WDHT

Infobox Radio Station


name = WDHT
airdate = 1958
frequency = 102.9 MHZ
city = Springfield, Ohio
area = Dayton | format = Mainstream Urban/Rhythmic Contemporary
owner = Main Line Broadcasting
sister_stations = WGTZ, WING, WKSW, WROU
erp = 50,000 watts
branding = "Hot 102.9"
slogan = "Blazin' Hip Hop and R&B"
class = B
website = [http://www.hot1029.com Hot 102.9's website]
callsign_meaning = We're Dayton's HoT

WDHT, "Hot 102.9"", is an urban radio station in Springfield, Ohio serving the Dayton area that broadcasts on the 102.9 frequency. WDHT is currently owned by Main Line Broadcasting which also owns WING-AM, WROU-FM, WKSW-FM(Kiss Country) and WGTZ-FM(Fly 92.9).Its transmitter site on Miller Road in Springfield is shared with that of WULM-AM which still operates a locally originating studio in Springfield as this was previously the transmitting site of the former WBLY-AM/WAZU-FM. Radio U (WUFM) based in Columbus also operates a Springfield translator (W254BJ at 98.7) from the same tower site.

History

Prior to becoming WDHT, the 102.9 frequency was originally WBLY-FM from 1958 to 1979, simulcasting middle of the road WBLY-AM before the FM switch to rock. From 1979 to 1988 they were known as WAZU, "FM-103 The Zoo...from A to Z to U." and played album oriented rock and occasionally some adult contemporary from 1979 to 1988, when they switched directions to album oriented rock and began billing themselves as "The Big Wazzoo", which lasted until 1995. During this tenure, WAZU competed fiercely with WTUE-FM. The frequency operated as WING-FM from 1995 to 2001 and played classic rock.

In 1992, WAZU was sold to Osborn Communications by "Smilin' Bob" Yountz's Champion City Broadcasting, owners of the former WBLY-AM (now WULM-AM) and moved the studios to Dayton. WAZU-FM's studios were originally located in its city of license of Springfield. After WAZU flipped formats in 1995, the WAZU calls eventually moved to an FM station licensed to Circleville, south of Columbus, Ohio. They also used the "Big Wazzoo" nickname and album rock format. That station is now WNKK, with a country music format.

In 2001 Radio One acquired WING and flipped it to a Rhythmic Contemporary station with the call letter WDHT. Two years later in 2003, Radio One bought out rival urban station WROU, which was Dayton's last locally owned FM radio station, and was converted to Urban AC-formatted, a move that allowed WDHT to evolve into a Mainstream Urban direction, even though its presentation is more along the lines of that of a Churban-formatted station (like WPGC-FM/Washington, D.C.).

Under Radio One, WDHT was known for voice-tracking programming and repetition of songs in their playlists, which tends to favor Churban-friendly Rhythmic hits, but since the change in ownership it has taken on a more live and local presentation. Also, in the wake of sister station WGTZ's flip to Adult Hits, it has also taken on a more broader Rhythmic direction than ever, which might be due to the competition it has with rival Top 40 WDKF, whose direction leans Rhythmic. The station also airs the Russ Parr morning show.

On May 17, 2007 Philadelphia-based Main Line Broadcasting announced the acquisition of Radio One's stations in the Dayton and Louisville market areas [ [http://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/$rol.exe/headline_id=b9903 News article of Main Line's purchase of Dayton and Louisville station clusters from Radio One (Radio-Online, May 17, 2007)] ] . Main Line took over the Dayton stations on September 14, 2007 [ [http://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/$rol.exe/headline_id=n17010 From Radio-Online (September 14, 2007)] ] .

It has been speculated that sister station WKSW "Kiss Country" has been appoved by the FCC to move its frequency from 101.7 to 101.5 and its city of licence from Urbana to Enon just outside of Springfield. As part of a trade off,WDHT will switch its city of license from Springfield to Urbana although its transmitter will remain in Springfield when the WKSW move to 101.5 will officially take place.This move was planned in 2006 before Radio One sold its Dayton area cluster to Mainline.

References

External links

* [http://www.hot1029.com Official WDHT website]
*FMQ|WDHT
*FML|WDHT
*FMARB|WDHT