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Sale of 94.1 FM and FAQ's

Update 8/31/2021: The FCC has approved the sale of 94.1 to Taylor University Broadcasting. As of midnight on September 2nd, Classical WBNI programming will no longer be heard on 94.1 FM. You can continue to enjoy the music you love at WBNI.org, on the WBNI mobile app, and on HD Radio at 89.1 dash 2. 

How to Listen: 

  • Online: On any device that is connected to the Internet, including a computer, tablet, or smartphone: go to WBNI.org
  1. Near the top of the page, just below our logos, find the grey horizontal stripe
  2. Click on the arrow inside of the grey stripe near the right side of your screen
  3. After clicking, you will be given the choice to listen to WBOI News or Classical WBNI
  4. Click on Classical WBNI to listen to classical music
  • On the WBNI Mobile app using your smartphone or tablet:
  1. Go to the Apple App Store on your iPhone or iPad, or to the Google App store on your Google device
  2. Search for “WBNI”
  3. Download the app
  4. Touch the arrow at the bottom left of the screen to begin listening
  • On your smart speaker:
  1. Say “Play WBNI” to your Amazon Alexa or Google Smart Speaker

  • On HD Radio at 89.1-2:
  1. If your car has an HD radio: tune it to 89.1-2 on HD
  2. If your car does not have an HD radio: connect your mobile device (phone or tablet) to your car’s audio system.
  3. If your car has Bluetooth; once you have established the wireless connection, listen using your phone with the WBNI mobile app, or by streaming the music on WBNI.org.
  4. If you do not have Bluetooth or a wireless connection HD radio in your car, you can physically connect your phone or mobile device to your car’s audio system using an aux cord (available at many electronics and grocery/drug stores). Once connected, listen using your phone with the WBNI mobile app, or by streaming the music on WBNI.org.

 
 
Northeast Indiana Public Radio and Taylor University Broadcasting

Announce Sale of 94.1 FM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fort Wayne, Indiana, June 4, 2021. Northeast Indiana Public Radio (NIPR) and Taylor University Broadcasting Incorporated (TUBI) are jointly announcing the sale of 94.1 FM from NIPR to TUBI.

Pending FCC approval, the transfer of ownership will take place later this summer. Currently, 94.1 FM broadcasts classical music using the WBNI call letters. Classical WBNI will continue to be heard throughout the community on WBNI.org, on the WBNI mobile app, on HD radio, and on smart speakers and mobile devices.

“Our Board of Trustees unanimously approved this sale because it allows us to continue to serve the community with 24/7 classical music while obtaining the funds to make essential digital equipment upgrades,” said Peter Dominowski, President and General Manager of Northeast Indiana Public Radio. “It is also important that 94.1 be maintained as a radio service provided by another organization with deep roots in the community.”

TUBI Executive Director, Ross McCampbell, shares, “It is reassuring to see two organizations that have a heart for serving the community at their core work together to create mutual situations where both can do exactly that with more efficiency and impact.”

TUBI, which also owns WBCL, is acquiring 94.1 for its sister station, Rhythm and Praise. This community-minded transaction will allow a first for the Fort Wayne radio market, an Urban Gospel station that covers the entire city and county 24/7 on an easily accessible FM frequency.

For additional information, contact:

Northeast Indiana Public Radio Inc, Peter Dominowski, President and General Manager

gmpd@nipr.fm or (260) 452-1189

Taylor University Broadcasting Inc, Ross McCampbell, Executive Director

rsmccamp@wbcl.org, (260) 745-0576    

Rhythm and Praise, Monique Moss, Program Director

mo@fwrp.org, (260) 469-3575

__________________________________________________________________________

FAQ's 

Q: What is the sales price for 94.1 WBNI?

A: $350,000

Q: What will these funds be used for? 

A: Funds from the sale will be used to pay off part of the debt that was created from the purchase of 94.1, to purchase essential equipment for the operation of WBOI and Classical WBNI, such as a new transmitter and an emergency generator so programming can continue during severe weather and other emergencies, new digital control boards, and a server for our computer system. Part of the funds will be allocated to establish a reserve fund so that NIPR is better prepared to weather future emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-21. 

Q: Why is 94.1 WBNI being sold to Taylor University Broadcasting? How does this benefit the community?

A: 94.1 WBNI was purchased for $1.8 million in 2002, but sufficient funds were not raised at that time to pay for the cost of acquiring the station. Payments to reduce this nearly $2 million in debt have been made from the funds raised from listener contributions for many years, limiting resources that otherwise would have been used to improve service to the community. Despite receiving support from some loyal listeners, 94.1 WBNI has never raised sufficient funds to pay for both the cost of purchasing the station and its annual operating costs; it has never been self-supporting.

Taylor University Broadcasting (90.3 WBCL) approached NIPR because they were seeking an FM station to broadcast their “Rhythm and Praise” format to serve the community’s Black population.

NIPR decided to sell 94.1 WBNI because: 1) The sale will allow NIPR to reduce the remaining debt from the original acquisition of 94.1 WBNI, 2) NIPR can now invest in much-needed digital upgrades to our outdated analog equipment 3) for the first time in its history, NIPR will establish a reserve fund to maintain financial stability in future emergencies 4) 94.1 will continue to be operated on a non-profit basis within our community, rather than by a commercial broadcaster or an out-of-state entity, and 5) the new 94.1 will serve Greater Fort Wayne’s Black community.

Q: When will Taylor University Broadcasting (WBCL) become the new owners of 94.1 FM?

A: Pending FCC approval, likely in July, 2021.

Q: Doesn’t Classical 94.1 WBNI-FM have a large audience?

A: In recent audience surveys, the total weekly audience for WBNI-FM has been between 4,000-8,000 persons. For comparison, this is 40-60% less than the size of the listening audience five years ago. 

Q: Will I still be able to hear classical music on WBNI?

A: Absolutely!

The classical music you enjoy on WBNI will still be there; you can hear it 24/7 in your home or workplace; online at WBNI.org, on the WBNI Mobile app, on your smart speaker by saying “Play WBNI” and on HD Radio at WBOI-HD-2.

You can continue to listen to WBNI’s classical music in your car on your HD radio. If you do not have HD radio in your car, you can listen using your phone with the WBNI mobile app, or by streaming the music on WBNI.org. Just use your in-car Bluetooth or an aux cord to connect your phone to your car’s audio system.

Everyplace where you currently listen to classical music on WBNI, you will be able to continue to do so. The only thing that may be different is the technology you use to listen.

Q: Will I need to pay to hear classical music on WBNI?      

A: Classical WBNI will continue to be supported by listener contributions, but there is no cost to listen to classical music on WBNI.org, on the WBNI Mobile app, and on HD Radio at WBOI-2.

Update 8/31/2021: The FCC has approved the sale of 94.1 to Taylor University Broadcasting. As of midnight on September 2nd, Classical WBNI programming will no longer be heard on 94.1 FM. You can continue to enjoy the music you love at WBNI.org, on the WBNI mobile app, and on HD Radio at 89.1 dash 2. 

How to Listen: 

  • Online: On any device that is connected to the Internet, including a computer, tablet, or smartphone:
  1. go to WBNI.org
  2. Near the top of the page, just below our logos, find the grey horizontal stripe
  3. Click on the arrow inside of the grey stripe near the right side of your screen
  4. After clicking, you will be given the choice to listen to WBOI News or Classical WBNI
  5. Click on Classical WBNI to listen to classical music

  • On the WBNI Mobile app using your smartphone or tablet:
  1. Go to the Apple App Store on your iPhone or iPad, or to the Google App store on your Google device
  2. Search for “WBNI”
  3. Download the app
  4. Touch the arrow at the bottom left of the screen to begin listening

  • On your smart speaker:
  1. Say “Play WBNI” to your Amazon Alexa or Google Smart Speaker

  • On HD Radio at 89.1-2:
  1. If your car has an HD radio: tune it to 89.1-2 on HD
  2. If your car does not have an HD radio: connect your mobile device (phone or tablet) to your car’s audio system.
  3. If your car has Bluetooth; once you have established the wireless connection, listen using your phone with the WBNI mobile app, or by streaming the music on WBNI.org.
  4. If you do not have Bluetooth or a wireless connection HD radio in your car, you can physically connect your phone or mobile device to your car’s audio system using an aux cord (available at many electronics and grocery/drug stores).
    1. Once connected, listen using your phone with the WBNI mobile app, or by streaming the music on WBNI.org.