View source for WDEV

{{short description|Full service radio station in Waterbury, Vermont}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox radio station dual
| name1            = WDEV
| name2            = WDEV-FM
| logo             = Wdev logo.png
| logo_size        = 200px
| city1            = [[Waterbury, Vermont]]
| city2            = [[Warren, Vermont]]
| country          = United States
| area             = Central [[Vermont]] and [[Burlington, Vermont metropolitan area|Burlington metro area]]
| branding         = Radio Vermont
| frequency1       = 550 [[kilohertz|kHz]]
| frequency2       = 96.1 [[Megahertz|MHz]]
| translators      = {{ubl|{{Radio Relay|96.5|W243AT|[[Barre (town), Vermont|Barre]]|WDEV-FM}}|{{Radio Relay|98.3|W252CU|[[Montpelier, Vermont|Montpelier]]|WDEV-FM}}|{{Radio Relay|101.9|W270BR|[[Island Pond, Vermont|Island Pond]]|WDEV-FM}}}}
| airdate1         = July 16, [[1931 in radio|1931]]
| airdate2         = August 11, [[1989 in radio|1989]]
| format           = [[Full service radio|Full service]]
| haat2            = {{convert|694|m|ft|sp=us}}
| erp2             = 400 watts
| power1           = {{ubl|5,000 watts (day)|1,000 watts (night)}}
| class1           = B
| class2           = C3
| facility_id1     = 54866
| facility_id2     = 54867
| coordinates1     = {{coord|44|21|17.2|N|72|45|5.42|W|type:landmark_region:US-VT|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates2     = {{coord|44|7|37.2|N|72|55|41.4|W|type:landmark_region:US-VT|name=WDEV-FM}}
| licensing_authority = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
| callsign_meaning = 
| former_callsigns2 = {{ubl|WSBH (1988–1990)|WDOT-FM (1990–1992)}}
| affiliations     = {{ubl|[[CBS News Radio]]|[[Boston Red Sox Radio Network]]|[[New England Patriots Radio Network]]|[[Motor Racing Network]]|[[ESPN Radio]]}}
| owner            = Radio Vermont, Inc.
| sister_stations  = {{hlist|[[WCVT]]|[[WLVB]]}}
| webcast          = {{listenlive|https://player.listenlive.co/67961}}
| website          = {{URL|https://wdevradio.com/}}
}}
'''WDEV''' (550 [[Hertz|kHz]]) is a [[commercial radio|commercial]] [[AM radio]] station in [[Waterbury, Vermont]], United States.  Programming is [[simulcast]] on '''WDEV-FM''' (96.1 [[Hertz|MHz]]) [[city of license|licensed]] to [[Warren, Vermont]].  The stations' studios and offices are located near [[U.S. Route 2 in Vermont|U.S. Route 2]] in Waterbury.  WDEV also operates two [[Broadcast translator|translator stations]], W243AT (96.5 FM), licensed to [[Barre (town), Vermont|Barre, Vermont]], and W252CU (98.3 FM), licensed to [[Montpelier, Vermont]].  WDEV can also be heard on a privately owned translator, W270BR (101.9 FM), licensed to [[Island Pond, Vermont]].  The stations are owned by Radio Vermont, Inc., and air a [[full service radio|full service]] [[radio format]], including news, talk, sports and different genres of music.

== History ==
WDEV first [[sign-on|signed on]] the air on July 16, 1931.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1949/Radio-BC-YB-1949-B&W.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1949 page 269]</ref>  It is one of Vermont's earliest stations, going on the air after WCAX (now [[WVMT]]) in [[Burlington, Vermont|Burlington]] and [[WSYB]] in [[Rutland (city), Vermont|Rutland]].  WDEV had been owned by the Squier family and their company, Radio Vermont Group, since 1935.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vermontguides.com/2001/7-jul/wdev.htm |title=Business People-Vermont: WDEV |publisher=Vermontguides.com |access-date=February 6, 2014}}</ref>  Lloyd Squier owned the station from 1935 until his death in 1979, and passed it to his son, [[NASCAR]] broadcaster [[Ken Squier]].

In 1966, one year after ''[[The Sound of Music (film)|The Sound of Music]]'' was released, the [[von Trapp family]] broadcast a public concert on WDEV from the family's lodge in [[Stowe, Vermont]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/maria-von-trapp-member-of-sound-of-music-family-dies-1.2547976|title=The Sound of Music: Last surviving member of original Trapp Family Singers dies at 99 - CBC News|date=February 22, 2014|website=cbc.ca}}</ref>

In 1991, Squier bought WDOT-FM in Warren and changed its [[call sign]] to WDEV-FM.  The FM station serves mainly to improve WDEV's coverage, particularly at night when the AM side must reduce power to 1,000 watts in order to protect other regional stations on the frequency such as [[WGR]] in [[Buffalo, New York]], which likewise flips to a directional pattern to protect WDEV.

A 2003 article, in ''[[Harper's]]'' magazine, cited WDEV as one of the best examples of independent radio broadcasting in the United States.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://harpers.org/archive/2003/12/small-world-3/|title=Small world|last=McKibben|first=Bill|date=December 2003|magazine=Harper's Magazine}}</ref>

In April 2017, Squier announced he had put the Radio Vermont stations up for sale, citing his age. On October 1, 2017, Squier turned the station over to Steve Cormier, who served as Radio Vermont's sales manager. The terms of the sale allowed Squier to continue to have any role at the station he pleased.<ref>Fybush, Scott (September 25, 2017). [https://www.fybush.com/nerw-20170925/ Corm and the WDEV Purchase]. ''NorthEast Radio Watch''. Retrieved September 26, 2017).</ref> Cormier was ultimately unable to secure the funding needed to buy the station but remained on the station staff;<ref name="vtd-wdevnocormier">{{cite news |last1=Sabet |first1=Habib |title=WDEV general manager Steve Cormier out as station prepares to change hands |url=https://vtdigger.org/2024/03/18/wdev-general-manager-steve-cormier-out-as-station-prepares-to-change-hands/ |access-date=March 19, 2024 |work=[[VTDigger]] |date=March 18, 2024}}</ref> Squier was still listed as the owner of Radio Vermont when he died on November 15, 2023.<ref name=squier-obituary>{{cite web|url=https://www.jayski.com/2023/11/16/ken-squier-enters-hospice-care/|title=Sad News – Ken Squier passes away|date=November 16, 2023|accessdate=November 16, 2023|website=jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's}}</ref>

Two months after Squier's death, in January 2024, his estate—led by his daughter Ashley Squier-Crouch, who did not seek to retain the station and was working with her father to find owners before his death—sold the station to a partnership headed by [[Mark Myers Mermel]] and [[Scott Milne]], two businessmen notable for their involvement in the [[Vermont Republican Party]], and Carolin McLain; the sale ends the Squier family's 88-year run as owners of the station.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=January 11, 2024 |title=Mermel & McLain Management Acquire Radio Vermont Group |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/263333/mermel-mclain-management-acquire-radio-vermont-group/ |access-date=January 13, 2024 |website=RadioInsight |language=en-US}}</ref> Mermel displaced Cormier as WDEV's manager in March 2024, forcing Cormier and a total of 7 other unnamed WDEV staffers out of their jobs; at the time, the sale to Mermel, McLain and Milne was being held up due to a flaw in the succession process that led to the wrong trustee, Glen Wright, inheriting the station and could not take place until Squier-Crouch was the controlling trustee, a process that was ongoing at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 19, 2024 |title=Radio Vermont General Manager Steve Cormier Exits - RadioInsight |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/266291/radio-vermont-general-manager-steve-cormier-exits/ |access-date=March 23, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref> The sale was filed with the FCC in November.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-08 |title=Station Sales Week Of 11/8 |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/286489/station-sales-week-of-11-8-2/ |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=RadioInsight |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Translators ==
In addition to the main station, WDEV is relayed by several translators.
{{RadioTranslators
| call1       = W243AT
| watts1      = 99
| haat1       = -68
| class1      = D  
| freq1       = 96.5
| fid1        = 139875
| city1       = Barre (town), Vermont{{!}}Barre, Vermont
| coord1      = {{coord|44|10|42.2|N|72|29|18.3|W|type:landmark_region:US-VT|name=W243AT}}
| call2       = W252CU
| watts2      = 250
| haat2       = -1.3
| class2      = D  
| freq2       = 98.3
| fid2        = 140228
| city2       = Montpelier, Vermont
| coord2      = {{coord|44|14|40.2|N|72|34|35.3|W|type:landmark_region:US-VT|name=W252CU}}
| call3       = W270BR
| watts3      = 10
| haat3       = 194.8
| class3      = D  
| freq3       = 101.9
| fid3        = 155235
| city3       = Island Pond, Vermont
| coord3      = {{coord|44|47|2.1|N|71|53|12.3|W|type:landmark_region:US-VT|name=W270BR}}
}}

==Programming==
===News and talk===
WDEV's news programming consists of several talk shows along with three major newscasts per day.  The station's morning [[drive time]] program is called The Morning News Service, and the afternoon drive-time show is called The Afternoon News Service, with an additional newscast that airs at noon called The Midday News Service. The morning and afternoon news consist of local, state, and national news, in addition to interviews with reporters from [[WCAX-TV]], Vermont's [[CBS]] affiliate, and VTDigger.org, an investigative news site. All newscasts feature a weather update from Roger Hill, the station's meteorologist.  WDEV also carries WCAX-TV's 11{{nbsp}}p.m. newscast.

Weekday programming features several local talk shows that span the political spectrum. Vermont radio veteran Ric Cengeri hosts “Vermont Viewpoint”,  followed by Bill Sayer's “Common Sense Radio”, a conservative talk show.  Early afternoons include “Equal Time Radio” with Traven and “The Vermont Conversation” with David Goodman. Most of the talk programming, including ''[[Democracy Now]]!'', are [[brokered programming|brokered]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://wdevradio.com/programs/|title=Programs|date=October 30, 2015|newspaper=WDEV Radio|language=en-US|access-date=December 14, 2016}}</ref>

On weekends, a three-hour newscast starts Saturday mornings, along with a half-hour newscast at noon.  On Sundays, ''[[CBS News Sunday Morning]]'', ''[[Face The Nation]]'', ''[[60 Minutes]]'', ''Jill on Money'' and the ''[[CBS News Weekend Roundup]]'' are heard.

===Music===
WDEV's music programming consists of several different genres that air throughout the week.  On weekday afternoons, “The Getaway” is heard, a country/rock music program hosted by Greg Hooker. WDEV also airs a nightly [[jazz]] program, hosted by James Atherlay, unless the station is airing a sports game during that time. WDEV's weekend programming is made up almost entirely of music. Vermont broadcasting veteran Joel Najman hosts “The Great American Music Hall” on weekend middays.

===Sports===
WDEV features sports updates during all three of its newscasts. During the Morning News Service, Mal "The Sammie" Boright has sports updates, and during the Midday and Afternoon News Services James Atherlay delivers the sports report. Atherlay then goes on to host Score, Sports Talk and Rock. On Tuesday afternoons, Ken Squier is joined by Jasper Goodman, who goes on to talk about local, regional, and national sports, including the Red Sox during the MLB season.

WDEV is an [[network affiliate|affiliate]] of the [[Boston Red Sox Radio Network|Boston Red Sox]] and [[New England Patriots Radio Network]]s.  WDEV carries all regular-season and postseason Red Sox games.  The station also broadcasts [[Norwich University]] men's ice hockey and select Vermont high school basketball and football games. WDEV also airs [[auto racing]] from [[Thunder Road International SpeedBowl]] in [[Barre, Vermont (city)|Barre, Vermont]], when there is no other programming conflict. Appropriately given its long ownership by Ken Squier, WDEV also airs [[NASCAR Cup Series]] events when there is no conflict.  Part of Sunday and each overnight, WDEV carries [[ESPN Radio]].

===The Trading Post===
The [[Tradio|Trading Post]] is hosted Monday through Saturday by Lee Kittell after the Morning News Service.  People call in or write in with three items or less (and only one car, unless the others are free or a parts car) to advertise them to the listening public.

===Music to Go to the Dump By===
"Music to Go to the Dump By" is a roughly one-hour [[radio comedy]] program that airs each Saturday morning on WDEV, hosted by Jack Donovan, with regular contributions from Farmer Dave, who has [[perennial candidate|run since 2002]] on the "[[Frivolous political party|Undecided Cow Party]]" ticket for governor of the state, among other guest hosts.

It consists of odd songs, jokes the readers send in, banter between Donovan and Farmer Dave, and [[running gag]]s involving cows. As Donovan also hosts the [[outlaw country]] show that [[lead-in and lead-out|leads out]] of ''Music to Go to the Dump By'', he will frequently allow the show to spill out into the next hour.

The songs tend to be weird, and are an eclectic mix of rare recordings, [[novelty song]]s, home recordings sent in, dog music (and obligatory [[equal-time rule|equal-time]] cat music), cow music from Mylo Hatzenbuhler, and a selection of country comedy songs along with [[outsider music|outsider]] and parody/cover selections from artists such as [[Mrs. Miller]] and [[Jonathan and Darlene Edwards]]. Each episode ends with a closing hymn, a farcical number loosely related to religion and to whatever sport is in season (such as [[Bobby Bare]]'s "Drop Kick Me Jesus" during football season or Randy Brooks's  "Will You Be Ready at the Plate When Jesus Throws the Ball?"—or the cover version by Brooks's collaborator [[Dr. Elmo]]—during baseball season), with a closing dedication to the memory of Squier, Marie (the local stage proprietor whom Squier credited with creating the show's name and concept), and Buster the Wonder Dog, Squier's pet border collie and nominal co-host who died in 2008.<ref name=busterdies>{{Cite news|url=http://www.stowetoday.com/archives/buster-the-wonder-dog-remembered/article_4ca01e08-b5e3-548a-aa3b-cbf573258358.html|title=Buster the Wonder Dog remembered|last=Corocran|first=Michael|date=March 12, 2008|work=Stowe Reporter}}</ref>

In November 2020, Squier—who had hosted the show since the 1960s<ref name=busterdies/>—was diagnosed with a severe case of [[COVID-19]], forcing him into retirement; he only made sporadic appearances after his recovery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jayski.com/2020/11/24/hall-of-famer-ken-squier-positive-for-covid-19/|title=Hall of Famer Ken Squier positive for COVID-19: UPDATES|date=January 30, 2021}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{AM station data|54866|WDEV}}
{{FM station data|54867|WDEV-FM}}

{{Montpelier-Barre-St. Johnsbury Radio}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wdev}}
[[Category:Radio stations in Vermont|DEV]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1931]]
[[Category:1931 establishments in Vermont]]
[[Category:Full service radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Companies based in Waterbury, Vermont]]