Black Information Network

Last updated

Black Information Network
Black Information Network logo.webp
Type Radio network
Country
United States
Programming
Language(s) English
Format All news
African-American culture
Ownership
Owner iHeartMedia
History
Launch dateJune 30, 2020;4 years ago (2020-06-30)
Coverage
AvailabilityNational, through online, HD Radio, and broadcast affiliates (see stations)
Affiliates 60 affiliates in 49 markets
Links
Webcast Listen live (via iHeartRadio)
Website www.binnews.com

Black Information Network (BIN) is a radio network and content brand owned by iHeartMedia. Launched on June 30, 2020, it is an all-news radio network of stations targeting African American communities, carrying mostly important national news headline stories as well as current events and special interest features. Some stations also incorporate local news, traffic, weather and sports updates into the network feed. Tony Coles is the network's president and Tanita Myers is the news director. [1]

Contents

History

On June 29, 2020, 15 iHeartMedia radio stations in markets with large African American populations (including AM, FM, and HD Radio subchannel stations) ceased their regular programming, and began stunting with clips of speeches by prominent African Americans, such as Malcolm X's "The Ballot or the Bullet" address, interspersed with messages stating that "our side of the story is about to be told", and promoting a major change in their programming at 12:00 p.m. EDT the next day. [2]

On June 30, 2020, at 12:00 p.m. EDT, iHeartMedia officially launched the Black Information Network (BIN) on the 15 stunting stations, carrying national news coverage catered to African American communities. The service draws from other iHeartMedia services for local traffic and weather updates, and promotes podcasts oriented towards the audience. The network will be carried by additional stations over time, and is also being distributed on the iHeartRadio streaming platform.

BIN also serves as the provider of news content for iHeartMedia stations carrying formats that predominantly target African-Americans, including hip hop, R&B, and gospel. [3] [4] Stations not owned by iHeart may also subscribe to the service, with newscasts available at the :00 and :30 mark each hour.

Alongside traditional advertising, BIN is also being backed by a group of "national founding partners", including Bank of America, CVS Health, GEICO, Lowe's, McDonald's, Sony, 23andMe, and Verizon Communications which will air outreach towards African-American communities on the network. [4] Currently, the number of minutes each hour devoted to commercials is considerably lower than most radio networks.

On September 10, 2020, iHeartMedia announced that it would acquire WWRL in New York City, a station that had historically carried formats serving the African American community, to carry BIN beginning November 2. BIN programming was previously available in the New York radio market via 105.1 WWPR-FM's third HD Radio subchannel. [5] On December 2, 2020, iHeartMedia announced that it would acquire Fort Worth's KHVN and its simulcast partner KKGM, with an intent for them to be BIN's stations in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, replacing their existing Black Gospel format. [6] [7]

The network currently has 60 affiliates in 49 markets across the United States.

Stations

CallsignFrequencyBandCityStateNetwork status
W257DS 99.3FM Montgomery Alabaman/a (WMRK-HD2 relay)
WDXB-HD2*102.5-2FM Pelham (Birmingham) AlabamaAffiliate
WHTY 1460AM Phenix City (Columbus)Alabama (Georgia)Affiliate
WMRK-HD2 107.9FM Shorter (Montgomery) AlabamaAffiliate
W224CK 92.7FM Vestavia Hills (Birmingham) Alabaman/a (WDXB-HD2 relay)
KFOO 1440AM Riverside CaliforniaAffiliate
KKSF 910AM Oakland-San Francisco CaliforniaAffiliate
KRRL-HD2*92.3-2FM Los Angeles CaliforniaAffiliate
KSSX-HD2*95.7-2FM Carlsbad (San Diego) CaliforniaAffiliate
WUST 1120AM Washington District of ColumbiaAffiliate
WMZQ-HD2*98.7-2FM
WJBT-HD2*93.3-2FM Callahan (Jacksonville) FloridaAffiliate
WRUB-HD2*95.7-2FM Clearwater (Tampa) FloridaAffiliate
W281AM 104.1FM Macclenny (Jacksonville) Floridan/a (WJBT-HD2 relay)
WXBN 880AM Sweetwater (Miami) FloridaAffiliate
WBIN 640AM Atlanta GeorgiaAffiliate
WYNF 1340AM Augusta GeorgiaAffiliate
WMGE 1670AM Dry Branch (Macon) GeorgiaAffiliate
W234BX 94.7FM Highland Pines (Columbus) Georgian/a (WHTY) relay)
W279AQ 103.7FM Mascoutah (St. Louis) Illinois (Missouri)n/a (KATZ-HD2 relay)
WVAZ-HD2*102.7-2FM Oak Park (Chicago) IllinoisAffiliate
WMFN 640AM Peotone (Chicago) IllinoisAffiliate
WODT 1280AM New Orleans LouisianaAffiliate
K244FX 96.7FM New Orleans Louisianan/a (WODT relay)
WQLL 1370AM Pikesville (Baltimore) MarylandAffiliate
WJMN-HD2*94.5-2FM Boston MassachusettsAffiliate
WDFN 1130AM Detroit MichiganAffiliate
KQQL-HD2*107.9-2FM Anoka (Minneapolis) MinnesotaAffiliate
W227BF 93.3FM Shoreview (Minneapolis) Minnesotan/a (KQQL-HD2 relay)
WSFZ 930AM Jackson MississippiAffiliate
W251DB 98.1FM Jackson Mississippin/a (WSFZ relay)
KJMS-HD2 101.1-2FM Olive Branch (Memphis)Mississippi (Tennessee)
WTUP 1490AM Tupelo MississippiAffiliate
W299CS 107.7FM Tupelo Mississippin/a (WTUP relay)
KATZ-HD2*100.3-2FM Bridgeton (St. Louis) MissouriAffiliate
WWRL 1600AM New York City New YorkAffiliate
WWPR-HD3*105.1-3FM
W254AZ 98.7FM Belmont (Charlotte) North Carolinan/a (WRFX-HD2 relay)
WRFX-HD2*99.7-2FM Kannapolis (Charlotte) North CarolinaAffiliate
W266CJ 101.1FM Beechwood Ohion/a (WMMS-HD2 relay)
WMMS-HD2*100.7-2FM Cleveland OhioAffiliate
WYTS 1230AM Columbus OhioAffiliate
WCHD-HD2*99.9-2FM Kettering (Dayton) OhioAffiliate
WIZE 1340AM Springfield (Dayton) OhioAffiliate
WTEL 610AM Philadelphia PennsylvaniaAffiliate
WDAS-HD2*105.3-2FM
WPRM-HD2*99.1-2FM San Juan Puerto RicoAffiliate
W288CX 105.5FM Columbia South Carolinan/a (WXBT-HD2 relay)
WGVL 1440AM Greenville South CarolinaAffiliate
WXBT-HD2 100.1FM West Columbia South CarolinaAffiliate
WNRQ-HD2*105.9-2FM Nashville TennesseeAffiliate
W248BQ 97.5FM Nashville Tennesseen/a (WNRQ-HD2 relay)
KHVN 970AM Fort Worth (Dallas)TexasAffiliate
KKGM 1630
K237HD 95.3FM Fort Worth Texasn/a (KHVN relay)
KXYZ 1320AM Houston TexasAffiliate
W244AV 96.7FM Blacksburg Virginian/a (WROV-HD2 relay)
WROV-HD2*96.3-2FM Martinsville (Roanoke) VirginiaAffiliate
WNOH 105.3FM Windsor (Norfolk) VirginiaAffiliate
KHHO 850AM Tacoma-Seattle WashingtonAffiliate

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBIN (AM)</span> Black Information Network radio station in Atlanta

WBIN is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia. It is owned by iHeartMedia, through its subsidiary iHM Licenses, LLC. It serves the Atlanta metropolitan area as its affiliate for the Black Information Network. The station's studios and offices located at the Peachtree Palisades Building in the Brookwood Hills district. The transmitter site is off Joseph E. Boone Boulevard Northwest in the Center Hill neighborhood of Atlanta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KQQL</span> Radio station in Anoka–Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota

KQQL is a commercial radio station serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul radio market and is licensed to suburban Anoka. It plays classic hits and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are on Utica Avenue South in St. Louis Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WODT</span> Black Information Network affiliate radio station in New Orleans, Louisiana

WODT is a commercial radio station in New Orleans, Louisiana. It broadcasts an all-news radio format as an affiliate of the Black Information Network. It is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., with studios on Howard Avenue.

WWRL is a commercial radio station licensed to New York, New York, owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The station airs an all-news radio format as an affiliate of the Black Information Network (BIN).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WXZX</span> Radio station in Columbus, Ohio

WXZX is a commercial radio station that is licensed to serve Hilliard, Ohio and serves the Columbus metropolitan area. Owned by iHeartMedia, the station broadcasts an alternative rock format. Both the WXZX studios and the station transmitter are located in Downtown Columbus. The station is the Columbus affiliate of the Cincinnati Bengals Radio Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNRQ</span> Radio station in Nashville, Tennessee, United States

WNRQ is a commercial FM radio station in Nashville, heard in northern middle Tennessee and southern central Kentucky. It airs a classic rock format. It is owned by iHeartMedia, with studios in Nashville's Music Row district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRUM</span> Tropical music radio station in Orlando, Florida

WRUM is a commercial radio station in Orlando, Florida, known as "Rumba 100.3". It airs a Spanish-language radio format featuring Latin pop and reggaeton. It is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are on Maitland Center Parkway in Maitland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRFX</span> Classic rock radio station in Kannapolis–Charlotte, North Carolina

WRFX is a commercial radio station licensed to Kannapolis, North Carolina and serving the Charlotte metropolitan area. Owned by iHeartMedia, it airs a classic rock radio format, and calls itself "99.7 The Fox." The radio studios and offices are on Woodridge Center Drive in South Charlotte. WRFX is the flagship station for the John Boy and Billy Big Show, a nationally syndicated morning show heard around the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNOH</span> Radio station in Windsor–Norfolk, Virginia

WNOH is a commercial radio station licensed to Windsor, Virginia, serving the Hampton Roads radio market in Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina. WNOH is owned and operated by iHeartMedia. The station airs an African American-oriented all-news radio format, as an affiliate of the Black Information Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">W227BF</span> Radio station in Shoreview, Minnesota

W227BF is a translator broadcasting Black Information Network programming from the HD2 subcarrier of iHeartMedia's KQQL. Licensed to Shoreview, Minnesota, it serves the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area inside the I-494/I-694 beltway. The station is owned by iHeartMedia. All the offices and studios are located in St. Louis Park and the transmitter is atop the IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KHHO</span> Radio station in Tacoma, Washington

KHHO is a commercial radio station licensed to Tacoma, Washington, United States, the station serves the Tacoma portion of the Seattle-Tacoma radio market. The station is an affiliate of Black Information Network and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KFOO (AM)</span> Radio station in Riverside, California

KFOO is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Riverside, California, and broadcasts to the Riverside—San Bernardino, California area. The station is owned by iHeartMedia and airs an all-news radio format as an affiliate of Black Information Network. The KFOO studios are located in Riverside and the transmitter tower is in Colton along the Santa Ana River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KWBL</span> Country music radio station in Denver

KWBL is a commercial radio station licensed to Denver, Colorado. It is owned by iHeartMedia and it broadcasts a country format branded as 106.7 The Bull. KWBL carries two nationally syndicated country music shows from co-owned Premiere Networks: The Bobby Bones Show on weekday mornings and CMT Nites with Cody Alan heard overnight. The radio studios are located in the Denver Tech Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WYNF</span> Black Information Network affiliate station in Augusta, Georgia

WYNF is a radio station licensed to Augusta, Georgia, United States. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, and serves as Augusta's affiliate for the Black Information Network. Its studios are located at the Augusta Corporate Center near the I-20/I-520 interchange in Augusta, and the transmitter tower is west of Paine College in Augusta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHTY (AM)</span> Radio station in Alabama

WHTY is a radio station licensed to serve Phenix City, Alabama, United States. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. and licensed to iHM Licenses, LLC. WHTY operates as the Black Information Network affiliate for Columbus, Georgia. Its studios are in Columbus east of downtown, and its transmitter is southeast of downtown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMGE (AM)</span> Radio station in Dry Branch, Georgia

WMGE is a radio station broadcasting an African American-oriented all-news format from the Black Information Network. Licensed to Dry Branch, Georgia, United States, the station serves the Macon area during the day and the southeast United States at night. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc.

WMMS-HD2 is a digital subchannel of WMMS, a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, and features programming from the Black Information Network. Owned by iHeartMedia, WMMS-HD2 serves Greater Cleveland and surrounding Northeast Ohio. Using the proprietary technology HD Radio for its main digital transmission, WMMS-HD2 is rebroadcast over low-power analog Beachwood translator W266CJ (101.1 FM), and streams online via iHeartRadio. WMMS-HD2's studios are located at the Six Six Eight Building in downtown Cleveland's Gateway District, while the WMMS-HD2 and W256BT transmitters reside in Seven Hills and Parma, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSSX</span> Urban contemporary radio station in San Diego

KSSX is a commercial radio station located in San Diego, California, although the station is legally licensed to serve Carlsbad, in nearby North County. The station airs a rhythmic contemporary format, and is one of seven stations in the market owned and operated by iHeartMedia. The station's studios are located in San Diego's Kearny Mesa neighborhood on the northeast side, and the transmitter is atop Mt. Soledad, located in La Jolla.

WROV-HD2 is an all-news radio station, aimed at African-American listeners and licensed to Martinsville, Virginia. It carries the Black Information Network and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The HD-2 digital subchannel feeds 250-watt FM translator W244AV at 96.7 MHz in Blacksburg, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">W254AZ</span> Radio station in Belmont, North Carolina

W254AZ is an FM translator station licensed to serve Belmont, North Carolina.

References

  1. ↑ "iHeartMedia Black Information Network Launch", Variety June 30, 2020 (retrieved 9.18.20)
  2. ↑ "Several iHeartMedia Stations Stunting With Speeches, New Format To Be Announced Tomorrow". All Access. All Access Music Group. June 30, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  3. ↑ Spangler, Todd (June 30, 2020). "iHeartMedia to Launch BIN: Black Information Network on Radio, Digital Channels". Variety. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "iHeartMedia Launches Black Information Network". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. June 30, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  5. ↑ "iHeartMedia Acquires WWRL New York For Black Information Network". RadioInsight. September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Heaven97 Bids Listeners Farewell". Texas Metro News. December 30, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  7. ↑ Jacobson, Adam (December 3, 2020). "DFW AM Duo Acquired By iHeart For BIN Home". Radio & Television Business Report. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
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