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|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Raleigh-Durham |
| Frequency | 1090kHz |
| Programming | |
| Format | Full servicesouthern gospel |
| Affiliations | North Carolina News Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Truth Broadcasting Corporation |
| WSTS | |
| History | |
First air date | August 4, 1964; 61 years ago (1964-08-04) (as WBZB) |
Former call signs | WBZB (1964–2004) |
Call sign meaning | "Where Tobacco Sells Best"[1] |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 71088 |
| Class | D |
| Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 35°36′57.00″N78°24′33.00″W / 35.6158333°N 78.4091667°W /35.6158333; -78.4091667 |
| Translator | 105.5 W288DH (Selma) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | www |
WTSB (1090kHz) is acommercialAM radio station inSelma, North Carolina, and serving theRaleigh-Durham area. The station is owned by Truth Broadcasting Corporation and broadcasts afull service,Southern gospelradio format. It airs local news and information and high school sports as well as reports from theNorth Carolina News Network.
WTSB is adaytimer station. By day, it broadcasts at 9,000 wattsnon-directional, and at 1,700 watts duringcritical hours. Because1090 AM is aclear channel frequency, reserved forClass A stationsKAAY inLittle Rock,WBAL inBaltimore andXEPRS-AM inRosarito-Tijuana, WTSB must go off the air at night to avoid interference.[3] Programming is heard around the clock onFM translatorW288DH at 105.5MHz.[4]
An earlier station with the WTSBcall sign was located on 580 AM inLumberton, North Carolina, and broadcast at 500 watts during the day and 50 watts at night in 2000.[5] The station signed on in 1947, owned by Robeson Broadcasting Corp. Jack Pait, who had a furniture business in Lumberton, was majority stockholder. Levi E. Willis Sr., president and owner of Willis Broadcasting ofNorfolk, Virginia, bought WTSB in 1997 fromBeasley Broadcast Group[6] which had bought WTSB andWKML. Both stations airedcountry music for a year when they were co-owned, but WTSB ended up going off the air for a while.[7] Willis played traditionalblack gospel until WTSB went off the air in 2000. Though Willis believed the station could return, it did not.[6][5]
Prior to 1999, WBZB airedcountry music along withconservative talk. The former owner walked into Bass Music Enterprises, owned by Steve Bass, and asked, "Wanna buy a radio station?"[citation needed]
In 2002, about two years after Bass became the primary owner of WBZB, the station was located inGarner and played anything and everything by North Carolina musicians or well-known musicians from neighboring states.[citation needed] The playlist included about 1,700 songs. Artists includedArrogance, Nancy Middleton, Blue Dust Box, Jam Pain Society,John Saylor, andTift Merritt.[8][9] In 2003, Shane Gentry, anudist and member of Nekkid Monday (a band similar toZZ Top), began hosting theNaked Monday Show, celebrating the nudist lifestyle.[10]
WBZB received approval for a power increase from 800 to 1,600 watts, but after a year, even though Bass claimed the station was close to making money, his investors were unable to stay with him. He sold the station oneBay.[11]
Triangle Sports Broadcasters bought WBZB and changed the letters to WTSB, also increasing the signal to 9,000 watts, and switched tosports talk July 12, 2004, calling the station "Your Triangle Sports Ticket". The programming included local hosts as well asESPN Radio.[12]
WTSB was sold to Lamm Media Group in November 2007.[citation needed] LMG head Carl Lamm retired in 2019 and sold it to the religious broadcasting group Truth Broadcasting in 2019.[13] Truth Broadcasting acquired the station facilities and anFM translator for $175,000 in July the same year.[14]
WTSB runs a full-service variety format, including local news andtradio, with much of its programming sold toradio evangelists. Reruns ofLum and Abner air every weekday on the station.
WTSB 1090 AM is a daytime-only signal, but programming can be heard 24/7 on 105.5 FM as well as online.
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT | Class | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W288DH | 105.5 FM FM | Selma, North Carolina | 156969 | 99 watts | 60.0 m (197 ft) | D | LMS |