WDAQ
Encyclopedia
WDAQ "98Q") is a Hot AC station licenced to Danbury, Connecticut
and serving the immediate Danbury area. The station is owned by Berkshire Broadcasting Corp, along with sister stations WLAD
and WAXB. WDAQ broadcasts on 98.3 MHz with 1.3 KW (1300 watts) ERP
(Effective Radiated Power).
and the first to sign on in the Danbury area (over a decade prior to the sign on of the higher powered WINE-FM
). Originally, the station was part of the Rural Radio Network
as one of two Connecticut affiliates of the New York-based network. This programming would last until the 1950s when WLAD-FM evolved into an extension of its then daytime-only sister station, WLAD-AM.
In the mid 1960s, spurred on by FCC regulations forcing FM stations to create formats separate from their AM sister stations, WLAD-FM upgraded to a stereo signal and flipped to an automated easy listening
format. In 1979, the call letters were changed to WDAQ, competing with WEZN from Bridgeport and WHUD
from Peekskill, NY for Greater Danbury's easy listening audience. The station gradually shifted to soft adult contemporary. In 1986, the station rebranded itself as "Lite 98" and shed the easy listening instrumentals.
By the late 1980s, WDAQ faced a more crowded market of adult contemporary signals. WEBE
Westport/Bridgeport adopted the A/C format in 1984 and then WEZN contemporized its easy listening format in 1987. Seeing an opportunity between teen formatted WKCI-FM, mainstream A/C WEBE and soft A/C WEZN, WDAQ was reborn as Hot A/C 98Q in September, 1989. The station's initial music mix relied heavily on 1970's titles that had not been played on the radio for several years. Within a year, WDAQ shot to #1 beating sister full-service WLAD and crosstown rocker WRKI
.
During its more than 20 years as "98Q," the station has finished first in the majority of Danbury Arbitron market ratings surveys. The station continues to be hyper-focused on Greater Danbury as opposed to the more regional approaches of the other FM stations in the market.
Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
and serving the immediate Danbury area. The station is owned by Berkshire Broadcasting Corp, along with sister stations WLAD
WLAD
WLAD is a radio station licensed to serve Danbury, Connecticut, United States. The station is owned by The Berkshire Broadcasting Corp. It airs a News/Talk format....
and WAXB. WDAQ broadcasts on 98.3 MHz with 1.3 KW (1300 watts) ERP
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
(Effective Radiated Power).
History
WDAQ first signed on in 1948 as WLAD-FM, one of the first Class A FM stations to sign on in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the first to sign on in the Danbury area (over a decade prior to the sign on of the higher powered WINE-FM
WRKI
WRKI is a mainstream rock radio station broadcasting from Brookfield, Connecticut. The station plays classic rock with a few currents as part of the music mix....
). Originally, the station was part of the Rural Radio Network
Rural Radio Network
The Rural Radio Network was an interconnected group of six commercial FM radio stations spread across upstate New York and operated from Ithaca, NY -- the first all-radio, no-wireline network in the world...
as one of two Connecticut affiliates of the New York-based network. This programming would last until the 1950s when WLAD-FM evolved into an extension of its then daytime-only sister station, WLAD-AM.
In the mid 1960s, spurred on by FCC regulations forcing FM stations to create formats separate from their AM sister stations, WLAD-FM upgraded to a stereo signal and flipped to an automated easy listening
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
format. In 1979, the call letters were changed to WDAQ, competing with WEZN from Bridgeport and WHUD
WHUD
WHUD is an Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to Peekskill, New York. The station is owned by Pamal Broadcasting and broadcasts on 100.7 MHz at 50 kW ERP from a tower site in Philipstown, New York.-History:...
from Peekskill, NY for Greater Danbury's easy listening audience. The station gradually shifted to soft adult contemporary. In 1986, the station rebranded itself as "Lite 98" and shed the easy listening instrumentals.
By the late 1980s, WDAQ faced a more crowded market of adult contemporary signals. WEBE
WEBE
WEBE 107.9 FM , owned by Cumulus Media, is an Adult Contemporary music formatted radio station licensed to serve the community of Westport, Connecticut. The station is usually ranked number one the Stamford-Norwalk,Bridgeport and Fairfield County ratings, and is in the top 5 of the New Haven Market...
Westport/Bridgeport adopted the A/C format in 1984 and then WEZN contemporized its easy listening format in 1987. Seeing an opportunity between teen formatted WKCI-FM, mainstream A/C WEBE and soft A/C WEZN, WDAQ was reborn as Hot A/C 98Q in September, 1989. The station's initial music mix relied heavily on 1970's titles that had not been played on the radio for several years. Within a year, WDAQ shot to #1 beating sister full-service WLAD and crosstown rocker WRKI
WRKI
WRKI is a mainstream rock radio station broadcasting from Brookfield, Connecticut. The station plays classic rock with a few currents as part of the music mix....
.
During its more than 20 years as "98Q," the station has finished first in the majority of Danbury Arbitron market ratings surveys. The station continues to be hyper-focused on Greater Danbury as opposed to the more regional approaches of the other FM stations in the market.