WFDD
Encyclopedia
WFDD is a public radio station located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
. It is the flagship National Public Radio station for the Piedmont Triad
. Owned by Wake Forest University
, it serves 32 counties in North Carolina and Virginia
. It also operates a translator on 104.7 FM in Greensboro
.
. When students began asking for better broadcast range, Wake Forest president Dr. Thurman D. Kitchin took steps to help making the station official. With the help of student fundraising, the station was fully licensed by 1948.
After the discovery that the WAKE letters were already in use, the station changed its calls to WFDD, which stood for "Wake Forest Demon Deacons
." Since the schools' sports teams were an important part of the station's programming, this seemed appropriate. Other programs included "Deaconlight Serenade," a student music program which included the part of the name of a Glenn Miller
hit. This program remained on the air as "Deaconlight" until 1981. The WAKE letters returned in the 1980s on a student-run AM station, which later became available on the Internet.
After Wake Forest College moved to Winston-Salem, WFDD returned to the air with a 10-watt signal in 1961. The signal increased to 36,000 watts in 1967, the year the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
began. WFDD became one of only 10 stations to received federal funding from the new organization.
On May 3, 1971, WFDD became a charter member of NPR, and the first NPR member in North Carolina. Dr. Julian Burroughs, who had helped put the station on the air, added his knowledge to that of other station officials around the country to determine what NPR would become.
On May 5, 1989, WFDD lost its tower along Business 40 in Winston-Salem when severe storms struck the area. The station returned to the air with reduced power, but did not fully cover the market until a new tower was completed north of Lexington
, which would be shared with WWGL.
For two years in the 1990s, WFDD aired Wake Forest football and basketball games, but many listeners complained.
In 2005, WFDD began airing more talk
programming, with no classical music
during the day on most weekdays. With less classical music, donations dropped. The station added a classical music service on HD radio
.
Despite the new transmitter location, WFDD's 60,000-watt signal results in spotty coverage in some of the eastern portion of the Triad, including parts of Greensboro itself. To make up for the shortfall in coverage, the station has long operated a translator in downtown Greensboro on 104.7. Much of the eastern Triad gets a better signal from WUNC
, the flagship NPR station for the Triangle.
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
. It is the flagship National Public Radio station for the Piedmont Triad
Piedmont Triad
The Piedmont Triad, or Triad, is a north-central region of the U.S. state of North Carolina that consists of the area within and surrounding the three major cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. This close group or "triad" of cities lies in the Piedmont geographical region of the...
. Owned by Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
, it serves 32 counties in North Carolina and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. It also operates a translator on 104.7 FM in Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
.
History
WFDD has its roots in a five watt pirate radio station, WAKE. operated illegally by Wake Forest students from a rooming house beginning in the fall of 1946, while the school was still located in Wake Forest, North CarolinaWake Forest, North Carolina
Wake Forest is a town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake County in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is located just north of the state capital, Raleigh. The population was 12,588 at the 2000 census. In 2009, the estimated population was 27,915...
. When students began asking for better broadcast range, Wake Forest president Dr. Thurman D. Kitchin took steps to help making the station official. With the help of student fundraising, the station was fully licensed by 1948.
After the discovery that the WAKE letters were already in use, the station changed its calls to WFDD, which stood for "Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Originally, Wake Forest's athletic teams were known as the Fighting Baptists, due to its association with the Baptist Convention...
." Since the schools' sports teams were an important part of the station's programming, this seemed appropriate. Other programs included "Deaconlight Serenade," a student music program which included the part of the name of a Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
hit. This program remained on the air as "Deaconlight" until 1981. The WAKE letters returned in the 1980s on a student-run AM station, which later became available on the Internet.
After Wake Forest College moved to Winston-Salem, WFDD returned to the air with a 10-watt signal in 1961. The signal increased to 36,000 watts in 1967, the year the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a non-profit corporation created by an act of the United States Congress, funded by the United States’ federal government to promote public broadcasting...
began. WFDD became one of only 10 stations to received federal funding from the new organization.
On May 3, 1971, WFDD became a charter member of NPR, and the first NPR member in North Carolina. Dr. Julian Burroughs, who had helped put the station on the air, added his knowledge to that of other station officials around the country to determine what NPR would become.
On May 5, 1989, WFDD lost its tower along Business 40 in Winston-Salem when severe storms struck the area. The station returned to the air with reduced power, but did not fully cover the market until a new tower was completed north of Lexington
Lexington, North Carolina
Lexington is the county seat of Davidson County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 19,953. It is located in central North Carolina, twenty miles south of Winston-Salem. Major highways include I-85, U.S. Route 29, U.S. Route 70, U.S. Route 52 ...
, which would be shared with WWGL.
For two years in the 1990s, WFDD aired Wake Forest football and basketball games, but many listeners complained.
In 2005, WFDD began airing more talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
programming, with no classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
during the day on most weekdays. With less classical music, donations dropped. The station added a classical music service on HD radio
HD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
.
Despite the new transmitter location, WFDD's 60,000-watt signal results in spotty coverage in some of the eastern portion of the Triad, including parts of Greensboro itself. To make up for the shortfall in coverage, the station has long operated a translator in downtown Greensboro on 104.7. Much of the eastern Triad gets a better signal from WUNC
North Carolina Public Radio
North Carolina Public Radio is a public radio network based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and operated by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It broadcasts NPR, American Public Media, Public Radio International, and BBC programming in an "all-news-and-information" format...
, the flagship NPR station for the Triangle.