WNDE, branded as "SportsRadio 1260 WNDE", is an AM radio station owned by Clear Channel Communications in Indianapolis, Indiana. The station operates on the AM radio frequency of 1260 kHz. The studios and transmitters are located at 6161 Fall Creek Road on the northeast side of Indianapolis.

History [link]

WNDE began operation as WFBM in 1924 as the fifth radio station licensed in Indianapolis (after WLK [1922-1923], WOH [1922-1923], WBBI [1924], and WBBZ [1924-1925]). It was started by the Merchants Heating & Light Co., later Indianapolis Power & Light.

When WFBM went on the air, it was assigned a frequency of 1130 kilocycles (the kilohertz did not come into use for another quarter century). In 1927, it moved to 1330 kc, then to 1090 kc in 1928, and to 1230 kc in 1929. It arrived at its current frequency after the great frequency shift of 1941, when all stations in the United States at 1230 kc were moved to 1260 kc.

In 1949, WFBM became WFBM-AM when WFBM-TV (now WRTV 6) went on the air in time to broadcast the 1949 Indianapolis 500 (May 30, 1949). The WFBM “family” grew on November 26, 1959, when WFBM-FM went on the air at 94.7 mHz.

In 1957, the three WFBM stations were sold to Time-Life, Inc. In 1972, WFBM-TV became WRTV. In November 1973, WFBM-AM became WNDE, followed by WFBM-FM becoming WFBQ Q95 in the Spring of 1974.

WNDE is the oldest operating radio station in Indianapolis, and third oldest in the state of Indiana.

Station broadcasting information [link]

WNDE broadcasts using 5 kW of power, with a directional antenna for nighttime operations. This causes the station to broadcast in circular patterns to the north-northwest and south-southeast of the antenna site. More information is available at the FCC query for WNDE.

Programming [link]

WNDE (which had at one time used a Top 40 format, competing with the original WIFE in the 1970s, using the identifier "Windy in Indy") has been a Fox Sports Radio affiliate since 2002. It had previously been an ESPN Radio affiliate on two occasions.

WNDE airs the locally produced (Jake) Query and (Derek) Schultz during afternoon drive, as well as a weekly local show, The Drive with Matt & Jason starring Matt Thompson and Jason Hoffsetz. Middays feature Fox's The Dan Patrick Show and Premiere's The Jim Rome Show.

WNDE broadcasts Purdue University football and men's basketball, as well as Westwood One's NFL Football and NCAA men's basketball coverage. After years of broadcasting Cincinnati Reds baseball, WNDE was a part of the Chicago Cubs network in 2009 and 2010.

In 2011, WNDE dropped NASCAR programming after many years, and began broadcasting Indianapolis Indians baseball. Later that year, they added IUPUI Jaguars men's basketball.

Former hosts of the afternoon drive local show include Mark Patrick, the team of Tim Bragg & Bill Benner, Indiana Pacers announcer Mark Boyle, and JMV (John Michael Vincent, currently with WFNI).

References [link]

External links [link]

• Query the FCC's AM station database for WNDE
• Radio-Locator Information on WNDE
• Query Arbitron's AM station database for WNDE
• Indiana Radio Archive, WNDE