WDWD

Last updated

WDWD
WDWD logo 2015.png
Broadcast area Atlanta metropolitan area
Frequency 590 kHz
BrandingFaith Talk 590
Programming
Format Christian radio
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
August 1, 1937;86 years ago (1937-08-01)
Former call signs
  • WAGA (1937–1959)
  • WPLO (1959–1987)
  • WKHX (1987–1997)
Former frequencies
  • 1450 kHz (1937–1941)
  • 1480 kHz (1941–1942)
Call sign meaning
An initialism for Walt Disney, co-founder of The Walt Disney Company, former owner
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 8623
Class B
Power
  • 12,000  watts (day)
  • 4,500 watts (night)
Transmitter coordinates
 33°50′44″N84°38′40″W / 33.845692°N 84.64439°W / 33.845692; -84.64439
Links
Public license information
Webcast
Website www.faithtalk590.com

WDWD (590 AM; "Faith Talk 590") is a Christian talk station serving the metro Atlanta market. It airs "The Eric Metaxas Show", "Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson", "Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah" and "The Narrow Path" hosted by Steve Gregg. It is owned by Salem Media Group.

Contents

Its radio transmitter site, originally along North Druid Hills Road, is now located just north of Austell, Georgia, in west-northwest metro Atlanta. The station's signal is aimed by a four-tower directional antenna array from the Austell transmitter location towards Atlanta (and avoiding interference with WWLX). In 2009, the station upgraded daytime transmitter power from 5,000 to 12,000 watts, while the nighttime power remains at 4,500 watts. Also in 2009, the station started broadcasting in the AM HD Radio (hybrid digital) mode (which has been unavailable since 2013).

History

The station signed on with original broadcast callsign WAGA [2] (once the sister station of the current television station by that name) [3] on August 1, 1937. [4] The Atlanta Journal newspaper, which owned WSB, had difficulty choosing programming to be carried on WSB between the two NBC radio networks, the Red Network and the Blue Network. [4] Thus, the Journal established WAGA to carry the Blue Network while WSB carried programming from the Red Network. [4] [5] WAGA's on-air slogan during the station's early days was "Atlanta's Wave of Welcome". [4] The station's studios were located in the Western Union Building (current location of Telecom Tower SW corner of Marietta Street and Forsyth Street) in downtown Atlanta. [4] WAGA's transmitter was located at Sugar Creek, three miles from the center of Atlanta. [4] The station moved from 1450 AM to 1480 in 1941 (following the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement), [6] then to 590 AM in 1942. [6] [7] The 1480 kHz frequency later returned to the air under a new license as WYZE, with no affiliation to WAGA. [3]

Due to FCC rules on station ownership, the Journal sold WAGA to Fort Industry Broadcasting of Toledo, Ohio in the 1940s. In 1948, the station acquired an FM sister when WAGA-FM (now WVEE) signed on. A year later, WAGA-TV signed on as Atlanta's second television station. Fort Industry changed its name to Storer Broadcasting in 1952.

In 1959, the station changed to a top 40 [8] music format and changed its call sign to WPLO [2] which was in reference to the new ownership, Plough Broadcasting Company. [9] Another format changed happened in 1966, when WPLO switched to a country music format. [9] In 1987, the station changed callsigns to WKHX and adopted the "Kicks 590" slogan still used on WKHX-FM 101.5, and began simulcasting on its FM sister. WKHX used to broadcast in Kahn/Hazeltine AM stereo with a "real country" format, which began in October 1992. [10] [11] Then, in November 1996, the station adopted the Radio Disney format and the callsign WDWD. [12]

Radio Disney AM 590 logo used from 2009 to 2013. AM590WDWD.PNG
Radio Disney AM 590 logo used from 2009 to 2013.

In September 2009, the station was forced off the air for a week when it was submerged by nearby Noses Creek, which reached double its flood stage during the historic and record-breaking 2009 Atlanta floods. The station had been shut down prior to the flood, so that once the equipment was completely disassembled and thoroughly cleaned and dried, nearly all of it was salvaged since there had been no short circuiting from the water.

On August 13, 2014, The Walt Disney Company put WDWD and 22 other Radio Disney stations up for sale, in order to focus more on digital distribution of the Radio Disney network. [13] [14] Disney originally planned to temporarily shut down the station on September 26, 2014. [15] However, the station remained on the air with Radio Disney programming until it was sold. [16]

On February 25, 2015, Radio Disney Atlanta filed to sell WDWD to South Texas Broadcasting, Inc., [17] a subsidiary of the Salem Media Group. [18] Salem bought the station for $2.75 million. [19] The application to assign the station license was granted by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on April 13, 2015, and the purchase was consummated on May 7, 2015. On March 10, 2015, Salem Media CEO Ed Atsinger revealed that Salem would move the WNIV/WLTA programming to WDWD after the completion of the sale. [20] On May 11, 2015, WDWD changed its format to Christian talk, branded as "Faith Talk 590", with programming from Salem Radio Network. [21]

Related Research Articles

WKHX-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Marietta, Georgia, featuring a country music format known as "New Country 101.Five". Owned by Cumulus Media, the station serves the Atlanta metropolitan area. WKHX-FM's studios are located in Sandy Springs, while the transmitter is located west of Emory University, in unincorporated DeKalb County. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WKHX-FM broadcasts in HD Radio, and is available online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSBB-FM</span> News/talk radio station in Doraville–Atlanta, Georgia

WSBB-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Doraville, Georgia, and serving Metro Atlanta. It is owned by the Cox Media Group. WSBB-FM is simulcast with WSB, both airing a news/talk radio format. On the air, the stations are referred to as "95.5 WSB", only occasionally mentioning the FM station's call sign or the AM station's frequency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WVEE</span> Radio station in Atlanta, Georgia

WVEE is a commercial radio station in Atlanta, Georgia. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and airs an urban contemporary radio format. WVEE is one of the highest-rated stations in the Atlanta radio market according to Nielsen Audio, reaching number one on many reports. Its studios and offices are located in Colony Square on Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta, along with its sister stations WAOK, WSTR and WZGC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAKL (FM)</span> Radio station in Gainesville, Georgia

WAKL is a non-commercial FM Christian contemporary radio station licensed to Gainesville, Georgia. Owned by the Educational Media Foundation, WAKL serves the Atlanta metropolitan area as the local affiliate for the national K-Love network. Besides a standard analog transmission, WAKL broadcasts in the HD Radio hybrid format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSB (AM)</span> Clear-channel news/talk radio station in Atlanta

WSB is a commercial AM radio station in Atlanta, Georgia. It airs a talk radio radio format, simulcast on Doraville-licensed WSBB-FM. WSB is the flagship station for Cox Media Group; in addition to WSB and WSBB-FM, it owns three other Atlanta radio stations and Atlanta's ABC Television Network affiliate, WSB-TV. From 1939 to 2019, WSB was owned by Cox Enterprises along with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution daily newspaper; the station had been established by the Journal in 1922. The station's studios and offices are located at the WSB Television and Radio Group building on West Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta, which is shared with its television and radio partners.

WQXI is an AM radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia. The station has a power of 28,000 watts in the daytime, and 1,000 watts at night. WQXI's signal is non-directional during the daytime, and directional at night. As of 2009, the station broadcast in the IBiquity HD Radio AM hybrid digital mode during daytime hours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSBS (AM)</span> Radio station in Great Barrington, Massachusetts

WSBS is a commercial AM radio station in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. It is owned by Townsquare Media and has a full service adult contemporary radio format, mixed with local news, talk and sports. World and national news is supplied by ABC News Radio. WSBS is an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox Radio Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAOK</span> Radio station in Atlanta, Georgia

WAOK is a commercial radio station, owned by Audacy, Inc., in Atlanta, Georgia. WAOK broadcasts from studios at Colony Square in Midtown Atlanta. It is Atlanta's third-oldest continuously licensed broadcast station and the fifth oldest in Georgia.

KXFN is a radio station in St. Louis, Missouri. It is owned by the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod and airs a simulcast of station KFUO's daytime signal and nighttime live stream. The station has a colorful history as a Top 40 station KWK.

KHNR is a commercial radio station in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is owned by the Salem Media Group and it broadcasts a conservative talk radio format. The studios and offices are on North King Street in Honolulu's Kalihi district.

The following is a list of media in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDZR</span> Radio station in Lake Oswego, Oregon

KDZR is a commercial radio station, licensed to Lake Oswego, Oregon, and serving the Portland metropolitan area. The station airs a regional Mexican radio format and is owned by the Salem Media Group. KDZR's studios and offices are on SE Lake Road in Portland.

WTLN is a commercial AM radio station located in Orlando, Florida. It is owned by the Salem Media Group and it airs a Christian talk and teaching radio format. The offices and studios are on Lake View Drive in Altamonte Springs. Some of the national religious leaders heard on WTLN include David Jeremiah, Chuck Swindoll, Jim Daly, John MacArthur and Charles Stanley. Hosts pay for 30- to 60-minute segments on WTLN and can use the time to seek donations to their ministries. WTLN is known as "AM 990 and FM 101.5 The Word."

KRDY is an AM radio station in San Antonio, Texas. It is owned by the non-profit organization Relevant Radio, Inc., based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The station is an affiliate of its catholic–talk radio network.

WWMI is a radio station licensed to St. Petersburg, Florida, and serving the Tampa Bay radio market. It is owned by Relevant Radio, a non-profit Catholic broadcasting organization based in Wisconsin. WWMI carries its Relevant Radio network programming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHKZ</span> Radio station in Warren, Ohio

WHKZ is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Warren, Ohio, featuring a Catholic–based Christian format as an owned-and-operated station in the Relevant Radio network. The station serves both Sharon, Pennsylvania, and Youngstown, Ohio. WHKZ's transmitter resides on Calson-Salt Springs Road in Warren, operating at a continuous power of 5,000 watts; the directional antenna pattern uses two towers during the day, and six towers at night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGKA</span> Talk radio station in Atlanta

WGKA – branded AM 920 The Answer – is a commercial conservative talk radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia, serving primarily the Atlanta metropolitan area. Currently owned by Salem Media Group, WGKA serves as the Atlanta affiliate for the Salem Radio Network and the Clemson Tigers football radio network. The WGKA studios are located on Peachtree Street in Atlanta, while the station transmitter resides near the Morningside Nature Preserve. Besides a standard analog transmission, WGKA is available online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNIV</span> Radio station in Atlanta, Georgia

WNIV is a commercial Christian radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia. It is one of three Salem Media Group-owned stations in the Atlanta metropolitan area carrying a Christian talk and teaching radio format. AM 590 WDWD carries a different schedule of national and local religious leaders, while AM 1400 WLTA in Alpharetta, Georgia, simulcasts WNIV's programming for Atlanta's northern suburbs.

WYZE is a gospel AM radio station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia broadcasting with 10,000 watts of power during daytime hours, and only 44 watts of power during nighttime hours with a non-directional antenna pattern. The station is owned by Ray Neal, through licensee New Ground Broadcasting, LLC.

WCHK is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting a Spanish-language Latin pop radio format, known as "La Mega." Licensed to Canton, Georgia, it serves Metro Atlanta. The call sign stands for Cherokee, the county of which Canton is the seat of government, largest city, and geographic center. The station is currently owned by Davis Broadcasting of Atlanta, L.L.C.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WDWD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. 1 2 "Jeffrey Leachman - Atlanta, Georgia AM Radio Directory". jeffreyleachman.com. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  3. 1 2 "A selection from a decade of visits to tower and studio sites in the Northeast and beyond". www.fybush.com. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Atlanta Radio History". jolomo.net.
  5. ↑ "Atlanta Radio History". www.tangentsunset.com.
  6. 1 2 "WPLO (WDWD) FCC history cards". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission . Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Radio Index" (PDF). RADEX Radio Index. The Radex Press. 18 (January): 51. 1942. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 9, 2012.
  8. ↑ Warden, Timothy J (2003). "WPLO 590 Atlanta Playlists 1964-1965". Airheads Radio Survey Archive . Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  9. 1 2 Farrington, Steve (April 21, 2002). "WPLO 590 Atlanta". Steve Farrington . Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  10. ↑ K., Alex (April 30, 2001). "Offenders of The Faith". Alex K. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  11. ↑ "RR-1993-03-26" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  12. ↑ "RR-1997-08-29" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  13. ↑ Lafayette, Jon (August 13, 2014). "Exclusive: Radio Disney Moving Off Air to Digital" . Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Radio Disney to Sell the Majority of Its Stations". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  15. ↑ Venta, Lance (August 13, 2014). "Radio Disney To Sell All But One Station". Radio Insight. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  16. ↑ "NERW Extra: No Signoffs for Disney AMs". Northeast Radio Watch. September 26, 2014. Retrieved September 27, 2014.(subscription required)
  17. ↑ "Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License". CDBS Public Access. U.S. Federal Communications Commission. February 25, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Parties to the Application - FCC". fcc.gov. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  19. ↑ Venta, Lance (February 25, 2015). "Salem Acquires Disney Properties In Atlanta & Pittsburgh". Radio Insight. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Salem Reveals Pending Formats For Disney Acquisitions - RadioInsight". radioinsight.com. March 11, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Faith Talk 590 Atlanta Debuts - RadioInsight". radioinsight.com. May 11, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.