Original Call Letters: WMDF

Originally Licensed:  Jan. 1958

Original City of License: Mount Dora

Original Frequency: 1580

Origin of Call Letters:                                                                                                                       Courtesy of Mike Konstan

Original Power: 5,000 watts                                                                                                              

Original Location: 401 Old Eustis Road   

Original Format: Country

Network Affiliation(s):

History of WBGB
Built in the 1940s, the station is one of the oldest in Lake County. In March of 1986, Transmission and office equipment of WBGB was scheduled to be auctioned off. The station went off the air in mid-January after a Lake County circuit judge ordered the station's equipment sold to repay a bank loan.  Judge Ernest Aulls ordered the station closed and its equipment sold after Umatilla State Bank foreclosed on a mortgage to Central Florida Broadcasting Inc., an Ohio company that has operated the station for four years. The bank received a $30,000 judgment on the loan in default. The Lake County Sheriff's Department made an inventory of the station's equipment last month. A similar inventory was conducted at WROD-AM 1340, Daytona Beach which is also operated by Central Florida Broadcasting. Michael Buckley, vice president of Central Florida Broadcasting, said Monday that the company is working with two groups  in an attempt to get WBGB out of its financial bind. He refused to identify the groups. Buckley said WBGB is owned by Central Florida Radio Ltd., a limited partnership in which Central Florida Broadcasting serves as the managing partner. The company also serves as the managing partner of Daytona Beach Radio Ltd., which  owns WROD-AM 1340 in Daytona Beach. The partnership plans to sell WROD for $1.2 million to LaPaz Broadcasting  Inc. by the end of the month. Ron Aicher, WBGB's former owner, said Central Florida Broadcasting still is licensed by the Federal Communications  Commission to operate the station. Aicher and Karl Meek, who owned the station for five years before selling it in 1980,  have been awarded a $90,000 judgment against Central Florida Broadcasting. The amount included a $75,000 mortgage  plus interest and legal fees. The station's license cannot be transferred to a new owner without FCC approval. If the station is sold, the FCC must  approve an operating license for the new owner. An involuntary license transfer could be requested if the station were placed into receivership. Aicher said he is working with Umatilla State Bank to get the station operating without having to sell off the equipment. He said creditors would not recoup one-tenth of what they are owed if the equipment is sold. He estimated the value the equipment at $10,000. 

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