WPEO-FM
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WPEO-FM
| above = Simulcast of WPEO (1020 AM)
| logo =
| city = Farmer City, Illinois
| area = Champaign, Bloomington
| branding = The Word
| frequency = 98.3 MHz
| repeater = WPEO 1020 AM Peoria
| airdate = {{start date and age|1983}} (as WZRO)
| format = Christian talk and teaching
| erp = 5,200 watts
| haat = {{convert|107|meters}}
| class = A
| licensing_authority = FCC
| facility_id = 14962
| coordinates = {{coord|40|24|17.00|N| 88|35|34.00|W|region:US-IL_type:landmark}}
| former_callsigns = WEZO (1983–1996)
WWHP (1996–2018)
WEXG (2018–2020)
| affiliations =
| owner = WPEO Radio Foundation
| licensee =
| sister_stations =
| webcast = [https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cirruscontent/WPEO Listen Live]
| website = {{URL|http://www.wpeo.com}}
}}
WPEO-FM (98.3 MHz) is an FM radio station licensed to Farmer City, Illinois.{{cite web |url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WPEO |title=WPEO-FM Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division |access-date=2011-05-25}} 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.[https://radio-locator.com/info/WPEO-FM?loc=40.51219%2C-88.98870&locn=Normal%2C%20Illinois Radio-Locator.com/WPEO-FM]
History
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."{{cite news | title=WPEO-FM Radio Station Information | url=http://www.radio-locator.com/info/WPEO-FM | work =Radio & Records }}
After a change in ownership in early 2014, the station changed formats to classic hits.{{Cite news|url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/business/2014-08-12/radio-station-wwhp-sold-format-change.html|title=Radio station WWHP sold; format to change|last=Nowicki|first=Jerry|date=2014-08-12|work=News-Gazette.com|access-date=2018-01-26|language=en}}
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.[https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/95276/wwhp-bloomingtonchampaign-il-flipping-to-talk/ WWHP Bloomington/Champaign IL Flipping To News/Talk]
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".[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/122803/wwhp-relaunches-98-3-edge/ WWHP Relaunches as The Edge] Radioinsight - January 31, 2018
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.[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/199093/wexg-flips-to-simulcast-of-wpeo/ WEXG Flips To Simulcast Of WPEO] Radioinsight - October 6, 2020 Smash Hit then sold the station to WPEO owners WPEO Radio Foundation for $159,900.{{Cite news |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=2020-10-09 |title=Station Sales Week Of 10/9 |language=en-US |work=RadioInsight |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/199281/station-sales-week-of-10-9/ |access-date=2020-11-13}} The sale was consummated on March 16, 2021.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.wpeo.com}}
- [https://ianbayne.com/ Ian Bayne's website]{{FM station data|53122|WPEO-FM}}
{{Bloomington IL Radio}}
{{Champaign Radio}}
{{Religious Radio Stations in Illinois}}
Category:1984 establishments in Illinois
Category:DeWitt County, Illinois