WBVR-FM

WBVR-FM (96.7 MHz) is a country music–formatted radio station licensed to Auburn, Kentucky, United States, and serving the Bowling Green area. The station is owned by Forever Communications, Inc.[1] as part of a conglomerate with Bowling Green–licensed oldies station WBGN (1340 AM), Glasgow–licensed country music station WLYE-FM (94.1 FM), and Smiths Grove–licensed Top 40/CHR station WUHU (107.1 FM). All four stations share studios on Scottsville Road in southern Bowling Green, and the station's transmitter is located in northwestern Allen County just east of Alvaton.

Not to be confused with WVVR.
WBVR-FM
Broadcast areaBowling Green area
Frequency96.7 MHz
BrandingBeaver 96.7
Programming
FormatCountry
AffiliationsCompass Media Networks
Ownership
OwnerForever Communications, Inc.
WBGN, WLYE-FM, WUHU
History
First air date
May 1965 (1965-05)
Former call signs
  • WLBJ-FM (1965–1987)
  • WCBZ (1987–1992)
  • WBZD (1992–1993)
  • WMJM (1993–1994)
Call sign meaning
"Beaver" format
Technical information
Facility ID71244
ClassC2
ERP45,000 watts
HAAT129 metres (423 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
36°50′35″N 86°15′30″W
Links
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.beaverfm.com

History

On December 11, 1963, Bowling Green Broadcasters, Inc., a subsidiary of Bahakel Communications and owner of WLBJ (1410 AM), received a construction permit to build a new FM radio station in Bowling Green on 96.7 MHz.[2] WLBJ-FM began broadcasting in May 1965.[3] This was the first time WLBJ had offered an FM service since the early 1950s, when it owned WBON, later WLBJ-FM.[4]

By the late 1970s, the station was airing an album-oriented rock format known as "Natural 97 FM".[5] This shifted to contemporary hit radio "BJ-97" in 1980. Seven years later, the station's callsign was changed to WCBZ, resulting in the rebranding to "Z-97".

In 1991, Bahakel announced it would sell WCBZ to Target Communications;[6] it retained the AM, which it opted to shut down for good in December, with the FM station remaining silent until Target completed the sale.[7]

After an upgrade to 25,000 watts, WCBZ returned to the air in 1992 as rock station WBZD "Buzzard 96.7".[8] The format then changed again when the station rebranded itself "Magic" with the callsign changing to WMJM in 1993.

Further information: WUBT

In July 1994, the Beaver brand and format moved to WMJM, which became the new WBVR-FM and to a second station, WVVR in Hopkinsville.[9] Keymarket Communications, which shared some ownership with Target, had simultaneously acquired the previous Beaver station, 101.1 MHz from Russellville, along with WLAC and WLAC-FM in Nashville; the Beaver move freed up the 101.1 facility to gear itself toward Nashville as R&B-formatted WJCE-FM "The Juice".[10]

The 25,000-watt upgrade was finally approved in 2001; as a result, the city of license for the station was changed from Bowling Green to Auburn, Kentucky.

References
  1. "WBVR-FM Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. FCC History Cards for WBVR-FM
  3. "WLBJ Offering FM Broadcasts". The Park City Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky. May 23, 1965. p. 29. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "WLBJ's FM Station, WBON, Resumes Broadcasting". The Park City Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky. December 10, 1950. p. 2. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Ribar, Richard (November 2, 1979). "Mr. Natural: Four and a half years after 97, Preston is leaving Bowling Green". The Park City Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky. p. 7-B. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "WCBZ-FM sale pending approval". The Park City Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky. August 21, 1991. p. 3-A. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "BG radio stations sign off the air". The Park City Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky. December 8, 1991. p. 4-A. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Radio stations' rock'n'roll formats are missed". The Park City Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky. January 27, 1993. p. 4-A. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Where Did 101.1 FM Go?". News-Democrat and Leader. Russellville, Kentucky. July 28, 1994. p. 2. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Stark, Phyllis (July 30, 1994). "Apocalypse Soon, Says Family Radio Chief; Clinton Backs Off Broadcaster Spectrum Tax" (PDF). Billboard. p. 122. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-09-24. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
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