WDEK
WDEK (1170 AM) is a daytimer radio station licensed to Lexington, South Carolina, and serving the Columbia metropolitan area, calling itself "Columbia's Praise." It is owned by The Meeting Place Church of Greater Columbia and it airs an urban gospel radio format, with some Christian talk and teaching programs aimed at Columbia's African-American community. It seeks donations on the air and on its website. The studios and offices are at The Mall in Columbia.
| Broadcast area | Columbia metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1170 kHz |
| Branding | Columbia's Praise |
| Programming | |
| Format | Urban Gospel |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | The Meeting Place Church of Greater Columbia |
| History | |
First air date | 1983 (as WXAX) |
Former call signs | WXAX (1983-1988) WLGO (1988-2005) WQVA (2005-2010) |
Call sign meaning | W DEcK (former branding) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 250 |
| Class | D |
| Power | 10,000 watts daytimer 2,500 watts critical hours |
| Translator(s) | 95.7 W239DA (Columbia) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | columbiaspraise.com |
By day, WDEK is powered at 10,000 watts, using a non-directional antenna. But because AM 1170 is a clear channel frequency, WDEK must sign off at sunset to avoid interference to Class A stations WWVA Wheeling and KTSB Tulsa. During critical hours, the station is powered at 2,500 watts. Programming can be heard around the clock on FM translator W239DA at 95.7 MHz.
History
AM 1170 signed on as WXAX in late 1983 with a country music format. The station became WLGO in 1988 with automated adult contemporary music. This lasted until the early 1990s, when the station went to a Christian radio format.
In 2005, the station was sold and the format was changed to Spanish Contemporary music under the "Radio Ritmo" handle. The new call letters became WQVA.
The station was owned by Peregon Communications, which in 2008 simulcast "Radio Ritmo" on WIGL/St. Matthews under a local marketing agreement (LMA).
In November 2010, the station was in receivership with a request to transfer the license to Broomfield Broadcasting of Greenwood, South Carolina. Broomfield also owned radio station WCZZ. Under Broomfield ownership, the station changed its call sign to WDEK, calling itself "1170 The Deck".
WDEK's previous format was urban oldies as "Jammin' Hits 97.9 & 1170", adding FM translator W250CG at 97.9 MHz.
Effective May 10, 2021, Bloomfield Broadcasting sold WDEK and W250CG to The Meeting Place Church of Greater Columbia for $475,000. The church began operating 1170 with an urban gospel format and switched its FM translator to 95.7 FM.