 | |
| Broadcast area | [1] |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 95.3MHz |
| Branding | 95.3 WBCK |
| Programming | |
| Format | News/talk |
| Affiliations | Fox News Radio Compass Media Networks Premiere Networks Salem Radio Network Westwood One Michigan Radio Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WBXX | |
| History | |
First air date | 1986 |
Former call signs | WBCK-FM (9/8/07–7/10/14) WBXX (10/26/89–9/18/07) WMJC (4/30/87–10/26/89) WMKG (2/5/86–4/30/87) WDFP (5/20/75–2/5/86) |
Call sign meaning | BattleCreeK |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 37461 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 3,000watts |
| HAAT | 82 meters |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | wbckfm.com |
WBCK (95.3FM) is aradio station inBattle Creek, Michigan,United States, owned byTownsquare Media. WBCK has anews/talk format.
WBCK began broadcasting with 1,000 watts on AM 930 in Battle Creek and surrounding areas of West Michigan. It featured a full-service MOR/adult contemporary format for years, evolving into news/talk by the mid-1990s.
Two brothers, Robert and David Holmes formed Michigan Broadcasting Company, and it went on the air at 8:00 pm on Friday, July 9, 1948. After some comments on the new radio station from local dignitaries, the owners, and the staff, the station went into a broadcast of a Detroit Tigers game. WBCK was originally an affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System but in recent years has been a FOX News radio affiliate.
The radio station originally originated its broadcasts from theSecurity National Bank Building (now "The Milton") in downtown Battle Creek. A fire destroyed the studios in 1958. After the fire, WBCK relocated to the transmitter site on Golden Avenue, just south of downtown. The location was chosen because of its close proximity to downtown Battle Creek, and the fact that the high ground would be good to locate an FM or TV station. While other FM stations, and even another AM station, broadcast from the Golden Ave. site over the years along with WBCK, WBCK-TV never came to fruition.
WBCK, along with WBXX, moved out of the studios on Golden Ave. in February 2022.
When 95.3 FM signed on in 1975 with the call letters WDFP, the owner was Donald F. Price and the format was Christian music and religious programming. In 1986 the station was sold to Capstar Broadcasting.
With an ERP of 3,000 watts, 95.3 could be reached as far west as Kalamazoo and was changed to a top-40 station as WMKG then switched to WMJC as "Magic 95" these calls came from 94.7 FM in Detroit nowWCSX. The ratings proved the best of this frequency has seen. Top-40 powerhouseWKFR was dominant mostly due to its signal on 103.3 FM which reached as far as Jackson to Benton Harbor. In the late 1980s the station began to take a more rhythmic sound similar to howWGRD was in the 1990s. Capstar introduced the station as "B95" WBXX.
As WBXX "B95", 95.3 FM was a very popularCHR-top 40 station in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Despite the station's high ratings (especially with younger listeners), B95 was unsuccessful in terms of revenue because it played hip hop and rap music that was unpopular with local advertisers. This led the station to change format tooldies and lateradult contemporary; the latter format continued on104.9 FM until 2016 when they flipped toalternative rock.
The sale of the Battle Creek Radio Group fromClear Channel Communications has been completed.[when?] 95.3 began to simulcast with WBCK (930 AM) and WBXX began broadcasting on 104.9 (formerly WRCC). 95.3 FM became the permanent home of WBCK's news-talk format.
On March 21, 2008, AM 930 and FM 95.3 stopped the simulcast between both stations, while AM 930 began airing a classic country station as Country 93.
On August 30, 2013, a deal was announced in whichTownsquare Media would acquire 53Cumulus Media stations, including WBCK-FM, for $238 million. The deal was part of Cumulus' acquisition ofDial Global; Townsquare and Dial Global were both controlled byOaktree Capital Management.[2][3] The sale to Townsquare was completed on November 14, 2013.[4] The "-FM" suffix was dropped from the station's call sign on July 10, 2014,[5] after 930 AM (which by this point had been sold separately toMidwest Communications) changed callsigns toWTOU.
42°17′17″N85°09′54″W / 42.288°N 85.165°W /42.288; -85.165