WLBE (790 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Regional Mexican format. Licensed to Leesburg, Florida, United States, it serves the Lake County area and reaches into parts of nearby Marion County as well. The station is currently owned by Q Broadcasting Corporation.

WLBE
Broadcast areaLake County, Florida
Frequency790 kHz
BrandingOK 790 AM
Programming
FormatRegional Mexican
Ownership
Owner
  • George and Esperanza Arroyo
  • (Q-Broadcasting Corporation)
History
First air date
1947
Former call signs
WEUS
Call sign meaning
W Leesburg-Eustis [1]
Technical information
Facility ID73202
ClassB
Power5,000 watts day
1,000 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
28°49′42.00″N 81°47′10.00″W / 28.8283333°N 81.7861111°W / 28.8283333; -81.7861111

The station originally signed on in 1947 using the call letters WEUS, but changed to WLBE effective October 19, 1948.

The move from Floradel Avenue to Radio Road took place in 1950, the same year Paul Husebo bought it. Wendell Husebo sold the station in 1962 after spending 37 hours on the air in 1960 during Hurricane Donna. With all the changes over the years, WLBE aired Leesburg High sports. Bob Andrews worked in radio for 60 year, starting when WLBE started, and returning after an absence in 1980 to host "The Breakfast Club".[2]

Harry Reiner Revocable Trust owned the station starting in 1983.[3][2] In 2013, the primary format, starting each afternoon, was oldies from the 50s, 60 and 70s, targeting senior citizens, with talk shows providing information four hours each day, a sports show on weekends, religious programming including gospel music on Sunday, and the "Lake County Auction Show". One of the shows included a "swap shop".[3]

Before signing off, it was "Real Country AM 790" with "Today's Stars and Legends". As of June 22, 2019, the station was off the air.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ "WEUS-AM 790 Eustis".
  2. ^ a b c Stanfield, Frank (June 27, 2019). "The sound of silence". Daily Commercial. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Leesburg radio station WLBE makes 'great strides' with oldies format, GM says". Orlando Sentinel. June 20, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2024.

External links edit