). On May 18, 1992, the call letters for AM 1430 were changed to WCKN.

WXNT's logo as a news/talk station

On September 8, 1994, the station switched to a syndicated adult standards format known as "The Music of Your Life," using the call sign WMYS. The station also aired Indianapolis Ice hockey games. On October 22, 2001, the station changed its call sign to WXNT, with the NT standing for News/Talk, its new format. WXNT would broadcast Notre Dame Fighting Irish football and previously broadcast Butler University basketball.

On January 2, 2013, WXNT switched to all-sports, becoming a CBS Sports Radio Network affiliate.[8] The station continues to be the Indianapolis home for Notre Dame football.

On February 13, 2019, Cumulus Media and Entercom announced an agreement in which WXNT, WZPL, and WNTR would be swapped to Cumulus in exchange for WNSH in New York City and WHLL and WMAS-FM in Springfield, Massachusetts. Under the terms of the deal, Cumulus began operating WXNT under a local marketing agreement on March 1, 2019.[9] The swap was completed on May 13, 2019.[10]

References
  1. "The Indiana Radio Archive - Stations - WXNT". indianaradio.net. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. "WXNT Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. "WXNT Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20.
  4. "WXNT-AM Radio Station Coverage Map". radio-locator.com. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  5. "WXNT-AM 1430 kHz - Indianapolis, IN". radio-locator.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  6. "WKBF Now WIRE" (PDF). Broadcasting. April 1, 1935. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  7. "WIRE Top Country Radio," Billboard magazine, 29 August 1970, p. 25
  8. "WXNT Indianapolis Joins CBS Sports Radio". Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  9. "Cumulus Sells Six To EMF & Swaps With Entercom In New York & Indianapolis". RadioInsight. 2019-02-13. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  10. "Cumulus, Entercom Close Six-Station Swap". Inside Radio. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.