Broadcast area |
[1] (Daytime) [2] ( Critical Hours) [3] (Nighttime) |
---|---|
Frequency | 1060 kHz |
Programming | |
Format | Urban oldies |
Affiliations | CBS Radio |
Ownership | |
Owner | Gerard Media, LLC |
WIMS | |
History | |
First air date | September 22, 1947 [1] |
Call sign meaning | Heart of the Fruit Belt |
Technical information [2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 72174 |
Class | D |
Power | 3,000
watts day 2,500 watts critical hours 0.13 watts night |
Translator(s) | 102.5 W273BM (Benton Harbor) |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | whfbradio.com |
WHFB (1060 kHz) is an AM radio station dually licensed to the Twin Cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, Michigan, broadcasting an urban oldies format. 1060 AM is a United States and Mexican clear-channel frequency; KYW and XECPAE are the dominant stations on this frequency. It broadcasts from its studios on Fairplain Avenue located in Fair Plain, Michigan, an unincorporated area south of Benton Harbor. [3] The station's transmitter and broadcast tower are also at this location. WHFB is also heard on 102.5 FM, through a translator in Benton Harbor.
WHFB began broadcasting September 22, 1947. [1] [4] It ran 1,000 watts, during daytime hours only, and was owned by the Palladium Publishing Company. [5] Its power was increased to 5,000 watts in 1963, while continuing to run 1,000 watts during critical hours. [5] Its power during critical hours was increased to 2,500 watts in 1976. [5]
In 1985, the station was sold to WHFB Broadcast Associates Ltd. Partnership, along with sister station 99.9 WHFB-FM, for $1.5 million. [6] [7] Former sister station WHFB-FM is now separately owned and has since changed call letters to WQLQ.
WHFB aired an adult contemporary format in the 1980s. [8] By 1989, the station had adopted a country music format, [9] and by 1991, it was airing an adult standards format. [10] In 1996, the station adopted a 1970s based oldies format, with programming from Westwood One. [11] Nighttime service was added in 1997. [12] [13] In 1999, it adopted an all-news format, airing the national audio feed of CNN Headline News. [14]
In 2000, the station adopted a syndicated talk radio format. [15] It was branded "All Talk - AM 1060" and later "Fox News Radio AM 1060". [16] [17] Over the years, hosts heard on the station have included Laura Ingraham, Bill O'Reilly, Bob Dornan, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, and Monica Crowley. [18] [19] [20] The station went off the air on June 1, 2012, [21] and the station was sold by WHFB Broadcast Associates to WIMS owner Gerard Media, LLC for $175,000. [22] [23]
The station returned to the air on September 2, 2013. [24] The station aired full service format, with a wide variety of music, along with talk shows, Grand Valley State University sports, and other programming. [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] By 2020, it had adopted an urban oldies format, branded "Motown and More". [30]
Stanley R. Banyon, who also had started local radio station WHFB in 1947, died in 1967 at age 80.