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Status of 2 Lake County AMs?

byron

byron

Can anyone confirm if WKIQ 1240 is still on the air, and if so, what format?

Same question of WLBE 790. Read they're back on the air with Q's ownership after that period of silence. Haven't heard or seen much more.

I haven't been able to get up that way in months, and just curious how both signals are doing.

Thanks

Byron
 
byron said:
Can anyone confirm if WKIQ 1240 is still on the air, and if so, what format?

Same question of WLBE 790. Read they're back on the air with Q's ownership after that period of silence. Haven't heard or seen much more.

I haven't been able to get up that way in months, and just curious how both signals are doing.

Thanks

Byron
Click to expand...
As of about 10 days ago; WLBE 790 was back on the air with a country format; at least during the day, when I listened. Will have to check again, as it seems these things can change at the drop of a hat.
 
byron said:
Can anyone confirm if WKIQ 1240 is still on the air, and if so, what format?

Same question of WLBE 790. Read they're back on the air with Q's ownership after that period of silence. Haven't heard or seen much more.

I haven't been able to get up that way in months, and just curious how both signals are doing.

Thanks

Byron
Click to expand...


Would anyone miss WKIQ 1240 if it went off and never came back? I dont think it's ever had one format for more then a few years.... I have to wonder what the people who lease that station are paying in LMA fees


Signed,
A Former Rama Communications Employee
( Yes, I do admit to the above on my Resume LOL :) )
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

Interesting that WLBE is back on and still Country. Wonder if Q will just do what they did with "Timeless 1110" ...

I have some old airchecks of the local 'KIQ Variety Talk format and some old promos. Need to get those off the cassettes.

I think I have the old 1410 WQBQ shout-jingle somewhere too. And here come the tumbling tumbleweeds...

Byron
 
byron said:
Thanks for the replies guys.

Interesting that WLBE is back on and still Country. Wonder if Q will just do what they did with "Timeless 1110" ...

I have some old airchecks of the local 'KIQ Variety Talk format and some old promos. Need to get those off the cassettes.

I think I have the old 1410 WQBQ shout-jingle somewhere too. And here come the tumbling tumbleweeds...

Byron
Click to expand...
I'm in eastern Hernando county now; at a few minutes past 5PM, WLBE - 790 on the air with their country/soft rock format; 1240 I was receiving poor reception, but the radio had to be in the same position to receive WLBE and 1410; so I assume it was the 1240 in Leesburg, the signal fading in and out, but the music seemed to be regional Mexican. As far as WLBE either they've changed their format in the last two weeks or I mis-identified their format; on a liner this afternoon , they indicated they are Timeless Music, heard some Paul McCartney, Dean Martin, Willie Nelson, Four Lads , April Stevens and Nino Tempo etc. Also on WLBE's promotional liner, they gave the phone number 352-478-0790 to call to make any comments on their format.
 
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Wow... So it sounds like 790 WLBE lost their historic 787-7900 phone number ... alright.

1240 playing Regional Mexican sounds accurate as was the last report I read. That signal is a paltry 790w that sits on a stick at the bottom of a hill behind the studio in Eustis.

Timeless Music. Yeah... Against 640 WVLG and whatever format of music 1410 WQBQ airs these days? -- I hope that strong 790 signal doesn't just turn into yet-another Maxima or La Mega outlet.

IIRC, a former WLBE staffer left to run what is WQBQ now. Seems like after they left, WLBE went "Real Country" and went real south, real quick.

Byron
 
byron said:
Wow... So it sounds like 790 WLBE lost their historic 787-7900 phone number ... alright.

1240 playing Regional Mexican sounds accurate as was the last report I read. That signal is a paltry 790w that sits on a stick at the bottom of a hill behind the studio in Eustis.

Timeless Music. Yeah... Against 640 WVLG and whatever format of music 1410 WQBQ airs these days? -- I hope that strong 790 signal doesn't just turn into yet-another Maxima or La Mega outlet.

IIRC, a former WLBE staffer left to run what is WQBQ now. Seems like after they left, WLBE went "Real Country" and went real south, real quick.

Byron
Click to expand...
1410's signal is decent in eastern Hernando county and listening this Saturday afternoon (05/08/2021) , I've discovered their format is Southern Gospel. Have to assume it's that format all the time; but did not hear any liners or promotions indicating their format.
 
I wonder what the people leasing 1410 are paying as well.

Signed,
A Former Rama employee :)
 
Anyone have any info on who’s programming WLBE? I’d like to speak with someone regarding sales, but their new number seems like just a voicemail for listeners.
 
Try their Orlando office # 4078300800.

Byron
 
Waking my own old thread back up from the dead.

Finally had a chance to drive through Lake County last month and I did get to sample 1240 WKIQ, and 1410 WQBQ, and 790 WLBE.

WKIQ is still sounding like Regional Mexican, still feels (sounds) like the paltry 790 watts it always has been. You need to be pretty close and honestly it never really can sound that great given the format and lack of good audio processing.

WQBQ sounds much better than it used to. It definitely shifts between talk, secular and non-secular music, and even "decades" inbetween various day and night parts, but of the times I listened it was crisp and clean presentation. I'm glad to hear that sound coming from WQBQ after all these years.
Advertisements sounded good too. (Didn't hear a lot of self-promotion and PSAs used as filler, etc)

WLBE was also back on, speaking of "all these years", and sounding very automated, but sounding OK. Definitely Timeless format, not much for local spots, but I did hear the bumper asking for you to call with comments (as mentioned earlier in this thread).


Additionally... I'd been reading that the Polk-based Boss Hogg Radio (Walco Enterprises) had also taken over 1170 WKFL in Bushell, so I did listen for a short bit. WKFL comes in "OK" within the West side of Lake county, but I was wondering if Walco'd ever consider snapping up the 1240 WKIQ in Eustis? Some from the market recall the couple of times in the past where 1170 WKFL/1240 WKIQ were owned + operated in simulcast/trimulcast form. If they wanted a way to hit that same demo in Lake County, well just sayin'. Otherwise I guess Unity (ex Rama) is just going to keep the lights on for time being until something else better comes along, or breaks.

Thanks for reading.

Byron
 
I'm down at the top end of Polk County and have been fascinated with the music on WLBE. It certainly covers a broad spectrum of music. Is Timeless some kind of a syndicated or satellite format?

I've heard the request for comments, but have yet to hear a single commercial, just hours and hours of music.
 
Timeless as a format (I'm guessing) is sort of a dated reference now...in hindsight. I believe the Cumulus owned Timeless ceased back around 2010.

Doesn't duplicate what music 1230 WONN in Lakeland seems to air, and AFAIK they are using Westwood's America's Greatest Hits there.

Byron
 
Here we are in August of 2022, and I still have yet to hear a commercial on WLBE 790. There's only a female voice asking for comments on their Timeless music. Wide, wide selection of tunes spanning many years. One minute its the McGuire sisters from the 50s and then a Billy Joel song from the 80s.
 
Today as we were driving, we put 790 AM on the radio. There was a commercial - and another one - and another one. "What's going on?," I asked. At the top of the hour, while an ABBA song was on, the familiar lady announcing the timeless favorites played and the song came back. They ran that little ID over top of the ABBA song. Then came a man identifying the station as WLBE Leesburg, WQBQ Leesburg, and then the FM station on 105.1. I was unable to to receive either of those other two from the Celebration area.

Did the WQBQ owners buy up 790?
 
or maybe LMA?

Not seeing anything properly filed for pending change of ownership.

But wait... What's 105.1? Q has 95.1.

Byron
 
Well .. got a chance to drive through the LC today...

1410 is silent no carrier at least in Mount Dora...
790 is 1410 WQBQ..... the Q...

Haven't checked FCC status but guessing 1410 is STA/having some work done.

1240 is en Espanol as normal.

Also 640 WVLG is much much weaker daytime coverage into MD than usual..

Byron
 
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