WIBL

Last updated
WIBL
WIBL 107.7thebull logo.gif
Broadcast area Bloomington-Normal
Frequency 107.7 MHz
Branding107-7 & 92-1 The Bull"
Programming
Format Country
Affiliations Compass Media Networks
Ownership
OwnerPilot Media LLC
KKSW, KMXN, WKSW, WGSQ, WHUB, WPTN, WZIM, WRPW, KLWN
History
First air date
August 2000 (as WZBM)
Former call signs
WBZM (2000–2003)
WSYT (2003–2010)
Call sign meaning
W Illinois' BulL
Technical information
Facility ID 86178
Class B1
ERP 14,000 watts
HAAT 135 meters (443 ft)
Translator(s) 92.1 W221CY (Normal)
Links
Webcast Listen Live
Website 1077thebull.com

WIBL (107.7 FM), known as "The Bull", is a commercial radio station in Central Illinois with a country music radio format. WIBL is licensed to Fairbury, Illinois, and serves the Bloomington-Normal radio market. It is owned by Pilot Media, which is a subsidiary of Great Plains Media. Great Plains' CEO is Jerry Zimmer, a longtime partner in the Zimmer Radio Group based in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. WIBL features "20 Songs in A Row" music sweeps at various times each day, resulting in approximately 70 minutes of music without commercials.

Contents

WIBL has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 14,000 watts, broadcasting from a transmitter on South Pine Street in Lexington, Illinois. [1] For a clearer signal in Bloomington-Normal, a 250-watt FM translator, W221CY, also broadcasts WIBL programming at 92.1 MHz in Normal. [2]

History

The station signed on in August 2000;23 years ago. It was known as WBZM, 107.7 The Buzz. WBZM was owned by Crowmwell Broadcasting, and was operated out of the company's Peoria cluster. It had an Alternative Rock format, with the syndicated "Bob and Tom Show" in the morning. The disc jockeys were all the same as on 99X, which was, at the time, WIXO on its original Bartonville frequency of 99.9.

When Cromwell sold the Peoria cluster in 2001, WBZM was not included in the sale. Operations were moved to Cromwell's Decatur cluster and WBZM quickly went on the sale block. At the end of 2001, AAA Entertainment purchased the signal and began simulcasting 96.7 WIHN Normal, then later 99.5 WDQZ Lexington.

On March 28, 2003, AAA debuted WYST, an AC station branded as "Star 107.7". In June 2003 the station's signal was upgraded and moved from Fairbury to Lexington, Illinois.[ clarification needed ]

In February 2007, the format was modified to R&B/Soul with the slogan "The Heart and Soul of the Twin Cities", which had more of a rhythmic lean than competitor 100.7 WVMG.

In April 2007 the station began a local marketing agreement (LMA) with Great Plains Media. No immediate format change was made.

On June 29, 2007, at Noon, just several days after the closing the sale on WYST, Great Plains Media flipped the format to Country as "107.7 The Bull." The station is the first[ citation needed ] to take on heritage WBWN in the Bloomington market. On August 17, 2010, WYST changed its call letters to WIBL to go with the "Bull" branding.

Related Research Articles

WPYK is a radio station licensed to Portsmouth, Ohio. The station became notable when it stayed on air during the floods in Portsmouth in 1937, giving up-to-the-minute news and announcements to those separated and weary from the floods. In the 1960s, the then-WPAY-FM started to play country music on its FM while its AM sister station was reassigned to have a news-talk format. The AM signed off the air on June 3, 2011 after 80 years. WPYK is currently a K-Love affiliate station broadcasting a Contemporary Christian format and is owned by Educational Media Foundation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBWN</span> Radio station in Le Roy, Illinois

WBWN is a radio station licensed to the community of Le Roy, Illinois, and serving the greater Bloomington, Illinois, area. The station is owned by Cumulus Media. It airs a country music format.

WLNX is a radio station licensed to Lincoln, Illinois, United States.

WCIC is a Christian adult contemporary music station in Peoria, Illinois. It is licensed to the nearby suburb of Pekin and owned by the University of Northwestern – St. Paul. Studios are located in northwest Peoria.

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

WBNQ is the most powerful FM radio station in McLean County, Illinois, United States, broadcasting on at 50,000 watts of effective radiated power. It has had a contemporary hit radio music format since 1975.

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

WIXO is a radio station in Peoria, Illinois. It is owned by Cumulus Media, which also owns several other radio stations in the market. Cumulus purchased WIXO and its sister stations from Townsquare Media. Originally on 99.9 MHz before 2006, it moved to 105.7, a much higher-power license that reaches a large portion of Central Illinois.

WIHN is a commercial radio station in Normal, Illinois, United States, and serving the Bloomington-Normal radio market. It broadcasts an active rock radio format known as Rock 96.7. It is owned by Elizabeth Neuhoff's Neuhoff Corp., through licensee Neuhoff Media Bloomington, LLC, with studios on Brickyard Drive in Bloomington. On weekday mornings, WIHN carries the nationally syndicated "Bob & Tom Show," based at WFBQ Indianapolis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKZF</span> Radio station in Morton–Peoria, Illinois

WKZF (102.3 MHz is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Morton, Illinois, and serving the Peoria metropolitan area. It broadcasts a Rhythmic AC radio format and is owned by Midwest Communications, Inc. The radio studios and offices on the 12th floor of The Civic Center Plaza Building in Downtown Peoria.

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

WXCL is a commercial radio station licensed to Pekin, Illinois and serving the Peoria metropolitan area. It broadcasts a country radio format and is owned by Midwest Communications, Inc. WXCL is one of two outlets in Peoria playing Country music, along with 97.3 WFYR.

WIRL is a radio station broadcasting a conservative talk format. Licensed to Peoria, Illinois, United States, the station serves the Peoria area and broadcasts in AM stereo. The station is currently owned by Midwest Communications, Inc.

WZPW is a radio station in Central Illinois with a Rhythmic Top 40 music format, licensed to Peoria, Illinois and broadcasting with an Effective radiated power (ERP) of 19,200 watts. The station is owned by Cumulus Media, which purchased the station from Townsquare Media.

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

WRPW is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Colfax, Illinois, in the Bloomington-Normal radio market. WRPW broadcasts a talk radio format known as "Cities Talk FM 92.9." It is owned by Pilot Media, a subsidiary of Great Plains Media. Great Plains' CEO is Jerry Zimmer, a longtime partner in the Zimmer Radio Group based in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

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

WSWT is a commercial radio station broadcasting an adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. It is licensed to Peoria, Illinois, and is owned by Midwest Communications, Inc. The radio studios and offices are on Fulton Street in Peoria.

WLUB is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Augusta, Georgia. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. and airs a country music radio format. WLUB calls itself "105.7 The Bull." As with many country stations owned by iHeart, WLUB carries the nationally syndicated Bobby Bones Show from Nashville on weekday mornings.

WZIM is a commercial radio station licensed to Lexington, Illinois, and serving the Bloomington-Normal radio market. The station is owned and operated by Pilot Media, and calls itself "Magic 99.5." It broadcasts an adult contemporary radio format, but for much of November and December, it switches to Christmas music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKQQ</span> Radio station in Winchester–Lexington, Kentucky

WKQQ is a radio station licensed to the city of Winchester, Kentucky, serving Lexington and the greater Central Kentucky area. The station is owned by iHeartMedia and airs a classic rock format.

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

WPZA is a radio station broadcasting a contemporary worship music format. It is licensed to Canton, Illinois and serves the Peoria radio market. The station is currently owned by Educational Media Foundation.

WPEO-FM is an FM radio station licensed to Farmer City, Illinois. It is owned by WPEO Radio Foundation, and it simulcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format with co-owned WPEO 1020 AM in Peoria, Illinois. The radio studios and offices are just south of Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMCI (FM)</span> Radio station in Mattoon, Illinois

WMCI 101.3 FM is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Mattoon, Illinois, the station serves the Mattoon, Charleston, and Effingham areas. The station is owned by The Cromwell Radio Group, Inc. of Illinois.

WEKL, known on-air as "K-Love", is a Contemporary Christian radio station in the United States, licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to Augusta, Georgia, broadcasting on 102.3 MHz with an ERP of 1.5 kW. Its studios are located at the Augusta Corporate Center with the market’s other iHeartMedia owned sister stations in Augusta, and the transmitter is located in Augusta near Fort Gordon.

References

40°37′48″N88°46′52″W / 40.630°N 88.781°W / 40.630; -88.781

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.