Indiana stations submitted more than 350 entries to compete in the Indiana Broadcasters Association 2025 Spectrum Awards for the Best in Broadcasting, recognizing outstanding achievement from August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2025.
Finalists named below are invited to attend the IBA Spectrum Awards dinner event celebration, which will take place on Tuesday, October 28 at The Cabaret in downtown Indianapolis. The special event, which includes a reception, dinner and free valet parking, takes place at The Cabaret venue located at 924 North Pennsylvania Street in downtown Indianapolis.
Winners in each category will be announced at the evening event, with beautiful glass trophies for winning broadcasters.
Stations competed in a dozen Radio and a dozen TV categories, including new opportunities for recognition for weathercasters and non-commercial broadcasters.
Award categories are also grouped by market size. Radio Market 1 includes stations in Indianapolis metropolitan area, Evansville, Fort Wayne, and South Bend. Radio Market 2 is all other stations. For Television, Market 1 is the Indianapolis metropolitan area and TV Market 2 covers the rest of the state.
IBA has lowered attendance prices this year, and admission is $50 per person.
Registration Closes Thursday, October 16 at 11:59PM
To Register for the Dinner [CLICK HERE]
And the 2025 Spectrum Awards Finalists are…
Radio Categories:
Best “Pro-Radio” Industry Imaging Award
Market 1
WAOR-FM
WIKY-FM – The Power of Radio Advertising
Market 2
WMGI-FM – Brazilians & Brows
WMUN-AM/FM – Radio Real Time Help
WQLK-FM – Radio Works – Koons & Oxford OBGYN
Best Radio Broadcast Personality or Team
Market 1
WJJK-FM – Middays With Stu
WJJK-FM – Mornings With Greg Browning
WJLT-FM – My Morning Show With Bobby & Liberty
Market 2
WBDC-FM – Ty and The Beezer
WERK-FM – Start Your Day with Jay
WLQI-FM – Touhyville Show with Steve & Cheryl
Best Radio Newscast
Market 1
WIKY-FM – 8:00AM Newscast
Market 2
WBST-FM – All Things Considered
WMUN-AM/FM – The Talk of Muncie
WQLK-FM – Jeff Lane News
Best Radio General News Story
Market 1
WBCL-FM – Taylor University Main Street Mile
WIKY-FM – Car Crashes at Bally’s
Market 2
XWBST-FM – Indiana U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz’s Town Hall
WJOB-AM – An Olympic Hero’s Homecoming
WQLK-FM – House Explosion
NEW: Non-Commercial Radio Program of the Year
Market 1
WUBS-FM- A Chat With Dr. Kathy
Market 2
WBST-FM – Pop of Culture
Best Radio Investigative Reporting
Market 1
WBCL-FM – Issues Facing Indiana Voters in 2024
WIKY-FM – Airport Shut Down
Market 2
WBDC-FM – Bad Water in Jasper
WBST-FM – Bingham Square Apartments Clear-Out
WQLK-FM – Council Member Traffic Stop
Best Radio Sports Show or Sports Story
Market 1
WIKY-FM – March Madness Starts in Evansville
WOWO-AM – Tribute To Ryne Sandberg
WXNT-AM – The Dan Dakich Show
Market 2
WITZ-FM – Walk to Left Field and Luv4Lexi
WJOB-AM – Remembering Coach Gene Hackman
WJOB-AM – MaxStrong
Best Local Radio Sports Play-by-Play Coverage
Market 1
WAOR-FM- Froggy Night Lights
WKJG-AM – High School Hockey Night In Fort Wayne
WNDE-AM – Fighting Irish Comeback
Market 2
WHBU-AM/FM – Frankton vs. Tipton Championship Thriller
WJOB-AM – A Sectional Championship Upset
WQLK-HD3 – Richmond vs. Centerville – High School Basketball
Best Radio Local Community Impact
Market 1
WBYT-FM – Tee’s for TaTa’s
WJLT-FM – Guns & Hoses Charity Boxing Event
WZPL-FM – Request-A-Thon for Make-A-Wish
Market 2
WKOA-FM – Lafayette Media Group Feed The Need Day
WLHM-FM – Burgers for Charity
WXXC-FM – Turkey Day Giveaway
NEW: Best Radio Station Digital Media Presence
Market 1
WAOR-FM
WIKY-FM
Market 2
WBDC-FM
WKOA-FM – Blending On-Air with Social Media
WQLK-FM – Real People, Real Music, & Real Connection
Best Individual Radio Commercial
Market 1
WBCL-FM – Favorite Things
WIKY-FM – Hearing Wellness of Newburgh
WJJK-FM – Bourbon & Birdies
Market 2
WFMG-FM – Greetings, Human Beings of Earth
WLQI-FM – Your Wife is HOT
WLQI-FM – Quiznos 5.55 After 5
Best Radio Advertising Promotional Campaign
Market 1
WFMS-FM – Deb & Matt’s 30 Second Pitch
WFMS-FM – Deb & Matt’s Race to 500 Selfies
WIKY-FM – Brightest House On The Block
Market 2
WBDC-FM – Feeling Just Peachy Endorsement
WERK-FM – It’s on the House with Weathertight Roofing
WQLK-FM – Mow Your Grass Off
Best Radio Election Coverage (November 2024)
Market 1
WIKY-FM – WIKY Election Coverage
WOWO-AM – Presidential Election Recap 2024
Market 2
WBDC-FM – Trimulcast Covereage
WMUN-AM/FM – County Commissioner Debate
Television Categories:
Best “Pro-Television” Industry Imaging Award
Market 1
WISH-TV – Teachers Treasures Partners in Education
WXIN-TV – WXIN Indy 500
WXIN-TV – WXIN Mornings
Market 2
WNDU-TV – NEXTGEN TV
Best TV Newscast
Market 1
WISH-TV – 5PM Newscast
WRTV-TV – 5:00PM Newscast
WTTV-TV – CBS4 Newscast
Market 2
WANE-TV – June 6 – 6pm
WSBT-TV – News at Midday
WEHT-TV – Eyewitness News
Best TV News Feature
Market 1
WISH-TV – Stan the Trash Man
WTHR-TV – Indiana Dunes
WTTV-TV – CBS4 Representing in the Ring
Market 2
WEHT-TV – Veteran’s Day Canon
WTWO-TV – Hope After Horror
WTWO-TV – Heartbreak To Healing
NEW: Non-Commercial Television Program of the Year
Market 2
WIPB-TV – Now Entering Downton Muncie
Best TV Investigative Reporting
Market 1
WRTV-TV – Body Cam Reveals Mistakes
WTHR-TV – What Happened Inside
WTHR-TV – 13 Investigates: Sidelined
Market 2
WBND-TV – Access to Justice
WNDU-TV – Elkhart Man Losing Benefits
WSBT-TV – Bad Behavior, Broken Trust
Multimedia Journalist of the Year
Market 1
WRTV-TV – Nicole Griffin
WRTV-TV – Taj Simmons
WTHR-TV – Samantha Johnson
Market 2
WANE-TV – Ethan Dahlen
WBND-TV – Annie Kate
WSBT-TV – Cicily Porter
Best TV Weather Coverage
Market 1
WRTV-TV – WRTV Best Weather
WTHR-TV – April Tornadoes
WTTV-TV – CBS4 Weather
Market 2
WNDU-TV – Matt Engelbrecht
WSBT-TV – Abby Weppler
WTWO-TV – May 16 Weather
NEW: Television Weathercaster of the Year
Market 1
WRTV-TV – Kyle Mounce
WRTV-TV – Todd Klaassen
WXIN-TV – Brian Wilkes
Market 2
WBND-TV – Tom Coomes
WEHT-TV – Ron Rhodes
WTWO-TV – Jesse Walker
Best TV Sports Show
Market 1
WISH-TV – The Zone
WTHR-TV – 13Sports Operation Football
WXIN-TV – FOX59 Sports Overtime
Market 2
WANE-TV – Mama Mastadon
WBND-TV – ABC57 Kickoff: Catch History
WNDU-TV – Countdown To Destiny
Best TV Local Community Impact
Market 1
WISH-TV – WISH You Were Here – Noblesville
WRTV-TV – Toy Drive
WXIN-TV – FOX59 Your Hometown: Kokomo
Market 2
WBND-TV – Project Tornado
WNDU-TV – Wednesday’s Child
WNDU-TV – Toys For Tots
NEW: Best TV Station Digital Media Presence
Market 1
WISH-TV – WISH-TV Digital
WRTV-TV – Digital Excellence
Market 2
WJTS-TV – WJTS Digital Media Coverage
WNDU-TV – WNDU.com
WSBT-TV – WSBT22
Best Individual TV Commercial
Market 1
WISH-TV – Godby Hearth & Home
WISH-TV – Bailey & Wood
WRTV-TV – Uncle Bill’s Pet Centers
Market 2
WJTS-TV – Santa’s Reindeer Ranch
WNDU-TV – True Legend Redamaks
WTWO-TV – Frank The Elf
Best TV Advertising Promotional Campaign
Market 1
WISH-TV – Indy 500 & Month of May
WISH-TV – Storm Track 8 Promo
WISH-TV – Storm Track 8 Weather Campaign
Market 2
WNDU-TV – Shipshewana
Best TV Election Coverage (November 2024)
Market 1
WTHR-TV – Can You Tell What’s Real?
WTHR-TV – Decision 2024
WXIN-TV – FOX59 Gubernatorial Debate
Market 2
WBND-TV – Your Voice Your Vote
WNDU-TV – Democratic National Convention
WTWO-TV – Best Election Coverage
