AM Technical Profile: WBYE


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Frequency:
1370
Format:
Gospel, Urban Oldies
Transmitter Location:
[map] [street view: studio] On the western outskirts of Calera on AL-25, on the south side of the highway.
Power (ERP):
Day: 1 kW
Antenna:
Day: 1 tower
Other Information:
[FCC]
[Radio-Locator]
[Wikipedia]
[Bhamwiki]
License deleted 04-06-2012
History:
Put on the air in 1955 by M.D. Smith III and his wife Kirby Jones Smith.  It was originally a daytime only station with 500 watts, and an early top 40 in the area. Smith bought Bell Radio in Birmingham, who put on present day WBRC-TV, WBRC-FM and WERC radio.  He also put WAAY AM and TV on, as well as helped start the HiWAAY internet service in the Tennessee Valley.
 
The FCC deleted the station's license in April, 2012, for failing to renew on time.  The station appears to still be operating, although through most of September it was just an empty carrier.  In early October it was reported the station finally fell silent, and power was cut to the tower lights.

The tower was removed from the property in mid-March 2021.