WMPO

WMPO
City Middleport, Ohio
Branding ESPN 1390 & 103.7 FM The Point
Frequency 1390 kHz
Translator(s) 103.7 W279CE (Middleport)
First air date 1959
Format Sports
Power 5,000 watts day
120 watts night
Class D
Facility ID 18021
Transmitter coordinates 39°0′37.00″N 82°3′58.00″W / 39.0102778°N 82.0661111°W / 39.0102778; -82.0661111
Affiliations ABC Radio
Cincinnati Bengals Radio Network
ESPN Radio
Owner Positive Radio Group, Inc. of Ohio

WMPO (1390 AM with translator W279CE 103.7 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a Sports radio format. Licensed to Middleport-Pomeroy, USA. The station is currently owned by Positive Radio Group, Inc. of Ohio and features programing from ABC Radio and ESPN Radio.[1] [2] Joe Hill now of Tucson AZ began his radio career in 1977 at WMPO under the air name "David Barnes" before moving on to WWJM Zanesville in 1978.

History of WMPO Radio

Written By John E.M. Kerr

In May 1957, a group of Athens businessmen met to discuss starting a radio station located in Meigs County. Present at the meeting included Roger Jones, attorney; Roy Stephenson, accountant; Frank Rauch, bakery & theater owner; A.H. Kovlan, WATH Radio owner; and John E.M. Kerr, advertising manager for WATH. The group elected to form a corporation called Radio Mid-Pom, Inc. and applied for a broadcast license with the FCC for Meigs County. A search immediately followed to find a building and tower site in Meigs County.

The group learned that the Bailey family in Bradbury was thinking of closing their restaurant. Radio Mid-Pom elected to purchase Bailey's Drive In and lease adjacent acreage for the tower. On August 28, 1959, WMPO 1390 started broadcasting with a staff of five people. An open house was held with both Pomeroy and Middleport mayors giving welcome speeches.

In 1964, WMPO was granted permission to increase power to 5,000 Watts making it one of the strongest stations in the area. The years progressed well and in 1973, WMPO 1390 was granted permission for an FM station to broadcast on 92.1 with 3,000 Watts and a new wing was added to the station building. Ground was leased from Robert Burdett for the new tower. Throughout the period and expansion, two of the stockholders died and their stock was purchased by Jack Kerr and Frank Rauch.

After 30 years of successful operation, the two remaining stockholders elected to sell the stations. E.T. Broadcasting of Dayton purchased WMPO in 1989. Ten years later, the station was sold to Positive Radio Group of Blacksburg, Virginia, the present owners.

References

  1. ↑ "WMPO Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. ↑ "WMPO Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
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