WIBC (FM)#Local news and talk

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93.1 FM in Indianapolis first signed on as WIBC-FM on December 5, 1960.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53593710/|date=December 1, 1960|work=Indianapolis News|title=Broadcasting by Station WIBC-FM to Start Monday|access-date=June 16, 2020|page=61}} It aired an automated classical music format.

On July 22, 1968, the station was re-launched as WNAP.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53593813/|work=Indianapolis Star|first=Julia|last=Inman|date=July 26, 1968|page=17|title=Revamped FM Radio Outlet Promises a 'Young Sound'}} It was the first FM station in the Indianapolis market to broadcast a hybrid formatted mix of both AOR and Top 40 hits, better known as "Rock 40" an ancestor of the CHR format, and was in direct competition with Top 40 leader WIFE. In 1970, WNAP began broadcasting in stereo. According to the documentary film Naptown Rock Radio Wars,{{Cite web |title=Naptown Rock Radio Wars |url=http://www.naptownrockradiowars.com/ |access-date=2022-12-26}} station and program managers from across the United States came to Indianapolis to listen to WNAP in order to figure out the unique style of "The Buzzard" so they could emulate its success at their own stations such as WVBF in Boston and WMMS in Cleveland. The classic top of the hour station identification from this era featured the sound of two thunderbolts and the distinctive voice of WIBC's Chuck Riley, brother of WNAP's DJ Michael D. "Buster Bodine" Hanks, intoning the phrase, "The wrath of The Buzzard! WNAP, Indianapolis".{{cite web |title=Trivia |url=http://www.naptownrockradiowars.com/trivia/ |website=Naptown Rock Radio Wars}} Later in the 1970s and early 1980s, the station was rebranded as "WNAP Stereo 93 FM, The Buzzard".

On April 4, 1986, suffering from a fall in ratings due to competition from WFBQ, the format of 93.1 was changed to a rock-driven hot adult contemporary format, and the call letters became WEAG with branding as "Eagle 93."Julia Inman, "WTLC newsman has a cause," The Indianapolis Star, April 9, 1986. The format was later changed to classic hits with the call letters WKLR on August 14, 1987.Dennis Hanshew, "Variety of State Fair specials to be broadcast on Channel 6," The Indianapolis Star, August 18, 1987.Jill Warren, "Newest radio station to offer wide range of musical hits," The Indianapolis Star, August 19, 1987. On April 1, 1988, WKLR changed from classic hits to oldies.

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."Steve Hall, "What's the buzz? WNAP returns with '70s music," The Indianapolis Star, September 10, 1994.{{Cite news |date=September 16, 1994 |title=WKLR -FM/Indy Now '70s WNAP |pages=11 |work=R&R |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1990s/1994/RR-1994-09-16.pdf |access-date=December 26, 2022}} The station failed with this programming direction and soon refocused around more standard classic rock, along with carriage of The Howard Stern Show in the mornings.Steve Hall, "'Nash' isn't 'Miami Vice', but it's nice," The Indianapolis Star, March 29, 1996.Marc Allan, "Some Stern competition is awaiting Bob & Tom," The Indianapolis Star, January 31, 1998. Unlike most markets though, WFBQ's local and dominant Bob and Tom Show easily won in the ratings, and like most stations outside Stern's Northeast base, had wholly incompatible audience flow for the rest of the broadcast day. The station continued to limp into the new millennium without any momentum outside Stern's show and Emmis management being more focused on burnishing its AM sister station and talk format.

After weeks of stunting, WNAP changed to contemporary hits on March 28, 2000, at 6:00 a.m., with new call letters WNOU and the name "Radio Now."{{Cite news |date=March 31, 2000 |title=It's 'Radio Now' at WNAP/Indianapolis |pages=15 |work=R&R |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/2000s/2000/RR-2000-03-31.pdf |access-date=December 26, 2022}}Marc Allan, "Rock radio station to switch format," The Indianapolis Star, March 25, 2000.Marc Allan, "It's WNOU now after WNAP is put to rest," The Indianapolis Star, March 28, 2000. Radio Now's first song was "The Rockafeller Skank" by Fatboy Slim. "Radio Now" debuted as a new type of CHR station with a very small playlist and featured the top hits of the day at the top of every hour. The station received some national notice in November 2004, when its morning show conducted the first interview with Indiana Pacers player Ron Artest following the Pacers–Pistons brawl.{{cite web|author=Montieth, Mark|url=http://www2.indystar.com/articles/3/197098-2423-P.html|title=Artest sidelined? No way|work=Indianapolis Star|date=November 24, 2004|access-date=June 2, 2013}}{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1929822|title=Artest mixes regret with CD self-promotion|work=espn.com|date=November 24, 2004|access-date=June 2, 2013}}

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.

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.Erika Smith, "On air musical chairs: Pop makes way for talk on FM with WIBC move," The Indianapolis Star, October 9, 2007. 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).{{cite web|author=Smith, Erika D.|title=WNOU revived; Radio One buys site|url=http://www.indystar.com/article/20071011/ENTERTAINMENT05/710110448/WNOU-revived-Radio-One-buys-site|work=Indianapolis Star|date=October 11, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012180439/http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20071011%2FENTERTAINMENT05%2F710110448%2F1005%2FENTERTAINMENT|archive-date=October 12, 2007|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://radioinsight.com/broadcast-buzz/radionow-returns-to-indianapolis/#more-91|title=RadioNow Returns To Indianapolis : RadioInsight}}

On June 13, 2022, Emmis announced that it would sell its Indianapolis stations to Urban One.{{Cite web |title=Emmis Sells Indianapolis Stations To Radio One |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/228515/emmis-sells-indianapolis-stations-to-radio-one/ |access-date=June 16, 2022 |website=RadioInsight |date=June 13, 2022 |language=en-US}} The sale, at a price of $25 million, was consummated on August 31, 2022.

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|WIBC (Indianapolis, Indiana)}}

• {{official|http://www.wibc.com}}{{FM station data|19524|WIBC}}
• {{FCC-LMS-Facility|150595|W228CX}}
• {{FXL|W228CX}}
• {{FCC-LMS-Facility|155816|W298BB}}
• {{FXL|W298BB}}
• [http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007710080432 WIBC-AM history]
• [http://indianaradio.net/stations/19524.html Indiana Radio Archive, WIBC]
• [http://www.wibc.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=75944 Jeff Pigeon Leaving WIBC]

{{Indianapolis Radio}}

{{News/Talk Radio Stations in Indiana}}

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Category:Radio stations established in 1960

Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States

Category:American Basketball Association flagship radio stations

Category:Urban One stations

Category:Mass media in Indianapolis

Category:1938 establishments in Indiana