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WABN
WABN (1230 AM) is a talk-formatted non-commercial radio station licensed to Abingdon, Virginia. The station's signal serves the towns of Abingdon, Lebanon, both in Virginia, and the twin cities of Bristol in Virginia and in Tennessee. WABN is owned and operated by Appalachian Educational Communication Corporation.
WABN was launched on December 10, 1956, and has served the town of Abingdon for almost 60 years. Beginning as WBBI, the station has carried various formats including country music and religious. Over the years, the station aired programming from the Mutual Broadcasting System and later the NBC Radio Network.
WABN has been sold several times, including once to Bristol Broadcasting Company, which owns stations in Bristol. The station's current owner, Bristol, Tennessee-based Appalachian Educational Communication Corporation, purchased WABN on May 5, 2004. Since 2011, WABN has been simulcasting on an FM translator station to increase its broadcast area.
The original application for WABN was filed on March 6, 1956. The principal owners listed on the application were Nelson T. Barker and Lindy M. Seamon. At the time of the filing, Seamon was the general manager and chief engineer at WRIC.
On their application, the pair estimated the construction costs of building the station at $19,904, with the first year operating costs at $20,000. First year revenue was estimated at $30,000. The application was approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on October 10, 1956. The new station was given the call sign WBBI during the first week of November 1956.
On December 10, 1956, WBBI took to the airwaves for the first time, operating at 250 watts day and night. At the time of its launch, it was owned by Burley Broadcasting Company, which filed for a license to cover on January 9, 1957. This was approved on January 11.
In April 1957, WBBI was honored with two awards by the Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association (VAPBA). In the "Commentary" category, the station was awarded second place in the "Non-Metropolitan" division. The station placed third in the "Sports" category in the "Non-Metropolitan" division. Burley Broadcasting Company transferred WBBI to Burley Broadcasting, Inc. for $20,000 in late July 1957. Under the new company, original owners Nelson T. Barker and Lindy M. Seamon transferred 25% of their shares to their wives, Ethel and Frances, respectively. In April 1958, the station was again honored with a VAPBA award, this time for "Women's News".
On January 26, 1959, WBBI was granted permission to change from an unlimited or 24-hour-a-day schedule to a daytime only schedule. The station would sign on at 6:00 am and sign off at 7:00 pm. The VAPBA presented the station with awards in the "State and Local News", "Farm", "Special Events", and "Women's News" categories on May 2, 1959. The station received VAPBA awards for "State and Local News", "Commentary", and "Women's News" in 1960.
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WABN
WABN (1230 AM) is a talk-formatted non-commercial radio station licensed to Abingdon, Virginia. The station's signal serves the towns of Abingdon, Lebanon, both in Virginia, and the twin cities of Bristol in Virginia and in Tennessee. WABN is owned and operated by Appalachian Educational Communication Corporation.
WABN was launched on December 10, 1956, and has served the town of Abingdon for almost 60 years. Beginning as WBBI, the station has carried various formats including country music and religious. Over the years, the station aired programming from the Mutual Broadcasting System and later the NBC Radio Network.
WABN has been sold several times, including once to Bristol Broadcasting Company, which owns stations in Bristol. The station's current owner, Bristol, Tennessee-based Appalachian Educational Communication Corporation, purchased WABN on May 5, 2004. Since 2011, WABN has been simulcasting on an FM translator station to increase its broadcast area.
The original application for WABN was filed on March 6, 1956. The principal owners listed on the application were Nelson T. Barker and Lindy M. Seamon. At the time of the filing, Seamon was the general manager and chief engineer at WRIC.
On their application, the pair estimated the construction costs of building the station at $19,904, with the first year operating costs at $20,000. First year revenue was estimated at $30,000. The application was approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on October 10, 1956. The new station was given the call sign WBBI during the first week of November 1956.
On December 10, 1956, WBBI took to the airwaves for the first time, operating at 250 watts day and night. At the time of its launch, it was owned by Burley Broadcasting Company, which filed for a license to cover on January 9, 1957. This was approved on January 11.
In April 1957, WBBI was honored with two awards by the Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association (VAPBA). In the "Commentary" category, the station was awarded second place in the "Non-Metropolitan" division. The station placed third in the "Sports" category in the "Non-Metropolitan" division. Burley Broadcasting Company transferred WBBI to Burley Broadcasting, Inc. for $20,000 in late July 1957. Under the new company, original owners Nelson T. Barker and Lindy M. Seamon transferred 25% of their shares to their wives, Ethel and Frances, respectively. In April 1958, the station was again honored with a VAPBA award, this time for "Women's News".
On January 26, 1959, WBBI was granted permission to change from an unlimited or 24-hour-a-day schedule to a daytime only schedule. The station would sign on at 6:00 am and sign off at 7:00 pm. The VAPBA presented the station with awards in the "State and Local News", "Farm", "Special Events", and "Women's News" categories on May 2, 1959. The station received VAPBA awards for "State and Local News", "Commentary", and "Women's News" in 1960.