WPFR (AM)
| Frequency | 1480 kHz |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Format | Silent (was Christian radio) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | American 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 ID | 70653 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 244 watts day 30 watts night |
Transmitter coordinates | 39°30′2″N 87°23′10″W / 39.50056°N 87.38611°W |
| Translator(s) | 106.3 W292FT (Terre Haute) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | https://wjly.org/ |
WPFR (1480 kHz) is a Christian AM radio station licensed to Terre Haute, Indiana. The station is owned by American Hope Communications, Inc.[5]
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
- ^ a b 1973 Broadcasting Yearbook, Broadcasting, 1973. p. B-71. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ a b c d History Cards for WPFR, fcc.gov. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ a b Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WPFR". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ AM Query Results: WPFR, fcc.gov. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ Fybush, Scott. "Terre Haute, Indiana (Part I)", fybush.com. June 2, 2006. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ "Proposed Station Transfers", The M Street Journal. Vol. 15, No. 17. April 29, 1998. p. 6. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ "$14G Promo Tees Oft Ind. Country Shift", Billboard. January 26, 1974. p. 22. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1983, Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1983. p. B-85. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1988, Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1988. p. B-100. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ Unmacht, Robert (1991). The M Street Radio Directory. p. 145. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ "Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 9, No. 40. October 7, 1992. p. 1. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ "The Wabash Valley Home of the Bob & Tom Show!". WTHI. Archived from the original on February 4, 1998. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 12, No. 40. October 5, 1995. p. 1. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ "The Wabash Valley Home of the Bob & Tom Show!". WTHI. Archived from the original on April 28, 1997. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ "Transactions", Radio & Records. November 5, 1999. p. 6. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2001, Broadcasting & Cable, 2001. p. D-159. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- ^ "WPFR Terre Haute Shuts Down", RadioInsight. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
- ^ "Indiana-Illinois Cluster Sold", All Access. April 2, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- ^ "Hoosier Group Spun To Hopeful New Owner", Radio & Television Business Report. April 2, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
External links
- Facility details for Facility ID 70653 (WPFR) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WPFR in Nielsen Audio's AM station database