WZPN

WZPN (96.5 ESPN Radio) is a sports talk FM broadcasting station licensed for Farmington, Illinois near Peoria, Illinois. WZPN is the former flagship radio station of the Peoria Chiefs and Peoria Rivermen, and is currently a member of the Chicago Cubs radio network, Illinois Fighting Illini radio network and Chicago Bulls radio network.

History

The radio station originally went on the air as WJPL with a rock format, then changed to Smooth Jazz 96.5 through the rest of the 90's. In early 2001 AAA Entertainment signed on "The Point" which was a Hot AC station featuring Bob and Sheri in the morning. The station added simulcast 94.3 for a short time.

In June 2003, AAA Entertainment moved the format to the much stronger 105.7 and rebranded to "Mix 105.7". WWCT, known for years as Rock 106, moved down the dial to 96.5 to become Rock 96.5 with Mancow in the morning. The station struggled with several airstaff changes and variations, including an all-request format.

In September 2006, AAA Entertainment sold 96.5 to newly formed Independence Media, which simulcasted its new CHR format on sister WPIA 98.5 until its format and callsign change on July 2, 2007. In November 2010, Independence Media Holdings sold WPIA, along with its other 3 Peoria-area stations (98.5 WPIA Eureka, 99.9 WWCT, and 101.1 WHPI Glasford) to Michael S. Rea's Advanced Media Partners.