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Original Call Letters: WMEG |
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Originally Licensed: Jan 4, 1956 |
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Original City of License: Melbourne/Eau Gallie |
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Original Frequency: 920 |
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Origin of Call Letters: Location; Melbourne |
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Original Power: 5,000 watts day/1,000 watts night |
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Original Location: 1800 Turtle Mound Road |
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Original Format: MOR |
Network Affiliation(s): |
ABC |
| ABC Information | |
| CBS | |
| Westwood One | |
| S.E. Agrinet |
Owner(s): |
1956-Mel-Eau Broadcasting Co. c/o Victoria Martin |
| 1957-Mel-Eau Broadcasting Corp. | |
| 1967-WMEG, Inc. | |
| 1973-Radio Melbourne, Inc. | |
| 1974-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. | |
| 1992-Twin Towers Broadcasting ($350,00) | |
| 2005-David Ryder (Receiver) | |
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2007-Divine Mercy Communications Inc
($650,000) |
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WMEG-1956-Full Service/MOR |
| WMEG-1971-MOR | |
| WMEL-1974-Rock | |
| WMEL-1991-Licensed/Silent | |
| WMEL-1992-News/Talk "The Classic Talk 920" "The Talk To Me Station" | |
| WDMC-2007-Catholic "Divine Mercy Radio" |
Historical Note: The cities of Eau Gallie and Melbourne would consolidate as "Melbourne" in 1969. |
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History of WMEL Mr. John Harper, Owner/President of WMEL was kind enough to supply us with the history. From Mr. Harpers email; "...WMEL Radio signed on the air New Years Day 1956. It actually started with the call letters of WMEG (for Melbourne/Eau Gallie) WMEG is the second oldest station in Brevard County. The station was a full service station in those days airing music programs during its day time operation. In the mid 60's the station changed call letters and became WMEL Radio. WMEL Radio was a rock and roll station and enjoyed a great reputation in the Space Coast as a station not only for music, but for news as well. The station earned an even bigger reputation by covering all of the Mercury and Apollo Space Rocket Launches from Cape Canaveral (later to become the Kennedy Space Center). WMEL continued through the seventies and eighties as a middle of the road station with a strong commitment to news. At one point the station employed eight people in its news staff alone. In the mid 80's and early 90's the station was owned by a company out of Elyria-Lorain, Ohio but found itself in difficult times due to the strong FM penetration into the market from Orlando. On October 31, 1991 the station signed off the air and went "dark" while awaiting a new owner to come and save the station. In April of 1993 John Harper bought the station and put it back on the air in August of 1993. John Harper's background was talk radio and he quickly filled a void in the market for local and national talk radio programming. WMEL Radio has enjoyed great success as a full service talk/news and sports radio station serving the space and treasure coasts since John put the station back on the air in the early 90's. WMEL Radio now airs a combination of local and national talk shows, local news and even sports making it truly a "local" station in the Space and Treasure Coasts. WMEL call itself the "Talk To Me Station" which is talking to you! |
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Financial losses close radio station By Joyce Harris Florida Today Oct 2, 1990 If you're late for work this morning, don't blame morning disc jockeys Ron Maher and Rob Stevens. Like much of Brevard County, Maher was surprised and saddened by the decision of WMEL-AM (920) to shut down Monday after 34 years. The Melbourne radio station went off the air at noon. The station's closing "was kind of a shock," Maher said. WMEL had been losing money for several months, but officials at Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. wanted to see if the station could make a comeback. Elyria-Lorain, based in Elyria, Ohio, has owned the station since 1974. "We bought new equipment and refurbished the building. We supported the operation although it was in a deficit," said Gary Kneisley, vice presi dent of Elyria-Lorain. But Kneisley said advertising fell to a level where the station no longer could endure the losses. He would not say how long nor how much money WMEL had losL The 5,000-watt station, which has been for sale for two months, could be back on the air as soon as a buyer is found, he said. The company is asking $750,000 for the station, which includes a tower and a 14-acre parcel of land on Turtle Mound Road in the Lake Washington area. Gary Hess, general manager of Melbourne stations WAOA-FM (107.1) and WTAI-AM (1560), said AM stations nationwide are hurting because FM technology is superior. AM stations that are surviving are either in major cities, have a sister FM station to generate advertising support, or have found a programming niche, he said. WMEL's format was considered adult contemporary but its programming consisted of local news, sports and talk shows as a CBS affiliate. Disc jockeys Maher and Stevens, known cut-ups on the morning show, say they will miss their morning listeners, but the two are confident they will find work elsewhere. "I'm going to work in radio or pick pockets, whatever I feel least guilty doing," Maher said. Kneisley said WMEL's 15 employees will receive two-week severance and vacation pay. But for sports fans looking forward to upcoming events, there is no compensation. WMEL regularly broadcast local football, major league baseball, Monday Night Football and Florida State University games. |
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More info from Jon Roberts (Apfeld); In 1985 the power was changed from 1Kw to 5Kw, which required a complete rebuild of the day and night directional signal. After the station changed it's power and direction….AM Stereo was added. The station went dark in October 1991 |
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In December of 2007, WMEL was purchased by Divine Mercy Communications Inc, headed by CEO/Treasurer Norman Benz. This is the first station for them. John Harper moved the "Talk To Me Station" to a new dial position at WMEL-AM 1300 |
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WMEL Personalities |
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 Dave Edwards-1972-1973-Mornings-WMEG, Inc. Biography |
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| Keith Allen-1973-Program Director/Music Director/Afternoon Drive-Radio Melbourne, Inc./1975-Music Director-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. | |
| John Wade-1973-News Director-Radio Melbourne, Inc. | |
 Steve Scott (Steve Church)-1973-1975-(Founder of Telos Systems)-Radio Melbourne, Inc. In Memory |
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| Bill Early-1974-Program Director-Radio Melbourne, Inc./1975-Program Director-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. | |
| Bill Harris-1974-News Director-Radio Melbourne, Inc./1975-News Director-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. | |
| Jon Roberts (Apfeld)-1974-6PM-Midnight-Radio Melbourne, Inc./1975-Program Director/Chief Engineer/1988 -1993-General Manager/Chief Engineer-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. | |
 Frank Lasko-1975-News Director-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. In Memory |
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 Here's
Brian covering the return of the Space Shuttle
photos courtesy of Brian Wilkes |
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Bob Clifton (Bob Alfano)-1979-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. Biography |
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| Dan Fiorucci-1980-1981-News Director-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. | |
| Bob Garrett-1981-News Director-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. | |
 Chuck Deel-1982-Program Director-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. In Memory |
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 Susie Fennelli-1982-1986-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. |
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| Chuck Stone (Joseph Roy Scott)-1982-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. | |
 Larry McKay-1999-2021-Twin Towers Broadcasting |
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 Mike Murillo-1993-Chief Engineer/2002-Marketing Director-Twin Towers Broadcasting Biography |
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| Nina Gold-1996-"The Golden Hour"-10AM-11AM-Tues-Twin Towers Broadcasting | |
| Pat Vernon, Jr.-1996-co-host-"The Golden Hour"-10AM-11AM-Tues-Twin Towers Broadcasting | |
 Bill Mick-2000-2003-6AM-9AM/2002-Program Director-Twin Towers Broadcasting |
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| Troy Ford-2002-News Director-Twin Towers Broadcasting | |
| Holden Kriss-2003-Shooting sports show-Saturday from 10AM-11AM-Twin Towers Broadcasting | |
| Adam Waltemire-2003-Producer/Host of "Pop Garden Radio"-Twin Towers Broadcasting | |
| Damon Green-2004-"Damon Green Show"-9PM-10PM-weeknights-David Ryder (Receiver) | |
| Gerald Lostutter-2005-2008-Co-host of "Pipeline with Dave Isnardi and Gerald Lostutter"-Sundays, 7PM-9PM-Twin Towers Broadcasting | |
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| Dave Isnardi-2005-2008-Co-host of "Pipeline with Dave Isnardi and Gerald Lostutter"-Sundays, 7PM-9PM-Twin Towers Broadcasting | |
 Paul Delaney-2005-Host of "Daybreak"/News Director-Twin Towers Broadcasting Biography |
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 Liz Litterello-2006-2008-6AM-7AM-"Daybreak with Liz Litterello" and "Coffee Talk" at 8AM Sundays-David Ryder (Receiver) |
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 Carole Nelson-2006-David Ryder (Receiver) Biography |
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| John Meissner-2006-Host of "Daybreak"/Board Operator-David Ryder (Receiver) | |
 Kirk Agius-2007-"The Sports Addiction"/Account Executive-David Ryder (Receiver) |
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Dave Randall-2007-Co-host "The Hustle" a local sports talk show-David Ryder (Receiver) |
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| Jimmy Bonenberger-2007-Co-host "The Hustle" a local sports talk show-David Ryder | |
| Terry Henderson-2007-Co-host "The Hustle" a local sports talk show-David Ryder (Receiver) | |
| Jim Martin-2007-Producer of "The Hustle" a local sports talk show-David Ryder (Receiver) | |
| Dennis Forsyth-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. | |
 Mark Pence-Overnights/Public Service Director |
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| Ed Dean and Brent Mack-produced a live, political "Weekend Show". In 1998, the show added Gerald Lostutter (aka "The Lost Man") and switched to WAMT-AM 1060 | |
 Andrea Shea King |
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| Ed Dean-Morning Co-Host | |
| Gerald Lostutter-Morning Co-Host | |
 Michelle Murillo-News Director/Anchor-now a News Anchor/Reporter for Florida's Radio Network |
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| Jeff Marshall-News | |
| Mark Vance-6PM-8PM-Saturdays | |
| "Rocking Ron" Maher In Memory | |
| Rob Stevens | |
| Joe Scott | |
| Gary Sands | |
| Craig Benedict | |
| Pete Kerasotis-Fridays 8:45AM-9AM | |
 Kevin Baldinger-Sports Biography |
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| Rob Selkow | |
| Don Germaise-News | |
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Other Names in WMEL History |
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| Jack Siegel-1973-President/General Manager/1974-President/General Manager/Chief Engineer-Radio Melbourne, Inc. | |
| Joe Matthews-1973-Commercial Manager/Promotions Manager-Radio Melbourne, Inc. | |
| Pat Yatauro-1973-Chief Engineer/1974-Commercial Manager-Radio Melbourne, Inc./1975-Commercial Manager-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. | |
| Charles Weiler-1974-Promotions Manager-Radio Melbourne, Inc. | |
| Otto Schoepfle-1974-President-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. | |
| William Humphries-1975-General Manager-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. | |
| Paul Nakel-1974-Vice President-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. | |
| T.C. Weberling-1979-General Manager-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. | |
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 Ernie Legge-1979-Commercial Manager-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. In Memory |
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| Jon Roberts-1982-Chief Engineer/1990-General Manager-Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. | |
 John Harper-1993-CEO/Chairman/General Manager/Sales Manager/Promotions Manager/Program Manager /News Director/General Sales Manager-Twin Towers Broadcasting |
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Vernon Harper-1993-Sales and Marketing Manager-Twin Towers Broadcasting In Memory |
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| Diana Lynn-1993-Public affairs Director-Twin Towers Broadcasting | |
| Johana Hall-2000-General Manager/Advertising Manager/Public Affairs Director-Twin Towers Broadcasting | |
| Steve Seiler-2000-Chief Engineer-Twin Towers Broadcasting | |
| Gary Duglin-2002-Operations Manager-Twin Towers Broadcasting | |
| Scott Embry-2002-Developmental Director-Twin Towers Broadcasting | |
| Nancy Gee-2002-Promotions Manager-Twin Towers Broadcasting | |
| Ginny Baker-2002-Advertising Manager-Twin Towers Broadcasting | |
| Tim Shoemaker-2002-Chief Engineer-Twin Towers Broadcasting | |
| Peter Kerasotis-2005-General Manager-David Ryder (Receiver) | |
| Matthew Bronson-2006-General Manager-David Ryder (Receiver) | |
| Larry Kessler-Operations Manager | |
| John St. James-News Director | |
| Larry Weiss-Sales Manager | |
| Chris Lanza-Sales | |
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| WMEL production room | |
| Biographies | In Memory | Sounds AM / FM |
Misc. | Chronology | What's News? |
