WDWD (AM)
Encyclopedia
WDWD is a Radio Disney
affiliated station
serving the metro Atlanta
market
. 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
. In 2009, the station upgraded daytime transmit power from 5,000 to 12,000 watt
s, while the nighttime power remains at 4,500 watt
s. Also in 2009, the station started broadcasting in the AM HD Radio (hybrid digital) mode.
WDWD's programming consists of a 24-hour simulcast
of the Radio Disney
network
, which is a youth-friendly contemporary hit radio
music format except at 12:00 noon to 1:00 PM weekdays when the format changes to children's music
. There are some minor locally originated exceptions that differ from the Radio Disney network simulcast. The top of the hour station announcement and some radio station special events announcements which run during commercial breaks are locally produced. There is one WDWD-originated, locally produced show per week which airs at 6:00 AM on Sundays called "AM590 Kids Concerns", a public affairs
program which runs for 25 to 30 minutes.
) in 1937. By 1946, WAGA had moved from 1480 to 590 kHz. In 1959, the station changed to a top 40 music format and changed its call sign to WPLO which was in reference to the new ownership, Plough Broadcasting Company. Another format changed happened in 1966 when WPLO switched to a country music
format. In 1987, the station changed callsign
s to WKHX and adopted the "Kicks 590" slogan still used on WKHX-FM
101.5. WKHX used to broadcast in Kahn/Hazeltine AM stereo
with a "real country
" format. Then in 1997, the station adopted the Radio Disney format and the current callsign
WDWD.
In September 2009, the station was forced off-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 salvage
d since there had been no short circuit
ing from the water.
Radio Disney
Radio Disney is a radio network based in Burbank, California and headquartered out of the Disney Channel headquarters on West Alameda Ave., from where it has been based since November 2008. Prior to that, the network was based in Dallas, Texas...
affiliated station
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...
serving the metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta
The Atlanta metropolitan area or metro Atlanta, officially designated by the US Census Bureau as the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta Metropolitan Statistical Area, is the most populous metro area in the U.S. state of Georgia and the ninth-largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States...
market
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
. Its radio transmitter site, originally along North Druid Hills Road, is now located just north of Austell, Georgia
Austell, Georgia
Austell is a city in Cobb County in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 6,581.-History:Austell used to be known as Salt Springs, and was frequented by hunters who would trap and hunt game on their way to the salt licks. Some enterprising hunters claimed...
, in west-northwest metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta
The Atlanta metropolitan area or metro Atlanta, officially designated by the US Census Bureau as the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta Metropolitan Statistical Area, is the most populous metro area in the U.S. state of Georgia and the ninth-largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States...
. The station's signal is aimed by a four-tower
Mast radiator
A mast radiator is a radio mast or tower in which the whole structure itself functions as an antenna. This design is commonly used for transmitting antennas operating at low frequencies, in the VLF, LF and MF ranges, in particular those used for AM broadcasting. The metal mast is electrically...
directional antenna
Directional antenna
A directional antenna or beam antenna is an antenna which radiates greater power in one or more directions allowing for increased performance on transmit and receive and reduced interference from unwanted sources....
array
Antenna array
Antenna array may refer to:*Antenna array a group of isotropic radiators such that the currents running through them are of different amplitudes and phases*Interferometric array of radio telescopes used in radio astronomy...
from the Austell transmitter location towards Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. In 2009, the station upgraded daytime transmit power from 5,000 to 12,000 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s, while the nighttime power remains at 4,500 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s. Also in 2009, the station started broadcasting in the AM HD Radio (hybrid digital) mode.
WDWD's programming consists of a 24-hour simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
of the Radio Disney
Radio Disney
Radio Disney is a radio network based in Burbank, California and headquartered out of the Disney Channel headquarters on West Alameda Ave., from where it has been based since November 2008. Prior to that, the network was based in Dallas, Texas...
network
Radio network
There are two types of radio networks currently in use around the world: the one-to-many broadcast type commonly used for public information and mass media entertainment; and the two-way type used more commonly for public safety and public services such as police, fire, taxicabs, and delivery...
, which is a youth-friendly contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
music format except at 12:00 noon to 1:00 PM weekdays when the format changes to children's music
Children's music
Children's music is used here to refer to music composed and performed for children by adults. In European influenced contexts this means music, usually songs, written specifically for a juvenile audience. The composers are usually adults. Children's music has historically held both entertainment...
. There are some minor locally originated exceptions that differ from the Radio Disney network simulcast. The top of the hour station announcement and some radio station special events announcements which run during commercial breaks are locally produced. There is one WDWD-originated, locally produced show per week which airs at 6:00 AM on Sundays called "AM590 Kids Concerns", a public affairs
Public affairs (broadcasting)
Public affairs, a broadcasting industry term, refers to television programs which focuses on matters of politics and public policy. Among commercial broadcasters, such programs are often only to satisfy Federal Communications Commission regulatory expectations and are not scheduled in prime time...
program which runs for 25 to 30 minutes.
History
The station signed-on with original broadcast callsign WAGA (once the sister station of the current television station by that nameWAGA-TV
WAGA-TV, virtual channel 5.1 is an owned-and-operated television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Television Network and based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
) in 1937. By 1946, WAGA had moved from 1480 to 590 kHz. In 1959, the station changed to a top 40 music format and changed its call sign to WPLO which was in reference to the new ownership, Plough Broadcasting Company. Another format changed happened in 1966 when WPLO switched to a country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format. In 1987, the station changed callsign
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...
s to WKHX and adopted the "Kicks 590" slogan still used on WKHX-FM
WKHX-FM
WKHX-FM, known as "Kicks 101.5", is an Atlanta FM radio station that plays country music. Its city of license is Marietta, Georgia. "Kicks" debuted in 1980 after Capital Cities Communications purchased the station. WKHX used to simulcast on AM 590, which is now Radio Disney...
101.5. WKHX used to broadcast in Kahn/Hazeltine AM stereo
AM stereo
AM stereo is a term given to a series of mutually incompatible techniques for wireless radio broadcasting stereo audio in the AM band in a manner that is compatible with standard AM receivers...
with a "real country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
" format. Then in 1997, the station adopted the Radio Disney format and the current callsign
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...
WDWD.
In September 2009, the station was forced off-air for a week when it was submerged by nearby Noses Creek
Noses Creek
Noses Creek is a stream in Cobb County, Georgia, USA. It is a significant tributary of the much larger Sweetwater Creek, in turn part of the Chattahoochee River basin. On topographic maps, it begins between Kennesaw and Marietta and flows generally south-southwesterly to just northwest of Austell...
, which reached double its flood stage
Flood stage
Flood stage is the level at which the surface of a river, creek, or other body of water has risen to a sufficient level to cause damage or affects use of man-made structures...
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 salvage
Salvage
Salvage means 'rescue' and as such may refer to:* Marine salvage, the process of rescuing a ship, its cargo and sometimes the crew from peril* Salvage tug, a type of tugboat used to rescue or salvage ships which are in distress or in danger of sinking...
d since there had been no short circuit
Short circuit
A short circuit in an electrical circuit that allows a current to travel along an unintended path, often where essentially no electrical impedance is encountered....
ing from the water.