WWDX was a short-lived Paterson, New Jersey commercial FM radio station, which operated from late 1947 until January 9, 1949.[1] During this time station licensees were not allowed to have more than one FM station in a given community, so WWDX was shut down after its owners made arrangements to purchase a more powerful station, WNNJ, also located in Paterson.

History

WWDX was owned by the Passaic Herald-News, which was controlled by the Dow H. Drukker family. The station, assigned to 107.1 MHz, began test broadcasts in mid-December 1947 from a temporary studio located at its Garrett Mountain transmitter site.[2]

In mid-1948 the newspaper purchased a 90 percent interest in AM station WPAT, which also held a construction permit for a Class B FM station, WNNJ, on 103.5 MHz.[3] This sale was approved by the Federal Communications Commission in December 1948.[4] At this time FCC regulations did not permit licensees to operate more than one FM station in a given community. WWDX was only authorized to transmit with 190 watts, while WNNJ was authorized for 8,000 watts.[5] The decision was made to shut down WWDX, which made its final broadcast on January 9, 1949, with station management reporting that the "outstanding program features [of WWDX] will be incorporated into the schedule of WNNJ".[1] WWDX was formally deleted on January 18, 1949, "in fulfillment of condition to grant of purchase by Daily News of WPAT (AM) and WNNJ (FM) Paterson".[6]

Notable announcers who worked at WWDX included Bob Clayton[7] and Frank Marth.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b "WNNJ-FM". Broadcasting. January 24, 1949. p. 80. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  2. ^ "WWDX Now On Air 4:30-9 P.M.", Passaic (New Jersey) Herald-News, December 12, 1947, page 1.
  3. ^ "WPAT 90% Stock Sold to Newspaper" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 21, 1948. p. 75. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  4. ^ "WPAT, FM Sale" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 20, 1948. p. 54. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  5. ^ "New Jersey: FM Stations", Broadcasting (Marketbook edition), October 11, 1949, page 152.
  6. ^ "Station Mortality" by Larry Christopher, Broadcasting, March 28, 1949, page 27. WWDX's former 107.1 frequency assignment is now used by WXPK. WNNJ, as WPAT-FM, was deleted in early 1951.
  7. ^ "Production" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 7, 1948. p. 74. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Marth Joins WWDX Announcing Staff". The Herald-News. New Jersey, Passaic. January 21, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved 16 April 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
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