Update 5/13: The final step of Midwest’s move of News/Talk WIBQ is now complete as the format and call letters have shifted to the new 1230 signal.
Midwest has not yet turned in the license for what is now 1300 WYGJ Terre Haute, but has taken the signal silent.
Update 4/3: Midwest launched AC 98.5 WBOW today. Branded as “The Wabash Valley’s Best Variety”, the station is running jockless at launch.
The WIBQ calls and Talk format have moved to 1300 for now until the acquisition of 1230 is finalized. The station is also simulcasting on sister 1440 WPRS Paris, IL. That station had been running a Country format branded as “Paris Country“.
Update 3/11: There will be another step in Midwest’s coming revamp of its Terre Haute cluster.
Midwest has agreed to purchase Bott Radio Network’s Construction Permit for 1230 AM in Terre Haute for $100,000. The new signal is licensed to operate with 1kW around the clock with its permit set to expire on June 14. The application also confirms our earlier report in that it has the WBOW call letters connected to 98.5 and WIBQ with 1300. However, Midwest will turn in the license for 1300 when it completes its acquisition and launches the 1230 signal.
Original Report 2/27: Midwest Communications is preparing to bring back the WBOW branded AC format to the Terre Haute market.
A website for 98.5 WBOW is already live promoting “The Valley’s Best Variety”. 98.5 is currently News/Talk WIBQ, but based on the registration earlier this month of WIBQAM.com the format will likely continue on its simulcast partner 1300 WBOW.
The WBOW-FM call letters was heard on 102.7 with an AC format branded as “B102.7” until Midwest acquired the station in June 2012 and flipped it to Country “Q102.7” WDWQ.
Midwest has launched similarly branded AC formats in Fargo, Sioux Falls, and Duluth in recent months.
And of course the calls are among the oldest in that part of the world, going way back to the 1930s on the now-silent AM 1230 and later 640. They stand for “Banks Of the Wabash.”