WPFR Terre Haute Shuts Down

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://radioinsight.com/headlines/185515/wpfr-terre-haute-shuts-down/

WPFR cited that former leaders death.

Word Power Inc. has taken its Christian Preaching stations in Terre Haute IN off the air.

“Word Power Family Radio” 1480 WPFR Terre Haute and 93.7 WPFR-FM Clinton IN ceased operations earlier this month following the January death of co-owner Eleanor Ford at the age of 90.

In an STA filing, her husband Paul Ford wrote, “DUE TO THE PASSING OF ONE OF THE OWNERS AND THE DECLINING HEALTH OF A SECOND OWNER, IT WAS NECESSARY TO SUSPEND OPERATIONS OF THIS STATION UNTIL DECISIONS CAN BE MADE ABOUT PERMANENT FUTURE OPERATION.”

 

[PTBoardOp94]

This has been essentially a retirement project for the Fords, acquiring WPFR (AM) when they were both in their early 70s.

However, they have been trying to sell for a while now. Their web site has been soliciting potential purchasers for over two years. My guess is they want a purchaser who will continue their preaching & teaching mission.

 

[b-turner]

If I recall correctly, they had an FM station in the early to mid 1970s playing country music by the same call letters.

 

[Kent]

Paul Ford owned WPFR 102.7 until the mid to late 70's. WPFR stood for "Paul Ford Radio," and it kept those calls until Bomar bought it after one of the later owners went bankrupt.

He and his wife got back into radio in the early 90's when they bought WKZI 800. I'm not sure when they signed on 91.5 or WPFR-FM 93.7, though I'm thinking 93.7 was originally on 93.9. They got WPFR 1480 when Emmis donated it after acquiring Hi 99.9 and 105.5 The River.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

though I'm thinking 93.7 was originally on 93.9.

Yes. Susequehana arranged for their move as part of an upgrade to class B1 for 93.9 in Indianapolis about 15 years ago.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Someone who works in the Terre Haute market tells me they want way too much for the two stations, but didnt give me an exact figure

 

[JJSPC]

Are the two Illinois signals silent as well? Nothing has really been mentioned about those.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Someone who works in the Terre Haute market tells me they want way too much for the two stations, but didnt give me an exact figure

Midwest can't buy because of the market cap. So that leaves DLC Media as the only plausible commercial operator, and I really doubt they want more stations, especially now with the advertising market in a deep plunge.

800 AM in Casey, with its 250 W of power, is probably worth zero on today's market. The translators are probably worth more than the parent station, if they can be moved around.
WLHW in Casey on the non-comm band probably ain't worth much either -- it barely covers anyone. 60 dBu population is around 7,500 people.

My back-of-envelope appraisal for the whole group is around $200,000, with about 90% of the value coming from 93.7.

 

[2 Trailer Trucker]

Yes. Susequehana arranged for their move as part of an upgrade to class B1 for 93.9 in Indianapolis about 15 years ago.

IIRC, Ford fought the move vigorously.

The owner of WMMC in Marshall IL could snatch them up if the price was right.