IN Radio: Midwest Brings Back WBOW For New AC

With a new radio tower about to power up, Midwest Communications is converting its news talk WIBQ from FM to AM and implementing a new FM adult contemporary music station, according to tribstar.com.

The changes will take place on Thursday, said Amy Dillon, market manager, and Steve Cannon, operations manager, of Midwest Communications in Terre Haute.

“Midwest Communications bought a tower in town. It is hugely impactful,” Dillon said. “We have been updating it and getting it back up.”

The move will shift the news talk WIBQ, now broadcast on 98.5 FM, to an improved 1300 AM. The AM station will have a broadcast range of 150 miles, joining the FM’s range, according to Dillon. (Tom Notes: WIBQ loses 50Kw on FM for 350watts-D, 58watts-N!!!)

In addition, the move allows the call letters WBOW, which had not been used since July 2012, to return to Terre Haute air waves in the 98.5 FM spot. That new FM format will feature adult contemporary music.

“It expands our product line. There was an audience of females 35 to 54 [years old] that was being underserved. There was not a station specifically for that [demographic] and that is what this format” will serve, Dillon said.

WBOW 98.5 FM (50Kw)  54dBu Coverage

Crossroads Communications used the WBOW call letters for its 102.7 FM station, which was sold to Midwest Communications. Midwest converted that station to WDWQ, a country music station, in 2012, Cannon said.

Midwest Communications owns FM stations 98.5, 95.9, 100.7 and 102.7, along with AM stations 1300 and 1440 and reaches beyond cities such as Champaign and Effingham in Illinois and to Bloomington, Martinsville and Bedford in Indiana.