960 WSBT in South Bend has added an FM simulcast on 96.1 FM, leading to a new brand utilized by the Mid-West Family Broadcasting station.
The station, which serves as South Bend’s home of Notre Dame football and basketball coverage, had previously been heard on 96.1 FM before flipping to a country format in 2021.
“WSBT will continue broadcasting at 960am as well as add 99.9 WQLQ-HD3, giving it coverage across all of Southwest Michigan, from the Indiana/Michigan state line to almost Holland,” Mid-West Family South Bend Director of News & Sports Content Jim Irizarry said. “No other sports station in the area will have as much coverage as Sports Radio 96.1 WSBT.”
Currently, the station broadcasts programs from both Infinity Sports Network (Maggie & Perloff, The Jim Rome Show) and FOX Sports Radio (The Dan Patrick Show, The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Covino & Rich), in addition to a local afternoon show hosted by Darin Pritchett. Pritchett has been a host for more than 20 years in the region.
According to RadioInsight, the previous iteration of the 96.1 FM format — new country — garnered a 0.9 share in the latest Nielsen ratings for the South Bend market. Meanwhile, the sports station — which was only available on AM radio — earned a 1.4 share in the fall ratings period.
