WABB (AM)

Infobox Radio Station
name = WABB


city = Mobile, Alabama
branding = NewsTalk 1480 WABB
slogan = "Mobile's News/Talk Leader"
airdate = June 19, 1948
frequency = 1480 kHz (AM)
format = News/Talk
power = 5,000 watts (day)
4,400 watts (night)
class = B
facility_id = 70656
owner = Dittman Broadcasting
licensee = WABB-FM, Inc.
sister_stations = WABB-FM
website =
callsign_meaning = "Alabama's Best Broadcasters"|

WABB (1480 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a news and talk radio format serving the Mobile, Alabama metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Dittman Broadcasting.

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.cite news |work=Media Life |url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/ml/ac/pp103006.asp |title=People: Radio |quote=Dittman owned WABB-AM since 1959, adding WABB-FM in 1973.]

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.cite news |url=http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4484342-1.html |work=Radio Monitor |title=Bernie Dittman Passes Away |date=2006-10-26] 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. [cite news |work=Radio Ink |title=WABB's Dittman Dead At 79 |url=http://www.radioink.com/HeadlineEntry.asp?hid=135625&pt=archive] Dittman's daughter Betsey succeeded him after relocating to Mobile from Chicago, Illinois. [cite web |work=Lagniappe Mobile |url=http://www.lagniappemobile.com/article/562 |title=Media Frenzy |first=Rob |last=Holbert |date=2006-11-08]

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. [cite news |title=WABB plans changes on both AM, FM |work=Mobile Press-Register |location=Mobile, Alabama |date=2007-04-10 |accessdate=2008-01-03 |quote=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.] 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.

References

External links

*AMQ|WABB
*AML|WABB
*AMARB|WABB