WSBB (AM)


WSBB is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting an adult standards format. Licensed to New Smyrna Beach, Florida, United States, the station serves the Daytona Beach metropolitan area. The station is owned by Diegel Communications and its studios are located at 229 Canal Street, just a few blocks away from WSBB's historic studios on the west end of the causeway. The causeway location, off Indian River North, continues to serve as the main transmission site for WSBB.
The station plays adult standards music from over five decades, and the playlist is locally programmed at the station. At the beginning of most hours, WSBB carries CBS Radio News. It also broadcasts University of Florida sports, including Florida Gators football games. From 4 to 6 p.m., the station carries the nationally syndicated Dave Ramsey Show, who gives family financial advice.
In addition to being heard on AM 1230, programming is also heard on an FM translator station, 106.9 W295CN in Ormond Beach. In addition, WSBB is simulcast on co-owned 1490 kHz WTJV in DeLand. Both AM stations are powered at 1,000 watts using non-directional antennas. The translator is powered at 250 watts.

History

The Federal Communications Commission granted a construction permit for a new AM station in New Smyrna Beach in 1950. WSBB signed on the air on February 1, 1952. It was only powered at 100 watts and was owned by the Beach Broadcasting Company. In the 1970s, it was owned by William H. Brown, who switched the call sign to WOGO. The station aired a contemporary hit radio format and was powered at 1,000 watts by day, 250 watts at night. In the 1980s, the station began broadcasting at 1,000 watts around the clock.
In 2006, the station was bought by Gore-Overgaard Broadcasting, Inc., for $450,000. In the spring of 2008, WSBB was sold to Skip “Big Dump” Diegel, President of Diegel Communications, LLC. On the afternoon that the sale was finalized, the studios were moved from Daytona Beach back to WSBB's original home in New Smyrna Beach.
Various broadcast, freelance, and contractual engineers and firms had a hand in the rebirth of "The Voice of New Smyrna Beach." The station invested in a new transmitter providing better audio quality for WSBB's listeners. Some of the music is hand-picked by Diegel, who also serves as General Manager, Program Director, Sales Director and On-Air Host.