WBDG 90.9 Indianapolis DANCE FORMAT?????

[Mid West Clubber]

So how long has WBDG been running this Dance Format?

 

[butlerguy03]

Evenings for awhile. Not sure if Jon reads these boards, but you can e-mail or call him for particulars. High School radio is doing some interesting things in Indy these days...I recommend turning the dial around to see what they are playing.

http://www.wayne.k12.in.us/bdwbdg/

 

[Mid West Clubber]

Well WBDG is the only High School station that makes it to my house, I used to be able to get WJEL 89.3 here back in the mid nineties, but I can get it anymore. I think WJEL was running at higher power than allowed there for awhile.

 

[butlerguy03]

Yeah I'm pretty lucky here in Castleton, I can hear all 6 local over-the-air stations (Ben Davis, Franklin Central, Warren Central, North Central, Carmel & Pendleton Heights). I just happen to work for one of them. Hopefully the Channel 6 problem will dissappear when TV goes digital and maybe these stations can increase power.

 

[Mid West Clubber]

Im surprised you can get THE FLASH 91.5 in Castleton, I thought their signal didnt leave the Beach Grove, Green Wood Area. 91.5 is out in the country in Franklin township. IS ED 91.1 in Warren Central still airing an 80s format, they used to be a recurrent leaning CHR years ago. I liked WBDG and WJEL, and even THE FLASH when ever I could here it, but I never cared for 91.1 Warren Central or 91.3 in Carmel.

 

[Timewarp]

Enjoy these high school stations while you can. A new station has been awarded a construction permit
in Plainfield on 91.5. I think about about one dozen applicants filed for 90.9 in Noblesville 3 months ago.
These high school stations will soon only be heard within a few miles of their transmitter. Higher
powered NCE stations will only be heard in their primary service area.
Many new stations will soon be on the FM band in Indiana.

No, I don't think this is a good thing for I enjoy listening to distant stations.

 

[butlerguy03]

And we all know what will be considered "educational" on these new stations...

 

[WBDG]

WBDG is not all dance. The Giant Mix airs from 9 p.m.-4 a.m. M-F and from 8 p.m.-4 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

We have been airing dance music for about four years.

Jon Easter
WBDG General Manager

 

[EStreeter]

Regardless of their "format" I think Jon should really be commended.

I have had a chance to speak with him several times at various sporting events we were both broadcasting at. He shows up at most of the games himself to make sure all the equipment is set up and ready to go. They have a nice little operation over there and airing more than 40 basketball games is not an easy thing. But they pull it off and sound pretty good doing it. That has a lot to do with Jon's leadership.

"Formats" are irrelevant in a high school station. What matters is the local programming for the school you can provide. And they do a nice job getting school sports on the air and sounding nice.

 

[WBDG]

Do you want a job as my agent? LOL

 

[Mid West Clubber]

If your being serious, I would love to Volunteer for WBDG? But dont you have to be a student at Ben Davis, or are older Volunteers allowed. I would love to do some programing in the Dance department, I can produce sweepers for ya and everything. And since its a school station and a NON COM, it wouldnt cost you a dime for the extra help. I even have experience in COM Radio,,, I am 27 yrs old and live in Martinsville. Send me an email if you are accepting outside volunteers for WBDG, I can do just about anything you tell me too. [email protected] If not interested, thats understandable, just let me know one way or the other.....

 

[butlerguy03]

Jon -

How do you do 40 games and not run yourself ragged? Jeff and I are both dead up here this time of year! Of course, then we do a 30+ game SB/BB sked too...

 

[Robb_Reel]

Im surprised you can get THE FLASH 91.5 in Castleton, I thought their signal didnt leave the Beach Grove, Green Wood Area. 91.5 is out in the country in Franklin township. IS ED 91.1 in Warren Central still airing an 80s format, they used to be a recurrent leaning CHR years ago. I liked WBDG and WJEL, and even THE FLASH when ever I could here it, but I never cared for 91.1 Warren Central or 91.3 in Carmel.

A guy in Martinsville cracking on Franklin Township?

Now THAT is funny stuff right there.

Perhaps you haven't been to Franklin Township in quite some time; it hasn't been "out in the country" since I graduated from FC nearly **gulp** 20 years ago.

I have rarely had trouble getting WRFT well beyond Beech Grove and Greenwood, routinely picking up the signal in Castleton or near the airport. I even remember broadcasting live from Carb Day as a senior and still being able to hear the station in the North 40 lot near 30th Street just east of Georgetown. I would hate to see the range limited, especially in favor of more K-Love translators.

Still, praise be to 'RFT, producer of such local broadcasting luminaries as Rich Nye, Ron Sexton and Jennifer Carmack.

... plus a talentless hack like me.

 

[butlerguy03]

I would hate to see the range limited, especially in favor of more K-Love translators.

Exactly. Let's protect these wonderful products these students put out. These stations typically have nearly a 40-year heritage in this town...just to be limited because Mr. Preacher in Omaha or California wants to have a tiny little signal that will infringe on everyone's space? Then he cooks his signal and bleeds all over everyone. Example--91.7 in Kokomo typically bleeds over 91.7 in Pendleton while driving on I-69 in Hamilton and Madison Counties! And don't tell me it's the ionosphere again! Ugh...

 

[hipporadio]

John, I have listened to WBDG and have observed that it goes-beyond “the high school class” operation. GREAT JOB, sir! WHJE has been around for decades and needs to be commended also.

There IS a true alternative in Indy... They reside below 92 on the FM band.

 

[jegrant]

If you really want to hear some overcompressed preaching, try 90.7 WQSG Lafayette/Kokomo - they seem to have eliminated the slightest hint of dynamic range in favor of being "loud" on the dial.

When I can pick it up, on the south side of Kokomo, or driving on 31 back and forth to Indy, I do enjoy 89.3 WJEL. Unfortunately, 90.9 WBDG is one that I just can't pick up until I get inside 465, which I don't do often. (Mostly, I go no further south than Hamilton County.)

 

[WBDG]

Thanks for all the great comments about what we do. I do work hard at the programming end of things, and I try to find underserved formats to use with our "off peak" programming such as the Dance stuff at night and the Retro Sunday weekends. It's nice to know people are listening. We could not do it without a school corp. that stays out of the way and gives me 100 percent of what I need. We also have a great student staff.

Anyway, on volunteers...I've forwarded that on to our Community Outreach Coordinator Emerson Allen, and he'll be in touch.

On games...I know you guys run yourselves ragged up there in Pendleton. You guys do a great job and do far more than I'm doing here as far as sports coverage goes. It does get lengthy and time consuming, but the student broadcasters benefit. I know the public also appreciates the time and effort our kids put in to do the games.

On our signal...it should be serving the areas we are allowed to serve better now. We recently made some upgrades that have restored a lot of the signal that we had lost over the years. We also have a brand new digital board that should improve our sound quality.

On Carmel...Brian Spilbeler was just hired on last year, and he's doing a tremendous job getting acclaimated.

Please, feel free to always send me comments...good or bad...my e-mail is my name jon.easter and the domain is @wayne.k12.in.us.

Thanks again!