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WSBT History
80+ Years of Radio At Its Best -
And We're Just Getting Started!
And We're Just Getting Started!
WSBT Radio has been part of life in Michiana for so long there's hardly anyone alive who can remember life without it!
This broadcasting legacy began unceremoniously in April of 1922 when an employee of the South Bend Tribune first sent the experimental station W9FP traveling the airwaves from the third floor of the South Bend Tribune building. One of the oldest radio stations in the country had just begun its long history.
By July 3rd of 1922, this brand new radio station, located in the heart of Studebaker country, had dubbed itself WGAZ, which stood for the WORLD'S GREATEST AUTOMOTIVE ZONE.
This broadcasting legacy began unceremoniously in April of 1922 when an employee of the South Bend Tribune first sent the experimental station W9FP traveling the airwaves from the third floor of the South Bend Tribune building. One of the oldest radio stations in the country had just begun its long history.
By July 3rd of 1922, this brand new radio station, located in the heart of Studebaker country, had dubbed itself WGAZ, which stood for the WORLD'S GREATEST AUTOMOTIVE ZONE.
The first-ever commercially
sponsored radio program in the entire nation was heard on WGAZ. The
history making event was an evening of music, presented by Ries
Furniture of South Bend. A string of firsts continued at this
pioneering radio station, including the first play-by-play of a Notre
Dame football game on November 4, 1922. The score: Irish 27, Indiana
University 0.
A few years after it all began, the owners of WGAZ changed the name of the station to better identify themselves with their other "voice," the South Bend Tribune. So, in 1925, WGAZ became WSBT.
A few years after it all began, the owners of WGAZ changed the name of the station to better identify themselves with their other "voice," the South Bend Tribune. So, in 1925, WGAZ became WSBT.
In 1932, WSBT began a successful affiliation with the CBS Radio Network that continues today.
Still relatively low powered and heard only locally, in 1947 the FCC allowed WSBT to increase its power to the 5,000 watts you hear today, which can carry you all the way to Indianapolis on most days.
Citing dates and frequencies doesn't begin to tell the entire story. Indeed, the history of WSBT parallels the history of Michiana! It's where we listened to rollicking ragtime, the magic of Big Band, and the emergence of rock and roll. It's where we heard about Pearl Harbor, the Tet Offensive, Desert Storm, September 11th and the war on terror. It's where we've always turned for reliable news through blizzards, tornadoes, and strikes.
Those early broadcast pioneers lit a torch of responsibility that has been passed on from generation to generation. We are proud to have the opportunity to continue the tradition of radio at its best on Newstalk 960-WSBT.
Still relatively low powered and heard only locally, in 1947 the FCC allowed WSBT to increase its power to the 5,000 watts you hear today, which can carry you all the way to Indianapolis on most days.
Citing dates and frequencies doesn't begin to tell the entire story. Indeed, the history of WSBT parallels the history of Michiana! It's where we listened to rollicking ragtime, the magic of Big Band, and the emergence of rock and roll. It's where we heard about Pearl Harbor, the Tet Offensive, Desert Storm, September 11th and the war on terror. It's where we've always turned for reliable news through blizzards, tornadoes, and strikes.
Those early broadcast pioneers lit a torch of responsibility that has been passed on from generation to generation. We are proud to have the opportunity to continue the tradition of radio at its best on Newstalk 960-WSBT.