WRNP (94.1 FM) is a non-commercial FM gospel radio station licensed to Roanoke, Indiana, serving the Fort Wayne area. It is owned by Taylor University Broadcasting, and airs an urban gospel radio format, known as "Rhythm & Praise 94.1".
Taylor University also operates a network of contemporary Christian music stations in the region led by WBCL (90.3 FM).[2] Prior to being WRNP, 94.1 operated as a commercial radio station from 1990 to 2007 and as WBNI-FM, a classical radio station owned by Northeast Indiana Public Radio, from 2007 to 2021.
History
Commercial years
The station began broadcasting as news/talk outlet WQTX on 105.1 MHz on December 17, 1990. It was leased from original owner Judith Selby by the Kovas family, owners of WGL (1250 AM), and simulcast that station.[3] The station did not remain on 105.1 long; it was ordered to move to 94.1 MHz in 1991 to make way for an upgrade to WQTZ, which had been at 92.7 MHz.[4]
By mid-1992, however, Selby had taken WQTX silent.[5] It was acquired for $100,000 by Frank Kovas, making it an outright sister to WGL,[6] and became WGL-FM from its present 94.1 MHz dial position at the start of 1993, resuming the simulcast of the AM station.[7]
In 1997, WGL-FM moved to 102.3 MHz, and 94.1 relaunched as adult contemporary WYSR "Star 94.1". It then flipped to rhythmic oldies in 1999 as "Y-94".[8] Another shuffle of formats in the Kovas cluster changed WYSR to urban adult contemporary WCKZ "The Wiz", previously on 102.3 in 2001;[9] this was revised further to classic rock as "Z-94" by 2007.
Classical years
WBNI's original broadcast studio during a pledge drive. WBNI broadcasts later moved to another studio in the same building.
In February 2007, Northeast Indiana Public Radio (NIPR) announced plans to acquire WCKZ for $2.5 million and a fundraising drive to make the change possible.[10] The change took place on May 1, 2007, providing a stronger signal for the classical music programming that had been carried only on a transmitter in Orland (which took the WCKZ call sign, with 94.1 becoming WBNI-FM) and a translator in Fort Wayne.[11]
On January 20, 2009, citing low financial support, the Great Recession and the debt load on the 2007 purchase of the former WCKZ, NIPR announced its intention to sell the transmitters associated with the classical service and move it exclusively to HD Radio and streaming.[12]
On April 15, 2010, NIPR announced the sale of WCKZ and the 10-watt Fort Wayne translator to Star Educational Media Network, owner of WLAB (88.3 FM), which was concluded in June.[13]
In July 2016, NIPR purchased a two-story building on Jefferson Boulevard in downtown Fort Wayne to serve as the future headquarters for WBNI and WBOI, with fundraising to cover the costs of major renovations.[14]
Sale to Taylor University
In June 2021, NIPR announced its sale of WBNI-FM to Taylor University, owner of contemporary Christian music station WBCL in Fort Wayne, with the $350,000 proceeds going to fund digital equipment upgrades; as had been planned a decade prior, the classical service would continue on HD radio and streaming.[15] The new frequency would carry the "Rhythm & Praise" gospel format that had been on WBCL's HD2 subchannel. The sale closed on September 1, at which time 94.1 became WRNP and began broadcasting the gospel music programming.[16]
WOWO – branded News/Talk WOWO 92.3 FM 1190 AM – is a commercial talk radio station licensed to Fort Wayne, Indiana, serving primarily the Fort Wayne metropolitan area. Currently owned by Federated Media via licensee Pathfinder Communications, WOWO serves as the Fort Wayne affiliate for: Fox News Radio, The Glenn Beck Program, The Dan Bongino Show, The Sean Hannity Show, The Buck Sexton Show, Coast to Coast AM; and the flagship station for the Fort Wayne Komets.
WSFS is an FM radio station licensed to Miramar, Florida. Owned by Audacy, Inc., the station broadcasts an alternative rock format targeting Miami-Dade County and the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area. Its studios are located in Audacy's Miami office on Northeast Second Avenue, while the station's transmitter is located in nearby Pembroke Park.
WKJG is a radio station located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The station, owned by Federated Media, is Fort Wayne's Fox Sports Radio affiliate.
KYCH-FM is a commercial radio station in Portland, Oregon. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and airs an adult hits radio format branded as "97.1 Charlie FM." KYCH-FM plays a fairly wide mix of music, mostly from the rock and pop genres, from the 1960s to today; much of the playlist is made up of modern rock and classic rock from the MTV music video era of the 1980s and 1990s. From mid-November through December 25 Charlie plays exclusively Christmas music. The station does not have disc jockeys, instead playing amusing or ironic messages after every three or four songs.
KVET-FM is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Austin, Texas. It is owned by iHeartMedia and airs a gold-based country music radio format. KVET-FM shares studios and offices with other iHeart sister stations in the Penn Field complex in Austin's South Congress district near St. Edward's University. The transmitter is off Buckman Mountain Road in Austin, amid the towers of other local FM and TV stations.
WOLL is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Hobe Sound, Florida. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., and airs an adult contemporary radio format. WOLL serves Florida's Treasure Coast and the Palm Beaches. Sunday through Friday evenings, it carries the syndicated Delilah show featuring call-ins and dedications, provided by co-owned Premiere Networks.
KGGR is a commercial radio station, licensed to Dallas, Texas and serving the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. It is owned by MARC Radio Group, through licensee MARC Radio Dallas, LLC, and airs an urban gospel radio format, in place since 1990. The call sign stands for Great Gospel Radio.
WGL is a radio station licensed to serve Fort Wayne, Indiana, and owned by Brian R. Walsh. The station broadcasts an All-news format, branded as "WGL Newsradio 1250 and 105.5". WGL is one of the oldest stations in the Fort Wayne metropolitan area.
WRDF is a radio station licensed to Columbia City, Indiana located near Fort Wayne, Indiana. The station offers a Catholic radio format branded as "Relevant Radio". The station is owned by Fort Wayne Catholic Radio Group, Inc.
WLAB is a non-commercial, listener-supported FM radio station in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It is owned by the Star Educational Media Network and broadcasts a Contemporary Christian radio format. It holds periodic on-air fundraisers to support the broadcasts.
WBCL is an FM radio station located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States. The station operates on the FM radio frequency of 90.3 MHz. WBCL is owned by Taylor University in Upland, Indiana with its studios located at the university's Fort Wayne campus.
WBOI is an FM radio station located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The station operates on the FM radio frequency of 89.1 MHz. It is a National Public Radio member station, owned and operated by Northeast Indiana Public Radio, a non-profit organization. The station has studios and a 604-foot transmitter tower in Fort Wayne's Centennial Park. Effective radiated power is 34,000 watts, covering northeast Indiana, northwest Ohio and extreme southern Michigan.
WXKE is a radio station licensed to Churubusco, Indiana and serving the nearby Fort Wayne, Indiana area. The station airs a classic rock format.
WJCI is an FM radio station located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The station operates on the FM radio frequency of 102.9 MHz. It broadcasts a Christian radio format and is an affiliate of Calvary Radio Network.
WWFW is a commercial FM radio station in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It airs a classic hits radio format and is owned by the Adams Radio Group. The studios are on Lower Huntington Road in Fort Wayne.
WQHK-FM is an FM radio station located in Huntertown, Indiana, United States, and broadcasting to the Fort Wayne area. The station operates on the FM radio frequency of 105.1 MHz.
WMPM is a commercial radio station licensed to Smithfield, North Carolina. It airs an urban oldies and urban gospel radio format. WMPM is owned by Jimmy Johnson, through licensee Johnson Broadcast Ventures, Ltd. The radio studios and offices are on Buffalo Road in Smithfield.
WQCP is a non-commercial FM radio station that formerly broadcast a classical music radio format. It is licensed to Fort Pierce, Florida, and serves the Treasure Coast. On December 4, 2023, the station dropped its classical format for R&B Christmas music, later flipping to an Urban Adult Contemporary format. It is part of IRSC Public Media, a division of Indian River State College, alongside two other stations: WQCS 88.9 FM in Fort Pierce and WQJS 88.5 FM in Clewiston.
WWNN is a commercial radio station licensed to Pompano Beach, Florida, and serving Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. The station is owned by Vic Canales, through licensee Vic Canales Media Group, LLC. The studios are in Boca Raton. Part of the day, the station airs brokered programming, where hosts pay for their time and may advertise their products or services during their shows. The rest of the day, the station carries The True Oldies Channel.
WERC-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Hoover, Alabama, and serving Greater Birmingham. It is owned by iHeartMedia and it simulcasts a talk radio format with sister station WERC 960 AM. The studios and offices are in Beacon Ridge Tower on First Avenue South in Birmingham, off Interstate 65.
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.
