WBCO

WBCO
Bucyrus, Ohio; United States;
Broadcast area	Mid-Ohio
Frequency	1540 kHz
Branding	WBCO 1540AM / 107.5FM
Programming
Format	Classic country
Affiliations	CBS News Radio; Westwood One; Agri Broadcast Network; Ohio State Sports Network
Ownership
Owner	Saga Communications; (Franklin Communications, Inc.);
Sister stations	WQEL
History
First air date	1962; 62 years ago
Call sign meaning	Bucyrus, Ohio
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	7111
Class	D
Power	500 watts day
Transmitter coordinates	40°45′51.00″N 82°56′5.00″W / 40.7641667°N 82.9347222°W
Translator(s)	107.5 W298CC (Bucyrus)
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Webcast	Listen live
Website	wbco.com

WBCO (1540 AM) is a radio station licensed to serve the community of Bucyrus, Ohio. The station currently features a classic country format.

WBCO also airs 24 hours per day on FM translator W298CC at 107.5 FM.^[2]

History

WBCO was founded in 1962 by Thomas P. Moore and wife J. LaVonne Moore, along with LaVonne's brother and pioneer in broadcasting, Orville J. Sather, and investors. WBCO was joined by sister-station WBCO-FM (later named WQEL) two years later. The company was first known as Brokensword Broadcasting Co. When the Moores and Sathers bought out the investors, it became Sa-Mor Stations. Full ownership was assumed by Tom and LaVonne following Orville's death. The stations were sold to Mike and Donna Laipply in 1991. In 1996, both stations were sold to the Ohio Radio Group based in Ashland Ohio who also owned stations WQIO and WMVO in Mount Vernon, Ohio, WNCO and WNCO-FM in Ashland, Ohio, WMAN-FM in Fredericktown, Ohio, WFXN-FM in Galion, Ohio and WXXF in Loudonville, Ohio. They would later add local WYNT in Upper Sandusky, Ohio to the group making it the largest radio ownership company in Ohio. In 2001, Ohio Radio Group was purchased by Clear Channel Communications which had to sell two stations that included WBCO and WQEL who was purchased by Scantland Broadcasting, then current Saga Communications.