WDAE (AM)
Encyclopedia
WDAE is a sports talk-formatted radio station
in Tampa, Florida
, United States
. It broadcasts at a medium-wave frequency of 620 kHz. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications
. It broadcasts from a transmitter of 11.2 kW days and 11.0 kW nights in St. Petersburg
. This station is licensed for 5.6 kW days and 5.5 kW nights. The higher power was granted by the FCC by continuance of Special Temporary Authority granted by the FCC in the 2005 Construction permit to replace the transmitting towers that straddle Gandy Blvd in St. Petersburg. This station also broadcasts using Ibiquity digital broadcast also known as HD radio during daytime hours.
The station at WDAE is believed to be the first radio station ever to broadcast in the state of Florida
. It also has the distinction of being the first directional AM antenna system in the US, implemented in order to protect WTMJ
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, also on 620 kHz.
WDAE began at 833 kHz in Tampa on May 15, 1922, as the radio outlet of the Tampa Times, an evening paper in the city. While there is reason to believe WDAE is the first station on air in Florida
, as the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) credits them with being, there is evidence that there was a station in Jacksonville, Florida
with the call letters WCAN, and was licensed before WDAE was. Whether WCAN ever signed on or not is not known, thus WDAE is credited with being first. WQAM also takes credit as being first, although that station was not licensed with those call letters until 1923.
In the 1970s WDAE, which at some point after the early years had moved to 1250 kHz, was a top 40 station, and continued with that until the early 1980s when it switched to Standards. In the 1990s it began a sports format.
In the late 1990s, 620 WSUN, then owned by Cox Communications
, was sold and the easy listening programming was moved along with those calls to 910 (formerly WPLA/WFNS in Plant City). After a brief interim while 620 WSAA broadcast the audio portion of Bay News 9
, WDAE eventually moved its programming to the superior 620 signal. Business News WHNZ moved from 570 to 1250, and religious programming from Salem Communications
took over at 570.
WDAE is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications
, the largest U.S. radio owner.
and shows on Fox Sports Radio
. Its local weekday hosts include: Dan Sileo
, Ron Diaz
, Ian Beckles
- ("The Ron & Ian Show") and Steve Duemig
. Rock Riley, Darek Sharp and Justin Pawlowski, round out the local weekend lineup.
of Major League Baseball
, the Tampa Bay Lightning
of the National Hockey League
, and the Tampa Bay Storm
of the Arena Football League. It shares flagship for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
of the National Football League
with WFUS-FM
. It is also the home in Tampa Bay
for the Florida Gators
college football
and basketball
games. WDAE also carries the Honda Grand Prix which takes place in St. Petersburg, Florida
.
sports anchor Chris Thomas. He hosted the Chris Thomas Show on WDAE from 1997 until 2004, when he died from cancer. Thomas was a listener favorite, often getting in mock on-air feuds with WDAE's afternoon host, Steve Duemig. The two men were friends in real life.
As part of his tongue-in-cheek on air persona, Thomas often gave himself nicknames, such as The Mediocore Sports Hunk. He also used many sound drops, such as the ferret from the Budweiser commercials, or various other animals, but he would give them names, such as Clevis and Clovis.
Thomas gained fame as the sports anchor on local television station WFLA-TV
Channel 8. Despite his popularity, WFLA-TV
declined to renew Thomas's contract in 2002, publicly expressing a desire to move to a younger broadcaster. However, some fans have speculated his openly hostile relationship with the Glazer family, owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
and a major sponsor of Channel 8, and an off the air alcohol-related incident six months earlier led to the station's desire to part ways with Thomas. Thomas' replacement, J.P. Peterson, has stated on-air that Chris was terminated because of "high fevers," a seeming code for being drunk on air.
Off the air, Thomas battled alcoholism most of his adult life. In January 2003, he was involved in a drunk driving accident with Buccaneers cheerleader Michelle Betancourt. However, despite the controversy surrounding his personal life, he remained a beloved figure in the Tampa Bay community.
After Thomas died in February 2004, the WDAE studio was renamed the Chris Thomas Studio.
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...
in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It broadcasts at a medium-wave frequency of 620 kHz. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
. It broadcasts from a transmitter of 11.2 kW days and 11.0 kW nights in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
. This station is licensed for 5.6 kW days and 5.5 kW nights. The higher power was granted by the FCC by continuance of Special Temporary Authority granted by the FCC in the 2005 Construction permit to replace the transmitting towers that straddle Gandy Blvd in St. Petersburg. This station also broadcasts using Ibiquity digital broadcast also known as HD radio during daytime hours.
The station at WDAE is believed to be the first radio station ever to broadcast in the state of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It also has the distinction of being the first directional AM antenna system in the US, implemented in order to protect WTMJ
WTMJ (AM)
WTMJ is a radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin broadcasting at 620 AM. It is a 50,000-watt station airing a format of news, talk and sports. WTMJ is owned by Journal Broadcast Group, which also owns the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and sister station WLWK-FM....
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, also on 620 kHz.
History
for the history of the 620 frequency prior to WDAE, See WSUNWSUN (defunct)
WSUN was a radio station which broadcast to Tampa Bay Area, Florida from 1927 until 2001.-History:The radio station began operating at 620 kHz in October 1927. In 1928 it was moved to 580 kHz, then to 900 kHz that year...
WDAE began at 833 kHz in Tampa on May 15, 1922, as the radio outlet of the Tampa Times, an evening paper in the city. While there is reason to believe WDAE is the first station on air in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, as 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...
(FCC) credits them with being, there is evidence that there was a station in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
with the call letters WCAN, and was licensed before WDAE was. Whether WCAN ever signed on or not is not known, thus WDAE is credited with being first. WQAM also takes credit as being first, although that station was not licensed with those call letters until 1923.
In the 1970s WDAE, which at some point after the early years had moved to 1250 kHz, was a top 40 station, and continued with that until the early 1980s when it switched to Standards. In the 1990s it began a sports format.
In the late 1990s, 620 WSUN, then owned by Cox Communications
Cox Communications
Cox Communications is a privately owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises providing digital cable television, telecommunications and wireless services in the United States...
, was sold and the easy listening programming was moved along with those calls to 910 (formerly WPLA/WFNS in Plant City). After a brief interim while 620 WSAA broadcast the audio portion of Bay News 9
Bay News 9
Bay News 9 is a cable news television network located in St Petersburg, Florida. It currently serves the Tampa Bay Area including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Polk, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties...
, WDAE eventually moved its programming to the superior 620 signal. Business News WHNZ moved from 570 to 1250, and religious programming from Salem Communications
Salem Communications
Salem Communications is a U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher specializing in evangelical Christian and conservative political talk radio. It owns 99 commercial radio stations, 65 of which are in the top 25 markets. Salem is the fifth largest U.S....
took over at 570.
WDAE is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
, the largest U.S. radio owner.
Programming
Currently, 620 WDAE "The Sports Animal" broadcasts a mixture of local and national sports programs. Its national shows include Jim RomeJim Rome
Jim Rome is an American sports radio talk show host syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications....
and shows on Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
. Its local weekday hosts include: Dan Sileo
Dan Sileo
Dan Sileo is a sports radio personality. Sileo started his sports career at Stamford Catholic High School in Stamford,Connecticut...
, Ron Diaz
Ron Diaz
Ron Diaz is an American talk show host on sports radio station WDAE-AM in Tampa, Florida. In the late 1980s and 1990s he partnered with Ron Bennington in the highly successful Florida talk radio program, The Ron and Ron Show. In May 1993, his wife Debbie was diagnosed with AIDS, leading him to...
, Ian Beckles
Ian Beckles
Ian Harold Beckles is a former American football Guard who played nine seasons in the NFL. Beckles is currently part of the Ron Diaz & Ian Beckles Show on 620 WDAE-AM "The Sports Animal" in Tampa, Florida....
- ("The Ron & Ian Show") and Steve Duemig
Steve Duemig
Steve Duemig is an American sports media personality and has had a daily local sports talk show on AM 620 WDAE in Tampa since the mid-1990s. The on air name given to himself is The Big Dog.-Golf career:...
. Rock Riley, Darek Sharp and Justin Pawlowski, round out the local weekend lineup.
Flagships and other play-by-play
WDAE is the flagship station for the Tampa Bay RaysTampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, and the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
of the Arena Football League. It shares flagship for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
with WFUS-FM
WFUS
WFUS is a country music radio station in Tampa, Florida. It has been the flagship station of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 2004.WFUS is one of the eight stations in the Tampa Bay market owned by Clear Channel Communications....
. It is also the home in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
for the Florida Gators
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
college football
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
and basketball
Florida Gators basketball
The Florida Gators have two Gator basketball programs:*Men's*Women's...
games. WDAE also carries the Honda Grand Prix which takes place in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
.
Chris Thomas
When WDAE became a sports talk station in 1997, one of the hosts to help build the station was WFLA-TVWFLA-TV
WFLA-TV, virtual channel 8, is the NBC-affiliated television station in Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida. The station is the flagship station of its owner and operator, Media General. Its transmitter is located in Riverview, Hillsborough County, Florida. WFLA is the only station in the market to be...
sports anchor Chris Thomas. He hosted the Chris Thomas Show on WDAE from 1997 until 2004, when he died from cancer. Thomas was a listener favorite, often getting in mock on-air feuds with WDAE's afternoon host, Steve Duemig. The two men were friends in real life.
As part of his tongue-in-cheek on air persona, Thomas often gave himself nicknames, such as The Mediocore Sports Hunk. He also used many sound drops, such as the ferret from the Budweiser commercials, or various other animals, but he would give them names, such as Clevis and Clovis.
Thomas gained fame as the sports anchor on local television station WFLA-TV
WFLA-TV
WFLA-TV, virtual channel 8, is the NBC-affiliated television station in Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida. The station is the flagship station of its owner and operator, Media General. Its transmitter is located in Riverview, Hillsborough County, Florida. WFLA is the only station in the market to be...
Channel 8. Despite his popularity, WFLA-TV
WFLA-TV
WFLA-TV, virtual channel 8, is the NBC-affiliated television station in Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida. The station is the flagship station of its owner and operator, Media General. Its transmitter is located in Riverview, Hillsborough County, Florida. WFLA is the only station in the market to be...
declined to renew Thomas's contract in 2002, publicly expressing a desire to move to a younger broadcaster. However, some fans have speculated his openly hostile relationship with the Glazer family, owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
and a major sponsor of Channel 8, and an off the air alcohol-related incident six months earlier led to the station's desire to part ways with Thomas. Thomas' replacement, J.P. Peterson, has stated on-air that Chris was terminated because of "high fevers," a seeming code for being drunk on air.
Off the air, Thomas battled alcoholism most of his adult life. In January 2003, he was involved in a drunk driving accident with Buccaneers cheerleader Michelle Betancourt. However, despite the controversy surrounding his personal life, he remained a beloved figure in the Tampa Bay community.
After Thomas died in February 2004, the WDAE studio was renamed the Chris Thomas Studio.