Emmis Communications will turn off 1070 WFNI Indianapolis on August 2 as the company prepares for the redevelopment and sales of the 70 acres hosting its six towers.
Sports “93.5/107.5 The Fan” will continue to be heard on 93.5 W228CX and 107.5 W298BB Indianapolis in the greater Indianapolis area fed via 93.1 WIBC-HD2 despite losing its regional 50kW day/10kW night facility for the foreseeable future.
Indiana Business Journal reported last month that IG Development will be using 57 acres to develop a mixed-use facility 10 apartment buildings. Community Reinvestment Foundation purchased five acres to build an assistive living facility. The current WFNI site has been used by the former WIBC since the mid-1960’s and is located in Whitestown IN northwest of Indianapolis off of I-65.
Emmis chairman Jeff Smulyan told WIBC, “As long time owners of the 1070, we are working diligently on finding the next great use for the signal. We were offered a wonderful opportunity to monetize the property, and felt it was our obligation to explore that. Ultimately, it made the most sense.”
The company states it intends to explore new sites for WFNI to resume operations, however nothing has been filed with the FCC yet.
Emmis Communications, owners of WFNI-AM, 1070 AM/107.5 FM/93.5 FM The Fan, has announced that it has closed on the sale of a portion of land in Whitestown, Indiana housing the radio towers for 1070 AM. While Emmis works to find the best solution for the future of the 1070 signal, effective August 2, audio content will broadcast solely on 107.5 FM and 93.5 FM, as well as on its streaming app and online at www.1075thefan.com.
“As long-time owners of 1070, we are working diligently on finding the next great use for the signal,” said Jeff Smulyan, founder and chairman of the board of Emmis. “We were offered a wonderful opportunity to monetize the property and felt it was our obligation to explore that. Ultimately, it made the most sense.”
More than one year ago, Emmis had the tower site for 1070 AM rezoned for mixed-use commercial, office and residential developments. The area comprises 70 acres on Perry Worth Road near I-65 in Whitestown, Indiana and is listed for sale by Cushman & Wakefield. While Emmis has a number of acres under contract, sites are still available. Please contact Bo Leffel at Cushman & Wakefield if you are interested (317-639-0441).
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com