WDTR
Encyclopedia
WDTR is a non-commercial
, Christian
FM radio station licensed to serve Imlay City, Michigan
. It is owned by Michigan Community Radio, which is in turn owned by Jennifer and Edward Czelada. The station is part of their Smile FM
network of Contemporary Christian music
stations.
The station came on the air on December 18, 2000 with the callsign WHYT
. It was the flagship of the Joy-FM network of stations planned by the Czeladas. In June 2004, the two networks owned by Jennifer and Edward Czelada, The Light and Joy-FM, were merged to form Smile FM.
In August 2004, the station switched call letters with its sister station on 88.1. The new WHYT remained in the Smile FM network while the older station switched to a traditional Christian music format and began calling itself Classic Christian Radio International.
In January 2008, WDTR switched to a Christian contemporary worship music format calling itself Smile FM Praise with the call letters WWKM. WWKM was to be the flagship of the Smile FM Praise network. After the Smile FM Praise format was discontinued, the station switched back to the main Smile FM network in preparation for an increase in power and move to 88.9 from a tower near Oxford (see below). On April 20, 2011, the station took the call letters of the Smile FM Monroe, Michigan affiliate WDTR. That station switched to WSMF to honor a pastor from the Monroe area.
The station had approval from the FCC to move its transmitter closer to Detroit and increase power to 6,000 watts. However, the construction permit expired on April 7, 2009. On August 26, 2009, WDTR was granted a construction permit for 6 kW on 88.9 from a different tower near Oxford. According to the station affiliate list on the Smile FM web site, WDTR will broadcast the main Smile FM network programming to the Rochester area and northern suburbs of Detroit. The coverage area will include portions of Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair, and Lapeer counties.
Non-commercial
Non-commercial refers to an activity or entity that does not in some sense involve commerce, at least relative to similar activities that do have a commercial objective or emphasis...
, Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
FM radio station licensed to serve Imlay City, Michigan
Imlay City, Michigan
Imlay City is a city in Lapeer County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,869 at the 2000 census and 3,597 at the 2010 census.-Education:Imlay City has five public schools and one private school...
. It is owned by Michigan Community Radio, which is in turn owned by Jennifer and Edward Czelada. The station is part of their Smile FM
Smile FM
Smile FM is a network of 19 non-commercial, contemporary Christian radio stations. Most programming originates from studios in Williamston, Michigan and is relayed by an expanding number of stations throughout the state...
network of Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
stations.
The station came on the air on December 18, 2000 with the callsign WHYT
WHYT
WHYT is a non-commercial, contemporary Christian FM radio station licensed to serve Goodland Township and Imlay City, Michigan. The transmitter is located between Imlay City and Marlette, Michigan...
. It was the flagship of the Joy-FM network of stations planned by the Czeladas. In June 2004, the two networks owned by Jennifer and Edward Czelada, The Light and Joy-FM, were merged to form Smile FM.
In August 2004, the station switched call letters with its sister station on 88.1. The new WHYT remained in the Smile FM network while the older station switched to a traditional Christian music format and began calling itself Classic Christian Radio International.
In January 2008, WDTR switched to a Christian contemporary worship music format calling itself Smile FM Praise with the call letters WWKM. WWKM was to be the flagship of the Smile FM Praise network. After the Smile FM Praise format was discontinued, the station switched back to the main Smile FM network in preparation for an increase in power and move to 88.9 from a tower near Oxford (see below). On April 20, 2011, the station took the call letters of the Smile FM Monroe, Michigan affiliate WDTR. That station switched to WSMF to honor a pastor from the Monroe area.
The station had approval from the FCC to move its transmitter closer to Detroit and increase power to 6,000 watts. However, the construction permit expired on April 7, 2009. On August 26, 2009, WDTR was granted a construction permit for 6 kW on 88.9 from a different tower near Oxford. According to the station affiliate list on the Smile FM web site, WDTR will broadcast the main Smile FM network programming to the Rochester area and northern suburbs of Detroit. The coverage area will include portions of Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair, and Lapeer counties.