WBGN (AM)

WBGN (1340 AM) is a radio station broadcasting an Oldies format. Licensed to Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States, the station serves the Bowling Green area and Northern Nashville area. The station is currently owned by Forever Communications, Inc.[2]

WBGN
CityBowling Green, Kentucky
Broadcast areaBowling Green, Kentucky
Northern Nashville, Tennessee
Frequency1340 kHz
BrandingAM 1340 & FM 94.5 WBGN
SloganGood Times, Great Oldies
Programming
FormatOldies
AffiliationsU of L Sports Network
Nashville Predators Radio Network
Ownership
OwnerForever Communications, Inc.
WUHU, WBVR-FM, WLYE-FM
History
First air date
November 24, 1959
Call sign meaning
Bowling GreeN, KY[1]
Technical information
Facility ID27243
ClassC
Power1,000 watts unlimited
Transmitter coordinates
37°0′34″N 86°27′9″W
Translator(s)94.5 W233CZ (Bowling Green)
Links
WebcastListen Live
WebsiteAM 1340 & 94.5 FM WBGN

From 2017–2019, the station was a part-time AM repeater of WLYE-FM of Glasgow.

History

The station's construction permit was granted by the Federal Communications Commission on May 18, 1959, and the station first signed on the air on November 24 of that same year. The FCC granted the official license on May 31, 1960. It was originally owned by J. Paul Brown and Robert L. Proctor, doing business as Bowling Green Broadcasting Company. The station broadcast a country format, but switched to a Top 40/CHR format. From 1965 until 1982, WBGN was the original flagship station of Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football and basketball games of the Hilltopper Sports Radio Network, with Bud Tyler (originally from WLBJ) making the play-by-play commentary on those broadcasts.[3]

WBGN's format changed from Top 40/CHR to Top 40 Oldies, in 1985. In April 1988, WBGN was purchased by Hilltopper Broadcasting, another locally based radio broadcasting firm, and switched back to a country music format. However, the station switched back to Top 40 Oldies in 1990, this time broadcasting the music from a satellite service called "The Oldies Channel". This format lasted until Forever Communications purchased the station, and converted it into a Sports radio station by affiliating WBGN with ESPN Radio.[3]

The station affiliated with Fox Sports Radio after WWKU and WCDS became the ESPN Radio affiliates.

In December 2016, WBGN launched low-powered FM repeater W300DA, broadcasting at 107.9 MHz. In February 2017, WBGN's Fox Sports Radio affiliation ended when both WBGN-AM and W300DA became a simulcast of Glasgow-based WLYE-FM, a Classic Country music station in the area.[4]

In December 2019, WBGN's simulcasting with WLYE was suspended to stunt with Christmas music until January 1, 2020.

On December 30, 2019, WBGN dropped its Christmas music stunt and flipped to oldies as AM 1340 & 107.9 FM WBGN with the slogan Good Times, Great Oldies.[5]

Programming

WBGN's simulcast with WLYE was not full-time. WBGN still retains the rights to certain sporting events. WBGN is the local broadcaster for Bowling Green Hot Rods baseball. It is also the local affiliate for the U of L Sports Network broadcasting Louisville Cardinals football and basketball, as well as the National Hockey League's Nashville Predators games from the Nashville Predators Radio Network. The station was Kentucky Sports Radio's Bowling Green affiliate until January 2019, when the program moved to WKCT.

References
  1. "Call Letter Origins". Radio History on the Web.
  2. "WBGN Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. WBGN History. 1340BGN.net
  4. Willie Network | Home of Today's Country Stars and Legends
  5. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/182732/wbgn-brings-oldies-to-bowling-green/
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