WELE (1380 AM) is a commercial radio station broadcasting a progressive news/talk radio format. Licensed to Ormond Beach, Florida, United States, the station serves the Daytona Beach metropolitan area. The station is owned by Bethune-Cookman University.[4] It is branded as "1380 The Cat".

WELE
Broadcast areaDaytona Beach metropolitan area
Frequency1380 kHz
Branding1380 The Cat
Programming
FormatProgressive news/talk
AffiliationsCBS News Radio
Westwood One
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
Ownership
OwnerBethune-Cookman University
WRWS-LP
History
First air date
August 1, 1957; 67 years ago (1957-08-01)
Former call signs
  • WQXQ (1957–1969)[1]
  • WDAT (1969–1986)[1][2]
Technical information[3]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID72937
ClassB
Power5,000 watts day
2,500 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
29°16′9.00″N 81°4′54.00″W / 29.2691667°N 81.0816667°W / 29.2691667; -81.0816667
Translator(s)101.5 W268DG (Ormond Beach)
Links
Public license information
Websitewele1380thecat.com

By day, WELE broadcasts with 5,000 watts, but to avoid interference to other stations on 1380 AM, at night it reduces power to 2,500 watts. It uses a directional antenna with a four-tower array.[5] Programming is also heard on 10-watt FM translator W268DG at 101.5 MHz.

Programming

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WELE carries a number of nationally syndicated talk shows, including Russ Parr, Stephanie Miller and Democracy Now. WELE also broadcasts Bethune-Cookman University football and NFL games during the football season. World and national news is supplied by CBS News Radio.

History

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On August 1, 1957; 67 years ago (1957-08-01), the station first signed on the air.[6] It originally held the call sign WQXQ.[6][1] It was a daytimer, with a power of 1,000 watts and required to go off the air at sunset.[1] Seeking identification with its _target area, in 1969 the call sign was changed to WDAT.[1] The DAT stood for Daytona.

Nighttime operations were added in 1973, running 1,000 watts around the clock.[1] In 1977, the station's daytime power was increased to 5,000 watts, and its nighttime power was increased to 2,500 watts.[1] Its call sign was changed to WELE in 1986.[2]

 
Former logo

In October 2013, Wings Communications donated the station's license to Bethune-Cookman University.[7] The donation was consummated on August 5, 2014.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g History Cards for WELE, fcc.gov. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
  3. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WELE". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  4. ^ "WELE Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  5. ^ Radio-Locator.com/WELE
  6. ^ a b Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1996, Broadcasting & Cable, 1996. p. B-91. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
  7. ^ "Georgia AM Sold, Florida AM Donated". allaccess.com. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
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  NODES
Note 1