Black Information Network Gets Fulltime Chicago Affiliate With Launch Of ‘BIN 640 AM.’

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Black Information Network Gets Fulltime Chicago Affiliate With Launch Of ‘BIN 640 AM.’

The Black Information Network has added a fulltime Chicagoland signal with the iHeartMedia-owned network placed on WMFN, which is licensed to Peotone, IL. “The launch of Chicago's 640 AM is

www.insideradio.com

The Black Information Network (BIN) has added a fulltime Chicagoland signal with the iHeartMedia-owned network placed on WMFN (640), which is licensed to Peotone, IL. BIN’s presence in the market had been limited to providing news for iHeart adult R&B WVAZ (102.7).

WMFN is a Class B signal, with 4,400 watts of daytime power and 1,600 watts of nighttime power. The broadcast tower is about 40 miles south of the city of Chicago. iHeartMedia is operating the station, which is owned by Birach Broadcasting.

"BIN: Black Information Network celebrated its second anniversary on June 30th, and the launch of Chicago's 640 AM is a major milestone for the network," network President Tony Coles said in a release. "BIN brings Chicago the most trusted full-time news network for both local and national news by and for the Black community, and we're looking forward to the network's impact in the community for years to come."

 

[ftballfan]

640 moved in from Grand Rapids a few years ago and it still puts a decent signal into that part of Michigan at least in the daytime

 

[Gregg.]

I see that the WVAZ-HD2 subchannel also carries BIN.

 

[gr8oldies]

1690 does it much better.

 

[cyberdad]

The 640 signal at my location in McHenry county is not competitive with the bigger Chicago AMs, but it's still listenable 24/7. Daytime more so than night time. This part of the metro is probably of little concern to Birach and BIN, however.

 

[DarrenVision]

Why not WVON or AM 1360 which has Chicago wide signal

 

[PTBoardOp94]

WVON is successful as it is. WMFN provides iHeart with a Chicago clearance for BIN without destroying WVON.

Guessing the same is true for WGRB 1390, since iHeart runs several gospel AMs, especially in black-heavy markets.

 

[DarrenVision]

WVON is successful as it is. WMFN provides iHeart with a Chicago clearance for BIN without destroying WVON.

Guessing the same is true for WGRB 1390, since iHeart runs several gospel AMs, especially in black-heavy markets.

I think they own 2 AMs they should buy 1190 or 1300 instead tbh.

 

[JeremyAndrews]

Why not WVON or AM 1360 which has Chicago wide signal

1690 is leased out. iHeart is paid to run WVON on 1690. It's been that way for many years. iHeart has no involvement in the signal other than owning it. They make money without having to do much.

WGRB makes money on package selling with the other Urban AMs and leasing time on the weekends.

Clearing BIN on 640 is good for BIN as a network. iHeart is leasing 640 the same way WVON is leasing 1690.

 

[cyberdad]

640 has wider coverage overall. in the metro than 1390 and 1690. Those latter two probably are stronger in the city itself.

 

[DarrenVision]

1690 is leased out. iHeart is paid to run WVON on 1690. It's been that way for many years. iHeart has no involvement in the signal other than owning it. They make money without having to do much.

WGRB makes money on package selling with the other Urban AMs and leasing time on the weekends.

Clearing BIN on 640 is good for BIN as a network. iHeart is leasing 640 the same way WVON is leasing 1690.

unless ratings factored out

 

[ftballfan]

640 has wider coverage overall. in the metro than 1390 and 1690. Those latter two probably are stronger in the city itself.

640 also serves as the de facto BIN affiliate for Grand Rapids (its former home market)

 

[gr8oldies]

640 also serves as the de facto BIN affiliate for Grand Rapids (its former home market)

Did this 640 start in Terre Haute, IN?

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Yes, it did.

 

[JoeU]

640 has wider coverage overall. in the metro than 1390 and 1690. Those latter two probably are stronger in the city itself.

WGRB 1390 is the strongest AM signal on the band on the South Side of Chicago north of 87th St, East of Pulaski Rd to the lake shore both day and night. The signal degrades in the west and northwest suburbs especially with the night time pattern. It's night signal on the North Side of Chicago holds it's own but starts to become marginal North of Lawrence Ave.

WVON 1690 in the city has a decent daytime signal but becomes marginal north of Roosevelt Rd at night with the power reduction.

WMFM 640 has a solid signal over the south side of Chicago both day and night. Not as strong as WIND or WNDZ during the day and defiantly weaker than WIND at night. The weaker night signal still does ok except maybe for lightening static. Not much under neath it to interfere at night at least in the city proper.

 

[MarkW]

BIN programming gets maybe a few hundred listeners at any given time anyway in the various markets where it airs, so who really cares if it's found on a decent signal or not.

If the financial backers of BIN really cared about inner city communities, they'd invest the money being wasted on BIN in vocational training programs, activities for at-risk children, substance abuse treatment programs, parks & recreation, etc.

 

[ksradiogeek]

BIN programming gets maybe a few hundred listeners at any given time anyway in the various markets where it airs, so who really cares if it's found on a decent signal or not.

If the financial backers of BIN really cared about inner city communities, they'd invest the money being wasted on BIN in vocational training programs, activities for at-risk children, substance abuse treatment programs, parks & recreation, etc.

What’s wrong with providing funding to the initiatives you mentioned AND support BIN? Us human beings do it simultaneously all the time.

 

[MarkW]

The money being used to fund BIN isn't doing a darn thing to help disadvantaged inner city communities, that's the point I'm making.

 

[DavidEduardo]

The money being used to fund BIN isn't doing a darn thing to help disadvantaged inner city communities, that's the point I'm making.

Different organizations that provide assistance to people and communities have different objectives.

The Red Cross does not do literacy campaigns. Pharmaceutical companies generally support medical initiatives. iHeart and the supporters of its BIN service wish to support Black businesses and entrepreneurs.

Each has a purpose, and the entities donating the money have the right to decide how they want their donation spent. It's hard to tell in the present what the long term benefits of different charitable acts will be.

 

[DavidEduardo]

If the financial backers of BIN really cared about inner city communities, they'd invest the money being wasted on BIN in vocational training programs, activities for at-risk children, substance abuse treatment programs, parks & recreation, etc.

How do you know that a few of the listeners won't build businesses that create jobs, improve communities and help in all the areas you mention.

Some charities deal with immediate issues such as food and housing. Some provide education, which takes longer to yield results. An effort to encourage Black enterprises is one of those long term goals, and all it takes is a few entrepreneurs per market to make a difference. Obviously the sponsors see that as worthwhile.