WZPN

Neil A. Rhones and Luann C. Dahl applied for a new station on 101.1 MHz at Canton, Illinois, and were granted a construction permit in 1996.BPH-951011MA The call sign WBDM was assigned to this station. In 1997, Rhones and Dahl asked the Federal Communications Commission to move Canton's 101.1 MHz allocation, with their construction permit, to Glasford, Illinois, claiming that moving the city of license would result in adding 81,024 people to the coverage area while only losing 8,754. The FCC granted the request on August 26, 1996.[http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/proceeding/view?name=97-186 FCC Mass Media Bureau docket 97-186]; Notice of Proposed Rulemaking RM-9130: Amendment of the FM Table of Allotments In June 1999, Rhones and Dahl assigned their construction permit to Two Petaz, Inc.,{{cite web | url = http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=282456 | title = FCC authorization for file number BAPH-19990304GE | date = 1999-06-28 | publisher = Federal Communications Commission | access-date = 2010-10-24 }} which was based in Nashville, Tennessee and whose president was Bargard H. Walters.{{cite web | url = https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=100400042&formid=1&fac_num=78165 | title = FCC Form 302-FM (File Number BLH-19990913AAB) | date = 1999-09-10 | last = Walters | first = Bargard H. | publisher = Federal Communications Commission | access-date = 2010-10-24 }} The station's call sign was changed to WRVP on July 13, 1999{{cite web | url = http://www.fccinfo.com/CMDProEngine.php?sCurrentService=FM&tabSearchType=Appl&sAppIDNumber=1178058 | title = WPIA(FM) | work = FCCInfo.com | publisher = Cavell Mertz & Associates, Inc. | date = 2007-09-04 | access-date = 2007-09-08 }} and the station received its license on January 4, 2000.{{cite web | url = http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=400042 | title = FCC authorization for file number BLH-19990913AAB | date = 2000-01-04 | publisher = Federal Communications Commission | access-date = 2010-10-24 }}

The station used the nickname "101.1 The River"."Peoria Radio Remains a Source of Local Identity Even as Stations Change Hands," The Peoria Journal-Star, October 10, 1999. The River was born as an adult contemporary station and was attempting to compete with heritage 50 kW signal WSWT. This did not last long; just a few months later, the plug was pulled in favor of a simulcast of sister station 98.5 as "98.5 & 101.1 The Party". 98.5 WPPY and 101.1 swapped call signs on July 27, 2000."Column Right," The Peoria Journal-Star, August 10, 2000.

In March 2004, 101.1 began simulcasting WVEL (AM), which has long suffered from a weak signal outside of Pekin."Radio stations changing formats as winter turns into spring," The Peoria Journal-Star, March 7, 2004. As part of the simulcast, 101.1 dropped the WPPY call sign in favor of WVEL-FM.

In September 2006, as part of a larger station swap between multiple Peoria groups, Regent Broadcasting sold 101.1 to newly formed Independence Media Holdings. 105.7 was being sold from AAA Entertainment to Regent, and Regent indicated it did not want the Hot AC format currently on 105.7. On September 26, 2006, "Mix 105.7" (WXMP) and its format moved to the weaker 101.1 frequency and changed its name to "Mix 101.1", while the WIXO callsign and the "99X Rocks" format moved from 99.9 to 105.7."New & Notable," The Peoria Journal-Star, September 21, 2006."On the Air -- Radio dial has heads spinning," The Peoria Journal-Star, October 1, 2006."Peoria tunes in -- Who owns what?," The Peoria Journal-Star, October 8, 2006.

At midnight on September 19, 2007, the station changed its format to Oldies, branded as "Hippie Radio 101.1"."Radio group shuffles lineup again," The Peoria Journal-Star, September 23, 2007.{{cite web | url = http://radioinsight.com/boards/index.php?t=rview&th=12513 | title = Now Playing in Peoria! | author = Workin4ThaMan | date = 2007-09-19 | work = RadioInsight.com | quote = "HIPPIE RADIO," as INDEPENDENCE MEDIA HOT AC WXMP (Mix 101.1) / PEORIA spins the format wheel to Oldies as Hippie Radio 101.1, as of about 90 minutes ago (Midnight, 9/19). No indication, officially, of new call letters - although an Illinois media messageboard lists WHPI as the new calls}} The call sign was changed to WHPI to match the "Hippie" moniker.

At 9:45 p.m. on September 26, 2010, WHPI changed its format to adult hits, branded as "Jack FM".{{cite web | url = http://radioinsight.com/2010/jack-plays-in-peoria/ | title = Jack Plays In Peoria | date = 2010-09-27 | work = RadioInsight | publisher = RadioBB Networks | location = Sayreville, New Jersey | access-date = 2010-10-24 }} WHPI remained jockless for the majority of its history after the "Jack FM" format signed on, only adding a local morning show in 2017.

Independence Media Holdings sold WHPI along with its other three Peoria-area stations (WZPN, WPIA, and WWCT) to Michael S. Rea's Advanced Media Partners on November 15, 2010.{{cite web | url = http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1395048 | title = Application Search Details (BALH-20100723AEO) | publisher = Federal Communications Commission | access-date = 2010-11-27 }}

On June 6, 2018, at 3 p.m., Jack announced he had "gone to find himself in Tahiti", and at that point, 101.1 became the new primary station for ESPN Radio in the Peoria market, with 96.5 serving as the simulcast until a new format for the latter is planned. The two stations rebranded together as "ESPN Peoria".[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/168806/espn-peoria-moves-to-101-1-replacing-jack-fm/ ESPN Peoria Moves to 101.1 Replacing Jack FM] Radioinsight - June 6, 2018 On June 26, the two frequencies swapped call signs, with WHPI moving to 96.5 FM and WZPN moving to 101.1 FM. During that time, the station's website was changed to a redirect to 96.5's web address.

The sports format moved to 101.1 permanently on September 5, 2020, at midnight.

On June 1, 2023, the station shifted to a Fox Sports Radio affiliation as "Peoria Sports Radio". With the rebranding, the station expanded the afternoon drive “Jim Mattson Show with Mike Rizzo” from two to four hours, running from 2-6pm; previously, the duo hosted from 3-5pm with Rizzo hosting a solo hour at 5:00.{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/252677/wzpn-rebrands-as-it-drops-espn-for-fox-sports-radio/|title=WZPN Rebrands As It Drops ESPN For Fox Sports Radio}}

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{{Reflist}}

• [https://peoriasportsradio.com Peoria Sports Radio] — official website
• {{FM station data|78165|WZPN}}

{{Peoria Radio}}

{{Sports Radio Stations in Illinois}}

{{Fox Sports Radio stations}}

Category:Radio stations established in 1999

Category:Sports radio stations in the United States

ZPN

Category:1999 establishments in Illinois

Category:Fox Sports Radio stations