WABB
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It has been suggested that this article be split into articles entitled WABB (AM) and WABB-FM. (Discuss) |
| WABB (AM) | |
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| Broadcast area | Mobile, Alabama |
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| Branding | NewsTalk 1480 WABB |
| Slogan | "Mobile's News/Talk Leader" |
| Frequency | 1480 kHz |
| First air date | June 19, 1948 |
| Format | News/Talk |
| Power | 5000 Watts |
| Class | B |
| Callsign meaning | "Alabama's Best Broadcasters" |
| Owner | Dittman Broadcasting (WABB-FM, Inc.) |
| WABB-FM | |
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| Broadcast area | Mobile, Alabama |
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| Branding | 97.5 WABB |
| Slogan | "The Gulf Coast's Hit Music Station" |
| Frequency | 97.5 MHz |
| First air date | February 5, 1973 |
| Format | Contemporary Hit Radio |
| ERP | 100,000 Watts |
| Class | C |
| Callsign meaning | "Alabama's Best Broadcasters" |
| Owner | Dittman Broadcasting (WABB-FM, Inc.) |
| Website | http://www.wabb.com |
WABB is the call sign for both the heritage Top 40 radio station and a news/talk station serving the Mobile, Alabama, and Gulf Coast areas,. Specifically, the FM station can be heard as far east as Panama City Beach, Florida, and as far west as New Orleans. The station comes in clearly from Pensacola to Biloxi. Both stations are owned by Dittman Broadcasting and have been under that ownership since 1959.
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[edit] History
WABB began broadcasting at 1480 kHz on June 19, 1948, when it was owned by the Mobile Register under call letters meaning "Alabama's Best Broadcasters" and had a country music format.
WABB had an FM simulcast from the very beginning, starting with 107.9 MHz and later 102.1 MHz until it was discontinued in the 1950s.
Shortly after owner Bernie Dittman moved to Mobile from his native Ohio to join his father J.W. at the station, Top-40 music became the new format.
WABB 97.5 FM signed on for the first time on February 5, 1973 with the song Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again by Bob Dylan. WABB-FM was originally a simulcast of its sister station before moving toward the format of album oriented rock.
When WABB-FM made the move to its current contemporary hit radio format in 1984, the AM station continued to play Top-40 music. Eventually, the economics of AM radio in the United States meant a move away from music and the station adopted a talk radio format.
WABB's longtime owner, president, and general manager Bernie Dittman died on October 25, 2006 after suffering from a stroke the previous week.[1] Dittman's daughter Betsey succeeded him after relocating to Mobile from Chicago, Illinois.[2]
[edit] Programming
The AM station features a line-up of primarily nationally syndicated conservative talk programming along with some locally-produced programs. Some of the personalities on WABB-AM include national hosts such as Neal Boortz, Bill O'Reilly, Clark Howard, and Sean Hannity. WALA-TV's morning newscast is simulcast weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.[3] WABB-AM was the radio home of Mobile's minor league baseball team the Mobile BayBears from the 2001 through the 2006 seasons.
WABB currently broadcasts from midtown Mobile's Springhill Avenue, its home since 1969 after leaving its former Government Street studio in downtown Mobile.
[edit] References
- ^ WABB’s Dittman Dead At 79.
- ^ Media Frenzy.
- ^ "WABB plans changes on both AM, FM", Mobile Press-Register, 2007-04-10. Retrieved on 2008-01-03. "On WABB-AM 1480, at 5 a.m. Wednesday, the news-talk radio station will unveil its two-year partnership with WALA-TV10's news department. From 5 until 8 a.m. weekdays, WABB-AM will simulcast the television station's morning newscast."
[edit] External links
- WABB official website
- Query the FCC's AM station database for WABB
- Radio Locator Information on WABB
- Query Arbitron's AM station database for WABB
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WABB
- Radio Locator information on WABB
- Query Arbitron's FM station database for WABB
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