| Simulcast of WPEO (1020 AM) | |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Champaign, Bloomington |
| Frequency | 98.3 MHz |
| Branding | The Word |
| Programming | |
| Format | Christian talk and teaching |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | WPEO Radio Foundation |
| History | |
First air date | 1983 (as WZRO) |
Former call signs | WEZO (1983–1996) WWHP (1996–2018) WEXG (2018–2020) |
| Technical information [1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 14962 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 5,200 watts |
| HAAT | 107 meters (351 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 40°24′17.00″N88°35′34.00″W / 40.4047222°N 88.5927778°W |
| Repeater(s) | WPEO 1020 AM Peoria |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | www |
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 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]
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.