WVEL

WVEL
Former Townsquare Media studio in downtown Peoria
Broadcast area
Peoria metropolitan area
Frequency1140 kHz
BrandingAM 1140 WVEL
Programming
FormatUrban gospel
Ownership
Owner
WFYR, WGLO, WIXO, WZPW
History
First air date
April 21, 1946 (1946-04-21)
Former call signs
WSIV (1946–1979)
Call sign meaning
Velvet (former music format)
Technical information
Licensing authority
FCC
68623
ClassD
Power
Transmitter coordinates
40°36′12″N 89°37′32″W / 40.60333°N 89.62556°W / 40.60333; -89.62556
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.wvel.com

WVEL (AM 1140) 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 format, with some Christian talk and teaching shows, and is known as "Central Illinois' Christian Voice." The radio studios and offices are with its Cumulus sister stations in Bloomington and Peoria.

By day, WVEL transmits 5,000 watts non-directional. As 1140 kHz 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.

History

The station signed on the air on April 21, 1946. The original call sign was WSIV. It increased its power to 1,000 watts on 1948. The station was assigned the WVEL call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on January 2, 1979. Before it was acquired by Cumulus Media in 2012, it was owned by Townsquare Media.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Pekin Association of Commerce (1949). The Pekin Centenary 1849-1949: a souvenir book Commemorating 100 years of community progress in the City of Pekin, Illinois. Pekin, Illinois. p. 6. Retrieved July 25, 2009.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. 1 2 "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  3. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WVEL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  4. ↑ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Archived from the original on March 1, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Cumulus, Townsquare Swap Involves 65 Stations, 13 Markets, $116 Million Cash" from All Access (April 30, 2012)