WBVR-FM (106.3 FM) is a country music–formatted radio station licensed to Horse Cave, Kentucky, United States, and serving the Bowling Green area. The station is currently owned by Seven Mountains Media.
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Broadcast area | Bowling Green, Kentucky |
Frequency | 106.3 MHz |
Branding | Beaver 106.3 |
Programming | |
Format | Country |
Subchannels | HD2: Classic hip hop "95.9 The Vibe" HD3: Classical "Classical 97.5" |
Ownership | |
Owner |
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WBGN, WOVO, WPTQ, WUHU, WWKU | |
History | |
First air date | July 14, 1972 (at 105.5) |
Former call signs |
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Former frequencies |
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Call sign meaning | "Beaver" format |
Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 48702 |
Class | C2 |
ERP | 50,000 watts |
HAAT | 123 meters |
Transmitter coordinates | 37°02′39.2″N 86°10′59.9″W / 37.044222°N 86.183306°W |
Translator(s) | 99.7 W247DM (Glasgow) HD2: 95.9 W240CP (Bowling Green) HD3: 97.5 W248CF (Bowling Green) |
Links | |
Public license information |
The station's studios, shared with Brownsville–licensed WKLX and Glasgow–licensed WPTQ (also owned by Seven Mountains Media), are located on McIntosh Street near US 231 on the south side of Bowling Green. WBVR's transmitter is located on Pine Knob along U.S. Route 68 (US 68) near Smiths Grove, Kentucky, sharing tower space with NBC/CBS/MeTV dual affiliate WNKY (channel 40) and Ion Television affiliate WNKY-LD (channel 35).
History
editThe early years (1972–1989)
editThe station originally signed on the air on July 14, 1972.[3] The station was originally a class A station located at 105.5 FM, owned by John Barrick alongside AM station WCDS (1440 AM, now WWKU; unrelated to the current WCDS). WOVO inherited a variety format from WCDS, which switched exclusively to country music upon WOVO's inception.[4]
Change of callsign and ownership (1990–1996)
editIn 1990, WOVO and WCDS were sold to Ward Communications. After a few months off the air due to strong winds toppling the transmission tower in 1991, the station had instituted three changes: the station changed frequencies to 105.3 FM to obtain a power increase, changed its call sign to WWWQ on March 1, and adopted a new contemporary hit radio format upon returning to the air on July 9, 1991[4][5] following a tornado that affected the station's broadcasting facility that spring. On September 23, 1996, the station reversed their 1991 change of callsign and rechristened itself as WOVO.[6]
Sale to Commonwealth Broadcasting
editIn 1997, the station, along with WHHT, WXPC (now WPTQ), and WCDS, along with four other stations in Kentucky, were acquired by a new business venture named Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation, formed by Steve Newberry and former Kentucky governor Brereton C. Jones.[7] WOVO programming was simulcast over WCDS from its 1998 return to the air until it became a sports radio station in 2002.
Three-way frequency swap
editIn October 2012, Commonwealth Broadcasting instituted a major three-way frequency and FCC license change. WHHT upgraded its signal in a move to 106.3 MHz, which would be traded to WOVO, which moved its adult contemporary format from classic rock-formatted WPTQ's previous 105.3 FM frequency. WHHT's country music format was relocated to the 103.7 FM frequency, which that station previously broadcast on from 1991 through 1998.[8]
Sale to Seven Mountains Media
editIn October 2024, Commonwealth Broadcasting and Seven Mountains Media agreed to a station swap of several stations in Bowling Green, and Glasgow, Kentucky.[9]
North Pole Radio and “Wheel of Formats”
editOn November 18, 2024, WOVO dropped its hot adult contemporary format and began stunting with Christmas music, branded as "North Pole Radio".[10] On December 27, the stunt was changed to “Wheel of Formats”, with sweeper redirecting listeners to WUHU and promo of WBVR moving to 106.3, as well as relaunching 96.7 as Classic country “Bigfoot Legends”.
Frequency swap with WOVO
editOn January 10, 2025, Seven Mountains Media announced that the station and WOVO would swap frequencies and callsigns, making WBVR another country radio station along with WOVO.[11]
Programming
editHD Radio
editThe station's HD radio signal is multiplexed in this manner.
Freqnency (MHz-subchannel) |
Callsign | Programming |
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106.3FM 106.3-1 HD |
WBVR-FM WBVR-HD1 |
Simulcast of the traditional FM signal "Beaver 106.3" / Country |
106.3-2 HD | WBVR-HD2 | W240CP / "95.9 The Vibe" Classic hip hop |
106.3-3 HD | WBVR-HD3 | W248CF / "Classical 97.5" Classical |
Former on-air staff
edit- Alan "Agent 69" Sledge
- Donna "The Hose" Dennis (1980–1986)
- Renaldo Mcnutty (1981–1992)
- Renato Debenidictus (1999–1999)
- Ron "The Tank" Thopson (1985–1999)
- Jake Johnson (1981–1984)
- Leroy McCain (Unknown)
- Barbara Likis (1988–2001)
- Mike Hunt (1993–1997)
- Jon Overton (1986–1990)
- Jimmy Michaels (1977–1991)
- George "The Wild Man" Miller (1972–present)
Previous logo
editReferences
edit- ^ "WOVO Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WBVR-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ 2010 Broadcasting Yearbook, page D-240
- ^ a b Nash, Francis M. (1995). Towers Over Kentucky: A History of Radio and TV in the Bluegrass State (PDF). HOST Communications. pp. 142, 143. ISBN 9781879688933 – via World Radio History.
- ^ Reagan, Stan (August 4, 1991). "FM radio stations making changes". Park City Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky – via Google Books.
- ^ "WOVO Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ^ "Former governor buys radio stations". Park City Daily News. January 19, 1997. p. 11A. Retrieved June 9, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Stations On The Move In Glasgow, KY". RadioInsight. October 22, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ Venta, Lance (October 4, 2024). "Commonwealth Broadcasting And Seven Mountains Media To Swap Kentucky Stations". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
- ^ Santa Arrives in Southern Kentucky Radioinsight - November 19, 2024
- ^ Venta, Lance (January 10, 2025). "Seven Mountains Completes Bowling Green Format Shuffle". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
External links
edit- Facility details for Facility ID 48702 (WBVR-FM) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WBVR-FM in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- Facility details for Facility ID 139196 (W240CP) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- W240CP at FCCdata.org
- Facility details for Facility ID 139195 (W248CF) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- W248CF at FCCdata.org