Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 4, 1990                   TAG: 9004040097
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

AND NOW . . . WBNI

The reincarnation of the former WTOY, WBNI is an affiliate of the Colorado-based Business Radio Network. It will offer local news and business programs during its 6 a.m.-to-midnight broadcast day.

The station, owned by Commonwealth Media, a group of Roanoke Valley business people headed by Mike Waldvogel, has been off the air since March 26, when it discontinued its urban contemporary format and dropped the WTOY call letters, which have since been picked up by the Salem station formerly known as WSAY. The new WTOY (1480 AM) also has adopted the black-oriented music format.

The station manager for WBNI is Amy Lee, a former WTOY sales manager. Programming director is Gary Tate, who was a copywriter for WROV-AM and FM until October. Also on the staff is Tim Meadows, who was an announcer for WROV-FM until being released last year.

WBNI is the Roanoke Valley's second all-news station. WFIR (960 AM) adopted an all-news and talk format in March 1989.