WPFR (AM)

WPFR is a Christian radio station licensed to Terre Haute, Indiana, broadcasting on 1480 kHz AM. The station is owned by American Hope Communications, Inc.[5]

WPFR
Frequency1480 kHz
Programming
FormatSilent (was Christian Radio)
Ownership
OwnerAmerican Hope Communications, Inc.
WEHP, WKZI, WLHW
History
First air date
January 6, 1948[1]
Former call signs
WTHI (1948-2000)[2][3]
Technical information[4]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID70653
ClassB
Power5,000 watts day
1,000 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
39°30′2″N 87°23′10″W
Translator(s)106.3 MHz W292FT (Terre Haute)
Links
Public license information
Websitehttps://wjly.org/

History

The station began broadcasting January 6, 1948, and originally held the call sign WTHI.[1][2] The station ran 1,000 watts 24 hours a day.[2] In 1970, the station's daytime power was increased to 5,000 watts.[2] WTHI AM 1480, along with WTHI-FM, and WTHI-TV were long owned by Tony Hulman, and remained in his family's hands until 1998, when all three stations were sold to Emmis Communications.[6][7]

WTHI aired a Top 40 format from the mid-1960s until January 1974, when the station adopted a country music format.[8] By 1983, the station had adopted a MOR format.[9] By 1988, the station had begun airing an oldies format.[10] By 1991, the station had returned to airing a country music format, simulcasting 99.9 WTHI-FM.[11]

The station adopted a news-talk format in 1992.[12] As a news-talk station, WTHI was Terre Haute's home for prominent national personalities such as Rush Limbaugh and Paul Harvey, as well as The Bob & Tom Show.[13][14] The station also carried The Mike Pence Show, a statewide talk show which Pence hosted prior to his election to congress.[15]

In 2000, the station was donated to Word Power, Inc., and its call sign was changed to WPFR, with the station adopting a Christian format.[16][3][17] The station was taken off the air in March 2020.[18]

Effective October 29, 2021, it was sold to American Hope Communications, along with WKZI, WLHW, WPFR-FM, and three translators, for $179,000.[19][20]

References
  1. 1973 Broadcasting Yearbook, Broadcasting, 1973. p. B-71. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  2. History Cards for WPFR, fcc.gov. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  3. Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  4. "Facility Technical Data for WPFR". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  5. AM Query Results: WPFR, fcc.gov. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  6. Fybush, Scott. "Terre Haute, Indiana (Part I)", fybush.com. June 2, 2006. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  7. "Proposed Station Transfers", The M Street Journal. Vol. 15, No. 17. April 29, 1998. p. 6. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  8. "$14G Promo Tees Oft Ind. Country Shift", Billboard. January 26, 1974. p. 22. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  9. Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1983, Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1983. p. B-85. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  10. Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1988, Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1988. p. B-100. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  11. Unmacht, Robert (1991). The M Street Radio Directory. p. 145. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  12. "Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 9, No. 40. October 7, 1992. p. 1. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  13. "The Wabash Valley Home of the Bob & Tom Show!". WTHI. Archived from the original on February 4, 1998. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  14. "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 12, No. 40. October 5, 1995. p. 1. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  15. "The Wabash Valley Home of the Bob & Tom Show!". WTHI. Archived from the original on April 28, 1997. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  16. "Transactions", Radio & Records. November 5, 1999. p. 6. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  17. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2001, Broadcasting & Cable, 2001. p. D-159. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  18. "WPFR Terre Haute Shuts Down", RadioInsight. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  19. "Indiana-Illinois Cluster Sold", All Access. April 2, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  20. "Hoosier Group Spun To Hopeful New Owner", Radio & Television Business Report. April 2, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
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