WICB

Last updated
WICB
WICB logo.jpg
Broadcast area Ithaca, New York
Frequency 91.7 MHz
Programming
Format Alternative
Affiliations ABC News Radio
Ownership
Owner Ithaca College
vicradio.org
History
First air date
1948 (1948)
Former call signs
WITJ-FM
Call sign meaning
Ithaca College Broadcasting
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 29274
Class A
ERP 4,100 watts
HAAT 41.3 meters (135 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 42°25′7.00″N76°29′39.00″W / 42.4186111°N 76.4941667°W / 42.4186111; -76.4941667
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen live
Website wicb.org

WICB (91.7 FM) is a radio station licensed to serve Ithaca, New York, United States. Established in 1941 and receiving its FCC license in 1948, the station is owned by Ithaca College.

Contents

WICB broadcasts an alternative music format to the greater Ithaca area. [2] Along with alternative music, the student-run radio station reserves programming for several different formats—including jazz, reggae, blues, hip-hop, sports, news, and more. The station features news programming from ABC News.

WICB also has a News and Sports Department run by student executives, featuring daily live newscasts and sportscasts, plus weekly talk shows and play-by-play sports coverage.

The radio station broadcasts locally at 91.7FM, as well as online streaming at wicb.org, iHeartRadio, [3] TuneIn, [4] and their own WICB app.

History

In 1941, make-shift radio studios were built at 120 E. Buffalo Street in Ithaca, New York. It was a grassroots attempt at broadcasting with little equipment and without transmitters, just room-to-room public address type broadcasting. In 1947, Ithaca College's Radio Department moved to expanded quarters at 101 West Court Street and applied to the FCC for a non-commercial educational FM broadcast license. The FCC granted Ithaca College the license in 1948 and the station went on-the-air operating at 88.1 FM with 10 watts of power and the call letters WITJ-FM. On March 1, 1957, the call letters were changed to WICB-FM with a new dial setting of 91.7 FM.

WICB's studio moved to the basement of Dillingham Center in 1968, then to the Roy H. Park School of Communications in 1989. [5]

92 WICB is an affiliate of both ABC News and the Associated Press, and has active news and sports departments, which cover Ithaca College sports teams including football, soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, wrestling and lacrosse.

The radio station is Ithaca College's only FCC-licensed broadcast facility, and is in operation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The Radio Station currently operates with 4,100 watts of effective radiated power that is able to reach much of Tompkins County and beyond. The signal is capable of reaching nearly 250,000 listeners from parts of Northern Pennsylvania up to Lake Ontario. The station also streams its programming live at wicb.org, iHeartRadio, [3] TuneIn, [4] and on the WICB app.

The station has a long-standing annual tradition of playing the radio station of Ithaca College's rival, SUNY Cortland, in a football game called the "Cortaca Mic". The game takes place in Cortland the evening before the annual Cortaca Jug game.

WICB is run almost entirely by a staff of student DJs and executives. Students of all majors are encouraged to work on the radio. First-year students all the way up to seniors at Ithaca College are allowed to be a part of WICB, though there is a required shadowing process along with an air check and written quiz. Aside from a technical and upper management support staff, all programming, talent coordination and promotions decisions are left up to a rotating executive board of students. [6]

Awards and honors

WICB was recognized and ranked the #1 college radio station out of 364 colleges by the Princeton Review in 2010, [7] 2014, [8] and most recently in 2016. [9] The Princeton Review's 2023 edition of "The Best 388 Colleges" ranked Ithaca College's WICB at #3 in the Best College Radio Station category. [10]

WICB has been honored as a top radio station in the College Media Association's annual Pinnacle Awards competition. The station took first place as Four-Year Radio Station of the Year in 2020. It was named an honorable mention in the same category in 2021 and placed third in 2019.

In 2016, readers of the Ithaca Journal voted WICB as "Best Local Radio Station" [11] In 2005 and 2010, readers of the Ithaca Times voted 92 WICB "Best Radio Station." In 2008, WICB won an mtvU Woodie Award for Best College Radio Station.

WICB is an active member of College Broadcasters, Inc (CBI) and consistently places in the finals for the annual National Student Media Electronic Convention hosted by CBI. The station has also won awards from the New York State Broadcasters Association (NYSBA), Broadcast Education Association (BEA), Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and Syracuse Press Club, recognizing outstanding news and sports coverage, plus on-air production and music programming.

Programming

WICB's staple format is modern rock. While broadcasting modern rock, the station is run similarly to a commercial modern rock station, with the inclusion of playlists planned by the programming and music departments that include leeway for listener requests and DJ choices. Listeners are encouraged to call or text in and request songs for the DJs to play. WICB's full programming schedule is online at wicb.org/schedule.

Other major programming genres include Weekend Rhythms, Jazz Impressions and a number of specialty shows. Weekend Rhythms includes rap, hip-hop, and R&B. Jazz Impressions runs during the lunchtime every weekday and showcases both classic and modern jazz artists. Other specialty programs are run by both student DJs and community members. Many of the shows have developed loyal listener bases from being on the air for a number of years. Shows come from genres like the popularly syndicated Acoustic Café, blues, Broadway, reggae, and Americana/folk not normally heard on public airwaves. WICB also airs "Breakfast With the Beatles," the longest-running ongoing Beatles show in the U.S. [12]

Outside of mainstream music, WICB also provides an outlet for local bands. There is both a specialty show specifically for local music as well as segments throughout the day where local music is scheduled to be played. Very often bands will be brought in to perform live during "Homebrew" in addition to playing recordings from local groups. "Homebrew," the station's weekly local music show, airs Tuesday evenings from 8:00 - 10:00 PM and received a New York State Broadcasters Association (NYSBA) 2023 Excellence in Broadcasting Award in the Outstanding Radio Show (College Radio Division) category. [13]

Aside from music, WICB has expanded both sports and talk radio segments in recent years. WICB has also expanded into music, news and sports podcasts. Both the News and Sports departments at WICB are directed by student executives, with students providing live broadcasts during the morning and late afternoon. The WICB Sports department is responsible for broadcasting at nearly all major sporting events involving the Ithaca College Bombers, and live sportscasts 5 days a week. The WICB News department is responsible for live newscasts 5 days a week, as well as producing the weekly news show Ithaca Now. It also produces a weekday news podcast called The Latest.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KXUA</span> Radio station at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville

KXUA is a student-run college radio station broadcasting an eclectic radio format. Licensed to Fayetteville, Arkansas, it serves the university campus and surrounding community. The university also owns the more powerful 91.3 KUAF, which broadcasts news, information and classical music as an NPR member station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRSU-FM</span> Radio station in New Brunswick, New Jersey

WRSU-FM is a non-commercial college radio station serving the greater Central New Jersey area, broadcasting from the campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It is a student and faculty-run radio station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KUOM</span> College radio station of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities

KUOM – branded Radio K – is a daytime-only, non-commercial, college radio station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Owned by the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, the station is operated by students and faculty. It mainly airs alternative rock with other genres of music. The studios are in Rarig Center on the University of Minnesota campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WUSC-FM</span> College radio station at the University of South Carolina in Columbia

WUSC-FM is a student-run college radio station operating at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBRS</span> Radio station at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts

WBRS is a student-run community and college radio station in Waltham, Massachusetts, west of Boston. The broadcast license is held by the Trustees of Brandeis University and the studio and transmitter are located on the Brandeis campus. WBRS broadcasts at 100.1 FM with an effective radiated power of 25 watts, at a height above average terrain (HAAT) of 46 meters. There is a streaming feed available at wbrs.org.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRLX</span> Radio station

KRLX is a student-run, freeform radio format, non-commercial FM campus radio station broadcasting from Northfield, Minnesota. The station is affiliated with Carleton College. The station's call sign was chosen to read "KaRL-ten," since X is the Roman numeral for ten. KRLX broadcasts with 100 watts of power at 88.1 MHz and produces live streaming media, expanding the station's reach to the world. The KRLX studios are located in the basement of the Sayles-Hill Campus Center, Carleton's student union; they feature basic production tools, a record library, and a live FM studio. The basement location is the motivation for the station's motto, "It's better on the bottom." KRLX is licensed for continuous broadcast, but because the station is student-run, the signal is present only when school is in session. Because Carleton does not offer a summer term, the station generally broadcasts September through June, though not during winter and spring breaks.

WMUC-FM is the student-run non-commercial radio station licensed to the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland, broadcasting at 30 watts. It is a freeform radio station staffed entirely by volunteer UMD students and community members.

WCBN-FM is the student-run radio station of the University of Michigan. Its format is primarily freeform. It broadcasts at 88.3 MHz FM in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRIU</span> Radio station at the University of Rhode Island

WRIU is a non-commercial radio station broadcasting a college radio format. Licensed to Kingston, Rhode Island, United States, the station serves the greater Rhode Island area. The station is owned by University of Rhode Island. The broadcast area reaches almost all of Rhode Island, and portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Long Island. WRIU began broadcasting on February 16, 1964, on 91.1 MHz with a power of 10 watts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WVBR-FM</span> Radio station in Ithaca, New York

WVBR-FM is a commercial, student-owned and volunteer-run college radio station that broadcasts to Ithaca, New York, United States, and surrounding areas. It operates at 3 kilowatts from a transmitter on Hungerford Hill, in Ithaca. Prior to 2016, WVBR had a translator on 105.5 FM. The website WVBR.com provides an additional web-based stream.

WOSX is a non-commercial, 300-watt college radio station registered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It is currently owned and operated by Ohio State University and licensed to serve Granville, Ohio, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSPB</span> Radio station in Pebble Beach, California

KSPB is a radio station broadcasting a Variety format. Licensed to Pebble Beach, California, United States, the station serves the Monterey Peninsula, Salinas and Santa Cruz areas. The station is currently owned by Stevenson School and features programing from Public Radio International. Operating for more than fifty years, in some form since 1966, the station plays primarily student-selected music historically known as alternative, modern, or college rock. Outside of student programming hours, the station broadcasts BBC World Service news programming plus Climate One from the Commonwealth Club of California broadcasts on weekend mornings. KSPB has listeners in five counties in California - Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Santa Clara, San Mateo - with a potential total listenership of more than 1 million. With a fan base spanning from Monterey to Santa Cruz, KSPB is one of the largest high school radio stations in the United States. A live Internet stream is available on the station's website. Every year, KSPB also presents live broadcasts of various local sporting events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KZSC</span> Radio station in Santa Cruz, California

KZSC is a college radio station broadcasting from the campus of the University of California, Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, California. It is a student run, community, non-commercial college radio station that serves as a training ground for UCSC students interested in broadcasting, media promotions, music, and journalism, as well as an outlet for many members of the Santa Cruz community.

WETD was a college radio station broadcasting a variety format. Licensed in Alfred, New York, United States, the station was owned throughout its existence by Alfred State College and operated by the college's student body.

WTJU is a variety-formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Charlottesville, Virginia, serving Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Virginia. WTJU is owned and operated by the University of Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSWC-LP</span> Radio station at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, United States

KSWC-LP is a radio station operated by students at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, United States. Between 1968 and 2015, the station was a Class D full-power station licensed to broadcast with 9 watts.

WJPD is a radio station licensed to Ishpeming, Michigan broadcasting a country music format. It serves the Marquette area. It can be heard as far east as Newberry, as far north as Thunder Bay, as far west as Bergland, and as far south as Ludington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFIT</span> Radio station in Melbourne, Florida

WFIT, is a non-commercial, listener-supported, public radio station licensed to Melbourne, Florida, and serving the Space Coast. It is owned by the Florida Institute of Technology with studios and its broadcast tower on the FIT campus. WFIT is funded in part by individual memberships, corporate underwriting, state and local grants, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Florida Tech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCUC-FM</span> Radio station in Clarion, Pennsylvania

91.7 WCUC FM is an American fully operational, FCC-licensed, non-commercial educational, student-run radio station under the Department of Communication that is operated with the intention of being a student learning lab for Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

WFNM is a non-commercial college FM radio station licensed to serve Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by Franklin & Marshall College and broadcasts a variety format.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WICB". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  3. 1 2 "Listen to 92 WICB Ithaca College Radio Live - The Station for Innovation". iHeartRadio. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  4. 1 2 "92 WICB". TuneIn. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  5. ↑ "Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S.". Broadcasting Yearbook 1971. Washington, D.C.: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1971. p. B-7.
  6. ↑ "Contact Us". August 2016.
  7. ↑ "Intercom - Princeton Review Ranks WICB and VIC #2 in Great Radio Station Category". www.ithaca.edu. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  8. ↑ Waits, Jennifer (2013-08-05). "2014 Princeton Review's Most Popular College Radio Stations". Radio Survivor. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  9. ↑ "Best College Radio Station | The Princeton Review". www.princetonreview.com. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  10. ↑ "Best College Radio Station | The Princeton Review". www.princetonreview.com. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  11. ↑ "92 WICB - Timeline | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  12. ↑ "Alum documents 40 years of Beatles radio history".
  13. ↑ "2023 Award Recipients | New York State Broadcasters Association". NYS Broadcasters. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
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.