WICB

What WICB does

WICB 91.7 FM Ithaca is a student-led educational radio station operated under the auspices of Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, broadcasting at 91.7 FM since its founding in 1941. The station delivers a single unified product — live FM radio programming — supplemented by digital distribution including online streaming accessible worldwide, on-demand podcasts, and coverage of local music, news, sports, and community events. Operationally, the station is run by Ithaca College students with an estimated 51-100 participants, functioning as a hands-on training ground for broadcasting, journalism, and media production rather than a commercial media business.

WICB's core technology is conventional FM radio broadcast at 91.7 FM with companion web streaming and podcast hosting; there is no proprietary technology stack, mobile app, or public API. The station maintains a website (wicb.org) with schedules, music submission, news, sports, podcasts, and event listings, and engages audiences through Instagram and a Google Forms mailing list.

The business model is non-commercial. WICB does not run traditional advertising; instead, the station generates revenue through underwriting — on-air acknowledgments of local businesses and organizations in exchange for financial support — and through direct donations solicited via a Blackbaud donor form. Underwriting partners include roughly 15 local entities spanning healthcare (Cayuga Health, Pine Point Medical), financial services (Chemung Canal Trust Company), consumer brands (Papa John's), local arts and music organizations (Ithaca Reggae Fest, Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival, Center for the Arts of Homer, Dallas Morse Coors Concert Series, DSP Shows), and small businesses (Ithaca Guitar Works, Liquid State Brewing, YogOdyssey). The Ithaca College Office of Extended Studies is listed as a core institutional partner, implying ongoing college-level operational support.

Name

WICB

Website

https://wicb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

WICB 91.7 FM is a student-led educational radio station operated by Ithaca College, providing music, news, sports, podcasts, and event coverage to the Ithaca College community and greater Ithaca, NY area via FM broadcast and online streaming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

University/Educational Local Stations (College Radio, Campus TV) (MPABACAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community/Low-Power Nonprofit Radio (LPFM/Community Radio) (MPABADAE)

Keywords

• College radio station
• FM radio broadcast
• Local news coverage
• Music programming
• Student broadcasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Ithaca

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Underwriting/Sponsorships: Local businesses and organizations provide financial support in exchange for on-air acknowledgment. Underwriters receive mention during programming as a form of non-commercial sponsorship.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

WICB 91.7 FM Ithaca is a student-led educational FM radio station broadcasting on the 91.7 FM frequency in Ithaca, New York. The station provides live radio programming including curated music, local news, sports coverage, podcasts, and coverage of community events, supported financially by listener donations and underwriting from local businesses.

Product overview

WICB 91.7 FM Ithaca is a student-led FM radio station operating as a single unified broadcast service. The station provides live radio programming at 91.7 FM with associated digital content including scheduled shows, music curation, news, sports coverage, podcasts, and events. There are no distinct product modules or sub-brands—the offering consists solely of the core radio broadcast service with supplementary content channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WICB 91.7 FM Radio Broadcast Live FM radio programming broadcast on 91.7 FM serving the Ithaca, NY area, featuring music curation, local news, sports coverage, podcasts, and community event coverage. Produced and operated by Ithaca College students.
• Online Audio Streaming Live online audio stream of the WICB 91.7 FM broadcast accessible worldwide via the station website, allowing global audiences to listen to programming.
• WICB Podcasts On-demand podcast content produced by WICB, available through the station website for listeners who want to access programming outside the live broadcast schedule.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Cayuga HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal healthcare organization that supports WICB as an underwriter, receiving on-air acknowledgment for their contribution to the student-led radio station.
• Center for the Arts of HomerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArts organization in Homer, NY that provides underwriting support to WICB in exchange for on-air recognition.
• Chemung Canal Trust CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional bank that supports WICB as an underwriter, receiving acknowledgment during station programming.
• DSP ShowsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConcert/promotion company that supports WICB, likely providing promotional content or event coverage opportunities.
• Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & DanceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual music festival in the Finger Lakes region that partners with WICB for coverage and promotion.
• Ithaca College Office of Extended StudiescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIthaca College administrative office that supports the radio station as part of the college's educational programs and extended learning initiatives.
• Ithaca Guitar WorksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal guitar shop that supports WICB as an underwriter, likely with interest in music promotion and local musician community.
• Ithaca Reggae FestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal reggae music festival that supports WICB and receives promotional coverage.
• Liquid State Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal brewery that supports WICB as an underwriter in exchange for on-air recognition.
• Papa John's PizzaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational pizza chain franchise operating in Ithaca that supports WICB as an underwriter.
• Pine Point MedicalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedical practice that supports WICB as an underwriter, receiving on-air acknowledgment.
• YogOdysseyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal yoga business that supports WICB as an underwriter.
• Dallas Morse Coors Concert SeriesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConcert series that supports WICB and likely receives promotional mentions.
• LocalifyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization shown as a promotional partner with a linked banner on the website, focused on local music and event discovery.

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WPRB: Princeton University's student-run radio station, broadcasting diverse music, public affairs, and sports with underwriting support. Closely matches WICB's student-operated, noncommercial college radio model.
• WHRB: Harvard Radio Broadcasting, a student-run FM station operated by Harvard undergraduates. Direct comparator for a college radio station with diverse music programming, underwriting, and educational mission.
• WFMU: Independent freeform community radio station in the NYC metro area. Comparable mission-driven, listener-supported FM+streaming station relying on underwriting and donations rather than commercial advertising.
• WKCR: Columbia University student-operated FM station in NYC, offering music, news, and community programming. Comparable student-led noncommercial college radio model with underwriting support.
• WVBR: Student-led FM radio station at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Direct local-market peer operating college radio in the same geography with music, news, sports, and underwriting-supported programming.
• WERS: Emerson College's student-run radio station serving the Boston area. Direct peer as a college-based FM radio station with music and community programming.

Broad incumbents

• KEXP: Seattle-based nonprofit radio station with academic roots at the University of Washington. Broad incumbent in the community/college radio space, with much larger streaming reach but a similar noncommercial-underwriter model.

Regional players

• CIUT-FM: University-of-Toronto affiliated campus and community radio station. Comparable noncommercial college/community radio operating under a similar educational-mission, underwriting-supported model outside WICB's geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/wicb
• Xx.com/WICB
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wicb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WICB