The Illinois State athletics department and Radio Bloomington signed a new four-year extension Friday that will retain WJBC (1230 AM) as the flagship station of the Redbird Radio Network through 2007. In addition, Radio Bloomingtons recently acquired station, WLDC (98.9 FM) in Dwight, will also carry Redbird athletics on the network.
With the agreement, Illinois State and WJBC will continue a partnership that has existed for nearly 70 years, while maintaining the broadcasting of Redbird football, volleyball and mens and womens basketball games. With the addition of WLDC to the network, Radio Bloomingtons coverage of Redbird athletics will increase from Joliet to Lincoln, Ill.
Director of athletics Perk Weisenburger is looking forward to the increased exposure for the athletic department as well as the continued relationship with Radio Bloomington.
Redbird athletics has a storied history with WJBC as our broadcast station and I am even more excited about the future of this partnership now that we have a new contract in place, Weisenburger said. There is a strong commitment from both entities and the people involved. As a comprehensive athletics program, we need a flagship station that is the voice in our home town area and we get that, and more, from WJBC. We look forward to the next four years, and longer, with WJBC, Radio Bloomington and an expanding radio network.
Radio Bloomington general manager Red Pitcher is also pleased with the Illinois State-WJBC relationship.
This is a great deal for both Illinois State and Radio Bloomington, said Pitcher. With the addition of our stations in Pontiac and Dwight, we are going to be able to give expanded coverage for the Illinois State Network. We have been together for many years, over a half century and we are looking forward to another half century. WJBC has a great reputation in the community for sports and Illinois State has a great reputation in the nation for athletics. Together it is a wonderful marriage.
