WXNT's studio is located on North Shadeland Avenue on the city's east side, along with sister stations 99.5 WZPL and 107.9 WNTR. The transmitter and antenna are located off Knollton Road at West 46th Street, on the northwest side of Indianapolis.[5] WXNT operates at 5,000 watts around the clock, using a non-directional antenna by day. But at night a directional antenna is required to protect other stations on AM 1430 from interference.[6]
The station was mentioned as officially opening its new studios on the show "Nightbeat" on October 27, 1950. For most of the 1960s, '70s and '80s, its programming consisted of country music, which proved an enormous ratings success. In 1970, WIRE's country format was number one in the Indianapolis radio market with a 25.6 Pulse rating share, also making it the highest-rated country station in the nation, according to a 1970 Billboard magazine article.[8] But over time, country music fans shifted their listening to FM radio.
When Mid America Radio flipped WXTZ (103.3 FM) from easy listening to adult contemporary in 1989, the format and call sign moved to AM.[9]
On November 28, 1990, the station became WFXF, which simulcast then-sister station WFXF-FM 103.3 and its classic rock format known as "103.3 The Fox." (Today that station is alternative rock/active rockWOLT). On May 18, 1992, the call sign for AM 1430 was changed to WCKN.
On January 2, 2013, WXNT switched to all-sports, becoming a CBS Sports Radio Network affiliate.[10] The station continues to be the Indianapolis home for Notre Dame football.
On February 13, 2019, Cumulus Media and Entercom announced an agreement in which WXNT, WZPL, and WNTR would be swapped to Cumulus in exchange for WNSH (now WXBK) in New York City and WHLL and WMAS-FM in Springfield, Massachusetts. Under the terms of the deal, Cumulus began operating WXNT under a local marketing agreement on March 1, 2019.[11] The swap was completed on May 9, 2019.[12]
On November 30, 2023, WXNT rebranded as "Indy's Sports Ticket 1430".
