KQDJ-FM
Encyclopedia
KQDJ-FM is a radio station
licensed to serve Valley City, North Dakota
, serving the Jamestown
and Valley City
areas. The station is owned by Ingstad Family Media
. It airs a Top 40 (CHR)
music format.
The station was assigned the KQDJ-FM call letters by the Federal Communications Commission
on November 1, 1996.
"Big Dog Country"). Known then as "J-Country" and owned by Sorenson Broadcasting, KQDJ-FM was a fully automated contemporary country station that occasionally broadcast live play-by-play of high school and Jamestown College
sports events.
The station used four stereo reel-to-reel tape players to rotate music through a pre-programmed sequence of songs throughout the day. The system (affectionately known as "Chumley" by the announcers and engineers) was fairly reliable and included five AA-size Fidelipac
commercial cart carousels that automatically inserted commercials at pre-programmed times plus two larger carts for announcing the time, one with odd minutes and one with even minutes. As a CBS Radio Network
affiliate, national news was aired via satellite whereas both local news and weather were prerecorded by the AM station announcers and inserted into the automated program lineup. As a cost-saving measure, the station shared its operating hours with its AM counterpart so that the AM announcers could oversee and maintain the automated system including having the night shift AM announcers program "Chumley" for the next day.
The original studios were located on the corner of 1st Avenue South and 2nd Street SE in Jamestown on the second floor of the former White Drug Building and across the street from its regional competitors, KSJB
and KSJZ
. Both stations have since relocated.
In 1996, the station moved to 101.1 FM and flipped to a hot adult contemporary format as "Q101", carrying programming from ABC's Today's Best Hits
network. In 2007, the station began carrying Top 40 (CHR)
formatted program Romeo's Playhouse in the evening and night hours, and Top 40 (CHR)
formatted program Open House Party
during the Saturday and Sunday evening and night hours. In July 2008, the station dropped the Today's Best Hits
Hot AC network, which was its daytime programming, and flipped to a locally programmed Top 40 (CHR)
format with syndicated Kidd Kraddick in the Morning
, keeping the "Q101" moniker and syndicated night programs Romeo's Playhouse and Open House Party
.
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...
licensed to serve Valley City, North Dakota
Valley City, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,826 people, 2,996 households, and 1,668 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,062.5 per square mile . There were 3,250 housing units at an average density of 982.0 per square mile...
, serving the Jamestown
Jamestown, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,527 people, 6,505 households, and 3,798 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,246.7 per square mile . There were 6,970 housing units at an average density of 559.6 per square mile...
and Valley City
Valley City, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,826 people, 2,996 households, and 1,668 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,062.5 per square mile . There were 3,250 housing units at an average density of 982.0 per square mile...
areas. The station is owned by Ingstad Family Media
Ingstad Family Media
Ingstad Family Media is a broadcasting company in Valley City, North Dakota. The home offices are at 232 3rd St. NE, Valley City. As its name suggests, it has been owned by members of the Ingstad family, originally dating back to the beginning in the 1930s....
. It airs a Top 40 (CHR)
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
music format.
The station was assigned the KQDJ-FM call letters by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
on November 1, 1996.
History
Prior to 1996, KQDJ-FM was the sister station of KQDJ-AM in Jamestown, North Dakota, and transmitted on the frequency of 95.5 FM (now used by KYNUKYNU
KYNU is a radio station licensed to serve Jamestown, North Dakota. The station is owned by Ingstad Family Media. It airs a Country music format....
"Big Dog Country"). Known then as "J-Country" and owned by Sorenson Broadcasting, KQDJ-FM was a fully automated contemporary country station that occasionally broadcast live play-by-play of high school and Jamestown College
Jamestown College
Jamestown College is a private liberal arts college founded by the Presbyterian Church located in Jamestown, North Dakota. It has about 1,000 students enrolled today and has been co-educational from its founding....
sports events.
The station used four stereo reel-to-reel tape players to rotate music through a pre-programmed sequence of songs throughout the day. The system (affectionately known as "Chumley" by the announcers and engineers) was fairly reliable and included five AA-size Fidelipac
Fidelipac
The Fidelipac, commonly known as an NAB cartridge or simply cart, is a magnetic tape sound recording format, used for radio broadcasting for playback of material over the air such as radio commercials, jingles, station identifications, and music. Fidelipac is the official name of this industry...
commercial cart carousels that automatically inserted commercials at pre-programmed times plus two larger carts for announcing the time, one with odd minutes and one with even minutes. As a CBS Radio Network
CBS Radio Network
The CBS Radio Network provides news, sports and other programming to more than 1,000 radio stations throughout the United States. The network is owned by CBS Corporation, and operated by CBS Radio ....
affiliate, national news was aired via satellite whereas both local news and weather were prerecorded by the AM station announcers and inserted into the automated program lineup. As a cost-saving measure, the station shared its operating hours with its AM counterpart so that the AM announcers could oversee and maintain the automated system including having the night shift AM announcers program "Chumley" for the next day.
The original studios were located on the corner of 1st Avenue South and 2nd Street SE in Jamestown on the second floor of the former White Drug Building and across the street from its regional competitors, KSJB
KSJB
KSJB is an AM radio station based in Jamestown, North Dakota.Broadcasting at 600 kHz with 5000 watts of power and a directional pattern that drives the signal from northwest to southeast, the station boasts that it can be heard clearly in six states and two Canadian provinces...
and KSJZ
KSJZ
KSJZ is a radio station broadcasting an adult contemporary music format. The station is serves Jamestown, North Dakota, and is owned by Chesterman Communications.Both KSJB and KSJZ broadcast from studios at the Buffalo Mall...
. Both stations have since relocated.
In 1996, the station moved to 101.1 FM and flipped to a hot adult contemporary format as "Q101", carrying programming from ABC's Today's Best Hits
Today's Best Hits
Today's Best Hits is an American radio network with a Hot Adult Contemporary format. It plays many contemporary songs. It also features many retro hits, and on Saturday night, it plays only requested retro songs. The network was previously known as Best Hits, Best Variety...
network. In 2007, the station began carrying Top 40 (CHR)
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
formatted program Romeo's Playhouse in the evening and night hours, and Top 40 (CHR)
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
formatted program Open House Party
Open House Party
Open House Party is an American radio show hosted on Saturday nights by John Garabedian that promotes itself as "the biggest party on the planet". It focuses on playing contemporary hit radio music, also known as Top 40. The show differentiates itself from most Top 40 stations because it plays a...
during the Saturday and Sunday evening and night hours. In July 2008, the station dropped the Today's Best Hits
Today's Best Hits
Today's Best Hits is an American radio network with a Hot Adult Contemporary format. It plays many contemporary songs. It also features many retro hits, and on Saturday night, it plays only requested retro songs. The network was previously known as Best Hits, Best Variety...
Hot AC network, which was its daytime programming, and flipped to a locally programmed Top 40 (CHR)
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
format with syndicated Kidd Kraddick in the Morning
Kidd Kraddick in the Morning
Kidd Kraddick in the Morning is an American morning radio show hosted by Kidd Kraddick on Cumulus Media Networks...
, keeping the "Q101" moniker and syndicated night programs Romeo's Playhouse and Open House Party
Open House Party
Open House Party is an American radio show hosted on Saturday nights by John Garabedian that promotes itself as "the biggest party on the planet". It focuses on playing contemporary hit radio music, also known as Top 40. The show differentiates itself from most Top 40 stations because it plays a...
.