WMGE (AM)

WMGE (1670 AM) is a radio station broadcasting an African American-oriented all-news format from the Black Information Network. Licensed to Dry Branch, Georgia, United States, the station serves the Macon area during the day and the southeast United States at night. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc.[1]

WMGE
Broadcast areaMacon, Georgia
Frequency1670 kHz
BrandingMacon's BIN 1670
Programming
FormatBlack-oriented news
AffiliationsBlack Information Network
Ownership
Owner
WIBB-FM, WIHB, WIHB-FM, WQBZ, WRBV
History
First air date
February 10, 2004 (license granted)
Former call signs
WAXP (1998)
WNML (1998–1999)
WRNC (1999–2003)
WMWR (2003–2006)
WVVM (2006–2009)
WFSM (2009–2010)
WPLA (2010–2016)
Technical information
Facility ID87110
ClassB
Power10,000 watts day
1,000 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
32°48′16″N 83°36′16″W
Links
WebcastListen live
Websitemacon.binnews.com

History

WMGE originated as the expanded band "twin" of an existing station on the standard AM band.

In 1967 a new station in Warner Robins began broadcasting as WRBN on 1600 kHz. On March 17, 1997, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that 88 stations had been given permission to move to newly available "Expanded Band" transmitting frequencies, ranging from 1610 to 1700 kHz, with now-WRCC authorized to move from 1600 to 1670 kHz.[2]

A construction permit for the expanded band station was assigned the call letters WAXP on March 6, 1998.[3] An FCC policy stated that both the original station and its expanded band counterpart could operate simultaneously for up to five years, after which owners would have to turn in one of the two licenses, depending on whether they preferred the new assignment or elected to remain on the original frequency.[2] It was ultimately decided to transfer full operations to the expanded band station, so on January 10, 2002, the license for the original station at 1600 AM, at this point holding the call sign WAXP, was cancelled.[4]

The call letters for the new expanded band station on 1670 AM were changed from WAXP to WNML on July 1, 1998, to WRNC on March 1, 1999, to WMWR on November 17, 2003, to WVVM on February 21, 2006, to WFSM on March 2, 2009, to WPLA on October 14, 2010, and to WMGE on December 14, 2016.[3]

On June 29, 2020, fifteen iHeart stations in markets with large African American populations, including WMGE, began stunting with African American speeches, interspersed with messages such as "Our Voices Will Be Heard" and "Our side of the story is about to be told," with a new format slated to launch on June 30.[5][6] That day, WMGE, along with the other fourteen stations, became the launch stations for the Black Information Network, an African American-oriented all-news network.[7] Prior to the change, WMGE was a Fox Sports Radio affiliate.[5]

Logo as a Fox Sports Radio affiliate

References
  1. "WMGE Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. "FCC Public Notice: Mass Media Bureau Announces Revised AM Expanded Band Allotment Plan and Filing Window for Eligible Stations" (FCC DA 97-537), March 17, 1997.
  3. "WMGE Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  4. FCC Station Search Details: DWAXP (Facility ID: 65042)
  5. Fifteen iHeartMedia Stations Stunting Ahead Of New Network Launch
  6. "Several iHeartMedia Stations Stunting With Speeches, New Format To Be Announced Tomorrow". All Access. June 29, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  7. "iHeartMedia Debuts All-News BIN: Black Information Network". All Access. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
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