WBLA

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.

WBLA
CityElizabethtown, North Carolina
Broadcast areaFayetteville, Elizabethtown, Lumberton, North Carolina
BrandingDa Branch
SloganYour Hit Gospel Station
Frequency1440 kHz
First air dateAugust 3, 1956 (1956-08-03)[1]
FormatGospel music
Power5,000 watts day
197 watts night
ClassD
Facility ID59467
Transmitter coordinates34°37′33″N 78°37′27″W
Call sign meaningBLAden County
Former frequencies1450 kHz (1956-1958)[2]
OwnerBaldwin Branch Missionary Baptist Church
WebcastListen Live
Websitewblaradio.com

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] For the next twenty years, WBLA broadcast a community-based country music format, with Robert Hester as its owner-manager for much of that period. Hester sold the station in 1989, after obtaining a construction permit for a Class A FM station (WGQR, 105.7).

In 1990, WLBA and WGQR were sold Sound Business Inc., owned by Lee Hauser and later co-owned by Arthur DeBerry, for $550,000.[4] Lee Hauser, who served as its president and WGQR/WBLA's general manager, began managing WJSK and WAGR in Lumberton, North Carolina when the company bought those stations. Dan Hester, former TV news anchor at WWAY in Wilmington, briefly served as Morning Host and General Manager for WGQR and WBLA.[5] WGQR and WBLA both aired the Bladen County high school football game of the week.[6] From 1990 to 2006, the stations simulcast an oldies and beach music format,[7][8][9][10] with WBLA offering brokered programming, primarily from local African-American churches, on Sundays.

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

References
  1. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2009 (PDF). 2009. p. D-397. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  2. 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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