WXDX-FM
Encyclopedia
WXDX-FM — branded 105.9 The X — is a modern rock
radio station
based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. Owned by Clear Channel Communications
, the station broadcasts at 105.9 MHz with an effective radiated power
(ERP) of 15.5 kw.
The station first became what it is today in 1994, when it was then known as The Force, and operated at 106.7. The Force touted itself with the motto "The Best of Rock". The station decided to begin changing music formats, transforming itself into more of an alternative-driven station. Clear Channel, the owner of the Force, paid Sheridan Broadcasting to swap signals with WAMO-FM
, giving it better signal coverage. It was also one of six stations in the Clear Channel roster that dropped Howard Stern
in February 2004 (however, Stern would show up on WRKZ later that year). Howard began airing on WXDX in November 1995.
Since October 2006, WXDX has been the radio flagship station of the National Hockey League's
Pittsburgh Penguins
.
subchannel dates back to 2006, when the subchannel launched a format focusing on Adult Album Alternative
(Triple A) music.
In May 2009, as part of WXDX's renewal of Pittsburgh Penguins
radio rights, WXDX and the Penguins announced that the HD2 subchannel would become a 24-hour channel devoted to Penguins coverage, billed as "Pittsburgh Penguins Radio." Plans for the channel (which launched October 1, 2009) include local and nationally-originated Penguins and hockey coverage (including "NHL Live" and league commissioner Gary Bettman’s
weekly “NHL Hour"), rebroadcasts of classic Penguins games, and game broadcasts of the team's top farm club in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
. The move will make the Penguins the second North American professional sports
team (the first NHL team) with their own terrestrial radio channel (after the NFL's
Dallas Cowboys
and their HD2 relationship with KRLD-FM).
Pittsburgh Penguins Radio on 105.9 HD2 Daily Schedule
9:00 am – 12noon: "Penguins Live" - Former Islanders play by play man & Pittsburgh native Steve Mears hosts.
Noon - 2 pm: "NHL Live" - from New York City
2 pm - 3 pm: The X's Mark Madden will provide exclusive Penguins and NHL themed content.
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
radio 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...
based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. Owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
, the station broadcasts at 105.9 MHz with an effective radiated power
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...
(ERP) of 15.5 kw.
History
This station actually first signed on at this frequency as WAMO-FM, the sister station of WAMO in Pittsburgh. For much of its existence, this station operated as an urban contemporary formatted station with its own independent programming and occasional simulcast of its AM sister.The station first became what it is today in 1994, when it was then known as The Force, and operated at 106.7. The Force touted itself with the motto "The Best of Rock". The station decided to begin changing music formats, transforming itself into more of an alternative-driven station. Clear Channel, the owner of the Force, paid Sheridan Broadcasting to swap signals with WAMO-FM
WAMO-FM
WAOB-FM, formerly WAMO-FM, is a radio station serving the Pittsburgh area. It is currently owned by St. Joseph Missions, a Catholic-based organization based in Pittsburgh. WAOB-FM is licensed to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, broadcasts at 106.7 MHz...
, giving it better signal coverage. It was also one of six stations in the Clear Channel roster that dropped Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
in February 2004 (however, Stern would show up on WRKZ later that year). Howard began airing on WXDX in November 1995.
Since October 2006, WXDX has been the radio flagship station of the National Hockey League's
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
.
Lineup
- Tim Benz: Monday-Friday 6 am - 10 am
- Bob McLaughlin: Monday-Friday 6 am - 10 am
- Whipping Boy: Monday-Friday 10 am - 3 pm, Sun 7:30 am-11 am (Pre-historic X)
- Mark MaddenMark MaddenMark Madden is an American radio sports talk-show host in Pittsburgh and also a former World Championship Wrestling color commentator. -Career:...
: Monday-Friday 3 pm - 6 pm (sports talk, 3 pm - 6:30 pm on Penguins gamedays) - Abby Krizner: Monday-Friday 6 pm - 10pm
- Digby: various
- Lenny: Sundays 8 pm - midnight (Edge of the X)
Former on-air staff
- Alan Cox - The Alan Cox Radio Show. Alan Cox generated a sizable following after being hired to host afternoons in 1999. He replaced "The Howard Stern Show" in the morning in June 2004 and his contract was not renewed for financial reasons in 2006. Cox hosted The Morning Fix at WKQX (Q101)/Chicago from August 2006 until August 2008. Currently, he is the afternoon drive host from 3 PM - 7 PM at 100.7 WMMSWMMSWMMS — branded 100.7 WMMS: The Buzzard — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, widely recognized as one of the most influential rock stations in America throughout much of the history of FM broadcasting...
in Cleveland, OH. Cox released three CDs while on the air at WXDX-FM Pittsburgh: "Alan Cox Sells Out", "Ribbed", and "Shadyside Bathroom Wall Blues". He frequently performed at numerous comedy clubs throughout the area, and a portion of the proceeds from his CDs were donated to local charities.
- Tim Anglin - He was a part-time dj and The X's Promotions Director (1998–2002)
- Cramer - (Paul Cramer) - Was a weekend and swing shift jock on The X who came to the station from rival alternative WNRQ (The Revolution) and was one of the original "XX" DJ's from the 1980s Pittsburgh alternative station WXXP. He is the author of "The Encyclopedia of Modern Rock Artists". An internet radio pioneer, Cramer created one of the first alternative rock internet stations (EAR.FM) in 1997.
- Debbie "Buck" Wilde - Night jock from 1996 to 2002, now working outside of the industry.
- Ditch - Evening jock until 1997, now at KUFO in San Diego, CA.
- Ali Castellini (aka Ali Gheny) - Midday jock from 1995–97, Program Director, later at WXXM and WXPN in Philadelphia.
- Grimm - Afternoon and evening jock. Moved to Monday-Friday 3 pm - 7 pm slot when Alan Cox's show was moved to the mornings in 2004 and stayed in this time slot until August 2008. Currently with Pittsburgh Penguins Radio on 105.9 HD2 as producer/co-host of "Penguins Live." (daily 9:00 am – 11:30 am with Pittsburgh native Steve Mears hosting). Also hosts Sunday evenings 6 pm - 10 pm on KDKA-FM 93.7 The Fan.
- Max Logan (aka Maxwell) - Real name Benjamin Bornstein. Afternoon jock until 1997. Formerly heard on WMMSWMMSWMMS — branded 100.7 WMMS: The Buzzard — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, widely recognized as one of the most influential rock stations in America throughout much of the history of FM broadcasting...
(and later WNCXWNCXWNCX — branded 98.5 WNCX — is commercial radio station in Cleveland, Ohio, broadcasting a classic rock format. The station's studios are currently located in Cleveland's historic Halle Building, in the Playhouse Square District...
) in Cleveland as host of The Maxwell ShowThe Maxwell ShowThe Maxwell Show was a hot talk radio show which aired weekday mornings on classic rock radio station WNCX in Cleveland, Ohio. The show first began in April 2004 on noted Cleveland rock station WMMS , and over the course of the next five years, grew to become the Cleveland radio market's #1...
. Ironically, Alan Cox took over the afternoon drive shifts previously occupied by Max at both WXDX-FM in 1999 and at WMMS in Cleveland in 2009.
- Ravey - overnights, weekends, swing jock, also a former jock at WNRQ (The Revolution).
- Mike Bocan - Former 7p-Midnight weeknight, weekend jock, and promotions director who worked until March 12, 2007, after an incident transpired during a phone call to Bob Grove, host of the Pittsburgh Penguins postgame show.
- Vinnie - was the X's music director and host of Edge of the X from 2001–2008; also did the 7 pm-midnight shift weeknights during his last couple of years with the station.
- Steve Stone (station promotional voice), a nationally known television and radio promo announcer. Steve Stone worked as the in-house creative director for WXDX-FM for three years, from 1996 to the end of 1999. He went on to work at WXRK-FM in New York City, and eventually launched his own voiceover and audio production company.
- Megan Slater - did weekends and filled in on the weekdays; left the X in early 2008 to join WRKZ-FM, a rock station in Columbus, Ohio where she was the weekday mid-day host. She moved to Q-FM 96 (WLVQ-FM) in Columbus, Ohio where she was the weekday mid-day host until May 3, 2010.
WXDX HD2
WXDX broadcasts on its HD2HD2
HD2 may refer to:* A Euro1080 High-definition television station in Europe* An HD Radio FM sub-channel designation* Hidden & Dangerous 2, PC game* HD 2 , a star in the Henry Draper Catalogue. It is an F5 star located at...
subchannel dates back to 2006, when the subchannel launched a format focusing on Adult Album Alternative
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
(Triple A) music.
In May 2009, as part of WXDX's renewal of Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
radio rights, WXDX and the Penguins announced that the HD2 subchannel would become a 24-hour channel devoted to Penguins coverage, billed as "Pittsburgh Penguins Radio." Plans for the channel (which launched October 1, 2009) include local and nationally-originated Penguins and hockey coverage (including "NHL Live" and league commissioner Gary Bettman’s
Gary Bettman
Gary Bruce Bettman is the commissioner of the National Hockey League , a post he has held since February 1, 1993. Previously, Bettman was a senior vice-president and general counsel to the National Basketball Association...
weekly “NHL Hour"), rebroadcasts of classic Penguins games, and game broadcasts of the team's top farm club in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza...
. The move will make the Penguins the second North American professional sports
Professional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
team (the first NHL team) with their own terrestrial radio channel (after the NFL's
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
and their HD2 relationship with KRLD-FM).
Pittsburgh Penguins Radio on 105.9 HD2 Daily Schedule
9:00 am – 12noon: "Penguins Live" - Former Islanders play by play man & Pittsburgh native Steve Mears hosts.
Noon - 2 pm: "NHL Live" - from New York City
2 pm - 3 pm: The X's Mark Madden will provide exclusive Penguins and NHL themed content.