WLBL (AM)

WLBL (930 AM) is a radio station licensed to Auburndale, Wisconsin, serving Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids. The station is part of Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR), and airs WPR's "Ideas Network", consisting of news and talk programming.

WLBL
Broadcast area
Frequency930 kHz
Programming
FormatPublic radio, news
AffiliationsWisconsin Public Radio, NPR, American Public Media
Ownership
OwnerWisconsin Educational Communications Board
History
First air date
February 5, 1923
Former call signs
WPAH (1923-1924)
Call sign meaning
"Wisconsin, Land of Beautiful Lakes"[1][lower-alpha 1]
Technical information
Facility ID63138
ClassD
Power
  • 5,000 watts (daytime)
  • 70 watts (night)
Translator(s)
  • 99.1 W256CZ (Stevens Point)
  • 100.9 W265DC (Marshfield)
Links
WebcastStream
WebsiteWisconsin Public Radio
WLBL Webpage

WLBL is the second-oldest station in the Wisconsin Public Radio network. It traces its history to WPAH in Waupaca, which was licensed to the Wisconsin Department of Markets, and began broadcasting on February 5, 1923. The Department later moved its operations to Stevens Point and changed the calls to WLBL in May 1924. In 1932, it began sharing programs with Madison's WHA—the ancestor of today's Wisconsin Public Radio network. Owned for many years by the state Commerce Department, it is now owned by the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

WLBL must power down to 70 watts at sunset, resulting in spotty coverage even in Wisconsin Rapids and missing Stevens Point altogether. During the fall, winter, early spring, and late summer, it is allowed to boost its power to 500 watts at 06:00, then go to full power at sunrise.[2] Because of this, the full Ideas Network schedule is heard on two FM translators, 100.9 Marshfield and 99.1 Stevens Point, and on the third HD subchannel of Wausau's WHRM-FM (90.9), a sister station to WLBL which carries WPR's NPR News and Classical service.

Further information: Wisconsin Public Radio

Notes
  1. The station application requested "WLOL", for "Land of Lakes", but the U.S. Department of Commerce, which regulated radio at this time, required that call signs for new stations meet the current standard of being issued sequentially-assigned call letters that had "B" as the third letter, so "WLBL" was substituted and the station slogan modified accordingly.

References
  1. "Radio Station is Given New Call W-L-B-L: Concerts May Be Broadcast Every Night". Stevens Point Journal. May 12, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved February 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. WLBL operating hours

44°36′48″N 90°02′14″W

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