WXDX-FM
City of license	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Broadcast area	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Branding	The X
Frequency	105.9 (MHz)
First air date	1948 (as WAMO-FM)
Format	Modern Rock / Heavy metal
ERP	15,500 watts
HAAT	131 meters
Class	B
Facility ID	60153
Former callsigns	WAMO-FM
Owner	Clear Channel Communications
Sister stations	WBGG, WDVE, WKST-FM, WPGB, WWSW
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	http://www.wxdx.com

WXDX-FM (The "X" at 105.9), is a modern rock radio station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station broadcasts at 105.9 MHz with an ERP of 15.5kw.

[edit] History

This station actually first signed on at this frequency as WAMO-FM, the sister station of WAMO (AM) in Pittsburgh. For much of its existence, this station operated as an urban contemporary formatted station with its own independent programming and occasional simulcast of its AM sister.

The station first became what it is today in 1994, when it was then known as The Force, and operated at 106.7. The Force touted itself with the motto "The Best of Rock,". The station decided to begin changing music formats, transforming itself into more of an alternative-driven station. The Force swapped signals with WAMO-FM, giving it better signal coverage. It was also one of six stations in the Clear Channel roster that dropped Howard Stern in February 2004 (however, Stern would show up on WRKZ later that year). Howard began airing on WXDX in November 1995.

Since October 2006, WXDX has been the radio flagship station of the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins.

[edit] On-Air Personalities

[edit] Current Lineup

• Tim Benz: M-F 6a-10a
• Bob McLaughlin: M-F 6a-10a
• Whipping Boy: M-F 10a-3p, Sun 7:30a-11a (Pre-historic X)
• Mark Madden: M-F 3p-6p (3p-7p on Penguins gamedays)
• Abby Krizner: M-F 6p-10p
• Digby: various
• Lenny: Sundays 8p-12mid (Edge of the X)

[edit] Past Personalities

• Alan Cox - The Alan Cox Radio Show. Alan Cox generated a sizable following after being hired to host afternoons in 1999. He replaced "The Howard Stern Show" in the morning in June 2004 and his contract was not renewed for financial reasons in 2006. Cox hosted The Morning Fix at WKQX (Q101)/ Chicago from August 2006 until August 2008. Currently the afternoon drive host from 3pm-7pm at 100.7 WMMS in Cleveland. Cox released 3 CD's while on the air at WXDX-FM Pittsburgh: "Alan Cox Sells Out", "Ribbed", and "Shadyside Bathroom Wall Blues". He frequently performed at numerous comedy clubs throughout the area, and a portion of the proceeds from his CDs were donated to local charities.

• Cramer - (Paul Cramer) - Was a weekend and swing shift jock on The X who came to the station from rival alternative WNRQ (The Revolution) and was one of the original "XX" DJ's from alternative station WXXP. He now runs the alternative internet station EAR.FM

• Debbie "Buck" Wilde - She was the nighttime DJ in 1996 when The Force and The X was on.

• Grimm - did weekends, then moved to weeknights 7p-12a when Debbie Wilde was let go. Moved to M-F 3p-7p slot when Alan Cox's show was moved to the mornings in 2004 and stayed in this time slot until he was let go in August 2008. Currently with Pittsburgh Penguins Radio on 105.9 HD2 as producer/co-host of "Penguins Live." (daily 9:30am-12noon with Pittsburgh native Steve Mears hosting).

• Ravey - overnights, weekends and weekday fill-in.

• Mike Bocan - He was fired from the station on March 12, 2007 after an incident during a phone call to Bob Grove, host of the Pittsburgh Penguins postgame show. During the post-game from the Pittsburgh Penguins game broadcast, a caller was reported to have spoken an expletive on air (calling Bob Grove a "cunt" [sic]). Bocan claimed he didn't know he was supposed to be monitoring the calls, but he was subsequently fired from The X because of the incident. Bocan claims that the "call screener" was to monitor calls, that he was "to run the 10-second ads that say the station name and call letters", and claims he had no phone monitoring capabilities.

• Vinnie - was the X's music director and host of Edge of the X from 2001-2008; also did the 7p-12a shift weeknights during his last couple of years with the station.

• Tim Anglin - He was a part-time dj and The X's Promotions Director (1998-2002)

• Steve Stone (voice actor), a nationally known television and radio promo announcer. Steve Stone worked as the in-house creative director for WXDX-FM for three years, from 1996 to the end of 1999. He went on to work at WXRK-FM in New York City, and eventually launched his own voiceover and audio production company. http://www.stonevoiceovers.com [2].

• Megan Slater - did weekends and filled in on the weekdays; left the X in early 2008 to join WRKZ-FM, a rock station in Columbus, Ohio where she was the weekday mid-day host. Now at Q FM 96 (WLVQ-FM) in Columbus, Ohio where she is the weekday mid-day host.

[edit] WXDX HD2

WXDX broadcasts on its HD2 subchannel dates back to 2006, when the subchannel launched a format focusing on Adult Album Alternative (Triple A) music.

In May 2009, as part of WXDX's renewal of Pittsburgh Penguins radio rights, WXDX and the Penguins announced that the HD2 subchannel would become a 24-hour channel devoted to Penguins coverage, billed as "Pittsburgh Penguins Radio." Plans for the channel (which launched October 1, 2009) include local and nationally-originated Penguins and hockey coverage (including "NHL Live" and league commissioner Gary Bettman’s weekly “NHL Hour"), rebroadcasts of classic Penguins games, and game broadcasts of the team's top farm club in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The move will make the Penguins the second North American professional sports team (the first NHL team) with their own terrestrial radio channel (after the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and their HD2 relationship with KRLD-FM).^[1]

Pittsburgh Penguins Radio on 105.9 HD2 Daily Schedule

9:00am-11:30am: "Penguins Live" - Former Islanders play by play man & Pittsburgh native Steve Mears hosts and is joined by former WXDX afternoon drive host Tom Grimm.

11:30am-12:00pm: "Daily Players' Playlist" - Featuring Penguins players favorite songs.

12pm-2pm: "NHL Live" - from New York City

2pm-3pm: The X's Mark Madden will provide exclusive Penguins and NHL themed content.

THE SIX HOUR BLOCK (9AM-3PM) WILL THEN BE REPEATED THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND EVENING.

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WXDX
• Radio Locator information on WXDX
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for WXDX

[edit] References

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