WICB

For the governing body for cricket in the Caribbean, see West Indies Cricket Board.
WICB
City of license Ithaca, New York
Broadcast area Ithaca area
Slogan "The Station For Innovation"
Frequency 91.7 MHz
First air date January 14, 1947[1]
Format Alternative
ERP 4,100 watts
HAAT 41.3 meters
Class A
Facility ID 29274
Transmitter coordinates 42°25′7.00″N 76°29′39.00″W / 42.4186111°N 76.4941667°W
Affiliations Westwood One
Owner Ithaca College
Webcast Listen Live
Listen Live via iHeart Radio
Website wicb.org

WICB (91.7 FM) is a radio station licensed to serve Ithaca, New York, USA. Established in 1947, the station is owned by Ithaca College.

WICB broadcasts an alternative music format to the greater Ithaca area.[2] The station features news programming from Westwood One.

History

92 WICB began in 1947 with 10 watts of power, and operated from a Quonset hut in downtown Ithaca at the corner of Court and Cayuga Streets. It moved to the basement of Dillingham Center in 1968, then to the Roy H. Park School of Communications in 1989.[1]

92 WICB is an affiliate of both Westwood One and the Associated Press, and has active news and sports departments, which cover such events as Ithaca College football, soccer, baseball, and lacrosse.

The radio station is Ithaca College's only FCC-licensed broadcast facility, and is in operation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The Radio Station currently operates with 4,100 watts of effective radiated power that is able to reach much of Tompkins County and beyond. The signal is capable of reaching nearly 250,000 listeners from parts of Northern Pennsylvania up to Lake Ontario. The recent addition of a live streaming webcast has expanded potential listener-ship even more.[3]

The WICB Station is run almost entirely by a staff of student DJs and executives. Aside from a technical and upper management support staff, all programming, talent coordination and promotions decisions are left up to a rotating board of students.[4]

Awards and honors

In 2005 and 2010, readers of the Ithaca Times voted 92 WICB "Best Radio Station." In 2008, WICB won an mtvU Woodie Award for Best College Radio Station. The 2010 Princeton Review ranks WICB as the #1 college radio station out of the 364[3] colleges in the survey.[5]

Programming

The majority of WICB's programming falls under the modern rock category. While broadcasting modern rock, the station is run similarly to a commercial modern rock station, with the inclusion of playlists planned by the programming and music departments that include leeway for listener requests and DJ choices. WICB Music Schedule

Other major programming categories include City Rhythms, Jazz Impressions and a number of specialty shows. City Rhythms includes hip-hop, R&B, and other music considered to be Urban. Jazz Impressions runs during the lunch time every week day and showcases both classic and modern Jazz artists. Specialty shows are run by both student DJs and community members. Many of the shows have developed loyal listener bases from being on the air for a number of years. Shows come from genres like the popularly syndicated Acoustic Café, blues, Broadway, reggae, and "homeless music" not normally heard on public airwaves.

Outside of mainstream music, WICB also provides an outlet for local bands. There is both a specialty show specifically for local music as well as segments throughout the day where local music is scheduled to be played. Very often bands will be brought in to perform live during "Homebrew" in addition to playing recordings from local groups.

Aside from music, WICB has expanded both sports and talk radio segments in recent years. Both the News and Sports departments at WICB are directed by student executives, with students providing live broadcasts during the morning and late afternoon. WICB Sports is responsible for broadcasting at nearly all major sporting events involving the Ithaca College Bombers. The WICB News department is responsible for producing the Ithaca Community Beat and a number of community news orientated broadcasts.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S.". Broadcasting Yearbook 1971. Washington, D.C.: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1971. p. B-7.
  2. ↑ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://wicb.org/about.php
  4. ↑ http://wicb.org/contact.php
  5. ↑ "Extracurriculars: Best College Radio Station". The Best 371 Colleges (The Princeton Review). Retrieved July 28, 2009.

External links