WIBK

{{Short description|Radio station in Watseka, Illinois, United States}}

{{Infobox radio station

| name = WIBK

| logo = WIBK Buckle Final.png

| logo_size = 180px

| city = Watseka, Illinois

| country = US

| area = {{ubl|Iroquois County|Benton County|Newton County}}

| branding = WIBK The Buckle

| airdate = {{start date|1961|9|1}}

| last_airdate = {{end date|2024|5}}

| frequency = {{Frequency|1360|kHz}}

| translator = {{Radio Relay|96.9|W245CV|Watseka}}

| repeater = {{Radio Relay|94.1|WGFA-FM HD2|Watseka}}

| format = Classic country

| power = 1,000 watts day

| licensing_authority = FCC

| class = D

| facility_id = 29202

| coordinates = {{coord|40|47|37.1|N|87|45|17.1|W|type:landmark_region:US-IL|display=inline,title}}

| callsign_meaning =

| former_callsigns = WGFA (1961–2017)

| owner = Iroquois County Broadcasting Company

| licensee =

| sister_stations = WGFA-FM

| webcast =

| website = {{url|http://www.wibkradio.com/}}

| affiliations = ABC News Radio

}}

WIBK (1360 AM) was a classic country-formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Watseka, Illinois, serving Watseka and Eastern Iroquois County, Illinois, and Western Benton and Southern Newton counties in Indiana. WIBK was a daytime only station and was owned and operated by Iroquois County Broadcasting Company, which is owned by Richard and Margaret Martin.{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=29202|title = Favility Information}}[https://www.wcia.com/ciliving/watseka-radio-station-credits-success-to-family-ownership/752157860 History page of WCIA]

WIBK was an AM radio station broadcasting on the regional frequency{{cite web |url=http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/am-broadcast-station-classes-clear-regional-and-local-channels |title=AM Broadcast Station Classes; Clear, Regional, and Local Channels |website=www.fcc.gov |access-date=January 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430090244/http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/am-broadcast-station-classes-clear-regional-and-local-channels |archive-date=April 30, 2012 |url-status=dead}} of 1360 kHz. The WIBK antenna was a three-tower array. The station was a member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters.https://nafb.com/events/nafb-convention National Association of Farm Broadcasters Website

History

The original call letters were WGFA. WIBK changed format from talk radio to country music on August 25, 2017.

On May 1, 2024, the owners filed for special temporary authority with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take the station silent. The WIBK license was surrendered in April 2025;{{cite news |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=FCC Report 4/27: South Florida LPFMs Cited For Operating With Much Higher Power Than Authorized |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/299456/fcc-report-4-27-south-florida-lpfms-cited-for-operating-way-overpowered/ |access-date=April 28, 2025 |work=RadioInsight |date=April 27, 2025}} it was cancelled on May 1, 2025.{{cite web|url= https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=29202|title=License Cancelled|work=Federal Communications Commission Licensing and Management System|date=May 1, 2025|access-date=May 1, 2025}}

Signal

WIBK's signal was beamed towards the southeast to protect the signal of WLBK in Dekalb, Illinois. WIBK used a three-tower antenna array.{{Cite web|url=https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WIBK&service=AM&h=D|title = Radio Station Coverage Map}}