Black Information Network
Black Information Network (BIN) is a radio network and content brand owned by iHeartMedia. Launched on June 30, 2020, it is an all-news radio network of stations targeting the African American community, carrying mostly national stories and features. Some stations are slated to incorporate local news, traffic and weather into the network feed.
 | |
| Type | Radio network |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Slogan | Because truth matters |
| Programming | |
| Format | All-news radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | iHeartMedia |
| History | |
| Launch date | June 30, 2020 |
| Coverage | |
| Availability | National, through online, HD Radio, and broadcast affiliates (see stations) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen live (via iHeartRadio) |
| Website | www |
History
On June 29, 2020, 15 iHeartMedia radio stations in markets with large African American populations (including AM, FM, and HD Radio subchannel stations) ceased their regular programming, and began stunting with clips of speeches by prominent African Americans, such as Malcolm X's "The Ballot or the Bullet" address, interspersed with messages stating that "our side of the story is about to be told", and promoting a major change in their programming at 12:00 p.m. EDT the next day.[1]
On June 30, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. EDT, iHeartMedia officially launched the Black Information Network (BIN) on the 15 stunting stations, carrying national news coverage catered to African American communities. The service draws from other iHeartMedia services for local traffic and weather updates, and promotes podcasts oriented towards the audience. The network will be carried by additional stations over time, and is also being distributed on the iHeartRadio streaming platform.
BIN also serves as a provider of news content for iHeartMedia's stations targeting the black community, including those carrying hip hop, R&B, and gospel-oriented radio formats.[2][3] Stations not owned by iHeart may also subscribe to the service, with newscasts available at the :00 and :30 mark each hour.
Alongside traditional advertising, BIN is also being backed by a group of "national founding partners", including Bank of America, CVS Health, GEICO, Lowe's, McDonald's, Sony, 23andMe, and Verizon Communications which will air outreach towards African-American communities on the network.[3] Currently, the number of minutes each hour devoted to commercials is considerably lower than most radio networks.
Tony Coles is the network's president and Tanita Myers is the news director.[4]
On September 10, 2020, iHeartMedia announced that it would acquire WWRL 1600 AM in New York City, a station that had historically carried formats serving the African American community, to be its new network affiliate for BIN beginning November 2. BIN programming currently is available in the New York radio market via 105.1 WWPR-FM's third HD Radio subchannel.[5]
On December 2, 2020, iHeartMedia announced their intent to acquire Gospel-formatted KHVN 970 AM and KKGM 1630 AM in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to be the new affiliates joining BIN. KHVN historically carried formats serving the African American community, while KKGM directly involves KHVN as in 1994, it signed on as KHVN’s simulcast partner, as part of a plan to shift KHVN to the expanded band and exit the 970 kHz signal. As of this year, this hadn't happen. But because both stations are still under common ownership, the move could still feasibly happen.[6]
Stations
| Callsign | Frequency | Band | City | State | Network status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W257DS | 99.3 | FM | Montgomery | Alabama | n/a (WMRK-HD2 relay) |
| WDXB-HD2* | 102.5-2 | FM | Pelham (Birmingham) | Alabama | Affiliate |
| WHTY | 1460 | AM | Phenix City (Columbus) | Alabama (Georgia) | Affiliate |
| WMRK-HD2 | 107.9 | FM | Shorter | Alabama | Affiliate |
| W224CK | 92.7 | FM | Vestavia Hills (Birmingham) | Alabama | n/a (WDXB-HD2 relay) |
| KFOO | 1440 | AM | Riverside | California | Affiliate |
| KKSF | 910 | AM | Oakland-San Francisco | California | Affiliate |
| KRRL-HD2* | 92.3-2 | FM | Los Angeles | California | Affiliate |
| KSSX-HD2* | 95.7-2 | FM | Carlsbad (San Diego) | California | Affiliate |
| WUST | 1120 | AM | Washington | District of Columbia | Affiliate |
| WMZQ-HD2* | 98.7-2 | FM | Washington | District of Columbia | Affiliate |
| WBTP-HD2* | 95.7-2 | FM | Clearwater (Tampa) | Florida | Affiliate |
| WZAB | 880 | AM | Sweetwater (Miami) | Florida | Affiliate |
| WBIN | 640 | AM | Atlanta | Georgia | Affiliate |
| WWPW-HD3* | 96.1-3 | FM | Atlanta | Georgia | Affiliate |
| WYNF | 1340 | AM | Augusta | Georgia | Affiliate |
| WMGE | 1670 | AM | Dry Branch (Macon) | Georgia | Affiliate |
| W234BX | 94.7 | FM | Highland Pines (Columbus) | Georgia | n/a (WHTY) relay) |
| W279AQ | 103.7 | FM | Mascoutah (St. Louis) | Illinois (Missouri) | n/a (KATZ-HD2 relay) |
| WVAZ-HD2* | 102.7-2 | FM | Oak Park (Chicago) | Illinois | Affiliate |
| WODT | 1280 | AM | New Orleans | Louisiana | Affiliate |
| WNOE-HD2* | 101.1-2 | FM | New Orleans | Louisiana | Affiliate |
| K244FX | 96.7 | FM | New Orleans | Louisiana | n/a (WODT relay) |
| WQLL | 1370 | AM | Pikesville (Baltimore) | Maryland | Affiliate |
| WJMN-HD2* | 94.5-2 | FM | Boston | Massachusetts | Affiliate |
| WDFN | 1130 | AM | Detroit | Michigan | Affiliate |
| KQQL-HD2* | 107.9-2 | FM | Anoka (Minneapolis) | Minnesota | Affiliate |
| W227BF | 93.3 | FM | Shoreview (Minneapolis) | Minnesota | n/a (KQQL-HD2 relay) |
| WSFZ | 930 | AM | Jackson | Mississippi | Affiliate |
| W251DB | 98.1 | FM | Jackson | Mississippi | n/a (WSFZ relay) |
| KJMS-HD2 | 101.1-2 | FM | Olive Branch (Memphis) | Mississippi (Tennessee) | |
| KATZ-HD2* | 100.3-2 | FM | Bridgeton (St. Louis) | Missouri | Affiliate |
| WWRL | 1600 | AM | New York City | New York | Affiliate |
| WWPR-HD3* | 105.1-3 | FM | New York City | New York | Affiliate |
| W254AZ | 98.7 | FM | Belmont (Charlotte) | North Carolina | n/a (WRFX-HD2 relay) |
| WRFX-HD2* | 99.7-2 | FM | Kannapolis (Charlotte) | North Carolina | Affiliate |
| WMMS-HD2* | 100.7-2 | FM | Cleveland | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W256BT | 99.1 | FM | Cleveland | Ohio | n/a (WMMS-HD2 relay) |
| WYTS | 1230 | AM | Columbus | Ohio | Affiliate |
| WIZE | 1340 | AM | Springfield-Dayton | Ohio | Affiliate |
| WTEL | 610 | AM | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | Affiliate |
| WDAS-HD2* | 105.3-2 | FM | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | Affiliate |
| WPRM-HD2* | 99.1-2 | FM | San Juan | Puerto Rico | Affiliate |
| WGVL | 1440 | AM | Greenville | South Carolina | Affiliate |
| WNRQ-HD2* | 105.9-2 | FM | Nashville | Tennessee | Affiliate |
| W248BQ | 97.5 | FM | Nashville | Tennessee | n/a (WNRQ-HD2 relay) |
| KHVN | 970 | AM | Fort Worth | Texas | Affiliate |
| K237HD | 95.3 | FM | Fort Worth | Texas | n/a (KHVN relay) |
| KKGM | 1630 | AM | Fort Worth | Texas | Affiliate |
| KXYZ | 1320 | AM | Houston | Texas | Affiliate |
| W244AV | 96.7 | FM | Blacksburg | Virginia | n/a (WROV-HD2 relay) |
| WROV-HD2* | 96.3-2 | FM | Martinsville | Virginia | Affiliate |
| WNOH | 105.3 | FM | Windsor (Norfolk) | Virginia | Affiliate |
| KHHO | 850 | AM | Tacoma-Seattle | Washington | Affiliate |
- Asterisk (*) indicates HD Radio broadcast.
- Gray background indicates low-power FM translator.
References
- "Several iHeartMedia Stations Stunting With Speeches, New Format To Be Announced Tomorrow". All Access. All Access Music Group. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
- Spangler, Todd (2020-06-30). "iHeartMedia to Launch BIN: Black Information Network on Radio, Digital Channels". Variety. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
- "iHeartMedia Launches Black Information Network". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
- Variety "iHeartMedia Black Information Network Launch" June 30, 2020 (retrieved 9.18.20)
- "iHeartMedia Acquires WWRL New York For Black Information Network". RadioInsight. 2020-09-10. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
- DFW AM Duo Acquired By iHeart For BIN Home - Radio & Television Business Report (published December 3, 2020)