WBVR-FM (106.3 FM) is a country musicformatted radio station licensed to Horse Cave, Kentucky, United States, and serving the Bowling Green area. The station is currently owned by Seven Mountains Media.

WBVR-FM
Broadcast areaBowling Green, Kentucky
Frequency106.3 MHz
BrandingBeaver 106.3
Programming
FormatCountry
SubchannelsHD2: Classic hip hop
"95.9 The Vibe"
HD3: Classical
"Classical 97.5"
Ownership
Owner
  • Seven Mountains Media
  • (Soky Radio, LLC[1])
WBGN, WOVO, WPTQ, WUHU, WWKU
History
First air date
July 14, 1972 (at 105.5)
Former call signs
  • WOVO (1972–1991)
  • WWWQ (1991–1996)
  • WOVO (1996–2025)
Former frequencies
  • 105.5 MHz (1972–1994)
  • 106.7 MHz (1994–2008)
  • 106.5 MHz (2008–2012)
Call sign meaning
"Beaver" format
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID48702
ClassC2
ERP50,000 watts
HAAT123 meters
Transmitter coordinates
37°02′39.2″N 86°10′59.9″W / 37.044222°N 86.183306°W / 37.044222; -86.183306
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

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The early years (1972–1989)

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The 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)

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In 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

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In 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

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In 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]

 
WOVO's logo under previous 105.3 frequency

Sale to Seven Mountains Media

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In 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”

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On 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

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On 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

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HD Radio

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The station's HD radio signal is multiplexed in this manner.

Freqnency
(MHz-subchannel)
Callsign Programming
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

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  • 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)
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References

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  1. ^ "WOVO Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WBVR-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ 2010 Broadcasting Yearbook, page D-240
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Reagan, Stan (August 4, 1991). "FM radio stations making changes". Park City Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky – via Google Books.
  6. ^ "WOVO Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  7. ^ "Former governor buys radio stations". Park City Daily News. January 19, 1997. p. 11A. Retrieved June 9, 2024 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "Stations On The Move In Glasgow, KY". RadioInsight. October 22, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  9. ^ Venta, Lance (October 4, 2024). "Commonwealth Broadcasting And Seven Mountains Media To Swap Kentucky Stations". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  10. ^ Santa Arrives in Southern Kentucky Radioinsight - November 19, 2024
  11. ^ Venta, Lance (January 10, 2025). "Seven Mountains Completes Bowling Green Format Shuffle". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
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