WEDG

WEDG is a radio station in Buffalo, New York, United States. The station's on air branding is "103.3 The Edge" and broadcasts on 103.3 MHz FM. WEDG has an alternative rock format and is best known for its morning radio hosts, "Shredd and Ragan." The station's transmitter is located east of Delaware Park in Buffalo, and studios are located on the city's east side.

This article is about the radio station. For the defunct UPN affiliate on Albany-area cable systems, see WEDG-TV.
WEDG
CityBuffalo, New York
Broadcast areaBuffalo, New York
Branding103.3 The Edge
SloganBuffalo. Rock. Alternative.
Frequency103.3 MHz
First air date1947 (as WYSL-FM)
FormatAlternative rock
ERP49,000 watts
HAAT106 meters
ClassB
Facility ID56103
Call sign meaningW EDGe
Former call signsWYSL-FM (1947-1970)
WPHD-FM (1970-1989)
WUFX (1989-1995)
OwnerCumulus Media
(Radio License Holding CBC, LLC)
Sister stationsWGRF, WHTT, WHLD
WebcastListen Live
Websitewedg.com

History

103.3 FM signed on in 1947. By the 1960s, it was known as WYSL-FM. The station switched calls to WPHD in 1979, when a progressive rock format was added to the overnight programming. This format made WPHD famous, as well as its morning duo, Robert W. Taylor and Harv Moore, which ran from 1978 to 1989.

On September 23, 1989, the station changed call signs from WPHD to WUFX, "103.3 The Fox." Taylor and Moore were fired in favor of Shredd and Ragan, with Shredd coming from AM 1400 WXBX. The format lasted about six years. (Both Taylor and Moore would eventually end up on WHTT, which is now WEDG's sister station, on different shifts. Taylor is now retired and Moore went on to stints at WECK, WHLD, and then back to WECK; Taylor now also serves as WECK's imaging voice.)

On June 23, 1995, the station adopted an alternative rock format and its current call sign and branding.[1] At the time, Toronto radio station CFNY was making inroads in Western New York, and also rebranded itself "The Edge" shortly after the sign-on of WEDG; a move made outside the limits of Jacobs Media's trademark on "The Edge" radio brand for US stations. Originally an alternative rock station, it began leaning towards a harder edged active rock direction in 2005 after then-rival WBUF flipped from active rock to hot talk. Through the late 2000s, WEDG rotated in more "classic" hard rock/heavy metal artists alongside their current playlist (the station was limited in how much classic material it could play, to avoid cannibalizing listenership from classic rock sister station, WGRF). Beginning in late 2014, WEDG began shifting from their active rock-leaning "Acternative" position, back to their heritage alternative rock roots, while still maintaining a few Active Rock songs in rotation. By the beginning of 2016, WEDG dropped the "Rock Radio" prefix and re-imaged the station as "Buffalo. Rock. Alternative.", reflecting their nearly 25 year tenure as Buffalo's modern rock outlet. The station continually has top ratings for Men 25-49 in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls market.

WEDG began streaming on the Internet in 2006.

Programming

On-air staff
  • Shredd and Ragan - Monday - Friday, 6-10am
  • Rock at Work with James (James Kurdziel, Program Director) - Monday - Friday, 10am-3pm
  • Bentley (Tiffany Bentley, Music Director) - Monday - Friday, 3-7pm
  • Evan - Monday - Friday, 7 - Midnight
  • Sara (Sara O'Brien, Promotions Director) - Monday - Friday, Midnight - 6am Saturday 6-10am, and Sunday 3-7pm

Weekend DJs include:

Eddie Woo, Paul Brenon, Zaque Evans Steve K - 'Edge Underground' Sunday Nights 7pm-10pm

Former staff
  • Val Townsend (now at WMSX Mix 96)
  • Adam 12
  • Rich "Bull" Gaenzler (moved to sister station WGRF)
  • Josh Potter (moved to Los Angeles to pursue stand-up comedy full-time)

The Shredd and Ragan Show

Shredd and Ragan are the most recognizable and longest-serving on-air personalities at the station and have hosted the 6-10am drivetime shift since 1994. They were moved from mornings after 12 years to make way for Opie and Anthony, a homecoming of sorts for Gregg "Opie" Hughes, who was a former WUFX staffer. After O&A was dropped from the schedule in July 2008, Program Director (then known as) "Evil" Jim Kurdziel hosted the morning shift on an interim basis until August 25, 2008, when midday host Rich "Bull" Gaenzler was named the permanent host. The midday shift is now occupied by Kurdziel, who hosts the 10-3 block as "James". Kurdziel, also a stand up comedian, was named Program Director of the Year by the radio trade magazine FMQB in 2008 and 2011. It was announced shortly after the new year that the Shredd and Ragan show was returning to mornings starting January 9, 2012.[2] Bull would switch spots with Shredd and Ragan and go back to the afternoon drive from 3-7pm, as he was before 2006.

As of 2017, the Shredd and Ragan show consists of Ted Shredd, Tom Ragan, Jim Jacka, and Evan James.

Sports coverage

For years, the station was the co-flagship of the Buffalo Bills Radio Network with sister station WGRF, until their station owners, Cumulus Media, did not renew their contract with the network at the end of 2011. It was announced on January 4, 2012 that The Buffalo Bills Radio Network will be heard on Entercom Communications station WGR 550 AM starting with the 2012-2013 NFL season.[3]

In 2015, WEDG picked up the NFL on Westwood One in a simulcast deal with sister station WHLD.[4]

References
  1. http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1995/RR-1995-06-30.pdf
  2. http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/article694574.ece
  3. http://www.buffalobills.com/media-center/radio-network-listing.html
  4. http://talkintv.buffalonews.com/2015/08/20/national-nfl-college-games-headed-to-1270-the-fan-and-103-3-the-edge/
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