WFXN-FM

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WFXN-FM, WXXR and WXXF are three FM radio stations in a multicast serving Ashland, Ohio, Mansfield, Ohio and Mount Vernon, Ohio located at 98.3, 102.3 and 107.7 MHz.

WFXN-FM immediant simulcasters, WXXR and WXXF, previously operated as a CHR duo under the KISS-FM banner and the WWBK/WBZW call signs. Prior to the CHR format, WWBK/WBZW had a "new country" format almost entirely from the ABC Radio Network country channel (as then-and-current sister station WNCO-FM has an all-local country format). WFXN was previously WGLN, and simulcast WNCO-AM's adult standards format.

[edit] History

The "flagship" station of the trimulcast, WFXN, originated as WGLN. WGLN-FM was paired with "Z-Rock" WYXZ in Crestline, and operated that way until being acquired by Ohio Radio Group in 1996. Headed by W. Marten and K. Schoolbrook, Ohio Radio Group already owned WQIO and WMVO in Mount Vernon and WNCO AM/FM in Ashland.

Later that fall, the group purchased the duopoly of WWBK in Fredericktown and WBZW in Loudonville, which they turned Country. In 1997 the purchase of WMRN-A/WMRN-F was completed making Ohio Radio Group the largest owner and operator of radio stations in the entire state. Then after three months, the company purchased WMAN-A/WSWR-F/WYHT-F from Regent Broadcasting who only owned the properties for 6 months. Making their ownership include in 1997:

• WNCO-AM Ashland - Nostalgia
• WMVO-AM Mount Vernon - Nostalgia
• WMRN-AM Marion - News/Talk
• WBCO-AM Bucyrus - Nostalgia
• WMAN-AM Mansfield - News/Talk

• WNCO-FM Ashland/Mansfield - Country
• WQIO-FM Mount Vernon - Top 40
• WWBK-FM Mount Vernon - New Country
• WBZW-FM Loudonville/Ashland - New Country
• WYNT-FM Upper Sandusky - Rock
• WDIF-FM Marion - Top 40
• WMRN-FM Marion - Country
• WGLN-FM Galion - Nostalgia
• WSWR-FM Mansfield - Classic Rock
• WYXZ-FM Mansfield - Rock
• WYHT-FM Mansfield - Top 40
• WBCO-FM Bucyrus - Oldies

In 2001 Ohio Radio Group was purchased by Clear Channel in the sole purpose to move WMRN-FM to Columbus and trade WBZW Loudonville for Dix Broadcasting's WQKT-FM Wooster which they would move to Barberton to replace WKDD.

Clear Channel couldn't take all the stations, so they had to sell off WBCO-AM/WQEL-FM to Scantland Communications of Columbus. Also that year WYXZ put the cluster over the limit and it was sold to Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. (WYXZ was sold off by Elyria-Lorain in 2005 to EMF Broadcasting, which operates it today as K-Love outlet WYKL.) The swap for WQKT/WBZW also never took place.

Clear Channel's newly realigned cluster in 2001 looked like:

• WNCO-AM Ashland - Nostalgia
• WMVO-AM Mount Vernon - Nostalgia
• WMRN-AM Marion - News/Talk
• WMAN-AM Mansfield - News/Talk

• WNCO-FM Ashland/Mansfield - Country
• WQIO-FM Mount Vernon - Adult Contemporary
• WWBK-FM Mount Vernon - Top 40
• WBZW-FM Loudonville/Ashland - Top 40
• WYNT-FM Upper Sandusky - Oldies
• WDIF-FM Marion - Top 40
• WMRN-FM Marion - Country
• WFXN-FM Galion - Classic Rock
• WSWR-FM Mansfield - Oldies
• WYHT-FM Mansfield - Hot AC

A series of transactions in 2005 culminated in the creation of the "Fox Radio Network." Clear Channel sold off WQIO and WMVO to BAS Broadcasting, and decided to pair up WWBK and WBZW - which were originally in the WQIO/WMVO cluster - with WFXN. The Top 40 format on WWBK/WBZW was dropped, with WYHT picking up the CHR format. Likewise, WWBK/WBZW received the WXXR/WXXF calls at the same time.

[edit] External links

• WFXN/WXXR/WXXF website
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WFXN
• Radio Locator information on WFXN
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for WFXN
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WXXR
• Radio Locator information on WXXR
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for WXXR
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WXXF
• Radio Locator information on WXXF
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for WXXF