WTSB

WTSB (1090 AM) is a radio station licensed by the FCC to serve the community of Selma, North Carolina. The station is owned by Truth Broadcasting Corporation. The station is daytime and "critical hours" only on AM station and all day on W288DH-FM 105.5 MHz, providing local news, obituaries and typical small town full service programming along with Southern Gospel, Bluegrass Gospel Music and classic gospel music.

WTSB
CitySelma, North Carolina
Broadcast areaRaleigh, North Carolina
FrequencyAM1090 kHz
SloganWhere the Stories Break
Programming
FormatFull Service
AffiliationsNorth Carolina News Network
Ownership
OwnerTruth Broadcasting Corporation
WSTS
History
First air date
August 4, 1964 (as WBZB)
Former call signs
WBZB (1964-2004)
Call sign meaning
Where Tobacco Sells Best[1]
Technical information
Facility ID71088
ClassD
Power9,000 watts day
1,700 watts critical hours
Transmitter coordinates
35°36′57.00″N 78°24′33.00″W
Translator(s)W288DH (105.5 MHz, Selma)
Links
WebcastTruth Network Temporary Stream
WebsiteTruth Network

History of WTSB, Lumberton

WTSB was located at 580 AM, and broadcast at 500 watts during the day and 50 watts at night in 2000.[2] 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 of Norfolk, Virginia, bought WTSB in 1997 from Beasley Broadcast Group[3] which had bought WTSB and WKML. Both stations aired country music for a year when they were co-owned, but WTSB ended up going off the air for a while.[4] Willis played traditional black gospel until WTSB went off the air in 2000. Though Willis believed the station could return[3] it did not.[2]

History of WBZB, Selma/Garner

Prior to 1999, WBZB aired country music along with conservative talk. The former owner walked into Bass Music Enterprises, owned by Steve Bass, and asked, "Wanna buy a radio station?"

In 2002, about two years after Bass became the primary owner of WBZB, the station was located in Garner and playing anything and everything by North Carolina musicians, or musicians from nearby states who were well-known in the state. The playlist included about 1,700 songs. Artists included Arrogance, Nancy Middleton, Blue Dust Box, Jam Pain Society, John Saylor, and Tift Merritt[5][6] In 2003, Shane Gentry, a nudist and member of Nekkid Monday (a band similar to ZZ Top) began hosting the "Naked Monday Show" celebrating the nudist lifestyle.[7]

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 on eBay.[8]

Triangle Sports Broadcasters bought WBZB and changed the letters to WTSB, also increasing the signal to 9,000 watts, and switched to sports talk July 12, 2004, calling the station "Your Triangle Sports Ticket". The programming included local hosts as well as ESPN radio.[9]

On November 1, 2007, WTSB was sold to Lamm Media Group[10] Lamm announced his retirement effective at the end of March 2019; Truth Broadcasting, a religious broadcaster, entered a local marketing agreement beginning April 1, 2019 to keep the station on the air.[11] Truth Broadcasting acquired the station and translator W288DH effective July 12, 2019 for $175,000.

Programming

WTSB runs a full-service variety format, including local news and tradio, with much of its programming sold to radio evangelists. Reruns of Lum and Abner air every weekday on the station.

Translator

WTSB 1090AM is a daytime-only signal, but programming can be heard 24/7 on 105.5FM as well as online.

Call signFrequency
(MHz)		City of licenseFacility
ID		ERP
(W)		Height
(m (ft))		ClassFCC info
W288DH105.5 FMSelma, North Carolina15696999 watts60.0 m (196.9 ft)DFCC

References
  1. "Call Letter Origins". Radio History on the Web.
  2. Michael Futch, "Folksy 'Don Ross' Journal' Is Dropped," The Fayetteville Observer, May 9, 2004.
  3. Michael Futch, "WTSB Will Be Back on Air, Owner Says," The Fayetteville Observer, July 2, 2000.
  4. Michael Futch, "Lumberton Undergoes Radio Changes," The Fayetteville Observer, January 11, 1998.
  5. David Menconi, "Breaking the Waves," The News & Observer, November 24, 2002.
  6. David Menconi, "Who's on First?," The News & Observer, November 24, 2002.
  7. David Menconi, "Undress for Success," The News & Observer, November 6, 2003.
  8. David Menconi, "eBay airplay," The News & Observer, June 30, 2003.
  9. Caulton Tudor, "Triangle Gets Second Sports Radio Station," The News & Observer, June 30, 2004.
  10. Ranti, David (Aug 12, 2006). "New spot for ESPN Radio?". News and Observer. Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
  11. https://jocoreport.com/truth-broadcasting-to-take-over-wtsb-programming/
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