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Station Profile

Licensee: The Trustees of Davidson College
Power: 100,000 watts (directional)
Frequency: 89.9 FM
Type: Noncommercial, listener-supported public radio service qualified by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Hours: 24 hours/day
Programming: 24 hours/day classical music, with features and calendar announcements about the arts.
Purpose: The two-fold purpose of the station is to provide a high quality classical music and cultural arts programming service and to support the activities of local arts organizations and artists.
Budget: $1,497,500 in direct support for Fiscal 2008, including $1.12 million in community support (listeners and businesses) and $175,000 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Currently WDAV has 5000 members (individual supporters).
Audience: 120,000 listeners each week (Fall 2005, Arbitron data).
History: Idea for station first took shape during the presidency of Dr. Grier Martin.
1969: President Samuel R. Spencer, Jr. authorized on-campus student station.
1973: Student station upgraded to 10-watt operation.
1978: WDAV begins full service professional operation at 18,500 watts with all classical programming.
1981: Transmitter site change, increased tower height to 350 feet and power increase to 20,000 watts.
1986: Move into then-new McMillan Building.
1987: Grant qualification from Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
1988: Broadcast day extended to 24-hours.
1989: Power increase to 100,000 watts (directional).
1995: Increased tower height to 815 feet to improve signal.
1997: Affiliation with National Public Radio; addition of NPR News Headlines.
1998: WDAV Celebrates 20 Years of Classical Music & Support of the Arts.
2000: First digital recording, editing, storage and automation system installed. Davidson College approves use of Main Street lot for new facility.
2001: Architectural plans for new WDAV facility finalized and approved.
2002: New WDAV facility built and occupied.
2003: New WDAV facility named the "Samuel W. Newell Building."
2004: WDAV produces first series of Main Street Sessions recorded live in Clark Performance Studio.
2005: WDAV begins transmitting HD (digital) radio signal
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WDAV 89.9 • Box 7178 • 423 N. Main Street • Davidson, N.C. 28035-7178 • (704)-894-8900 • Fax: (704) 894-2997
Associated with: National Public Radio | Corporation for Public Broadcasting | Public Radio International | American Public Media.
©2008 WDAV. All Rights Reserved.