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WBVR-FM

Horse Cave, Kentucky United States
Broadcast area	Bowling Green, Kentucky
Frequency	106.3 MHz
Branding	Beaver 106.3
Programming
Format	Country
Subchannels	HD2: Classic hip hop "95.9 The Vibe" HD3: Classical "Classical 97.5"
Ownership
Owner	Seven Mountains Media (Soky Radio, LLC)
Sister stations	WBGN, WOVO, WPTQ, WUHU, WWKU
History
First air date	July 14, 1972 (at 105.5)
Former call signs	WOVO (1972–1991) WWWQ (1991–1996) WOVO (1996–2025)
Former frequencies	105.5 MHz (1972–1994) 106.7 MHz (1994–2008) 106.5 MHz (2008–2012)
Call sign meaning	"Beaver" format
Technical information
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 / 37.044222; -86.183306
Translator(s)	99.7 W247DM (Glasgow) HD2: 95.9 W240CP (Bowling Green) HD3: 97.5 W248CF (Bowling Green)
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS

WBVR-FM (106.3 FM) is a country music–formatted radio station licensed to Horse Cave, Kentucky, United States, and serving the Bowling Green area. The station is currently owned by Seven Mountains Media.

The station's studios, shared with Brownsville–licensed WKLX and Glasgow–licensed WPTQ (also owned by Seven Mountains Media), are located on McIntosh Street near US 231 on the south side of Bowling Green. WBVR'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. 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.

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 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.

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. 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.

Sale to Seven Mountains Media

In October 2024, Commonwealth Broadcasting and Seven Mountains Media agreed to a station swap of several stations in Bowling Green, and Glasgow, Kentucky.

North Pole Radio and “Wheel of Formats”

On November 18, 2024, WOVO dropped its hot adult contemporary format and began stunting with Christmas music, branded as "North Pole Radio". On December 27, the stunt was changed to “Wheel of Formats”, with sweeper redirecting listeners to WUHU and promo of WBVR moving to 106.3, as well as relaunching 96.7 as Classic country “Bigfoot Legends”.

Frequency swap with WOVO

On January 10, 2025, Seven Mountains Media announced that the station and WOVO would swap frequencies and callsigns, making WBVR another country radio station along with WOVO.

Programming

HD Radio

The station's HD radio signal is multiplexed in this manner.

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

1. "WOVO Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
2. "Facility Technical Data for WBVR-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
3. 2010 Broadcasting Yearbook, page D-240
4. ^ 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.
5. Reagan, Stan (August 4, 1991). "FM radio stations making changes". Park City Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky – via Google Books.
6. "WOVO Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
7. "Former governor buys radio stations". Park City Daily News. January 19, 1997. p. 11A. Retrieved June 9, 2024 – via Google Books.
8. "Stations On The Move In Glasgow, KY". RadioInsight. October 22, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
9. Venta, Lance (October 4, 2024). "Commonwealth Broadcasting And Seven Mountains Media To Swap Kentucky Stations". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
10. Santa Arrives in Southern Kentucky Radioinsight - November 19, 2024
11. Venta, Lance (January 10, 2025). "Seven Mountains Completes Bowling Green Format Shuffle". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 11, 2025.

External links

• Facility details for Facility ID 48702 (WBVR-FM) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• WBVR-FM 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

• HD Radio stations
• Radio stations in Kentucky
• Country radio stations in the United States
• Radio stations established in 1972
• Seven Mountains Media