| |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1230kHz |
| Branding | 97.9 WFER |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic country |
| Affiliations | Compass Media Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WIKB-FM | |
| History | |
First air date | November 15, 1949 (1949-11-15) (as WIKB) |
Former call signs | WIKB (1949–2010) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 49684 |
| Class | C |
| Power | 1,000 watts unlimited |
| Translator(s) | 97.9 W250CQ (Iron River) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | www |
WFER (1230AM) is a radio station broadcasting aclassic countryformat. Licensed toIron River, Michigan, it first began broadcasting in 1949. The station is owned byMorgan Murphy Media
WIKB had previously been a simulcast ofWIKB-FM 99.1'soldies format until the stations were sold to Heartland Communications. Heartland continued the oldies format on AM 1230 while changing FM 99.1 toadult contemporary as "The Breeze". WIKB soon dropped oldies in favor ofadult standards.
In May 2010, former Armada Media CEO Jim Coursolle and his wife Diane closed on a purchase of a two-thirds interest in owner Heartland Communications from Granite Equity Partners. In early June, the Coursolles changed the format of WIKB-FM tocountry music, and announced plans to drop theAmerica's Best Music adult standards format on AM 1230 (which had changed its calls to WFER in May) in favor of aconservative talk format featuring personalities such asGlenn Beck,Rush Limbaugh,Sean Hannity,Laura Ingraham, andMichael Savage. The new format was dubbed "Freedom Talk". A similar format was installed on sister stationsWATW inAshland, Wisconsin,WNBI inPark Falls, Wisconsin, andWERL inEagle River, Wisconsin; WATW and WERL formerly airedDial Global's adult standards feed (as did WIKB/WFER) while WNBI was anESPN Radio affiliate.
WFER was sold effective June 30, 2015, toStephen Marks' Iron River Community Broadcasting Corporation, at a purchase price of $488,000. The sale included WIKB-FM, as well as co-ownedWCQM andWPFP. Following the sale, in early July 2015, WFER changed its format to classic hits. Some programming was derived fromWestwood One's Classic Hits-Rock 24/7 format.
In September 2023, The Marks Group sold its Michigan broadcasting properties—WBKB-TV,WBKP,WBUP, and the Houghton and Iron River radio stations—for $13.375 million toMorgan Murphy Media.[2] The deal was closed on December 4.[3]
46°03′55″N88°38′17″W / 46.06528°N 88.63806°W /46.06528; -88.63806
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