97.1 The Fan live
Columbus' Sports Destination
97.1 The Fan at a glance
About 97.1 The Fan
97.1 The Fan is the sports station of Columbus, Ohio. It broadcasts as WBNS-FM on 97.1 FM, is licensed to Columbus and calls itself Columbus' Sports Destination. On this page you can listen to The Fan live online, free and without an app.
Ohio State flagship
In a city that lives for the Buckeyes, WBNS-FM is the flagship station of the Ohio State Sports Network, so Ohio State football and basketball are at the heart of the station. Game days bring live play-by-play and long pregame and postgame shows, and the talk shows follow the Buckeyes all year.
Sports talk for Central Ohio
Outside the games, local hosts talk about Ohio State, the Blue Jackets, the Crew, the Browns and the Bengals, with callers from across Central Ohio. National broadcasts come from Westwood One Sports, and the station partners with WBNS-TV and Ohio's ONN Radio.
The WBNS family
The station is part of the WBNS media group, which includes WBNS (1460 AM) and WBNS-TV. The three share studios on Twin Rivers Drive, west of downtown Columbus, and the FM station's call letters come from its AM sister. WBNS-FM has been on the air since June 1959 and is owned by Nexstar Media Group's Tegna subsidiary.
HD channels
WBNS-FM broadcasts in HD Radio: HD2 carries sports and sports-betting talk from WBNS, and HD3 offers another sports channel.
How to listen
You can hear The Fan on the radio on 97.1 FM across Central Ohio, but you do not need a radio at all: this page plays the live stream in any browser, on a phone, tablet or computer. Press the play button at the top, wait a second or two for the stream to connect, and keep browsing while it plays — the player stays on as you move between pages. It is ideal for a Buckeyes Saturday or the afternoon talk, and it costs nothing: no account, no subscription and no app to install.
Below the player you will find The Fan's frequency and home city, the genres it plays, answers to common questions and a list of similar stations, so when you want a change you can jump to another station in the same format or the same area with one click.
- 100% free, no sign-up
- Live stream, 24 hours a day
- Listen from anywhere
- Works on phone and computer
How to listen to 97.1 The Fan live
In 3 simple steps, with nothing to install.
- 01Press play
Click the "Listen live" button at the top of this page.
- 02Wait a moment
The live stream starts loading within a few seconds.
- 03Enjoy
97.1 The Fan plays right in your browser, with nothing to install.
Sports
Sports radio brings live play-by-play, call-in shows and the latest news from the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college sports and more.
Radio stations in Columbus
Other stations from the same place — click to open.
Frequently asked questions
Press play on this page to stream WBNS-FM, free and with no app.
Yes. WBNS-FM is the flagship station of the Ohio State Sports Network.
97.1 FM, with the call sign WBNS-FM.
The station belongs to the WBNS group, owned by Nexstar Media Group's Tegna subsidiary.
Yes. You can listen to 97.1 The Fan live for free here on Radio Stations Hub, 24 hours a day.
Yes. 97.1 The Fan plays in your phone’s browser on Android or iPhone — there is no app to install. Just open this page and press play.
Yes. Connect your phone to the car stereo by Bluetooth or cable, open 97.1 The Fan here on Radio Stations Hub and enjoy the live stream on the road.
If the stream does not load, wait a few seconds and press play again — some streams take a moment to connect. You can also refresh the page or try another Sports station meanwhile. Radio Stations Hub checks every stream automatically.