 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "WDBR" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(February 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
 | |
| Broadcast area | Central Illinois |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 103.7MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 103.7 WDBR |
| Programming | |
| Format | Top 40 (CHR) |
| Subchannels | HD2: 101.1 The Outlaw (Classic country) HD3: Pure Oldies 107.5 (Oldies) HD4: Rewind 93.5 (Classic hits) |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks Westwood One |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WYMG,WTAX,WTAX-FM,WLFZ | |
| History | |
First air date | April 1948; 77 years ago (1948-04) (as WTAX-FM) |
Former call signs | WTAX-FM (1948–1972) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 9960 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 50,000watts |
| HAAT | 91 meters (299 feet) |
| Translators | HD2: 101.1 W266BZ (Springfield) HD3: 107.5 W298AP (Springfield) HD4: 93.5 W228DL (Springfield) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live Listen Live (HD2) Listen Live (HD3) Listen Live (HD4) |
| Website | wdbr.com HD2:1011theoutlaw.com HD3:pureoldies1075.com HD4:myrewind935.com |
WDBR (103.7FM) is acommercialradio stationlicensed toSpringfield, Illinois, and servingCentral Illinois. It is owned by Saga Communications as part of its Capitol Radio Group, and broadcasts atop 40 (CHR)radio format.
WDBR has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 50,000watts, the maximum for most FM stations in Illinois. Thetransmitter is on South Dirksen Parkway (Illinois Route 29) near East Cook Street.[2] WDBR broadcasts usingHD Radio technology. It has threedigital subchannels, which in turn, feed threeFM translators: HD2: 101.1 The Outlaw (classic country), HD3: Pure Oldies 107.5 (oldies) and HD4: Rewind 93.5 (classic hits).
In April 1948; 77 years ago (1948-04), the stationsigned on the air asWTAX-FM. It was Springfield's second FM station and the oldest continuously operating FM station in the market. (Currently, a station at 93.9 inSherman, Illinois uses the WTAX-FMcall sign. It is also owned by Saga Communications.)
In its early years, it largelysimulcast its AMsister station,WTAX1240 AM. But in the 1960s, it got a separate format:beautiful music. WTAX-FM played quarter hour sweeps of soft, instrumentalcover versions of popular songs,Broadway andHollywood show tunes. The station was largelyautomated.
In January 1972, WTAX-FM switched toDrake-Chenault's "Solid Gold" automated format, asWDBR. It was a mix of adult appealTop 40 hits and rockOldies. WDBR dropped "Solid Gold" in late 1973 and went to a locally programmed,voicetracked Top 40 sound, which proved successful in the ratings. During the 1970s and 1980s, WDBR was known by the monikerMusic 104.
WDBR remained largely voicetracked until the early 1990s, when increased competition and faltering ratings forced the station, by then owned bySentry Insurance, to go fully live, after which the station regained its position as a dominant force in Springfield Top 40 radio. The team included: Gregory Lawley, Lisa Crocker, and Patrick Gordon mornings, Bobby T. middays, Jim Moore Afternoons, and Rick Elliott nights with the original "Hot 9 at 9". Rick also hosted the "Dance Machine" on Fox TV affiliateWRSP-TV.
WDBR'stower (shared with sister station WTAX 1240 AM), in operation since 1949, was destroyed by atornado during thesevere weather outbreak of March 2006. The stations soon resumed broadcasting from a new tower at a new location.
On October 2, 2013,Adult Hits ABE FM was moved from 93.9 FM to WDBR-HD2 and also transmitted on 101.1 FM (W266BZ-FM) to create 101.1 ABE FM. On January 29, 2016, 101.1 ABE FM flipped toclassic country as "101.1 The Outlaw".[3]
Additional HD subchannels were added playing 1960s-70soldies (Pure Oldies 107.5) and 1980s-90sclassic hits (Rewind 93.5).
39°47′38″N89°36′18″W / 39.794°N 89.605°W /39.794; -89.605