WDIS
Encyclopedia
WDIS is a radio station
licensed to Norfolk, Massachusetts
. Primarily a news and talk station, it is also the flagship radio station of many high school sports programs in the Norfolk area. It serves the suburban communities south of Boston, MA and north of Providence, RI. It has a daytime-only 1000-watt signal that reaches as far west as Worcester, Mass., giving it a coverage area of almost half a million people.
WDIS dates to March 1978, when John Quinlan, a former Massachusetts state legislator, obtained a license from the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) to broadcast on AM 1170 with the call sign
WJMQ. The studio was, and still is, located on Pond Street, or Route 115
, near Norfolk center.
During the 1980s, the station experienced an ownership change and changed its call letters to WJCC.
In 1990, it once again changed ownership, to Brockton, MA-based Discussion Radio, Inc. and again changed its call letters, to WDIS.
The station mainly airs satellite programming, including conservative radio talk show hosts Brian Kilmeade
, Andrew Napolitano
, and Neil Cavuto
from Fox News Radio, and Mike Gallagher
and Bill Bennett
. However, the station also airs local programming that is produced in studio.
New England broadcast notables like Janet Jeghelien, Dick Sinnott, and Gene Lavanchy
have all been employed at WJCC over the years. The station is still functioning at full power.
in Franklin, Massachusetts
. In 2008, they became the flagship radio station of the Walpole High School Rebels football team, broadcasting games on the internet as well as over the air. The Walpole Rebels went on to win the Super Bowl in 2008, concluding an undefeated year.
In 2008, WDIS also announced that they would begin airing all King Philip High School Boys Basketball games, trying to help revive a basketball program that had two consecutive no-win seasons.
In 2009, WDIS debuted a new 2-hour Saturday sports talk show.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to Norfolk, Massachusetts
Norfolk, Massachusetts
Norfolk is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States with a population of 10,460 people in 2,818 households at the 2000 census. Formerly known as North Wrentham, Norfolk broke away to become an independent town in 1870.-History:...
. Primarily a news and talk station, it is also the flagship radio station of many high school sports programs in the Norfolk area. It serves the suburban communities south of Boston, MA and north of Providence, RI. It has a daytime-only 1000-watt signal that reaches as far west as Worcester, Mass., giving it a coverage area of almost half a million people.
WDIS dates to March 1978, when John Quinlan, a former Massachusetts state legislator, obtained a license from the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) to broadcast on AM 1170 with the call sign
Call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
WJMQ. The studio was, and still is, located on Pond Street, or Route 115
Massachusetts Route 115
Route 115 is a short south–north highway in southeastern Massachusetts. The route connects several small towns in western Norfolk County, ending just into Middlesex County in Sherborn.-Route description:...
, near Norfolk center.
During the 1980s, the station experienced an ownership change and changed its call letters to WJCC.
In 1990, it once again changed ownership, to Brockton, MA-based Discussion Radio, Inc. and again changed its call letters, to WDIS.
The station mainly airs satellite programming, including conservative radio talk show hosts Brian Kilmeade
Brian Kilmeade
Brian Kilmeade a Fox News Channel television personality. Weekdays, he co-hosts Fox's morning show, Fox & Friends, along with Steve Doocy and Gretchen Carlson. Kilmeade also co-hosts Brian and the Judge, a talk-news radio show on Fox News Radio, with Judge Andrew P. Napolitano...
, Andrew Napolitano
Andrew Napolitano
Andrew Paolo Napolitano is a former New Jersey Superior Court Judge and now a political and legal analyst for Fox News Channel. Napolitano started on the channel in 1998, and currently serves as the network's senior judicial analyst, commenting on legal news and trials...
, and Neil Cavuto
Neil Cavuto
Neil Patrick Cavuto is an American television anchor and commentator on the Fox Business Network and host of three television programs, Your World with Neil Cavuto and Cavuto on Business, both on the Fox News Channel and Cavuto on sister channel Fox Business Network.Cavuto also tapes a nightly...
from Fox News Radio, and Mike Gallagher
Mike Gallagher
Mike Gallagheris an American radio host and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Mike Gallagher Show, a nationally-syndicated radio program that airs throughout the United States on Salem Radio Network and is also a FOX News Channel Contributor and guest host...
and Bill Bennett
Bill Bennett
William Richards Bennett, PC, OBC , commonly known as Bill Bennett, was the 27th Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia 1975–1986. He is a son of the former Premier, W. A. C. Bennett. He was a 3rd cousin, twice removed, of R.B...
. However, the station also airs local programming that is produced in studio.
New England broadcast notables like Janet Jeghelien, Dick Sinnott, and Gene Lavanchy
Gene Lavanchy
Gene P. Lavanchy , is an American radio and television personality and journalist, and a co-host of WFXT's Fox 25 Morning News in Boston.- Education and career :...
have all been employed at WJCC over the years. The station is still functioning at full power.
Sports
In recent years, WDIS has focused on local sports programming. In 2007, they aired Tri-County Cougar home football games at the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High SchoolTri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School
Tri-County is a technical high school in Franklin, Massachusetts. After the 2010-11 school year Barbara Renzoni retired after five years as superintendent. The school committee named Stephen Dockray, formerly the district's business manager, as the next superintendent.-Towns in District:As a...
in Franklin, Massachusetts
Franklin, Massachusetts
The Town of Franklin is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,635 at the 2010 census.-History:Franklin was first settled by Europeans in 1660 and was officially incorporated during the American Revolution. The town was formed from the western part of the town...
. In 2008, they became the flagship radio station of the Walpole High School Rebels football team, broadcasting games on the internet as well as over the air. The Walpole Rebels went on to win the Super Bowl in 2008, concluding an undefeated year.
In 2008, WDIS also announced that they would begin airing all King Philip High School Boys Basketball games, trying to help revive a basketball program that had two consecutive no-win seasons.
In 2009, WDIS debuted a new 2-hour Saturday sports talk show.