WOVO
| Broadcast area | Bowling Green, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 106.3 MHz |
| Branding | North Pole Radio |
| Programming | |
| Format | Stunting (Christmas music) |
| Subchannels | HD2: Classic hip hop "95.9 The Vibe" HD3: Classical "Classical 97.5" |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WWKU, WKLX/WKYY, WPTQ | |
| History | |
First air date | July 14, 1972 (at 105.5) |
Former call signs |
|
Former frequencies |
|
| Technical information[1] | |
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 | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | wovo1063.com |
WOVO (106.3 FM) is a radio station stunting with a Christmas music format. Licensed to Horse Cave, Kentucky, United States, the station serves the Bowling Green area. The station is currently owned by the Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation through licensee Soky Radio, LLC.[2]
The station's studios, shared with Brownsville–licensed WKLX and Glasgow–licensed WPTQ, are located on McIntosh Street near US 231 on the south side of Bowling Green. WOVO'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
The early years (1972–1989)
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)
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
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
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]
North Pole Radio
On November 18, 2024, WOVO dropped its hot adult contemporary format and began stunting with Christmas music, branded as "North Pole Radio".[9]
Programming
HD Radio
The station's HD radio signal is multiplexed in this manner.
| Freqnency (MHz-subchannel) |
Callsign | Programming |
|---|---|---|
| 106.3FM 106.3-1 HD |
WOVO WOVO-HD1 |
Simulcast of the traditional FM signal "WOVO 106.3" / Stunting (Christmas music) |
| 106.3-2 HD | WOVO-HD2 | W240CP / "95.9 The Vibe" Classic hip hop |
| 106.3-3 HD | WOVO-HD3 | W248CF / "Classical 97.5" Classical |
Former on-air staff
- 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
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WOVO". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "WOVO Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Santa Arrives in Southern Kentucky Radioinsight - November 19, 2024
External links
- Facility details for Facility ID 48702 (WOVO) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WOVO 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