WDAE

Last updated

WDAE
WDAE 95.3-620 logo.png
Broadcast area Tampa Bay Area
Frequency 620 kHz
Branding95.3 WDAE & AM 620
Programming
Format Sports
Network ESPN Radio
Affiliations Fox Sports Radio
Tampa Bay Rays Radio Network
Ownership
Owner
WBTP, WFLA, WFLZ-FM, WFUS, WHNZ, WMTX, WXTB
History
First air date
May 15, 1922(101 years ago) (1922-05-15)
Call sign meaning
None; assigned from a sequential list
Technical information
Facility ID 74198
Class B
Power 5,600 watts day
5,500 watts night
STA 11,280 watts day
STA 11,000 watts night
250 watts translator
Translator(s) 95.3 W237CW (Pinellas Park)
Repeater(s) 95.7 WBTP-HD3 (Clearwater)
Links
Webcast Listen Live
Website 953wdae.iheart.com

WDAE (620 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to St. Petersburg, Florida and serving the Tampa Bay area. It is owned by iHeartMedia and airs a sports radio format. WDAE is one of the oldest radio stations in Florida still broadcasting today, going on the air in 1922. The studios and offices are on West Gandy Boulevard in South Tampa. [1] The transmitter site is located near the Gandy Bridge in St. Petersburg. [2]

Contents

WDAE is licensed to broadcast with 5,600 watts by day and 5,500 watts at night. AM 620 is a regional broadcast frequency; because AM 620 is subject to interference from high-powered Cuban stations, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has given WDAE special temporary authority (STA) for higher power: 11,280 watts daytime and 11,000 watts nighttime. It uses a directional antenna at night. WDAE broadcasts using the iBiquity HD radio system during daytime hours. Programming is also heard on FM translator W237CW at 95.3 MHz and on the HD3 digital subchannel of co-owned WBTP (95.7 FM).

Programming

Three local shows are heard on weekdays on WDAE: Ronnie Lane and Tom Krasniqi – "The Ronnie and Tkras Show" in late mornings, Pat Donovan and Aaron Jacobson with "The Pat and Aaron Show" in early afternoons, and Ron Diaz and Ian Beckles with "The Ron and Ian Show" during late afternoons. [3] In mornings, nights and weekends, WDAE airs syndicated programming from ESPN Radio. Some programming from Fox Sports Radio is also heard on the station.

FM Translator

Programming is simulcast on FM translator W237CW.

Broadcast translator for WDAE
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC info
W237CW95.3 FM Pinellas Park, Florida 147104250161.1  m (529  ft)D LMS

History

WDAE AM 1250 history

On December 1, 1921, the U.S. Department of Commerce, which regulated radio at this time, adopted the first regulations formally establishing a broadcasting station category, which set aside the wavelength of 360 meters (833 kHz) for entertainment broadcasts, and 485 meters (619 kHz) for market and weather reports. [4]

On May 15, 1922, the Tampa Times , an afternoon daily newspaper, was issued a license for operation on both the 365 and 485 meter wavelengths. [5] The call sign, WDAE, was randomly assigned from a sequential roster of available call letters. WDAE was the second Florida broadcasting station licensed under the new regulations, following WCAN in Jacksonville, which was authorized seven days earlier, [6] and, after a series of test transmissions, made its formal debut on May 17. [7] WCAN was deleted on October 26, 1922. [8] (Some sources have listed WQAM in Miami as Florida's oldest station, with varying claims of a history dating back to as early as 1920, [9] however FCC records report WQAM's "Date First Licensed" as January 23, 1923.)

WDAE, as most early radio stations, broadcast on several frequencies during its beginning years, settling on AM 1250 by 1941. [10] In 1947, still owned by the newspaper, it added an FM station, 105.7 WDAE-FM (now WMTX 100.7 FM). [11]

Through the 1940s and 50s, WDAE-AM-FM were CBS Radio Network affiliates, carrying its dramas, comedies, news, sports, soap operas, game shows and big band remotes during the Golden Age of Radio. In the late 1960s, WDAE-FM switched to beautiful music, while the AM station was a popular Top 40 station.

WDAE aired the popular talk show "Desperate & Dateless" on Friday nights with host Rosemary Haddad and producer Sam Cardinale. In the 1980s, as Top 40 listening switched to FM, WDAE changed to an oldies format. [12] By the 1990s, it had moved to adult standards and later began simulcasting the adult contemporary music format of co-owned WUSA (100.7 FM, now WMTX) in November 1990. [13]

In March 1994, WDAE switched to classic country as "Country Gold Froggy 1250" with former WUSA personalities whose on-air names became I.B. Green, Jimmy Hoppa and Davey Croakett. [14]

In 1999, the station was acquired by Clear Channel Communications, the previous name of current owner iHeartMedia. Clear Channel switched WDAE to its current all-sports format as "The Sports Animal."

WSUN AM 620 history

On November 1, 1927, WSUN first signed on the air. [15] For most of its early history, it was owned by the City of St. Petersburg. WSUN used the first directional AM antenna system in the U.S., implemented in order to protect WTMJ in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, also on 620 kHz. In its early years, WSUN was an ABC Radio affiliate, carrying the network's schedule until the 1960s, when it moved to a full service middle of the road music format. [16]

Through the 1970s and 80s, WSUN aired country music. [17] It was owned by Plough Broadcasting, a subsidiary of the pharmaceutical firm Schering-Plough. In 1988, Cox Broadcasting acquired WSUN and switched it to talk and later to 1950s-based adult standards. [18] In 1998, pending a sale, WSUN began simulcasting the audio from Time Warner (then Bright House Networks, now Spectrum) local cable TV news station "Bay News 9," changing the call letters of AM 620 to WSAA. Cox Broadcasting moved the WSUN call letters and its standards format over to its co-owned station on AM 910 in nearby Plant City, Florida (now WTWD).

WDAE moves to 620

On New Year's Day 2000, three Tampa Bay radio stations, including WDAE, were involved in a frequency swap. WSUN had previously vacated AM 620, moving to AM 910. WDAE and its sports format moved from 1250 to 620. [19] Business-formatted WHNZ, which Clear Channel had bought from Paxson Communications in 1998, switched from AM 570 to WDAE's previous home at 1250. In addition, Clear Channel put a news/talk format on AM 570, changing the call letters to WTBN, which stood for Tampa Bay News. Salem Communications bought WTBN the following year, installing a Christian radio format.

In late 2012, WDAE became the Tampa Bay home of ESPN Radio, as rival sports station WHBO (1040 AM) switched affiliation to the new NBC Sports Radio Network.

On November 28, 2018, WDAE rebranded as "95.3 WDAE", utilizing the FM translator in its branding. [20]

Sports team associations

WDAE is the flagship station for the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team. It is also the Tampa Bay home of South Florida Bulls football and Florida Gators men's basketball games. Each year, WDAE carries the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg auto race.

The station had been the flagship station for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football. Beginning with the 2017 season, the team's broadcasts move to co-owned active rock station 97.9 FM WXTB. WDAE continues to air interviews with players and coaches during game weeks. [21]

WDAE had also been the flagship radio station for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (which is now on WHPT). WDAE had also broadcast the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League (later heard on sister station WHNZ).

WDAE logo.png (WDAE's logo using the primary 620 AM frequency branding)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFLA (AM)</span> Radio station in Tampa, Florida

WFLA is a commercial AM radio station in Tampa, Florida, and serving the Tampa Bay media market. The station airs a news/talk format and is owned and operated by iHeartMedia, Inc. The station's studios and offices are located on Gandy Boulevard in South Tampa.

Ron Diaz is an American radio talk show host on iHeartMedia, Inc.'s sports radio station WDAE in Tampa, Florida as the host of The Ron & Ian Show.

WQAM is a commercial radio station in Miami, Florida. It broadcasts a sports radio format and is owned by Audacy, Inc. The studios are in Audacy's Miami office on Northeast Second Avenue. Weekdays on WQAM begin with The Joe Rose Show, hosted by the former Miami Dolphins tight end. He's followed by Tobin & Leroy. In afternoon drive time, Hochman & Crowder are heard. Nights and weekends feature syndicated shows from CBS Sports Radio and the BetQL Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSSP</span> Sports radio station in Milwaukee

WSSP is a commercial radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, owned by Audacy, Inc. It airs a sports radio format known as "1250 AM The Fan." Most of its programs are from Infinity Sports Network and the BetQL Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSUN (FM)</span> Radio station in Holiday, Florida

WSUN is a commercial FM radio station, licensed to Holiday, Florida, and serving the Tampa Bay Area. The station is owned by Spanish Broadcasting System, and airs a Spanish contemporary hits format branded as "El Zol 97.1". The transmitter site is off Dartmouth Drive in Holiday.

Daniel William Sileo is an American former football player and current sports radio host. He played college football at Maryland before transferring to Miami (FL). He was drafted in the third round of the 1987 NFL supplemental draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was the host of The Dan Sileo Show in San Diego on KWFN 97.3 FM "The Fan" until April 2019. He had been hired in August 2019 by IHeartMedia to host afternoons on Fox Sports 910 KGME in Phoenix, Arizona, but the program was discontinued the following week due to pressure from the Arizona Coyotes hockey team. KGME has a broadcast agreement with the Coyotes and team management felt Sileo's past controversial remarks on sexuality and race were not a good fit with the team's flagship radio station.

WKIS is a commercial radio station licensed to Boca Raton, Florida, and serving South Florida. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and airs a country music radio format. Its studios are located in Audacy's Miami office on Northeast Second Avenue. The transmitter tower is off NW 210 Street in Miami Gardens, shared with WTVJ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFLZ-FM</span> Contemporary hit radio station in Tampa, Florida

WFLZ-FM is a commercial radio station in Tampa, Florida. It airs a contemporary hit radio radio format and is owned and operated by iHeartMedia. The station's studios and offices are located on Gandy Boulevard in South Tampa. Local DJs are heard on weekdays, with syndicated shows, including American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest, the iHeartRadio Countdown, the Remix Top 30 with Hollywood Hamilton and On The Move with Enrique Santos, heard on weekends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFUS</span> Radio station in Gulfport, Florida

WFUS is a commercial radio station licensed to Gulfport, Florida. It airs a country music format and is one of the eight stations in the Tampa Bay radio market owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. It carries The Bobby Bones Show syndicated from Nashville in morning drive time. The studios are on Feather Sound Drive in Clearwater.

WHNZ is a commercial radio station licensed to Tampa, Florida. The station's broadcast license is held by iHM Licenses, LLC, a subsidiary of iHeartMedia. The station airs a talk/business format. WHNZ is one of the eight stations in the Tampa Bay radio market owned by iHeartMedia. The station's studios are located on West Gandy Boulevard in South Tampa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHPT</span> Radio station in Sarasota, Florida

WHPT is a commercial radio station licensed to Sarasota, Florida, and serving the Tampa Bay area. Owned by Cox Media Group, it broadcasts a hot talk format. It is also the flagship station for Tampa Bay Lightning hockey and carries South Florida Bulls football. WHPT's studios and offices are on 4th Street North in St. Petersburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMTX</span> Radio station in Tampa, Florida

WMTX is a commercial radio station in Tampa, Florida, known as "Mix 100.7". It has an adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. It is owned by iHeartMedia, with its studios and offices on Gandy Boulevard in Tampa. WMTX serves as the primary Emergency Alert System station for the Tampa Bay area.

WHBO is a commercial radio station licensed to Pinellas Park, Florida, and serving the Tampa Bay area. The station is currently owned by Genesis Communications and it airs a conservative talk radio format, branded as "News Talk 1040". Much of the programming comes from Westwood One and Fox News Radio.

WBCN, branded as "ESPN Southwest Florida", is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting a sports radio format. Licensed to North Fort Myers, Florida, the station is owned by Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc., through licensee Beasley Media Group, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWRM</span> Hot Adult Contemporary radio station in Tampa

WWRM is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Tampa, Florida, and serving the Tampa Bay area. It has a hot adult contemporary format and is owned by Cox Media Group. The studios and offices are located on 4th Street North in St. Petersburg. It calls itself Magic 94.9.

The Tampa Bay media market is Florida's second-largest metropolitan area with a variety of print, online and broadcast media outlets serving the region. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the population for the Tampa-St. Petersburg Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) at 3,194,831 according to the 2019 est. The Tampa Bay media market also includes Citrus, Manatee, Sarasota and Polk counties which is over 5,000,000 when combined with the Tampa Bay (MSA). Polk County is also served by media from Orlando.

WTBN is a commercial radio station licensed to Pinellas Park, Florida and serving the Tampa Bay area. The station is owned by Salem Media Group and it airs a religious radio format. Most of the schedule is made up of brokered programming where national religious leaders pay Salem Communications for 15 and 30-minute time blocks. Hosts include Dr. Charles Stanley, Jim Daly, David Jeremiah, Joni Eareckson Tada and John MacArthur.

WSUN was the call sign used from 1927 until 1999 by a St. Petersburg, Florida radio station that broadcasts to Tampa Bay Area, Florida. After 1999 the station continued to operate under different call letters.

The Tampa Bay Rays Radio Network is a radio network in the southeastern United States that broadcasts baseball games and related programming for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball. Additionally, there is a 2-station Spanish language network. Since 2009, WDAE/620 in St. Petersburg, Florida, has served as the flagship station for the network.

The Tampa Times, or Tampa Daily Times, was a daily newspaper founded in Tampa, Florida, in 1893. It was started by the consolidation of two newspapers by the Tampa Publishing Company, whose vice president was W. B. Henderson, a leading businessperson in Tampa. D.B. McKay was the publisher.

References

  1. "95.3 WDAE Contact Info: Number, Address, Advertising & More". 95.3 WDAE. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  2. "WDAE-AM Radio Station Coverage Map". radio-locator.com. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  3. "Find 95.3 WDAE's Sunday Live On-Air Schedule". 95.3 WDAE. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  4. "Radio service bulletin / Bureau of Navigation, Department of Commerce NO41-60 1920-1922". HathiTrust. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  5. "Radio Service Bulletin no. 1-68 (1915-22)". HathiTrust. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  6. "Radio Service Bulletin no. 1-68 (1915-22)". HathiTrust. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  7. "Program Will be Broadcast Tonight by WCAN Station Established by Southeastern Radiotelephone Company", (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union, May 17, 1922, as reprinted in "1922: Radio Comes To Florida" (Chapter 3), Towers in the Sand: The History of Florida Broadcasting by Donn R. Colee Jr., 2016.
  8. "Radio Service Bulletin no. 1-68 (1915-22)". HathiTrust. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  9. "WQAM-FM Miami Now In Operation on Tests", Broadcasting, September 23, 1946, page 56. "WFAW, forerunner of WQAM, began operations with a 50 w transmitter in 1920"
  10. Information from Broadcasting Yearbook 1942 page 118
  11. Broadcasting Yearbook 1950 page 116
  12. Broadcasting Yearbook 1982 page B-55
  13. "RR-1990-11-09" (PDF). www.americanradiohistory.com.
  14. Stark, Phyllis (January 15, 1994). "Vox Jox". Billboard . Vol. 106, no. 3.
  15. Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 page C-47
  16. Broadcasting Yearbook 1970 page B46
  17. Broadcasting Yearbook 1983 page B-54
  18. "Broadcasting Yearbook 1995 page B-92" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  19. "Radio station's move to bump Bay News 9". St. Petersburg Times. December 2, 1999. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  20. "WDAE Moves Focus Away From AM". Radioinsight. November 28, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  21. "Bucs-iHeart Deal Will Put NFL Team's Games on New Home". Insideradio.com. April 18, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2024.

27°52′37″N82°35′26″W / 27.87694°N 82.59056°W / 27.87694; -82.59056