WDBR
WDBR is a Top 40/CHR radio station licensed to and serving the Springfield, Illinois market.
 | |
| City | Springfield, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Springfield, Illinois |
| Frequency | 103.7 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 103.7 WDBR |
| Slogan | Springfield's #1 Hit Music Station |
| Programming | |
| Format | FM/HD1: Top 40 (CHR) HD2: Classic Country "101.1 The Outlaw" HD3: Oldies "Pure Oldies 107.5 FM" |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Saga Communications |
| WTAX | |
| History | |
First air date | 1948 (as WTAX-FM) |
Former call signs | WTAX-FM (1948-1972) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 9960 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 50,000 watts |
| HAAT | 91 meters (299 feet) |
| Translator(s) | 101.1 W266BZ (Springfield, relays HD2) 107.5 W298AP (Springfield, relays HD3) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | wdbr.com 1011theoutlaw.com (HD2) pureoldies1075.com (HD3) |
History
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, and Rick Elliott nights with the original "Hot 9 at 9". Rick also hosted the "Dance Machine" on Fox TV affiliate WRSP-TV.
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.
HD Radio
On October 2, 2013, Adult Hits 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 flipped to classic country as "101.1 The Outlaw".[1]
External links
- WDBR in the FCC's FM station database
- WDBR on Radio-Locator
- WDBR in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- W266BZ in the FCC's FM station database
- W266BZ on Radio-Locator
- W298AP in the FCC's FM station database
- W298AP on Radio-Locator
- Doug Quick's site with extensive history of Top 40 radio in central Illinois, including WDBR