WDAQ

Infobox Radio station
name = WDAQ


city = Danbury, Connecticut
area = Northwest Fairfield County, Connecticut
branding = "98Q"
slogan =
airdate = 1948
frequency = 98.3 MHz
format = CHR
erp = 1,300 watts
haat = 140 meters
class = A
facility_id = 4822
callsign_meaning = W DAnbury Q
former_callsigns = WLAD-FM (1948-79)
owner = Berkshire Broadcasting Group
sister_stations = WREF, WLAD
webcast = [http://nick9.surfernetwork.com/WDAQ Listen Live]
website = http://www.98q.com
affiliations =

WDAQ (98.3 FM), "98Q") is a Contemporary Hit Radio station licenced to Danbury, Connecticut and serving the immediate Danbury area. The station is owned by Berkshire Broadcasting Corp, along with sister stations WLAD and WREF). WDAQ broadcasts on 98.3 MHz with 1.3 KW (1300 watts) ERP (Effective Radiated Power).

History

WDAQ first signed on in 1948 as WLAD-FM, one of the first Class A FM stations to sign on in the United States and the first to sign on in the Danbury area (over a decade prior to the sign on of the higher powered WINE-FM). Originally, the station was part of the Rural Radio Network as one of two Connecticut affiliates of the New York-based network. This programming would last until the 1950s when WLAD-FM evolved into an extension of its then daytime-only sister station, WLAD-AM.

In the mid 1960s, spurred on by FCC regulations forcing FM stations to create formats separate from their AM sister stations, WLAD-FM upgraded to a stereo signal and flipped to an automated easy listening format. In 1979, the call letters were changed to WDAQ, competing with WEZN from Bridgeport and WHUD from Peekskill, NY for Greater Danbury's easy listening audience. The station gradually shifted to soft adult contemporary. In 1986, the station rebranded itself as "Lite 98" and shed the easy listening instrumentals.

By the late 1980s, WDAQ faced a more crowded market of adult contemporary signals, first from WEBE Westport. Then WEZN contemporized its format. Seeing an opportunity between teen formatted WKCI-FM and mainstream adult contemporary WEBE and soft adult contemporary WEZN, WDAQ was reborn as hot adult contemporary "98Q" in September, 1989. The station became instantly popular and shot to #1 within a year, beating sister WLAD and crosstown rocker WRKI, possibly due to its strong local signal within in Danbury's growing business district.

During its existence as 98Q, the station has been #1 in the majority of Danbury Arbitron market ratings surveys. Part of this success can be traced to the station holding a hyper-Danbury focus as opposed to the more regional focus of other FM stations in the market.

Musical Approach

In recent years, WDAQ has shifted more towards Adult Top 40 with more dayparting. This adjustment appears to have had no negative effect on its Arbitron ratings as 98Q remains the leading station in the Greater Danbury area.

External links

* [http://www.98q.com/ 98Q WDAQ official website]
*FMQ|WDAQ
*FML|WDAQ
*FMARB|WDAQ