WBGI-FM
{{short description|Radio station in Bethlehem, West Virginia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WBGI-FM
| logo =
| logo_size =
| city = Bethlehem, West Virginia
| area = Wheeling metropolitan area
| branding = Big Willie 105.5
| frequency = 105.5 MHz
| airdate = {{start date and age|1985}}
| format = Country music
| erp = 13,500 watts
| haat = {{convert|95|meters}}
| class = B1
| facility_id = 4996
| coordinates = {{coord|40|03|17|N|80|42|26|W|display=inline,title|region:US-WV_type:landmark}}
| callsign_meaning = "Biggie"
| former_callsigns = WHLX (1982–1996)
WRIR (1996–1997)
WZNW (1997–2001)
WZNW-FM (2001)
WVKF (2001–2004)
WUKL (2004–2021)
| affiliations = Fox News Radio
| licensee = Ohio Midland Newsgroup, LLC
| owner = Cody Barack
| sister_stations = WOMP, WLYV, WRQY, WEIR, WCDK
| webcast = [https://us7.maindigitalstream.com/4407/ Listen Live]
| website =
| licensing_authority = FCC
}}
WBGI-FM (105.5 MHz) is a radio station broadcasting a country music radio format. It is licensed to Bethlehem, West Virginia, and it serves the Wheeling metropolitan area. WBGI-FM is owned by Cody Barack through licensee Ohio Midland Newsgroup LLC.
The station has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 13,500 watts. The transmitter is on Highland Lane in Bethlehem, near Interstate 470.[https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?call=wbgi&x=0&y=0&sr=Y&s=C Radio-Locator.com/WBGI-FM]
History
The station first signed on the air in {{start date and age|1985}}. Its original call sign was WHLX.
In 1997, WHLX was flipped to a Modern AC—WZNE—THE ZONE, a Hit based Alternative Pop station programmed by Doug Daniels. The station then transitioned to a Mainstream CHR in 1998.
Beginning in 2001, the station changed call letters to WVKF and become KISS FM remaining CHR. But the CHR/Top 40 format moved to 95.7 in 2004. After Kiss-FM moved, 105.5 flipped to Classic Hits as "Kool 105.5" under the WUKL call sign.
On August 12, 2021, the station cluster was sold by Forever Media to Cody Barack's Ohio Midland Newsgroup, LLC. The properties included WBGI-FM, WLIE (now WLYV), and WRQY. The price tag was $1,250,000 along with the sale of FM translator W235BX.{{cite news|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/211688/forever-media-sells-wheeling-cluster/|title=Forever Media Sells Wheeling Cluster|work=RadioInsight|date=August 12, 2021|first=Lance|last=Venta}}
On December 28, 2021, Ohio Midland Newsgroup announced that WUKL and WBGI-FM would swap formats on January 3, 2022, at 5:30 a.m. The switch put the classic hits format on 100.5 as a revived "WOMP-FM”, and the country format on 105.5 as "105.5 Biggie Country", with both stations exchanging call signs before the announcement on December 24, 2021.{{Cite web|title=More on WOMP-FM Return To Wheeling|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/217321/womp-fm-returning-to-wheeling/|access-date=2021-12-31|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US}}
On September 22, 2022, after stunting with a one day loop of "Achy Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus, WBGI-FM changed its format to classic country as "Big Willie 105.5", positioned as "The Greatest Country Hits of the 80s, 90s & More".{{Cite web |title=After Achy Breaky Stunt, Big Willie Rises In Wheeling |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/242787/after-achy-breaky-stunt-big-willie-rises-in-wheeling/ |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=RadioInsight |language=en-US}} In early 2025, the station playlist was tweaked to add more current music while retaining the Big Willie branding. The station is now positioned as “Your Country” and is also the local Nascar affiliate.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{FM station data|4996|WBGI-FM}}
{{Wheeling Radio}}
{{Country Radio Stations in West Virginia}}
Category:Country radio stations in West Virginia
Category:Classic country radio stations in the United States
Category:Radio stations established in 1985
Category:1985 establishments in West Virginia
{{WestVirginia-radio-station-stub}}