 | |
| Broadcast area | Mobile metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 106.5MHz |
| Branding | FM Talk 106-5 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Talk |
| Network | Townhall News |
| Affiliations | Compass Media Networks Premiere Networks Radio America |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Bigler Broadcasting LLC |
| History | |
First air date | 1993; 33 years ago (1993) |
Former call signs | WUIF (1990–1990) WFMI (1990–1994)[1] |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 3636 |
| Class | C2 |
| ERP | 50,000watts |
| HAAT | 142 meters (466 feet) |
Transmitter coordinates | 30°44′44″N88°05′40″W / 30.74556°N 88.09444°W /30.74556; -88.09444 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | FMtalk1065.com |
WAVH (106.5FM, "FM Talk 106-5") is acommercialradio stationlicensed toDaphne, Alabama, and serving theMobile metropolitan area. The station airs atalk radioformat and is owned by Bigler Broadcasting, LLC.[3] Thestudios and offices are located at 900 Western America Circle Suite #106Interstate 65/Airport Boulevard interchange inMobile.
WAVH has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 50,000watts. Thetransmitter is on Shelton Beach Road Extension at Pallister Place West in the Beau Terra neighborhood of Mobile.[4]
FM Talk 1065 airs local talk shows during the day on weekdays, averaging 40 hours a week of live shows produced by WAVH. Weekdays begin withMobile Mornings hosted by Dan Brennan and Dalton Orwig.[5] Jeff Poor is heard in late mornings.[6]Midday Mobile with Sean Sullivan airs in early afternoons. The rest of the weekday schedule issyndicated programs:The Paul Finebaum Show focusing onSEC sports,The Michael Berry Show,The Joe Pags Show,The Dana Loesch Show andThis Morning, America's First News with Gordon Deal.[7]
Weekends on FM Talk 1065 feature specialty shows including local home improvement expert Danny Lipford, local high school sports talk with the Prep Sports Report, local hunting and fishing talk with FM Talk 1065 Outdoors, South Alabama food and drink talk with Sip and Chew, Plain Gardening on the Gulf Coast with Bill Finch and local golf talk with Randy Burgan and Tee Time. Syndicated weekend programs includeThe Kim Komando Show andFree Talk Live. Most hours begin with an update fromTownhall News.
This station received its originalconstruction permit from theFederal Communications Commission (FCC) on March 5,1990. Its originalcity of license wasBay Minette, Alabama.[8] The new station was assigned thecall letters WUIF by the FCC on May 3, 1990.[1] Just over a month later, on June 4, 1990, the station was assigned new call letters WFMI.[1] The new station began broadcasting asoft adult contemporary music format in mid-1993 underprogram test authority.[9] The station had the moniker "LiteMix 106.5".
After several extensions, renewals, and changes, WFMI received itslicense to cover from the FCC on August 25, 1993.[10] The station was assigned the current WAVH call letters on October 14, 1994.[1] The FCC authorized WAVH to change itscommunity of license toDaphne, Alabama, on November 29, 1996.[11]
In June 1997, the Baldwin Broadcasting Company reached an agreement to sell this station to American General Media through its AGM-Nevada, LLC, subsidiary. The deal was approved by the FCC on August 5, 1997, but the transaction was never consummated and control of the station remained with Baldwin Broadcasting.[12]
In November 2000, the Baldwin Broadcasting Company faced financial difficulties and an application was made to transfer control of WAVH to Baldwin Broadcasting Company, Debtor-In-Possession. The transfer was approved by the FCC on December 8, 2000, and the transaction was consummated on December 12, 2000.[13]
In May 2002, Baldwin Broadcasting Company, Debtor-In-Possession, reached an agreement to sell this station toCumulus Media through the Cumulus Licensing Corporation subsidiary for a reported $5.11 million.[14] The deal was never gained FCC approval and the application was dismissed at the request of both parties to the transaction on November 15, 2004.[15] At the time of the announcement, WAVH broadcast anoldies music format.[14]
In March 2007, Baldwin Broadcasting Company, Debtor-In-Possession, reached an agreement to transfer thebroadcast license for the station to Barry Wood, doing business as the Baldwin Broadcasting Company. The deal was approved by the FCC on May 15, 2007, and the transaction was consummated on May 23, 2007.[16] Just a few months later, in October 2007, Barry Wood reached an agreement to sell this station to Donald Bigler's Bigler Broadcasting, LLC, for a reported $3.6 million.[17] The deal was approved by the FCC on November 27, 2007, and the transaction was consummated on January 31, 2008.[18]
The station used the moniker "Oldies 106" until August 2006. At that time, it beganstunting by continuously playing songs byJimmy Buffett. After the stunt, WAVH switched toadult hits format. Until April 2009, WAVH was branded as "106.5 The Pirate" with the slogan "70s, 80s, and Whatever We Want!"[19][17]
At the end of April 2009, "The Pirate" came to an end. Atalk radio format, branded as "FM Talk 106-5", launched on May 1, 2009.[19] Most of Mobile's other talk stations are on theAM radio dial.
WAVH broadcasts a mix of local talk and nationally syndicated talk programs. National hosts includeDana Loesch,Michael Berry andJoe Pags. In afternoondrive time, WAVH carriesPaul Finebaum, discussingSEC sports. The talk format began withCBS Radio News updates each hour but the station later switched toTownhall News.
A veteran radio station owner plans to start a new station here, WFMI 106.5 FM, which will offer a light, adult contemporary music format. William Phillips sold his interests in two local stations, WLPR and WMMV, and secured a new frequency through the Federal Communications Commission. He and his partner, Barry Wood, an attorney in Arlington, Va., have been working to create the new station for almost a year.