WRNS (960

kHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in terms of SI base uni ...

) is an

AM radio AM broadcasting is radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation (AM) transmissions. It was the first method developed for making audio radio transmissions, and is still used worldwide, primarily for medium wave (also known as "AM band") transmi ...

station broadcasting a

sports gambling Sports betting is the activity of predicting sports results and placing a wager on the outcome. Sports bettors place their wagers either legally, through a sportsbook or bookmaker (colloquially known as "bookies"), or illegally through priva ...

format featuring programming from VSiN Radio, as well as an affiliate for

Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The t ...

NFL football. Licensed to

Kinston, North Carolina Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States, with a population of 19,900 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791. Kinston is located in the ...

, United States, the station is owned by Dick Broadcasting, through licensee Dick Broadcasting Company, Inc. of Tennessee.

History

WRNS was a simulcast of

country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

sister station

WRNS-FM WRNS-FM (95.1 MHz) is a radio station located in Kinston, North Carolina, in the United States. Its format is contemporary country. The station has a non-directional signal of 100,000 watts, that reaches "from the capital to the coast". The sta ...

until April 2017, when it launched a

sports radio Sports radio (or sports talk radio) is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sport, sporting events. A widespread programming genre that has a narrow audience appeal, sports radio is characterized by an often-low comed ...

format as "960 The Bull". The station featured

CBS Sports Radio Infinity Sports Network is an American sports radio network. It debuted as CBS Sports Radio with hourly sports news updates on September 4, 2012, and with 24/7 programming on January 2, 2013. Infinity Sports Network is programmed by Audacy, Inc ...

programming, supplemented by

Down East Wood Ducks The Down East Wood Ducks were a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League and the Single-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. They were located in Kinston, North Carolina, and are named for the wood duck, a colorful local waterfowl. Establi ...

baseball and

football. In September 2017, Dick Broadcasting announced the purchase of

Alpha Media Alpha Media LLC is a radio broadcasting company based in Portland, Oregon, and led by Bob Proffitt. The group does business under the Alpha Media name. It was formed from the merger of Alpha Broadcasting, L&L Broadcasting, and Main Line Broadc ...

stations in three markets — 18 stations and two translators in total, at a purchase price of $19.5 million. The acquisition of WRNS by Dick Broadcasting was consummated on December 20, 2017. On August 21, 2023, WRNS relaunched the sports format with an emphasis on sports gambling, rebranding as "Bet on The Bull" and featuring programming from the VSiN sports betting network.960 The Bull Bets on VSiN With Sports Betting Move
Radioinsight - August 22, 2023 On May 8, 2025, Dick Broadcasting announced that it would close WRNS on May 30. In its announcement, the company said "the AM station no longer aligns with our long-term vision for audience engagement and how community members consume audio content".

References

External links

RNS Sports radio stations in the United States Radio stations established in 1937 1937 establishments in North Carolina Lenoir County, North Carolina {{NorthCarolina-radio-station-stub