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WBSA

WBSA
Broadcast areaBoaz, Alabama
Frequency1300 AM kHz
Programming
FormatChristian/Southern Gospel
Ownership
OwnerWatkins Broadcasting, Inc.
History
First air date
October 1, 1959 (as WAVC)[1]
Former call signs
WAVC (1959–1961)
Call sign meaning
B oaS (S substitutes for Z) Alabama
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID71098
ClassD
Power1,000 watts (day)
37 watts (night)
Transmitter coordinates
34°12′50″N 86°09′10″W / 34.21389°N 86.15278°W / 34.21389; -86.15278
Links
Public license information
Webcastmms://wbsaam1300.dyndns.org:8080
WebsiteFacebook page

WBSA (1300 AM, "Total Christian Radio") is a radio station licensed to serve Boaz, Alabama, USA. The station is owned by Watkins Broadcasting, Inc. It broadcasts a Christian radio format featuring Southern Gospel music.[3] WBSA is the only radio station licensed to Boaz by the Federal Communications Commission. WBSA plays southern gospel and bluegrass gospel music. It also has on-air devotions.

On-air personalities include Dale Johnson, Chris Watkins, James Cornelius and Beecher Hyde. WBSA carries the weekly football games of the Boaz High School Pirates.

History

[edit]

The station began regular broadcasting on October 1, 1959, as WAVC. Owned by Ken Sparks and Albert Vearl Cicero (for whom the station was named), WAVC played a mix of popular music, rock'n'roll and easy listening.[1] In 1961, WAVC was bought by L.D. Bentley and Glenn Cornelius (as Radio Sand Mountain, Inc.) and the callsign was changed to the current WBSA.[4] Cornelius operated WBSA until 1982 when it was purchased by Bill Huber and Lawrence Kennamer (as Sand Mountain Advertising, Inc.).[5] The new owners changed the format to Southern Gospel music. In October 1994, the station was purchased by Reverend Roger Watkins, a Baptist minister and evangelist, as Watkins Broadcasting, Inc.[6]

The station acquired an FM translator during the first AM revitalization window in 2016. That station went on the air in late May 2016 on 93.5 MHz.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Station History". WBSA 1300AM. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WBSA". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  4. ^ "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  5. ^ "Application Search Details (BAL-19820421HC)". FCC Media Bureau. 8 June 1982.
  6. ^ "Application Search Details (BAL-19940701EI)". FCC Media Bureau. 20 October 1994.
  7. ^ Taken from Alabama Broadcast Media Page
[edit]
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) Class FCC info
W228DD 93.5 FM Boaz, Alabama 157020 250 D LMS