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.[2] 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.

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
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
Webcastmms://wbsaam1300.dyndns.org:8080
Websitewbsaam.com

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.[3] Cornelius operated WBSA until 1982 when it was purchased by Bill Huber and Lawrence Kennamer (as Sand Mountain Advertising, Inc.).[4] 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.[5]

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.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Station History". WBSA 1300AM. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
  2. ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  3. ^ "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  4. ^ "Application Search Details (BAL-19820421HC)". FCC Media Bureau. 8 June 1982.
  5. ^ "Application Search Details (BAL-19940701EI)". FCC Media Bureau. 20 October 1994.
  6. ^ Taken from Alabama Broadcast Media Page

External links edit

Call sign Frequency City of license ERP (W) Class FCC info
W257AZ 93.5 FM Boaz, Alabama 250 D FMQ