WJDB-FM
Encyclopedia
WJDB-FM is a full-service radio station
licensed
to serve Thomasville, Alabama
, USA. The station, one of only two FM stations licensed to Thomasville, is owned by Griffin Broadcasting Corporation. Griffin Broadcasting also owns Thomasville's only AM
station, WJDB
.
format described in the station's promotions as "hot country". However, the station is locally programmed and is not a subscriber to the Hot Country
satellite-fed syndicated format from Dial Global
.
In addition to its regular music programming, WJDB-FM is an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves
radio network, airs Auburn Tigers
college football
and men's basketball games, and broadcasts select local high school football
games.
in 1972
. The station's call letters were chosen to honor the radio station's creator, Joel Dyess Bishop.
In the early-to-mid-'80s, WJDB went off the air at 6:00 pm with the famous sign off which started with, "It's sundown in Thomasville and WJDB has concluded another day of broadcasting." While the AM station was concluding a day, WJDB-FM continued till 10:00 pm. Taking into consideration the number of youth in the area, WJDB-FM took this opportunity to not play country music, but rather the pop music of the day, including A-Ha, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, and the Fat Boys.
In November 1990, licensee WJDB Radio, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Griffin Broadcasting Corporation. The deal was approved by the FCC on January 4, 1991, and the transaction was consummated on January 31, 1991.
On October 25, 2005, WJDB-FM was granted a construction permit
by the FCC to upgrade to a class C2 station, increase their effective radiated power
to 40,000 watt
s, and relocate their broadcast transmitter to the current tower site of sister station WJDB
. Station owners told the local press that construction would be completed in about one year. However, the construction was not completed when the permit expired three years later on October 27, 2008, and the permit was ultimately cancelled by the FCC on November 18, 2008.
, in March 2008. Bryant, a retired teacher and former assistant principal, is the host of the Sunday evening program "The Rose Garden Show" on WJDB.
of Thomasville, Alabama
. A US Navy veteran and former member of the local school board, McDonald was elected mayor by a narrow margin.
and Ed McBain.
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
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
to serve Thomasville, Alabama
Thomasville, Alabama
Thomasville is a city in Clarke County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 4,209. Founded as a late 19th century railroad town, it has transitioned over the course of more than a century into a 21st century commercial hub...
, USA. The station, one of only two FM stations licensed to Thomasville, is owned by Griffin Broadcasting Corporation. Griffin Broadcasting also owns Thomasville's only AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
station, WJDB
WJDB (AM)
WJDB is a radio station licensed to serve Thomasville, Alabama. The station, the only AM station licensed to Thomasville, is owned by Griffin Broadcasting Corporation...
.
Programming
WJDB-FM broadcasts a country musicCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format described in the station's promotions as "hot country". However, the station is locally programmed and is not a subscriber to the Hot Country
Hot Country
Hot Country is a 24-hour music format produced by Dial Global. Its playlist is composed of country music released from the late 1990s to the present.Its competitors were "Country Today" by Waitt, CD Country, True 24-Hour Country, and U.S...
satellite-fed syndicated format from Dial Global
Dial Global
Dial Global is a radio syndication company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triton Media Group and is a sister company to Townsquare Media, both of which are owned by Oaktree Capital Management....
.
In addition to its regular music programming, WJDB-FM is an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
radio network, airs Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers is the name given to Auburn University athletic teams. The University is a member of the Southeastern Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 19 varsity teams in 13 sports:* Men's sports** Baseball** Basketball...
college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and men's basketball games, and broadcasts select local high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
games.
History
The station was assigned the WJDB-FM call letters by the Federal Communications CommissionFederal 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...
in 1972
1972 in radio
The year 1972 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*Bill and Becky Ann Stewart sell WPBC and WPBC-FM, both of Richfield, Minnesota, to Fairchild Industries. Later that year, both stations become WYOO....
. The station's call letters were chosen to honor the radio station's creator, Joel Dyess Bishop.
In the early-to-mid-'80s, WJDB went off the air at 6:00 pm with the famous sign off which started with, "It's sundown in Thomasville and WJDB has concluded another day of broadcasting." While the AM station was concluding a day, WJDB-FM continued till 10:00 pm. Taking into consideration the number of youth in the area, WJDB-FM took this opportunity to not play country music, but rather the pop music of the day, including A-Ha, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, and the Fat Boys.
In November 1990, licensee WJDB Radio, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Griffin Broadcasting Corporation. The deal was approved by the FCC on January 4, 1991, and the transaction was consummated on January 31, 1991.
On October 25, 2005, WJDB-FM was granted a construction permit
Construction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
by the FCC to upgrade to a class C2 station, increase their effective radiated power
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
to 40,000 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s, and relocate their broadcast transmitter to the current tower site of sister station WJDB
WJDB (AM)
WJDB is a radio station licensed to serve Thomasville, Alabama. The station, the only AM station licensed to Thomasville, is owned by Griffin Broadcasting Corporation...
. Station owners told the local press that construction would be completed in about one year. However, the construction was not completed when the permit expired three years later on October 27, 2008, and the permit was ultimately cancelled by the FCC on November 18, 2008.
Current
On January 30, 2008, Jimmie Rose Bryant was crowned as Ms. Senior Tombigbee Area after winning the local pageant which sent her to the Ms. Senior Alabama pageant in Hanceville, AlabamaHanceville, Alabama
Hanceville is a city in Cullman County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,951.-Geography:Hanceville is located at .According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, in March 2008. Bryant, a retired teacher and former assistant principal, is the host of the Sunday evening program "The Rose Garden Show" on WJDB.
Former
In August 1976, WJDB announcer and ad salesman John D. McDonald, affectionately known as "Johnny Mac", was a candidate for mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Thomasville, Alabama
Thomasville, Alabama
Thomasville is a city in Clarke County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 4,209. Founded as a late 19th century railroad town, it has transitioned over the course of more than a century into a 21st century commercial hub...
. A US Navy veteran and former member of the local school board, McDonald was elected mayor by a narrow margin.
In popular culture
WJDB is name-checked as the "one good station" in the area in the mystery short story "Poachers" by Tom Franklin as published in The Best American Mystery Stories 1999, edited by Otto PenzlerOtto Penzler
Otto Penzler is an editor of mystery fiction in the United States, and proprietor of The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City, where he lives.-Biography:...
and Ed McBain.