WXBN (AM)

WXBN
Broadcast areaMiami–Fort Lauderdale
Frequency880 kHz
BrandingMiami's BIN 880
Programming
FormatBlack-oriented news
AffiliationsBlack Information Network
Ownership
Owner
WBGG-FM, WINZ, WIOD, WMIA-FM, WMIB, WZTU
History
First air date
October 7, 2008; 16 years ago (2008-10-07)
Former call signs
WZAB (2008–2021)
Call sign meaning
Black Information Network
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID21763
ClassB
Power
  • 4,000 watts (day)
  • 5,000 watts (night)
Transmitter coordinates
25°44′56″N 80°32′50″W / 25.74889°N 80.54722°W / 25.74889; -80.54722
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitemiami.binnews.com

WXBN (880 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Sweetwater, Florida, and serving the Miami–Fort Lauderdale radio market. It is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., and airs a black-oriented news format as an affiliate of the co-owned Black Information Network.

880 AM is a United States clear-channel frequency reserved for Class A station WHSQ in New York City. WXBN uses a highly directional antenna array (8 towers) to prevent interference to WHSQ's nighttime skywave signal. The transmitter is off the Tamiami Trail (U.S. Route 41) in Everglades, Florida.[2]

History

Florida City Radio

A construction permit was granted to Florida City Radio by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on February 18, 2008, to start this station. The call letters WZAB were issued on July 15, 2008.[3] But the station did not go on the air until Salem Communications began its local marketing agreement (LMA) with Florida City Radio to operate the station.

WZAB made its debut on October 7, 2008, airing a business talk radio format as "880 The Biz".[4] Florida City Radio soon sold the station to Salem outright for $1.4 million.[5]

Catholic programming

On July 25, 2019, Salem Media Group agreed to sell WZAB and WKAT in the Miami market, as well as WLCC and WWMI in the Tampa Bay market, to Immaculate Heart Media, Inc. for more than $8.2 million.[6][7] The sale closed on September 30, 2019.

WZAB began airing Catholic religious programming with the sale. But the Miami area also has a Catholic station on 1080 AM, WQOS in Coral Gables. The religious format on 880 AM lasted a little over a year.

Black Information Network

iHeartMedia began operating WZAB under a local marketing agreement (LMA) on October 1, 2020, with the intention of making it Miami's Black Information Network outlet. It was part of a deal in which WZAB would be swapped to iHeart in exchange for KKDD in San Bernardino, California, W292DH in Pittsburgh, and $1 million.[8]

Following a day of carrying historical speeches, WZAB began carrying BIN programming on October 2.[9] Effective November 30, 2020, iHeartMedia acquired WZAB.[10] The call sign was changed to WXBN on March 3, 2021.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WXBN". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Radio-Locator.com/WXBN
  3. ^ a b "Call Sign History (WXBN)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  4. ^ "Salem's latest startup – a biz-talker in Miami". Radio-Info.com. October 6, 2008.
  5. ^ "Trust Sells CC Jax Spinoff". All Access. October 20, 2008. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  6. ^ "Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission.
  7. ^ Venta, Lance. "Immaculate Heart Media Acquires Four In Miami & Tampa From Salem", Radio Insight. July 29, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  8. ^ Venta, Lance (October 1, 2020). "iHeartMedia Brings Black Information Network To Miami In Swap For San Bernardino AM & Pittsburgh Translator". RadioInsight. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  9. ^ Black Information Network Launches In Columbus & Miami Radioinsight - October 2, 2020
  10. ^ iHeartRadio Acquires WZAB-AM/Miami in Radio Swap Radio Online - December 8, 2020