WWDB
Encyclopedia
WWDB, 860 AM
, is a daytime-only radio station
based in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
(in the Delaware Valley
region near the city of Philadelphia) that broadcasts brokered programming and the satellite feed of ESPN Deportes Radio
.
The station was founded on December 6, 1926 as WFKD, and became WTEL in 1930. It began operating on the 860 frequency in the late 1950s; before that, it had shared time on 1340 with WHAT
. WTEL was best known as a foreign-language broadcaster. In the late 1990s the call letters were changed to WWDB, and the station began operating with a talk format as a companion station to WWDB-FM
; some of the FM station's older personalities were moved to the AM station in an attempt to increase the FM's appeal in younger demographics without alienating older listeners. The strategy was not successful, and by 2000 the WTEL call sign had returned and the station was programming gospel music. The gospel format was in place for a fairly short time before the call letters were changed back to WWDB and a business talk format was launched. Business talk, sometimes augmented with general-interest talk from syndicated personalities such as Don Imus
and Mancow Muller
, would be the station's format until the end of the broadcast day on August 1, 2010. ESPN Deportes Radio took over the schedule on the next day.
On June 13, 2011, WWDB began carrying a schedule of brokered programming previously heard on WNWR
. The ESPN Deportes Radio feed is still heard on WWDB during unsold time periods.
The WWDB call letters, which stand for the names of former owners "William and Dolly Banks", were first used in Philadelphia at 96.5
on the FM band in the late 1960s. The station had previously been WHAT-FM; it operated with a jazz format that did not change when the call letters did. In the early 1970s WWDB tried an adult contemporary format during some hours, then reverted to jazz full-time, then adopted a talk format in 1975. The talk format was one of the first successful ones on FM, lasting until November 2000.
WWDB's tower site is used by WPEN (AM)
, which broadcasts ESPN Radio
's English format, for its nighttime operations.
Amplitude modulation
Amplitude modulation is a technique used in electronic communication, most commonly for transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works by varying the strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information being sent...
, is a daytime-only radio station
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...
based in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
Bala Cynwyd is a community in Lower Merion Township which is located on the Main Line in southeastern Pennsylvania, bordering the western edge of Philadelphia at US Route 1 . It was originally two separate towns, Bala and Cynwyd, but is commonly treated as a single community...
(in the Delaware Valley
Delaware Valley
The Delaware Valley is a term used to refer to the valley where the Delaware River flows, along with the surrounding communities. This includes the metropolitan area centered on the city of Philadelphia. Such educational institutions as Delaware Valley Regional High School in Alexandria Township...
region near the city of Philadelphia) that broadcasts brokered programming and the satellite feed of ESPN Deportes Radio
ESPN Deportes Radio
ESPN Deportes Radio is a Spanish language sports radio network created and produced by Disney-owned ESPN. Programming includes call-in talk shows and commentary from hosts about a full range of sporting events, including soccer, American football, baseball and boxing.The network has stations in 13...
.
The station was founded on December 6, 1926 as WFKD, and became WTEL in 1930. It began operating on the 860 frequency in the late 1950s; before that, it had shared time on 1340 with WHAT
WHAT (AM)
El Zol 1340 is a commercial radio station located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, broadcasting on 1340 AM. The station is owned by Aztec Capital Partners, Inc....
. WTEL was best known as a foreign-language broadcaster. In the late 1990s the call letters were changed to WWDB, and the station began operating with a talk format as a companion station to WWDB-FM
WRDW-FM
WRDW-FM, also known as Wired 96.5, is a Philadelphia radio station owned by Beasley Broadcast Group that plays a Rhythmic Top 40 musical format. Although they lean towards R&B/Hip-Hop, Wired also adds Rhythmic Pop tracks to their playlist...
; some of the FM station's older personalities were moved to the AM station in an attempt to increase the FM's appeal in younger demographics without alienating older listeners. The strategy was not successful, and by 2000 the WTEL call sign had returned and the station was programming gospel music. The gospel format was in place for a fairly short time before the call letters were changed back to WWDB and a business talk format was launched. Business talk, sometimes augmented with general-interest talk from syndicated personalities such as Don Imus
Don Imus
John Donald "Don" Imus, Jr. is an American radio host, humorist, philanthropist and writer. His nationally-syndicated talk show, Imus in the Morning, is broadcast throughout the United States by Citadel Media and relayed on television by the Fox Business Network.-Personal life:Imus was born in...
and Mancow Muller
Mancow Muller
Matthew Erich "Mancow" Muller is an American radio and television personality. He is best known for Mancow's Morning Madhouse, formerly on Rock 103.5 and WKQX-FM , both Chicago-based radio shows that have been nationally syndicated mostly in small markets by Talk Radio Network...
, would be the station's format until the end of the broadcast day on August 1, 2010. ESPN Deportes Radio took over the schedule on the next day.
On June 13, 2011, WWDB began carrying a schedule of brokered programming previously heard on WNWR
WNWR
WNWR is a radio station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania owned by Global Radio LLC. Its studio is located at 200 Monument Road, Suite 6, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania and its transmitter is located in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia....
. The ESPN Deportes Radio feed is still heard on WWDB during unsold time periods.
The WWDB call letters, which stand for the names of former owners "William and Dolly Banks", were first used in Philadelphia at 96.5
WRDW-FM
WRDW-FM, also known as Wired 96.5, is a Philadelphia radio station owned by Beasley Broadcast Group that plays a Rhythmic Top 40 musical format. Although they lean towards R&B/Hip-Hop, Wired also adds Rhythmic Pop tracks to their playlist...
on the FM band in the late 1960s. The station had previously been WHAT-FM; it operated with a jazz format that did not change when the call letters did. In the early 1970s WWDB tried an adult contemporary format during some hours, then reverted to jazz full-time, then adopted a talk format in 1975. The talk format was one of the first successful ones on FM, lasting until November 2000.
WWDB's tower site is used by WPEN (AM)
WPEN (AM)
WPEN is an AM radio station broadcast on 950 kHz. The station is licensed to Philadelphia and serves that market. WPEN is owned and operated by Greater Media and offers a Sports Talk format. The station is known as "950 ESPN"-The Early Years:...
, which broadcasts ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
's English format, for its nighttime operations.