WTDR

WTDR may refer to:

WTDR (AM)

WTDR (1350 AM) is an American radio station licensed to serve Gadsden, Alabama, USA. The station, established in 1947, is operated by Gadsden Radio Media Inc. and the broadcast license is held by The DR Group LLC. An FCC-approved sale to Gadsden Radio Media Inc. is pending formal consummation.

Programming

WGAD changed to a news/talk format on October 10, 2011. The "Gadsden's Gold" oldies format the station broadcast for many years was dropped, making it the second AM station in Gadsden to air news and talk programming. The new operators kept the 80's music and is featuring Big 80's & More weekends on Saturday and Sunday. In October 2012, the format again changed to simulcast country music from WTDR-FM, a sister station.

History

This station was assigned the "WGAD" call letters by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) when it first went on the air in 1947. After an ownership change in 2007, the station switched call signs to "WJBY", but returned to its original "WGAD" letters in 2011. WGAD signed on in 1947 with 1,000 watts day non-directional, and 1,000 watts at night with a two tower directional signal, towers located west of Gadsden proper in Attalla, Alabama. In 1959, it was sold to a group of broadcasters consisting of Ed Z. Carrell who also served as General Manager, Lavelle Jackson, and Congressman Albert Rains, who raised the daytime power to 5,000 watts. WGAD was Gadsden's only full-time station until 1960. The station was also the first to jump on the pop music bandwagon in the late 1950s when it began broadcasting "Top 40" music with ABC news and special programs.