WBLA

WBLA
City Elizabethtown, North Carolina
Broadcast area Fayetteville, Elizabethtown, Lumberton, North Carolina
Branding Da Branch
Slogan Your Hit Gospel Station
Frequency 1440 kHz
First air date August 3, 1956 (1956-08-03)[1]
Format Gospel music
Power 5,000 watts day
197 watts night
Class D
Facility ID 59467
Transmitter coordinates 34°37′33″N 78°37′27″W / 34.62583°N 78.62417°W / 34.62583; -78.62417Coordinates: 34°37′33″N 78°37′27″W / 34.62583°N 78.62417°W / 34.62583; -78.62417
Callsign meaning BLAden County
Former frequencies 1450 kHz (1956-1958)[2]
Owner Baldwin Branch Missionary Baptist Church
Webcast Listen Live
Website wblaradio.com

WBLA (1440 AM; "Da Branch") is a radio station broadcasting a gospel music format. Licensed to Elizabethtown, North Carolina, United States, it serves the greater Fayetteville, North Carolina area. The station is owned by Baldwin Branch Missionary Baptist Church.

History

WBLA signed on August 3, 1956.[1] The station was originally owned by Bladen Broadcasting Corporation and affiliated with the Mutual Broadcasting System.[3] The station originally broadcast at 1450 kHz, running 100 watts with unlimited hours of operation.[2] In 1958, the station's frequency was changed to 1440 kHz and its power was increased to 1,000 watts, with daytime operations only.[2] In 1978, the station's power was increased to 5,000 watts.[2]

In 1990, WLBA and WGQR were sold Sound Business Inc., owned by Lee Hauser and Arthur DeBarry, for $550,000.[4] Lee Hauser, who served as its president, began managing WJSK and WAGR in Lumberton, North Carolina when the DeBerry company bought those stations. Morning host Dan Hester, who had worked at WWAY, replaced Hauser as station manager for WGQR and WBLA.[5] WGQR and WBLA both aired the Bladen County high school football game of the week.[6] In the 1990s and 2000s, the station aired an oldies format.[7][8][9][10]

In 2004, Beasley Broadcasting attempted to purchase WLBA and WGQR for $850,000, but the Federal Communications Commission disallowed the purchase because Beasley would own too many stations in the market.[11][12]

In January 2006, WGQR and WBLA were sold to Christian Listening Network for $875,000.[13][14] WGQR switched to a Southern Gospel format.[15] By 2010, the station had begun airing a Gospel format.[16]

In 2013, the station was donated to Baldwin Branch Missionary Baptist Church.[17][18] The station began online streaming in 2015.[19]

References

  1. 1 2 Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2009 (PDF). 2009. p. D-397. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 History Cards for WBLA, fcc.gov. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  3. ↑ 1957 Broadcasting Yearbook-Marketbook (PDF). 1957. p. 194. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Transactions", Radio & Records. September 7, 1990. p. 11. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  5. ↑ Woodard, Jay. "Radio Stations' Sales Under Way," The Fayetteville Observer, August 25, 1993.
  6. ↑ "Football Fills Airwaves Across Region Again," The Fayetteville Observer, August 26, 1993.
  7. ↑ The M Street Radio Directory. 1991 p. 208. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  8. ↑ The M Street Radio Directory. 1995. p. 400. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  9. ↑ Apel, Steve; Devine, Cathy (2001) The M Street Radio Directory. Tenth Edition. p. 413. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  10. ↑ Devine, Cathy (2005-2006) The M Street Radio Directory. p. 434. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  11. ↑ "RadioActive", Airplay Monitor. June 18, 2004. p. 2. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  12. ↑ Jacobson, Adam. "FCC Says No To Beasley Deal", Radio & Records. July 1, 2005. p. 4. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  13. ↑ Consent to Assignment, fcc.gov. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Deals", Broadcasting & Cable. December 2, 2005. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Christian Listening Network Announces Promotions And Purchases", All Access Music Group. January 12, 2006. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  16. ↑ Devine, Cathy (2010-2011) The M Street Radio Directory. p. 462. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  17. ↑ Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License, fcc.gov. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  18. ↑ Consent to Assignment, fcc.gov. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  19. ↑ "WBLA now live streaming on the Internet". Bladen Journal. October 21, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
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