iHeart Launches BIN: Black Information Network
• UPDATED: iHeartMedia today launched BIN: Black Information Network, described as “the first and only 24/7 national and local all news audio service dedicated to providing an objective, accurate and trusted source of continual news coverage with a Black voice and perspective.” BIN is focused on service to the Black community and providing an information window for those outside the community to help foster communication, accountability and a deeper understanding. BIN is enabled by the support of National Founding Partners who share and support the mission of BIN: Black Information Network — Bank of America, CVS Health, GEICO, Lowe’s, McDonald’s USA, Sony, 23andMe and Verizon.
Tony Coles (left) has been named as President of BIN: Black Information Network. Coles currently serves as Division President of the iHeartMedia Markets Group and EVP of Programming for the company’s West Region. Tanita Myers (right) will serve as Director of News Operations for BIN: Black Information Network. Myers is a seasoned network and local Producer, broadcaster and news anchor with 15 years’ of experience at Reach Media. She was formerly Director of Operations for The Tom Joyner Morning Show; Executive Producer of The Rickey Smiley Morning Show; and a reporter for various major market stations. “BIN: Black Information Network will fill a void by providing continual news and objective information with full focus on the Black community,” said Coles. “We began developing our 24/7 Black news source last year, and events of the last few weeks, especially the senseless and tragic death of George Floyd, highlighted the need for this network. Now is the time for our voice to be heard, and I could not be more proud of our work and the team we are assembling at BIN.”
“We are pleased and proud to support the launch of BIN: Black Information Network by contributing resources that will have the greatest impact – our reach, our multiple platforms, our technology infrastructure and our broad, in-depth relationships with consumers,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia. “The commitment to service, and the immediate need we saw for a news and information destination for the Black community, accelerated the launch of BIN: Black Information Network to serve this community in an important new way. We are honored to be joined by some of the most important companies in the world that are also committed to this mission.”
BIN will be distributed nationally through the iHeartRadio app and on dedicated all-news local AM/FM stations, including WGST-AM/Atlanta, WYNF/Augusta, GA, WRFX-HD2/W254AZ/Charlotte, WMMS-HD2/W227BF/Cleveland, WGSY-AM/W234BX/Columbus, GA, WDFN-AM/Detroit, WGVL-AM/Greenville, SC, WMGE-AM/Macon, GA, KQQL-HD2/W227BF/Minneapolis, WNRQ-HD2/W248BQ/Nashville, WODT-AM/New Orleans, WNOH/Norfolk, KFOO/Riverside, KKSF/San Francisco and KHHO/Seattle, with additional local markets TBA over the next 60 days. BIN will also provide the news service for iHeartMedia’s 91 Hip Hop, R&B and Gospel stations.
BIN: Black Information Network will also have an Advisory Board consisting of community leaders of from both inside the company and externally who will bring their unique and important perspectives as an ongoing resource to the business. In addition, Clear Channel Outdoor Americas (CCOA) will be a national marketing partner. BIN will be a standalone business unit within iHeartMedia, and its executives and talent will reflect the community they serve. The business will be enabled and supported by the full resources of iHeartMedia, including shared use of technology; data and insights; marketing; digital services; monetization; and corporate resources, including Legal, HR and Finance.
BIN is actively hiring for various positions — candidates can visit iHeartMediaCareers.com. For more information about BIN: Black Information Network, please visit BINNews.com.
