WWDE-FM

WWDE-FM (101.3 MHz) is a commercial radio station licensed to Hampton, Virginia, serving the Norfolk/Hampton Roads media market. WWDE-FM airs an adult contemporary radio format, with a country format formerly on their HD2 subchannel. The station is owned and operated by Audacy, Inc.[2]

WWDE-FM
Broadcast areaHampton Roads
Frequency101.3 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding101-3 2WD
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatAdult contemporary
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
June 1, 1962 (1962-06-01)
Former call signs
WVHR
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID40753
ClassB
ERP50,000 watts
HAAT152 meters (499 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
36°49′41.0″N 76°15′5.0″W
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live (via Audacy)
Websitewww.audacy.com/2wd

WWDE-FM has studios and offices on Clearfield Avenue in Virginia Beach.[3] The transmitter is off East Indian River Road in Norfolk.[4]

WWDE-FM broadcasts in HD. The station calls itself "2WD" referring to the two Ws in its call letters, followed by a D and an E that can be pronounced as "DEE." WWDE-FM is one of two Hampton Roads FM radio stations to play all-Christmas music from mid-November to December 25, the other being WMOV-FM, owned by iHeartMedia.

History
Original Logo used until April 2013.

The station first signed on the air on June 1, 1962 Owned by Dick Lamb, Larry Saunders and Gene Loving.[5] During the 1970s, it was co-owned with WVEC (1490 AM, now WXTG) and WVEC-TV. Its call letters were WVHR, and it aired a middle of the road music format, sometimes simulcast with its AM sister station. Its longtime adult contemporary format started on July 31, 1978, with Lamb and sidekick Paul Richardson hosting the "2WD Breakfast Bunch" until January 28, 2005. Both have moved to rival WTWV-FM.[6]

On December 26, 2006, WWDE shifted to Soft Adult Contemporary, but retained the "2WD" moniker. On April 1, 2013, WWDE shifted back to Mainstream Adult Contemporary, and rebranded as "The New 101.3 2WD". 

With the revamp Delilah was dropped from evenings and the station added more rhythmic titles were added.  WWDE plays some Rhythmic songs not usually found on Adult Contemporary stations.[7]

In May 1987, a popular WWDE overnight DJ, Debbie Dicus, was murdered in broad daylight while tending to her garden in a public park in Hampton. Her tragic murder is noted on a Forensic Files episode, "Garden of Evil."

References
  1. "Facility Technical Data for WWDE-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. "WWDE Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. "Contact Us | 2WD 101.3 Norfolk".
  4. "WWDE-FM Radio Station Coverage Map".
  5. Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 page C-219
  6. "Dick Lamb exits 2WD (audio)" (WMA). 2005-01-28. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  7. "VA repositions to Soft/Lite Rock (audio)" (WMA). 2006-12-26. Retrieved 2023-09-11.


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