WDAS (AM)
kHz | |
Branding | Fox Sports The Gambler |
---|---|
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Format | Sports |
Affiliations | |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
WDAS-FM, WIOQ, WRFF, WUMR, WUSL | |
History | |
First air date | July 1922 (as WIAD) |
Former call signs |
|
Former frequencies |
|
Call sign meaning | Dannenbaum & Steppacher, former owners (1934-1950) |
Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 71315 |
Class | B |
Power |
|
Translator(s) | See § Translators |
Repeater(s) | 104.5 WRFF-HD2 (Philadelphia) |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen live (via iHeartRadio) |
Website | foxphlgambler |
WDAS (1480
WDAS's
History
Early years
The station was first licensed to the Ocean City Yacht Club as WIAD in
Following the establishment of the Federal Radio Commission (FRC), stations were initially issued a series of temporary authorizations starting on May 3, 1927.[6] In addition, they were informed that if they wanted to continue operating, they needed to file a formal license application by January 15, 1928, as the first step in determining whether they met the new "public interest, convenience, or necessity" standard.[7] On May 25, 1928, the FRC issued General Order 32, which notified 164 stations, including WIAD, that "From an examination of your application for future license it does not find that public interest, convenience, or necessity would be served by granting it."[8] However, the station successfully convinced the commission that it should remain licensed.
On November 11, 1928, the FRC made a major reallocation of station transmitting frequencies, as part of a reorganization resulting from its implementation of General Order 40. WIAD was assigned to 1370 kHz.
In 1929, the station's studio and transmitter were moved to the Elks Club at Broad and Vine Streets and the call sign changed to WELK.[9]
In 1934, Miller sold the station, and the new owners, silk manufacturers Dannenbaum & Steppacher, adopted the WDAS call sign, with the letters spelling out the company's initials. A.W. Dannenbaum served as the station president. The studios were located at 1211 Chestnut Street.[10]
WDAS broadcast ethnic programming in languages such as Italian, Yiddish and Polish. In 1941, WDAS moved to 1400 AM, then about 15 years later to its current frequency of 1480 AM.
In 1950, candy manufacturer
Switch to R&B
In 1951, Leon promoted his son-in-law, Bob Klein, to general manager. Klein saw an opportunity in the marketplace and adopted programming geared toward the local
The station employed many black professionals, in on-air, office and management positions. The station also took on an
WDAS (AM) retained its R&B format throughout the 1960s and 70s, while adding
Klein filed a class action lawsuit against the
Ownership changes
Leon sold the station in November 1979 to the minority-owned Unity Broadcasting Network. In the 1980s, WDAS added the
Format changes
On May 16, 2007, WDAS flipped to
On November 22, 2011, the station began redirecting existing listeners to
Smooth Jazz JJZ
On June 10, 2013, at 12:00 p.m., the station flipped to
From September 19–27, 2015, the station temporarily branded as Pope Info Radio — a "pop-up station" covering Pope Francis's first visit to the United States, which concluded in Philadelphia. The station interspersed its smooth jazz programming with live coverage of five masses and speeches throughout the visit, and rolling news, traffic, and weather updates relevant to the events.[16][17][18]
Breakthrough Radio
On September 11, 2017, at 12:00 p.m., the station rebranded as Breakthrough Radio. The format was a partnership between iHeartMedia and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHoP), featuring a format of uptempo pop hits interspersed with health-related features and public service announcements produced by the hospital. The JJZ format moved to WISX-HD2.[19][20][21]
Fox Sports The Gambler
On August 23, 2019, it was announced that WDAS would flip to a
The station carries local programs geared towards sports betting (taking advantage of the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, which had effectively banned sports betting outside of Nevada);[22] it launched with The Daily Tickets—an afternoon drive program hosted by former WPEN personality Sean Brace. He described The Gambler as the "future" of sports radio, arguing that the betting-oriented positioning of the station would help distinguish itself from WPEN and the market-leading WIP-FM, and promised that the station would feature "no callers" and "just guests that will bring the best information on the games we love to watch".[22] WDAS otherwise carries the full Fox Sports Radio national lineup, including its own betting-related show Straight Outta Vegas.[23]
More local programs were added to its schedule later on; in October 2019, the station added a new evening program hosted by Eytan Shander, What Are The Odds?—which airs on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings.[24] In June 2020, the station added a weekly esports program, Cheesesteaks and Controllers, hosted by Jason Fanelli.[25] In July 2020, WDAS became the flagship radio station of the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.[26]
HD Radio
WDAS formerly broadcast in
Translators
WDAS (AM) programming is broadcast on the following translators:
Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT |
Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W273DO | 102.5 FM | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
138663 | 99 | 114 m (374 ft) | D | 39°56′58.60″N 75°10′14.40″W / 39.9496111°N 75.1706667°W | LMS |
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WDAS". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WDAS-AM
- ^ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, August 1, 1922, page 3.
- ^ "Alterations and corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, November 1, 1923, page 8.
- ^ "Alterations and corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, March 1, 1924, page 8.
- ^ "List of broadcasting stations issued temporary permits", Radio Service Bulletin, April 30, 1927, pages 6-14.
- ^ "Extension of Broadcasting Station Licenses", Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1927, page 7.
- ^ "Appendix F (2): Letter to and list of stations included in General Order No. 32, issued May 25, 1928", Second Annual Report of the Federal Radio Commission for the Year Ended June 30, 1928, Together With Supplemental Report for the Period From July 1, 1928 to September 30, 1928, pages 146-149.
- ^ FCC History cards for WDAS
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1945 page 146
- ^ Russ, Valerie (February 21, 2012). "When Malcom Came to Town". Philadelphia Daily News. pp. 6–8.
- ^ "Rumba 104.5/Philly Becomes 'Radio 104.5'". All Access. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
- ^ "WDAS-AM Returns In Philadelphia". RadioInsight. 2011-11-22. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
- ^ "WDAS-A Returns To The Soul Of Philadelphia". All Access. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
- ^ "Smooth Jazz Returns To Philadelphia". RadioInsight. 2013-06-09. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
- ^ "Philly Gets Pop-Up Pope Station". Insideradio.com. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
- ^ "iHeart To Launch Philadelphia Papal Pop-Up Format". RadioInsight. 2015-09-13. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
- ^ "Papal Visit Prompts WDAS-A (Smooth Jazz 'JJZ)/Philadelphia To Air 'Pope Info Radio' 9/19-27". All Access. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
- ^ "iHeartMedia & Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia Partner For Breakthrough Radio 1480". RadioInsight. 2017-09-11. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
- ^ Takiff, Jonathan. "CHOP-backed Breakthrough Radio is a new station". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
- ^ "Ryan Seacrest launches the Voice at CHOP". 6ABC. Archived from the original on 2011-09-21. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- ^ a b c "Philly's 'Gambler' Declares Itself The 'Future Of Sports Talk Radio.'". Insideradio.com. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
- ^ "iHeartMedia Launches Fox Sports The Gambler In Philadelphia". RadioInsight. 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
- ^ "Eytan Shander Adds Show On WDAS-A (Fox Sports The Gambler)/Philadelphia". All Access. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
- ^ "Cheesesteaks and Controllers". iHeartRadio. 2021-02-19. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
- ^ "MLS Names Philly Broadcast Partner". Radio Ink. 2020-07-09. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
- ^ "History of WDAS provided by radio-history.com". Archived from the original on 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
- ^ http://www.hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=6 HD Radio Guide for Philadelphia
External links
- Official website
- WDAS in the FCC AM station database
- WDAS in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- Civil Rights and WDAS History
- WDAS: Broadcasting a Frequency of Change on YouTube
- Radiohistory.com - WDAS
- W281BI in the FCC FM station database
- W281BI at FCCdata.org
- W273DO in the FCC FM station database
- W273DO at FCCdata.org