WNDE
 | |
| Broadcast area | Metro Indianapolis |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1260 kHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Sports Radio 1260 WNDE |
| Programming | |
| Format | Sports radio |
| Affiliations | CBS Sports Radio Fox Sports Radio Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WFBQ, WRZX | |
| History | |
First air date | October 23, 1924 |
Former call signs | WFBM (1924–73) |
Former frequencies | 1130 kHz (1924–27) 1330 kHz (1927–28) 1090 kHz (1928–29) 1230 kHz (1929–41) |
Call sign meaning | NDE = "Indy" |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 59591 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 5,000 watts (daytime) 5,000 watts (nighttime) |
Transmitter coordinates | 39°51′54.00″N 86°03′43.00″W / 39.8650000°N 86.0619444°W |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | wnde |
WNDE (1260 AM) – branded Sports Radio 1260 WNDE – is a commercial sports radio station licensed to Indianapolis, Indiana, serving Metro Indianapolis. Owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., WNDE is the local affiliate for Rover's Morning Glory, The Dan Patrick Show, The Rich Eisen Show, Ferrall on the Bench, and Fox Sports Radio. Both the WNDE studios and transmitter are located in Indianapolis. Besides a standard analog transmission, WNDE broadcasts over a single HD Radio channel,[1] and is available online via iHeartRadio.[2][3]
History
WNDE began operation as WFBM on October 23, 1924, as the fifth radio station licensed in Indianapolis. It was started by the Merchants Heating & Light Co., later Indianapolis Power & Light. When WFBM went on the air, it was assigned a frequency of 1130 kilocycles (the kilohertz did not come into use for another quarter century). In 1927, it moved to 1330 kc, then to 1090 kc in 1928, and to 1230 kc in 1929. It arrived at its current frequency after the great frequency shift of 1941, when all stations in the United States at 1230 kc were moved to 1260 kc.
In 1949, WFBM became WFBM-AM when WFBM-TV (now WRTV) went on the air in time to broadcast the 1949 Indianapolis 500 (May 30, 1949). The WFBM “family” grew on November 26, 1959, when WFBM-FM went on the air at 94.7 MHz. In 1957, the three WFBM stations were sold to Time-Life, Inc. McGraw-Hill bought the stations in 1972, and almost immediately put the radio stations on the market. The WFBM stations had been grandfathered when the FCC banned common ownership of television and radio stations, but lost that protection with the McGraw-Hill purchase. In 1973, WFBM-AM became WNDE, followed by WFBM-FM becoming WFBQ in the Spring of 1974. The WNDE call letters were chosen as the letters "NDE" phonetically sound like "Indy".[4]
WNDE is the oldest operating radio station in Indianapolis, and third oldest in the state of Indiana.[citation needed]
WNDE, which had at one time used a Top 40 format, competing with the original WIFE in the 1970s while using the identifier "Windy in Indy", has been a Fox Sports Radio affiliate since 2002. It had previously been an ESPN Radio affiliate on two occasions. In September 2012, the network switched from Fox Sports Radio to NBC Sports Radio in the 10 pm - 5 am weekday hours, remaining with FSR in other dayparts. Former hosts of the afternoon drive local show include Mark Patrick, the team of Tim Bragg & Bill Benner, Indiana Pacers announcer Mark Boyle, and JMV (John Michael Vincent, currently with WFNI).
Current programming
WNDE airs the locally produced (Jake) Query and (Derek) Schultz during afternoon drive. Middays feature Premiere Networks' The Dan Patrick Show and The Rich Eisen Show. In June 2014, WNDE began carrying Rover's Morning Glory, which is syndicated out of Cleveland.
WNDE is the Indianapolis outlet for Purdue University football and men's basketball, sharing flagship status with Lafayette's WAZY. It also airs Westwood One's NFL Football and NCAA men's basketball coverage. After years of broadcasting Cincinnati Reds baseball, WNDE was a part of the Chicago Cubs network in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, WNDE dropped NASCAR programming after many years, and began broadcasting Indianapolis Indians baseball. Later that year, they added IUPUI Jaguars men's basketball.
References
External links
- Official website
- WNDE in the FCC AM station database
- WNDE in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- Indiana Radio Archive: WNDE