WBEK (FM)

Last updated
WBEK
Frequency 91.1 FM (MHz)
Programming
Format Public Radio
Affiliations NPR
American Public Media
Public Radio International
Ownership
Owner Chicago Public Media
History
Former call signs
WTKC (1990–2003)
WKCC (2003–2016)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 33327
Class A
ERP 2,600 watts
HAAT 77.3 meters (254 ft)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen Live
Website wbez.org

WBEK (91.1 FM) is a public radio station licensed to Kankakee, Illinois, and owned by Chicago Public Media. [2]

Formerly known as WKCC and owned by Kankakee Community College, the station aired a format consisting of classical music and public radio programs from NPR, American Public Media, and Public Radio International. [3] WKCC also aired a variety of jazz and blues programs on weekends, some of which were locally produced. [4] [5]

WKCC ceased local broadcast operations on Friday evening, December 18, 2015, at the conclusion of a special, final episode of In a Mellow Tone, hosted by Willie Dixon, Jr. – on the occasion of his 400th show. [6] Chicago Public Media announced that it would purchase ownership rights for the WKCC 91.1 FM broadcast license. [7] WBEZ's programming is now simulcast on WKCC, extending WBEZ's reach to an additional audience of more than 200,000 potential listeners in Kankakee and Iroquois Counties. [8]

Chicago Public Media's purchase of the station from Kankakee Community College was consummated on April 28, 2016, at a price of $250,000. On May 6, 2016, the station changed its call sign to WBEK.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBEZ</span> Public radio station in Chicago

WBEZ – branded WBEZ 91.5 – is a non-commercial educational radio station licensed to Chicago, Illinois, and primarily serving the Chicago metropolitan area. It is owned by Chicago Public Media and is financed by listener contributions, corporate underwriting and some government funding. WBEZ is affiliated with both National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Radio Exchange (PRX). It also broadcasts content from American Public Media and the BBC World Service. It produces several nationally syndicated shows for public radio stations, including This American Life and has a co-production credit for Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, which is produced by NPR.

WMSJ is a radio station airing the K-Love contemporary Christian music format, licensed to Freeport, Maine and serving the Portland area. The station is owned by Educational Media Foundation. WMSJ's programming is also heard on a translator in Lawrence, Massachusetts, W260AS.

Michigan Public is a network of five FM public radio stations operated by the University of Michigan through its broadcasting arm, Michigan Public Media. The network is a founding member of National Public Radio and an affiliate of Public Radio International, American Public Media, and BBC World Service. Its main studio is located in Ann Arbor, with satellite studios in Flint and offices in Grand Rapids. It currently airs news and talk, which it has since July 1, 1996. The combined footprint of the five stations covers most of the southern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, from Muskegon to Detroit.

WYHI is a non-commercial FM radio station licensed to Park Forest, Illinois, serving the Southland suburbs of Chicago. It is owned and operated by the Bible Broadcasting Network and it carries a Christian talk and teaching radio format. National religious leaders heard on WYHI include Chuck Swindoll, Joni Eareckson Tada, Adrian Rogers and J. Vernon McGee. The station is listener-supported and seeks donations on the air.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAGT-CD</span> NBC/CW affiliate in Augusta, Georgia

WAGT-CD is a low-power, Class A television station in Augusta, Georgia, United States, affiliated with NBC and The CW Plus. It is owned by Gray Television alongside dual CBS/MyNetworkTV affiliate WRDW-TV and low-power Telemundo affiliate WGAT-LD. The three stations share studios at The Village at Riverwatch development in Augusta; WAGT-CD's transmitter is located in Beech Island, South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWCA</span> Radio station in Gary, Indiana

WWCA is an AM radio station in Gary, Indiana, serving northwest Indiana. It airs a Catholic Radio format, as an owned and operated affiliate of Relevant Radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WONU</span> Christian radio station of Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee, Illinois

WONU is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Kankakee, Illinois, United States, and serving the region south of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is a non-profit, listener-supported station owned and operated by Olivet Nazarene University, which is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. It airs a Christian Contemporary Music radio format.

WRTE is an American radio station broadcasting a public radio / jazz format. It is licensed to Chicago, Illinois, United States, and serves the city of Chicago. The station is owned by Chicago Public Media. WRTE broadcasts in the HD Radio format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAWE</span> Air 1 radio station in Glendale Heights, Illinois

WAWE is a radio station broadcasting a Christian worship music format, licensed to Glendale Heights, Illinois, United States. The station serves the Chicago Metropolitan Area and is owned by the Educational Media Foundation, broadcasting its Air1 format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRXQ</span> Radio station in Coal City, Illinois

WRXQ is a commercial FM radio station broadcasting an active rock format. Licensed to Coal City, Illinois, it serves the Southland suburbs of the Chicago metropolitan area including Joliet. The station is owned by Walnut Radio Illinois with studios on Caton Farm Road in Crest Hill, Illinois.

WFTI-FM was a radio station broadcasting a Christian AC format. Licensed to St. Petersburg, Florida, United States, it served the Tampa Bay area. The station was owned by the Radio Training Network, repeating the signal of Bradenton-based WJIS 88.1 MHz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLPR-FM</span> Public radio station in Lowell, Indiana

WLPR-FM is an FM noncommercial, public radio station broadcasting on 89.1 MHz in Lowell, Indiana and serving Northwest Indiana. The station is owned and operated by Northwest Indiana Public Broadcasting, Inc., which also owns PBS member station WYIN, serving as an alternative to Chicago's WBEZ in the Chicago market's eastern reaches. WLPR broadcasts from the WZVN tower on SR-55, just north of SR-2.

WBEW is a non-commercial educational (NCE), Class B1 public radio station at Chesterton in Northwest Indiana. Since June 2007, the station has been branded Vocalo, initially airing listener submitted content and later airing an urban format. It is owned by Chicago Public Media and is a sister station to WBEZ in Chicago. WBEW broadcasts in the HD Radio format.

KPRI is a community radio station licensed to serve the community of Pala, California, United States. The station is owned by the Pala Band of Mission Indians. The station began operating under program test authority in December 2010 and received its broadcast license on February 3, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFAV</span> Radio station in Kankakee, Illinois

WFAV is a radio station licensed to Kankakee, Illinois. WFAV has a Contemporary hit radio format and is owned by Milner Media Partners.

Chicago Public Media (CPM) is a not-for-profit radio and print media company. CPM operates as the primary National Public Radio member organization for Chicago. It owns three non-commercial educational FM broadcast stations and one FM translator. In addition to local news and information productions, it produces the programs Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! for NPR stations, and This American Life which is distributed by PRX to other radio stations. On January 30, 2022, Chicago Public Media acquired the Chicago Sun-Times daily newspaper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WJZM</span> Classic country radio station in Waverly, Tennessee

WJZM, branded as "105.1 The Train", is a radio station licensed to serve Waverly, the county seat of Humphreys County, Tennessee, United States. The station, established in 1972, is owned by Mike Parchman, through licensee Consolidated Media LLC, with primary studios in Dickson, Tennessee and secondary studios and sales offices in Clarksville, Tennessee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSPL</span> Radio station in Streator, Illinois

WSPL was an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Streator, Illinois. The station is owned by Shaw Media, through licensee Shaw Local Radio Co., after previously being owned by Studstill Media/Mendota Broadcasting, Inc. until April 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWDL</span> Radio station in Plainfield, Indiana

WWDL is a Christian radio station licensed to Plainfield, Indiana, broadcasting on 91.3 MHz FM. The station serves Southwestern Indianapolis and its Southwest Suburbs, and is owned by The Power Foundation. WWDL airs southern gospel music and Christian talk and teaching.

WIQI is a radio station in Watseka, Illinois owned by Smash Hit Media. The station currently carries a classic rock format covering Watseka along with Iroquois County and Kankakee with an output of 6000 watts ERP.

References

  1. "Facility Technical Data for WBEK". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. WBEK fcc.gov. Accessed May 24, 2016.
  3. About Us WKCC. Accessed November 2, 2012
  4. Schedule WKCC. Accessed November 2, 2012
  5. Programs WKCC. Accessed November 2, 2012
  6. WKCC staff and volunteers recognized KCC.edu. Accessed December 21st, 2015
  7. "WBEZ may buy WKCC license", Daily Journal . December 2, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  8. Chicago Public Media Purchases WKCC Chicago Public Media, December 16, 2015.

41°09′39″N87°52′30″W / 41.16083°N 87.87500°W / 41.16083; -87.87500