WDBR
 | |
| City | Springfield, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Springfield, Illinois |
| Branding | 103.7 WDBR |
| Slogan | "Springfield's #1 Hit Music Station" |
| Frequency | 103.7 MHz (also on HD Radio) |
| Translator(s) | 101.1 W266BZ (Springfield, relays HD2) |
| First air date | 1948 (as WTAX-FM) |
| Format |
Contemporary Hit Radio HD2: Classic Country "101.1 The Outlaw" |
| ERP | 50,000 watts |
| HAAT | 91 meters (299 feet) |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 9960 |
| Former callsigns | WTAX-FM (1948-1972) |
| Owner | Saga Communications |
| Sister stations | WTAX |
| Website |
wdbr.com 1011theoutlaw.com (HD2) |
WDBR is a Top 40 radio station licensed to and serving the Springfield, Illinois market.
103.7 FM was Springfield's second FM station and the oldest continuously operating FM station in the market. The station originally played beautiful music as WTAX-FM. In January 1972 WTAX-FM became WDBR and switched to Drake-Chenault's "Solid Gold" format, a mix of adult-appeal Top 40 hits and rock oldies. WDBR dropped "Solid Gold" in late 1973 and went to a locally programmed, voicetracked Top 40 sound, which proved successful in the ratings. During the 1970s and 1980s, WDBR was known by the moniker Music 104. WDBR remained largely voicetracked until the early 1990s, when increased competition and faltering ratings forced the station, by then owned by Sentry Insurance, to go fully live, after which the station regained its position as a dominant force in Springfield radio. The new live team included: Greg Lawley and Lisa Crocker with Patrick Gordon mornings, Bobby T middays, Jim Moore Afternoons, Rick Elliott nights with the original "Hot 9 at 9" Rick also hosted the "Dance Machine on the local Fox TV affiliate.
WDBR's tower (shared with sister station WTAX), in operation since 1949, was destroyed by a tornado during the severe weather outbreak of March 2006. The stations soon resumed broadcasting from a new tower at a new location.
On October 2nd, 2013 ABE FM was moved from 93.9 FM to WDBR-HD2 and also transmitted on 101.1 FM (W266BZ-FM) to create 101.1 ABE FM. On January 29, 2016 101.1 ABE FM was replaced with classic country "101.1 The Outlaw".[1]
References
- ↑ http://hdradio.com/stations HD Radio.com
- "1". Retrieved 2008-02-25.
External links
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WDBR
- Radio-Locator information on WDBR
- Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WDBR
- Doug Quick's site with extensive history of Top 40 radio in central Illinois, including WDBR
Coordinates: 39°47′38″N 89°36′18″W / 39.794°N 89.605°W