WJDB Thomasville

[tomservo]

I was told that WJDB (AM 630) has been off for a while. Anyone been around Thomasville that can confirm that? I'm just a little too far away to snag it during the day down here in Baldwin County.

 

[Nate Wesley]

I was told that WJDB (AM 630) has been off for a while. Anyone been around Thomasville that can confirm that? I'm just a little too far away to snag it during the day down here in Baldwin County.

I've been driven to/through Thomasville a time of two in the last few months (of 2011), and I never once picked up 630--even after passing WJDB studios on U.S 43. The last time I remember hearing that channel, it was the home of a generic AC format and The Paul Finebaum Radio Network in the afternoons.

 

[tomservo]

That pretty much confirms my suspicions then. Another AM gone dark.

 

[J Alex Bowab]

The call letters stand for J Dige Bishop, original owner ... also owned several other stations in south Alabama, plus cable tv systems .... based in Andalusia (where he owned WCTA 920) ... also original owner of WABF 1220 Fairhope.

 

[jovialjay]

The call letters stand for J Dige Bishop, original owner ... also owned several other stations in south Alabama, plus cable tv systems .... based in Andalusia (where he owned WCTA 920) ... also original owner of WABF 1220 Fairhope.

"Dodge" (the way most folks pronounced it) Bishop also built and owned WTOT in Marianna, Florida, WJAM in Marion, Alabama and WBMK in West Point, Georgia. As far as I know, Bishop is still with us at 98.

WJDB installed a new BE AM-1A transmitter in 2005 to replace the original RCA BTA-1M from 1956. The unipole and tuning unit were repaired and it had an excellent signal. It can't cost a heck of a lot to operate. It's really not about the money, however - Ivey Griffin has enough, but he's an odd duck. He had a C-2 permit for WJDB-FM, but let it expire.

I always thought the AM should be moved to the FM tower at Grove Hill, to provide better coverage to all of Clarke County.