| WVEL | |
| City: | Pekin, Illinois |
| Area: | Peoria metropolitan area |
| Branding: | AM 1140 WVEL |
| Frequency: | 1140 kHz |
| Format: | Urban gospel |
| Class: | D |
| Licensing Authority: | FCC |
| Facility Id: | 68623 |
| Coordinates: | 40.6033°N -89.6256°W |
| Callsign Meaning: | Velvet (former music format) |
| Former Callsigns: | WSIV (1946–1979) |
| Owner: | Cumulus Media |
| Licensee: | Radio License Holding CBC, LLC |
| Sister Stations: | WFYR, WGLO, WIXO, WZPW |
| Website: | wvel.com |
WVEL (1140 AM) is a daytimer radio station licensed to Pekin, Illinois, and serving the Peoria metropolitan area. It is owned by Cumulus Media with the license held by Radio License Holding CBC, LLC. It broadcasts an urban gospel radio format, with some Christian talk and teaching shows, and is known as "Central Illinois' Christian Voice."[1] The radio studios and offices are on Eaton Street in Peoria.
By day, WVEL transmits 5,000 watts non-directional.[2] As 1140 AM is a clear channel frequency, reserved for Class A WRVA Richmond, Virginia, and XEMR Monterrey, Mexico, WVEL must sign off at sunset to avoid interference. During critical hours, WVEL has a power of 3,200 watts.
The station signed on the air on . The original call sign was WSIV. It increased its power to 1,000 watts on 1948.[3] The station was assigned the WVEL call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on January 2, 1979.[4] Before it was acquired by Cumulus Media in 2012, it was owned by Townsquare Media.[5]