WPEO-FM

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
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 (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
Repeater(s)WPEO 1020 AM Peoria
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.wpeo.com

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

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
  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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