WMUN (1340 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Muncie, Indiana, and serving Delaware County, Indiana. It broadcasts a talk and sports radio format and is owned by Woof Boom Radio Muncie License LLC. WMUN features programming from Fox Sports Radio. The station airs some local talk programming in the morning, and a local hour of sports talk is heard weekdays at 4 p.m. WMUN is the flagship station for Ball State University women's basketball and carries games from the Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Pacers. On Friday nights in the fall, WMUN carries local high school football.

WMUN
Broadcast areaDelaware County, Indiana
Frequency1340 kHz
BrandingWMUN 92.5 FM and 1340 AM
Programming
FormatTalk; sports
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerWoof Boom Radio Muncie License LLC
WBKQ, WERK, WHBU, WLBC-FM, WMXQ
History
First air date
November 1926; 98 years ago (1926-11) (as WLBC)
Former call signs
  • WLBC (1926–1996)
  • WXFN (1996–2022)
Call sign meaning
Muncie
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID17601
ClassC
Power1,000 watts
Transmitter coordinates
40°9′42.00″N 85°22′41.00″W / 40.1616667°N 85.3780556°W / 40.1616667; -85.3780556
Translator(s)92.5 W223CZ (Muncie)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.wmunmuncie.com

WMUN is powered at 1,000 watts non-directional.[2] Programming is also heard on 170 watt FM translator W223CZ at 92.5 MHz.[3]

History

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In November 1926, the station first signed on the air. The original call sign was WLBC.[4] It was originally powered at 250 watts and was owned by The Tri-City Radio Corporation. WLBC was a CBS Radio Network affiliate, carrying its dramas, comedies, sports and news during the "Golden Age of Radio". In the 1950s, when network programming moved from radio to television, WLBC switched to a full service, middle of the road (MOR) format of popular adult music, news and sports.

WLBC's call sign was changed to WXFN on October 2, 1996,[5] in conjunction with the move from a country music format to sports radio.[6] The WLBC call letters are still used by co-owned WLBC-FM at 104.1 FM. The WLBC call sign was also used on UHF channel 49 as a commercial TV station until 1971, when WLBC-TV became public television station WIPB.

As a sports station, WXFN initially relied on programming from One on One Sports.[6] In 2011, the station ended a 10-year affiliation with ESPN Radio and joined Fox Sports Radio; the move was in part prompted by concerns that obligations to carry ESPN Radio's national play-by-play broadcasts would interfere with WXFN's ability to air local sports.[7]

The call sign was changed to WMUN on May 16, 2022.[5] Following the change, the station began airing promos announcing that it was "building a new radio station for Muncie and Delaware County".[8] In late 2022, WMUN began adding local talk programming to its lineup and marketing as "The Talk of Muncie", while retaining some sports programming.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WMUN". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Radio-Locator.com/WMUN
  3. ^ FCC.gov/W223CZ
  4. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1949 page 124, Broadcasting & Cable
  5. ^ a b "Call Sign History (WMUN)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Format Changes" (PDF). The M Street Journal. October 2, 1996. p. 1. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  7. ^ "WXFN/Muncie Drops ESPN Radio, Adds Fox Sports Radio". All Access. March 30, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  8. ^ "WXFN Building Something New For Muncie". RadioInsight. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  9. ^ Rhodes, Mike (January 13, 2023). "New Radio Station WMUN is the 'Talk of Muncie'". Muncie Journal. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
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