WPFR (AM)

WPFR is a Christian radio station licensed to Terre Haute, Indiana, broadcasting on 1480 kHz AM. The station is owned by Word Power, Inc.[4]

WPFR
CityTerre Haute, Indiana
Frequency1480 kHz
BrandingWord Power Family Radio
Programming
FormatSilent (was Christian Radio)
Ownership
OwnerWord Power, Inc.
Sister stationsWPFR-FM, WKZI, WLHW
History
First air dateJanuary 6, 1948[1]
Former call signsWTHI (1948-2000)[2][3]
Technical information
Facility ID70653
ClassB
Power5,000 watts day
1,000 watts night
Transmitter coordinates39°30′2″N 87°23′10″W

History

The station began broadcasting January 6, 1948, and originally held the call letters 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.[5][6]

WTHI aired a Top 40 format from the mid-1960s until January 1974, when the station adopted a country music format.[7] By 1983, the station had adopted a MOR format.[8] By 1988, the station had begun airing an oldies format.[9] By 1991, the station had returned to airing a country music format, simulcasting 99.9 WTHI-FM.[10]

The station adopted a news-talk format in 1992.[11] 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.[12][13] The station also carried "The Mike Pence Show", a statewide talk show which Pence hosted prior to his election to congress.[14]

In 2000, the station was donated to Word Power, Inc., and the station's call sign was changed to WPFR, with the station adopting a Christian format.[15][3][16]

References
  1. 1973 Broadcasting Yearbook, Broadcasting, 1973. p. B-71. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  2. History Cards for WPFR, fcc.gov. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  3. Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  4. AM Query Results: WPFR, fcc.gov. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  5. Fybush, Scott. "Terre Haute, Indiana (Part I)", fybush.com. June 2, 2006. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  6. "Proposed Station Transfers", The M Street Journal. Vol. 15, No. 17. April 29, 1998. p. 6. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  7. "$14G Promo Tees Oft Ind. Country Shift", Billboard. January 26, 1974. p. 22. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  8. Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1983, Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1983. p. B-85. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  9. Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1988, Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1988. p. B-100. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  10. Unmacht, Robert (1991). The M Street Radio Directory. p. 145. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  11. "Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 9, No. 40. October 7, 1992. p. 1. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  12. "The Wabash Valley Home of the Bob & Tom Show!". WTHI. Archived from the original on February 4, 1998. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  13. "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 12, No. 40. October 5, 1995. p. 1. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  14. "The Wabash Valley Home of the Bob & Tom Show!". WTHI. Archived from the original on April 28, 1997. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  15. "Transactions", Radio & Records. November 5, 1999. p. 6. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  16. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2001, Broadcasting & Cable, 2001. p. D-159. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
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