WEBE
{{short description|Radio station in Westport, Connecticut, United States}}
{{For|the Ohio radio station that used this callsign from 1924 to 1930|WHIZ (AM)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WEBE
| city = Westport, Connecticut
| country = US
| logo = WEBE 108 logo.png
| logo_upright = .8
| area = {{ubl|Fairfield County|Greater New Haven|Central Long Island}}
| frequency = {{Frequency|107.9|MHz}} {{HD Radio}}
| branding = WEBE108
| languages = English
| format = Adult contemporary
| subchannels = HD2: Talk radio (WICC)
| owner = Connoisseur Media
| licensee = Connoisseur Media Licenses, LLC
| sister_stations = WEZN-FM, WFOX, WICC, WPLR, WYBC-FM
| airdate = {{Start date and age|1962|09|01|p=y|br=yes}}
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WMMM-FM (1962–1970)|WDJF (1970–1984)}}
| callsign_meaning = phonetically pronounced as "Wee-Bee"
| licensing_authority = FCC
| facility_id = 71389
| class = B
| erp = 20,500 watts
| haat = {{Convert|202|m|ft|sp=us}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|41|16|44.3|N|73|11|6.4|W|type:landmark_region:US-CT_source:FCC|display=inline,title}}
| webcast = {{listenlive|http://player.listenlive.co/22041}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.webe108.com/}}
}}
WEBE (107.9 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Westport, Connecticut, carrying an adult contemporary format known as "WEBE108". Owned by Connoisseur Media, the station serves both the Greater New Haven and Fairfield County areas. The WEBE studios are located on Wheelers Farms Road in Milford, and its transmitter is located on the Hi-Ho Tower on Video Lane in Shelton.
History
The frequency of 107.9 MHz was originally assigned by the Federal Communications Commission to Westport, Connecticut, under its Table of Allocations. On September 1, 1962, WMMM-FM signed on the air as the FM counterpart to WMMM (now WSHU).[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1964/Section%20B%20Full%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201964.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1964 page B-29] WMMM-AM-FM were owned by the Westport Broadcasting Company headed by Sydney J. Flamm. WMMM was a daytimer station. When it went off the air at sunset each evening, WMMM-FM allowed its programming to continue to be heard.
The stations broadcast out of offices and studios located above a deli at 163 Main Street in Westport. The broadcasting antenna for 107.9 FM was located in a residential neighborhood in Wilton. The power was 5,200 watts, a fraction of its current output, with an antenna height above average terrain (HAAT) of only {{convert|79|ft|m|sp=us}}, so the broadcast radius of the station was limited.
In 1970, WMMM-FM got the new call sign WDJF.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1971/Section-B-Radio-Broadcasting-Yearbook-1971-11.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1971 page B-37] The FM station continued to simulcast WMMM for a few more years, and would later switch to an automated adult contemporary format. The station's power was increased to 50,000 watts of power, and relocated to a taller tower.
In 1984, the station was acquired by a company known as "The 108 Radio Company Ltd. Partnership", and would switch the call letters to WEBE. In addition, automation was ended and live DJs handled most air shifts. In 1987, the ownership changed to a company calling itself "WEBE Associates".[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1990/B-All-Radio-BC-YB-1990.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1990 page B-60] In 2000, ownership changed again, this time to Nassau Broadcasting LLC.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/2001/D-Radio-All-BC-YB-2001.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2001 page D-82] Cumulus Media acquired Nassau Broadcasting in March 2002.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/2003-04/D-Radio-All-BC-YB-2003-04.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2003-2004 page D-86] Cumulus also owned WICC.
On April 15, 2019, Cumulus Media announced that WEBE and WICC would be swapped to Connoisseur Media, which began operating the stations under a local marketing agreement (LMA) on May 1, 2019.[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/176147/cumulus-media-sells-klos-to-meruelo-media-swaps-bridgeport-to-connoisseur-for-allentown/ Cumulus Media Sells KLOS To Meruelo Media Swaps Bridgeport To Connoisseur For Allentown] The swap was consummated on June 26, 2019.
HD radio
Cumulus Broadcasting began upgrading its stations to HD Radio broadcasting in 2005. One of the first ten stations to get changed to HD transmission was WEBE.{{cite news |work=EE Times |title=Harris Corporation Announces Multi-Deal Agreement as Exclusive HD Radio(TM) Supplier to Cumulus Broadcasting |date=April 24, 2006 |url=http://www.eetimes.com/press_releases/prnewswire/showPressRelease.jhtml?articleID=X464659 |first=Mary Beth |last=Harnett}} WEBE's HD2 subchannel carries the talk format heard on co-owned WICC.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.webe108.com/}}
- {{FM station data|71389|WEBE}}
- [http://www.ctradiohistory.org/wmmm/ History of Westport Connecticut Radio]
{{Stamford-Norwalk Radio}}
{{Bridgeport Radio}}
{{Adult Contemporary Radio Stations in Connecticut}}
{{Connoisseur Media}}
Category:1962 establishments in Connecticut
Category:Connoisseur Media radio stations
Category:Mainstream adult contemporary radio stations in the United States
Category:Mass media in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Category:Mass media in Fairfield County, Connecticut