| WPEO-FM | |
| Above: | Simulcast of WPEO (1020 AM) |
| City: | Farmer City, Illinois |
| Area: | Champaign, Bloomington |
| Branding: | The Word |
| Frequency: | 98.3 MHz |
| Repeater: | WPEO 1020 AM Peoria |
| Airdate: | (as WZRO) |
| Format: | Christian talk and teaching |
| Erp: | 5,200 watts |
| Class: | A |
| Licensing Authority: | FCC |
| Facility Id: | 14962 |
| Coordinates: | 40.4047°N -88.5928°W |
| Former Callsigns: | WEZO (1983–1996) WWHP (1996–2018) WEXG (2018–2020) |
| Owner: | WPEO Radio Foundation |
| Webcast: | Listen Live |
WPEO-FM (98.3 MHz) is an FM radio station licensed to Farmer City, Illinois.[1] It is owned by WPEO Radio Foundation, and it simulcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format with co-owned WPEO 1020 AM in Peoria, Illinois. The radio studios and offices are just south of Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Illinois.
WPEO-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 5,200 watts. The transmitter is in Saybrook, Illinois, giving it coverage of an area of Central Illinois between Champaign and Bloomington.[2]
The station began operations in 1983 as WZRO "5 County Country", then changed to WEZO, and changed to WWHP as "The Whip". It played a variety of music genres, primarily Americana roots, classic country, blues, and bluegrass. The station claimed to be located, "somewhere between Memphis and Chicago."[3]
After a change in ownership in early 2014, the station changed formats to classic hits.[4]
On November 23, 2015, WWHP became "NewsTalk 98.3" with a local morning and afternoon drive.
Former Cities 92.9 morning host Ian Bayne took over the station as program director and general manager and hosted the morning show from 6-9 am, installing national Breitbart editor Mike Flynn from 3-6 pm. Other programming included Laura Ingraham, Dana Loesch, Jerry Doyle, and Lars Larson.[5]
On May 30, 2016, WWHP changed its format to classic rock.
On January 24, 2018, the station changed its call sign to WEXG and rebranded as "The Edge".[6]
On October 6, 2020, WEXG changed its format from classic rock to a simulcast of Christian radio-formatted WPEO 1020 AM Peoria, branded as "The Word", and adopted a new WPEO-FM call sign the next day.[7] Smash Hit then sold the station to WPEO owners WPEO Radio Foundation for $159,900.[8] The sale was consummated on March 16, 2021.