Two Greenville-area radio stations got a boost thanks to new equipment.

It remains to be seen whether a change in formats will boost the stations' fortunes.

The new equipment installed by owner Beacon Broadcasting of Warren, Ohio, gave WGRP and WEXC much greater coverage. WGRP, at 940 AM, can be heard all over Mercer County, while the FM signal of WEXC 107.1 can be picked up from 50 miles away, said Rich Marshall, sports and sales director.

The West Salem Township-based station had been working with transmitting equipment that dated as far back as 40 years.

"Most of the facility was really antiquated," said Jack Ambrozic, chief executive officer and general manager. "It was functioning, but barely."

Ambrozic said he hopes WEXC becomes a regional station, while WGRP retains a more Greenville-Shenango Valley flavor.

More changes are in store for the AM signal, and the station could even be sold.

"Everything's money," Ambrozic said. "Depends on what's the best financially. It will take longer rather than sooner."

Up until three weeks ago, both stations had Christian music formats. WEXC now is playing light rock and easy listening songs by the likes of Elton John, Celine Dion and Madonna, while the AM side has moved to mixing middle-of-the-road Christian music with lifestyle-based talk shows.

Ambrozic said the format changes were responses to listenership and advertising declines.

"Not only was it not going over well in the area, but it wasn't doing well financially," said Ambrozic, who has presided over a housecleaning at the corporate level and in Greenville. "We had to do something for survival."

Sports will remain important parts of both stations.

WEXC broadcasts Greenville High School and Westminster College, New Wilmington, football games, and Greenville, Commodore Perry, Reynolds and Jamestown high school basketball, wrestling, softball and baseball games.

Marshall also co-hosts a call-in talk show from 7 to 8 p.m. Mondays with Greenville football coach Bob Stone.

A motorsports show that originated on sister station WANR in Warren has moved to WEXC at 7 p.m. Tuesdays.

The AM side, which airs Reynolds football games, kicked off its new morning lineup Monday with "90 Minutes," which mixes local weather, sports, obituaries and news with comments from callers and in-studio guests.

Marshall hosts a sports talk show at 10 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays.

Tuesdays at 10 a.m. are becoming a big talk-show slot for WGRP. On the first Tuesday of the month, UPMC Horizon is sponsoring a call-in show on wellness. GHAC Heating and Air Conditioning will hold down the second Tuesday spot with a show on home improvements.

Henegan-Anderson Financial Services is set to talk money on the third Tuesday of the month.

State Rep. Rod Wilt, R-17th District, Sugar Grove Township, is back on the air with a talk show at 10 a.m. Fridays.