WZPN

WHPI
City Farmington, Illinois
Broadcast area Peoria, Illinois
Branding ESPN Peoria
Frequency 96.5 and 101.1MHz
First air date September 8, 1997 (1997-09-08)
Format Sports Talk
ERP 4,300 watts
HAAT 115 meters (377 ft)
Class A
Facility ID 76410
Transmitter coordinates 40°40′10.1″N 89°53′31.4″W / 40.669472°N 89.892056°W / 40.669472; -89.892056 (WHPI tower)Coordinates: 40°40′10.1″N 89°53′31.4″W / 40.669472°N 89.892056°W / 40.669472; -89.892056 (WHPI tower) (NAD83)
Former callsigns WJPL (1997–September 2003)[1]
WXMP (September 2003)
WWCT (2003–2006)
WRIA (2006–2007)
WZPN (2007–2018)
Affiliations ESPN Radio
Owner Mike and Ann Rea
(Advanced Media Partners, LLC)
Sister stations 98.5 WPIA
99.9 WWCT
101.1 WHPI
Website www.espnpeoria.com

WHPI (96.5 ESPN Radio) is a sports talk FM broadcasting station licensed for Farmington, Illinois near Peoria, Illinois. WHPI is the former flagship radio station of the Peoria Chiefs and Peoria Rivermen, and is currently a member of the Chicago Cubs, Illinois Fighting Illini and Chicago Bulls radio networks.

History

The radio station originally went on the air as WJPL with a rock format, then changed to Smooth Jazz 96.5 through the rest of the 90's. In early 2001 AAA Entertainment signed on "The Point" which was a Hot AC station featuring Bob and Sheri in the morning. The station added simulcast 94.3 for a short time.

In June 2003, AAA Entertainment moved the format to the much stronger 105.7 and rebranded to "Mix 105.7". WWCT, known for years as Rock 106, moved down the dial to 96.5 to become Rock 96.5 with Mancow in the morning. The station struggled with several airstaff changes and variations, including an all-request format.

In September 2006, AAA Entertainment sold 96.5 to newly formed Independence Media, which simulcasted its new CHR format on sister WPIA 98.5 until its format and callsign change on July 2, 2007.[2] In November 2010, Independence Media Holdings sold WPIA, along with its other 3 Peoria-area stations (98.5 WPIA Eureka, 99.9 WWCT, and 101.1 WHPI Glasford) to Michael S. Rea's Advanced Media Partners.[3]

On June 6, 2018, WZPN began simulcasting on the 101.1 FM frequency of sister station WHPI in preparation of a full-time move to that signal alone. A new format and call letters would follow on the 96.5 frequency.[4] While the callsign WHPI was moved from 101.1 on June 26, a new format on 96.5 has yet to be determined.

References

  1. ↑ "WHPI(FM)". FCCInfo.com. Cavell Mertz & Associates, Inc. 2007-09-04. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  2. ↑ http://www.pjstar.com/stories/070107/STE_BDL3RTSG.004.php (dead link)
  3. ↑ "Application Search Details (BALH-20100723AEO)". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
  4. ↑ "ESPN Peoria Moves To 101.1 FM". All Access. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
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