Indiana Broadcast History Archive

A native of Jennings County, Bruce McConnell got interested in broadcasting when he saw the results of radio advertising by his employer, an Indianapolis tobacco and candy wholesaler. A decision was made to build his own station, and WISH Radio went on the air in 1941. His Universal Broadcasting company then grew to include radio stations South Bend, Anderson, and Fort Wayne. He founded WISH-TV, Indianapolis, in 1954, and added a new station in Fort Wayne, WINT-TV (later WANE-TV). Two years later he sold the Indianapolis and Fort Wayne stations to the J.H. Whitney Company. McConnell was among the founders of the Indiana Broadcasters Association in 1948. He died January 31, 1976. 

Indiana Broadcast Pioneers