WRDL

WRDL

City	Ashland, Ohio
Broadcast area	Mid-Ohio
Branding	88.9 WRDL
Slogan	More Music. More You.
Frequency	88.9 MHz
First air date	1966
Format	CHR/Contemporary Hit Radio/Top 40
ERP	3,000 watts
HAAT	52.0 meters
Class	A
Facility ID	2933
Transmitter coordinates	40°51′41.00″N 82°19′11.00″W / 40.8613889°N 82.3197222°W / 40.8613889; -82.3197222
Owner	Ashland University
Website	wrdlfm.com

WRDL (88.9 FM) is an educational radio station. Licensed to Ashland, Ohio, USA, the station serves the Mid-Ohio area. The station is owned and operated by Ashland University (formerly Ashland College).^[1][2] The station's studios are located in the Center for The Arts building (formerly Arts & Humanities, or A&H). The transmitter and its antenna are located in the top floor of the library.

History

WRDL began broadcasting from tiny studios in a former projection booth for a theater in Founder's Hall in 1966. Originally at 88.1 on the dial, the 10-watt station's transmitter was located atop Clayton Hall, the tallest dormitory on the campus. Later the frequency was moved to 89.5 to avoid conflicts with other nearby non-commercial educational stations. In the 1980s the power was increased to 3,000 watts, and the station dial position was moved to 88.9. The transmitter was moved atop the new campus library building.

The station gets its call letters from the initials of Richard Dean Leidy, an adjunct professor that founded the radio/television department, at what was then called Ashland College. He always modestly insisted the letters stood for, "Radio Department Laboratory." Leidy led the department from 1960 to 1988, when he retired.^[3] Most students were seeking majors or minors in the AC Speech Department.

The earliest equipment consisted of a Collins tube-type control board and two 16-inch transcription turntables of 1950s vintage. Additional tube-type equipment caused frequent high temperatures in the tiny control room without airconditioning. In the earliest days, the station signed off in the summer, and only broadcast during the September to June school year.

In the mid 1960s some of the earliest student DJs consisted of Charles Beekley, Tom Warner, Mike Rogers and Craig Whitmore. They were quickly joined by Les Bagley, Tony "Z" Zabilski, Pat Murray, Ken Krauss, Jay Pappas, Mark Koontz and Will Ruch and others. Even with only 10 watts, the station became very popular in the community and student DJs were invited to do "record hops" at area high schools, and to appear at community events. One of the most visible was the annual 3-day remote broadcast from a downtown tent to promote donations to benefit the American Cancer Society.

Charlie Beekley graduated in 1966 and was hired as Mr. Leidy's first assistant instructor. He was later replaced by others including Jay Pappas. Early guest lecturers included Eric Severeid of CBS News and Byron MacGregor, news director of the then highly popular CKLW Radio.

The school began offering Radio/Television as a major in the late 1960s when facilities were modenized and expanded with a move to custom designed facilities in the new Arts Humanities Building. New studio equipment included late model radio equipment and a full television production studio. A United Press International news teletype was installed and Les Bagley was appointed the station's first designated student News Director. WRDL and ACTV2 newscasts were simulcast, and along with some other campus originated programming, were used as "local content" on the city's cable television system.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, the station's music hosts included Tripp Rogers, Bob Spence, John Hager, Pete Moore, John (the Bear) Carroll, Doug Kurkul, Mike Parker, Michelle Temple, Tim (Shadow) Morris, Keith Connors, BJ McCurdy, Blair Mintz, Jeff France, and Ed Vogt. A Spanish-language show on Sundays was hosted by Jose Diaz. During this time, the station was called FM89, and later 89-Plus. The Sunday Night Special, which ran once a week for two hours, featured a different recording artist each week. Among the artists highlighted on the Sunday Night Special programs were Pink Floyd, Bob Seger, Todd Rundgren, the Doobie Brothers, Chicago, Yes, Heart, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, and many other of the era's most popular rock acts. Airing immediately after the Sunday Night Special was an hour-long disco program, hosted by Adolph Santorine. The station also offered a weekly program featuring jazz, hosted by Mark Buchan.

Jay Pappas was the faculty member responsible for WRDL radio for many of these years, and Larry Hiner for WRDL television. Bill Clinger was responsible for equipment maintenance and broadcast technical matters.

In 1993, student staff adopted the nickname "The Eagle," because it was easier to say than the call letters. The name references the university's mascot, the Eagles.

Current Format

In June 2012, WRDL began broadcasting mainstream contemporary hit radio music in an effort to increase consistency in listenership and increase the presence of the station at on-campus venues such as the recreational center and dining areas. The station's new positioning statement, "More Music, More You," was designed to let listeners know that WRDL would provide them with both more music and more local content than the competition. WRDL offers local news weekday mornings and evenings and also an entertainment and local information-based morning show, "The Early Bird's Word," which airs 7–9:00 am on weekdays while school is in session. The show features regular appearances from university and city authorities, including Ashland Mayor Glen Stewart.

Sports Coverage

In the fall of 2012, WRDL scheduled to broadcast every Ashland University home football game, as well as a full slate of area high school football.^[4] In the winter, WRDL offered live broadcasts of most AU home men's and women's basketball games (games over winter break, when school was not in session, were not broadcast). As the Ashland University women's basketball team went on its national championship run, WRDL broadcast every single game, including the national tournament in San Antonio, Texas, despite not receiving any funding help from the university for the trip.^[5] WRDL also offered broadcasts of AU baseball in the spring of 2012.

In the fall of 2013, WRDL expanded its Ashland University sports coverage by adding both one volleyball and one women's soccer match on a trial basis. Both broadcasts were successful, and the Eagle volleyball match received one of the largest online stream audiences in WRDL history. WRDL also broadcast a road AU football game against Walsh at the historic Fawcett Stadium in Canton, OH. WRDL also added more Eagle baseball to its sports schedule in the spring of 2014.

Due to the success of the volleyball broadcast in 2013, WRDL has added additional volleyball matches to the sports broadcast schedule in the fall of 2014. In total, the WRDL schedule features seven AU football games and six Ashland volleyball matches.^[6]

Ashland University 2014 Football Broadcast Schedule

Ashland University 2014 Volleyball Broadcast Schedule

References

External links

• Official website
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WRDL
• Radio-Locator information on WRDL
• Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WRDL