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WPEO-FM

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
WPEO-FM
Simulcast of WPEO (1020 AM)
Broadcast areaChampaign, Bloomington
Frequency98.3 MHz
BrandingThe Word
Programming
FormatChristian talk and teaching
Ownership
OwnerWPEO Radio Foundation
History
First air date
1983; 41 years ago (1983) (as WZRO)
Former call signs
WEZO (1983–1996)
WWHP (1996–2018)
WEXG (2018–2020)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID14962
ClassA
ERP5,200 watts
HAAT107 meters (351 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
40°24′17.00″N 88°35′34.00″W / 40.4047222°N 88.5927778°W / 40.4047222; -88.5927778
Repeater(s)WPEO 1020 AM Peoria
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.wpeo.com

WPEO-FM (98.3 MHz) is an FM radio station licensed to Farmer City, Illinois.[2] It is owned by WPEO Radio Foundation, and it simulcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format with co-owned WPEO 1020 AM in Peoria, Illinois. The radio studios and offices are just south of Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Illinois.

WPEO-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 5,200 watts. The transmitter is in Saybrook, Illinois, giving it coverage of an area of Central Illinois between Champaign and Bloomington.[3]

History

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The station began operations in 1983 as WZRO "5 County Country", then changed to WEZO, and changed to WWHP as "The Whip". It played a variety of music genres, primarily Americana roots, classic country, blues, and bluegrass. The station claimed to be located, "somewhere between Memphis and Chicago."[4]

After a change in ownership in early 2014, the station changed formats to classic hits.[5]

On November 23, 2015, WWHP became "NewsTalk 98.3" with a local morning and afternoon drive.

Former Cities 92.9 morning host Ian Bayne took over the station as program director and general manager and hosted the morning show from 6-9 am, installing national Breitbart editor Mike Flynn from 3-6 pm. Other programming included Laura Ingraham, Dana Loesch, Jerry Doyle, and Lars Larson.[6]

On May 30, 2016, WWHP changed its format to classic rock.

On January 24, 2018, the station changed its call sign to WEXG and rebranded as "The Edge".[7]

On October 6, 2020, WEXG changed its format from classic rock to a simulcast of Christian radio-formatted WPEO 1020 AM Peoria, branded as "The Word", and adopted a new WPEO-FM call sign the next day.[8] Smash Hit then sold the station to WPEO owners WPEO Radio Foundation for $159,900.[9] The sale was consummated on March 16, 2021.

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WPEO-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "WPEO-FM Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
  3. ^ Radio-Locator.com/WPEO-FM
  4. ^ "WPEO-FM Radio Station Information". Radio & Records.
  5. ^ Nowicki, Jerry (2014-08-12). "Radio station WWHP sold; format to change". News-Gazette.com. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
  6. ^ WWHP Bloomington/Champaign IL Flipping To News/Talk
  7. ^ WWHP Relaunches as The Edge Radioinsight - January 31, 2018
  8. ^ WEXG Flips To Simulcast Of WPEO Radioinsight - October 6, 2020
  9. ^ Venta, Lance (2020-10-09). "Station Sales Week Of 10/9". RadioInsight. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
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