WBNS (AM)

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WBNS
Broadcast areaColumbus, Ohio
Frequency1460 kHz
BrandingThe Fan 2
Programming
FormatSports radio
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
1922 (1922)
Former call signs
WCAH (1922–1934)
Call sign meaning
"Wolfe Bank Newspaper and Shoes"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID54901
ClassB
Power
  • 5,000 watts (day)
  • 1,000 watts (night)
Transmitter coordinates
39°57′6.2″N 82°54′22.6″W / 39.951722°N 82.906278°W / 39.951722; -82.906278Category:Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlasCategory:Coordinates on Wikidata
Repeater97.1-2 WBNS-FM HD2 (Columbus)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.971thefan.com

WBNS (1460 kHz) — branded as The Fan 2 — is a commercial AM radio station in Columbus, Ohio. The station broadcasts a sports talk format and carries BetMGM and Westwood One programming. It is one of three radio station properties of Nexstar Media Group, a company that primarily owns television stations (and is the largest owner of television stations in the U.S.). Under common ownership with WBNS-FM (97.1 MHz), WBNS-TV (channel 10), and WCMH-TV (channel 4), all three of the WBNS outlets maintain studios and offices on Twin Rivers Drive, near Downtown Columbus; WBNS (AM)'s transmitter tower is located in East Columbus.

History

Blaw-Knox diamond tower used by the station

The station was first authorized, as WCAH, on May 13, 1922, and was originally owned by the Entrekin Electric Company of Columbus.[2] The Wolfe family, owners of The Columbus Dispatch, bought the station in 1929 and in January 1934 changed the calls to the present WBNS–[3] the call letters stand for "Wolfe Bank, Newspaper and Shoes"—the businesses controlled by the Wolfe family. (The WBNS stations maintained common ownership with the Dispatch until 2015, when the Wolfes sold the newspaper and related assets to New Media Investment Group.) WBNS was the longtime Columbus affiliate of the CBS Radio Network, and in the present-day serves as the AM flagship of the Ohio State Sports Network.[4]

After various formats over the decades, including full service, Top 40, and MOR, in 2009 WBNS began simulcasting with WBNS-FM, which had previously aired an adult contemporary format. This was intended to improve the nighttime coverage for the station's longtime sports talk format, as well as Buckeyes football and basketball. The AM station must reduce its power to 1,000 watts at night, resulting in reduced coverage outside of Columbus itself. However, the FM station was branded as the main station, under the moniker "97.1 The Fan."

Former logo

In 2011, the simulcast ended. The AM station began offering additional ESPN network programming and announced plans to create original local content such as an MMA show called "Ground & Pound", as well as a coach's show for the local MLS team, the Columbus Crew. On January 5, 2012, it was announced that the station would carry Cleveland Indians broadcasts in Columbus for the 2012 season, marking the return of the Indians after their absence from the Columbus market for the 2011 season.[5] WBNS is one of a few stations remaining in the U.S. to broadcast using a Blaw-Knox tower that employed a distinctive diamond-shaped cantilever design.

On June 11, 2019, Dispatch announced it was selling its broadcasting assets, including the WBNS stations, to Tegna Inc. for $535 million in cash. The sale was completed on August 8.[6]

On August 21, 2025, it was announced that the station will be renamed as "The Fan 2" and will drop ESPN Radio for BetMGM and Westwood One programming on September 2, 2025.[7]

Nexstar Media Group acquired Tegna in a deal announced in August 2025[8] and completed in March 2026.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WBNS". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, June 1, 1922, page 2.
  3. ↑ "Part I - Additions, Changes and Deletions to Lists", Radio Service Bulletin, February 1, 1934, page 6.
  4. ↑ OSU Radio Network - Ohio State Buckeyes.com
  5. ↑ Indians radio affiliates - Indians.com
  6. ↑ "TEGNA Completes Acquisition of Dispatch Broadcast Group's Leading, Top Ranked Stations in Indianapolis, IN and Columbus, OH", Tegna Inc., August 8, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  7. ↑ WBNS To Launch The Fan 2
  8. ↑ Miller, Mark K. (August 19, 2025). "Nexstar Buying Tegna For $6.2 Billion". TVNewsCheck. Archived from the original on August 19, 2025. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  9. ↑ Johnson, Ted (March 19, 2026). "Nexstar Closes Tegna Merger Following FCC And DOJ Approval". Deadline. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
Category:1922 establishments in Ohio Category:ESPN Radio stations Category:Dispatch Broadcast Group Category:Radio stations established in 1922 Category:Radio stations in Columbus, Ohio#BNS Category:Nexstar Media Group
Category:1922 establishments in Ohio Category:All Wikipedia articles written in American English Category:Articles with short description Category:Coordinates on Wikidata Category:Dispatch Broadcast Group Category:ESPN Radio stations Category:Nexstar Media Group Category:Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlas Category:Radio stations established in 1922 Category:Radio stations in Columbus, Ohio Category:Short description is different from Wikidata Category:Use American English from February 2025 Category:Use mdy dates from March 2025