The History of WGBF-AM

NewsTalk 1280 WGBF-AM is Evansville and the Tri-State’s oldest radio station and is, in fact, also one of America's oldest stations, signing on in November of 1923 as about the 104th U.S. station to begin broadcasting. Operating under various ownerships (notably Evansville's Leich family and Larry Aiken) and currently owned by Regent Communications, 5,000 watt day/1000 watt night WGBF-AM has followed various formats over the years, and now airs “Newstalk” 24 hours a day. This format has proven very successful both here in Evansville and in most other cities across America. WGBF-AM provides national news at the top of each hour from FOX News, local news and weather from News 25 and the best syndicated programming available – plus, local high school football and Purdue football and basketball at night and on the weekends during the Fall/Winter seasons.

WGBF-AM reaches informed adults who have an interest in their world and money to spend…and, they pay attention. Talk listeners…LISTEN. They don’t play their radio for background music – they’re tied into and invested in their favorite hosts' topics of the day and the news of the moment. They’re well-educated home-owners primarily, involved in our community, have good jobs, are married and have families. Our listeners want to stay in touch, be involved with and even influence the events of the day through their calls to our hosts.

Ratings? Sure, we've got 'em. Firstly, about 90% of WGBF-AM listeners are between the ages of 18 and 64, 60% are men and 40% are women. And, WGBF-AM usually ranks second in men 18+ and 3rd among persons 18+ in the twice-yearly Arbitron surveys. 

For most of the past 85 years, through many managements and owners, WGBF-AM has always striven to be the best at whatever format it has carried:  from the NBC days of "Jack Benny," "The Whistler" and "Fibber McGee & Molly" in the 1920s into the 50s, plus great local personalities like Gene Crawford, J.C. Kerlin, Marv Bates, Cliff Brooks, "The Curbstone Reporter," "Pat Roper's Toast and Coffee" and dozens more names and programs lost in time in the 1950s thru the early 70s, to the "River City Rocker" years of the mid-70s thru the 80s, Adult Standards WWOK in the early 90s and today as NewsTalk 1280. WGBF-AM does a great job for its listeners and its advertisers, and always has. We'll soon be joining other 21st century broadcasters and start streaming live on the internet too, right here at www.newstalk1280.com. Be listening for that announcement! Great value for every ad dollar and well-documented results from too many clients to count, NewsTalk 1280 WGBF-AM is an icon of Tri-State broadcasting yesterday, today and hopefully forever.