WBDG

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WBDG is a high school-operated radio station at Ben Davis High School in Marion County, Indiana.

1 WBDG history
2 The 1970s
3 The late 1970s, Disco 91, and the early 1980s
4 The Spectrum concept and Giant 90.9
5 A broadcast pioneer
6 The giants of Indiana high school radio and media
7 A strong future
8 Famous alumni
9 External links
- 9.1 Programming

[edit] WBDG history

WBDG was one of the first radio stations in Marion County to be owned by a school system and operated by the students of that system. This concept was a result of many years of planning by the M.S.D. of Wayne Township School Board, administration and faculty. A construction permit was obtained to build a tower on top of the newly-constructed "new" Ben Davis High School in September of 1965, and, on February 14, 1966, WBDG came to life with its first regular broadcasting day. The station had a radiated power of just 10 watts.

Early programming on WBDG consisted of a modest schedule of educational programs aimed at the township elementary schools, community news and a lunch-time dance party. The station broadcasted only during school hours and on athletic event nights. Competition for the handful of disc jockey slots each week was very fierce.

[edit] The 1970s

Many technical changes dominated the 1970s at WBDG. Station management applied for and was granted a power increase. The station's radiated power was upped to 320 watts. Fearing that WBDG's new, more powerful signal would interfere with their audio signal on the Westside, Channel six (WRTV) insisted that WBDG move its antenna and transmitter to the tower farm near St. Vincent Hospital on Indy's Northside. The new transmission location proved undesirable as the station could barely be received in its own control room.

Station management began working with the Federal Communications Commission to receive approval to move the transmitter and antenna back to Ben Davis High School. In 1979, the FCC granted the petition to move the station back to Ben Davis. Part of the FCC's construction permit was to increase WBDG's radiated power to 400 watts. A 78-foot tower was built on the school roof, and the transmitter was moved to a fan room on the second floor of the building.

Dana Webb, the station manager at the time, traveled to Washington, D.C. to represent the station in a hearing on the matter. Eventually, the station's new license was granted.

As the 1970s waned, WBDG began to add after school radio shows. Pop music and rock started to air. By 1979, WBDG was broadcasting 15 hours per day, five days per week and from 9:00 AM-Midnight on Saturday and Sunday. Student operators even kept the station on the air on holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas with no automation system.

[edit] The late 1970s, Disco 91, and the early 1980s

WBDG actually showed up in the ratings in the late 1970s. As "Disco 91", WBDG earned a few ratings points in one of the books. WBDG was the only disco station in Indianapolis. A few of WBDG's staff members had also gotten an advertising agency to donate to WBDG 35 billboard advertisements. “Disco 91” billboards were across the city.

When disco died, WBDG adopted a popular music and rock format. In 1986, the station was granted its current stereo license after raising the money for stereo broadcast equipment in a first-ever WBDG Radio Marathon.

[edit] The Spectrum concept and Giant 90.9

In the early 1990s, pop music appeared to be dead, and rock music was becoming alternative. WBDG adopted its "spectrum" format as a result. WBDG became known as "The Radio Spectrum". Student shows began playing the widest variety of music in Indianapolis. In 1995, WBDG expanded to 24 hours a day, every day. On June 1, 2002, WBDG re-invented itself as Giant 90.9 but continuing its variety format after brief flirts with the CHR and Hot AC formats. WBDG also plays a wide variety of dance music on its popular "Giant Mix" program that airs nightly until 4:00 a.m.

In April of 2005, the FCC granted an eight-year license renewal that will not expire until 2012.

[edit] A broadcast pioneer

WBDG has made many pioneering accomplishments since it hit the air on Valentine's Day, 1966. WBDG was the first Marion County high school station in stereo and the first 24-hour high school station in Marion County. The station is believed to be the first in Indiana to use compact discs on the air back in 1986. WBDG was among the first in the United States to use the Associated Press Wire System via satellite. The station also was among the first stations to use a computerized music scheduling system. WBDG’s first automation system was installed in 1995.

With new studios opening on December 27, 2000, WBDG entered a fresh, new age and began an effort to update all of its equipment. In 2001, the studio board used since 1986 was replaced. Boards throughout the station were also replaced in early 2002.

In November 2002, WBDG upgraded to a new computer. WBDG continued the upgrade of its equipment in the summer of 2005 with a complete replacement of its computer systems and the addition of another production area. The station also will continue exploring a move to an all-digital platform.

[edit] The giants of Indiana high school radio and media

WBDG placed second in the state in the Indiana Association of School Broadcasters State Contest in 2004. In 2005, WBDG was named Indiana’s High School Radio Station of the Year earning 10 awards at the IASB State Contest. WBDG and its next door neighbor BDTV combined to claim Indiana’s #1 High School Media Program in both 2004 and 2005.

[edit] A strong future

In February of 2006, WBDG celebrated it's 40th anniversary. In 1966, the station was on the air during the school day only with 10 watts. Today, the station broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days per week and 365 days per year to most of Marion and Hendricks Counties.

The station has launched hundreds of broadcasting careers including several nationally known personalities. WBDG has provided an opportunity to hundreds of Ben Davis and now Area 31 Career Center students to be a radio air personality and to test the waters of the radio business.

The current staff members now add their names to the history of this Westside institution. With 40 years down, WBDG seems poised to make the next 40 years even greater.

WBDG has experienced many exciting high points, and there have even been some low points as well. The station, however, continues due to the intense commitment of the M.S.D. of Wayne Township to student radio. The students of the future will continue to reap the rewards and benefits of having WBDG around only if the students of the present serve as worthy caretakers.