WAFX
 | |
| City of license | Suffolk, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area |
Hampton Roads Northeastern North Carolina |
| Branding | 106.9 The Fox |
| Slogan | Hampton Roads' Classic Rock |
| Frequency | 106.9 MHz (also on HD Radio) |
| First air date | 1983 |
| Format | Classic rock |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 300 meters |
| Class | C |
| Facility ID | 67082 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 36°48′16.0″N 76°45′17.0″W / 36.804444°N 76.754722°W |
| Callsign meaning | W A FoX |
| Former callsigns |
WTID (1981-1987) WSKX (1987-1989)[1] |
| Owner |
Saga Communications (Tidewater Communications, Inc.) |
| Sister stations | WJOI, WNOR |
| Webcast | WAFX Webstream |
| Website | WAFX Online |
WAFX is a classic rock formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Suffolk, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads and Northeastern North Carolina. WAFX is owned and operated by Saga Communications, Inc.[2]
History
WAFX first took its callsign, WTID, on July 24, 1981, and officially launched in 1983, at first running all Christmas music, and later with an automated Country format, branded as "Kix 106", broadcasting out of its transmitter location in Windsor, Virginia.
In 1986, the station was sold and on January 1, 1987, WTID changed calls to WSKX, moved the studio to nearby Norfolk, and began using local DJs with their live and local Country format. This was an attempt to topple then country giant WCMS. When this proved unsuccessful, WSKX became WAFX on February 27, 1989, and changed the format to Classic rock a month later in March 1989, beginning with a tracking of all the Beatles albums.
The Fox was an instant success, debuting at #1 in the Arbitron ratings, a virtually unprecedented achievement for a Classic rock station in a medium-sized market. However, by 1993 the station's ratings had slipped and WAFX was acquired by Saga Communications, which owns rival rock station WNOR. In February 1994, Saga moved the station in with WNOR, and dropped the "Fox" logo and began calling itself "Classic Hits 106.9" and adding some crossover pop and cutting back on the harder rock. In late September 2004, the station reinstituted the Classic rock format and brought back the "Fox" logo.
The Fox's most notable personality is Mike Arlo, who joined the station after spending over 20 years on the air at WNOR. He is best known for his vast rock knowledge, and the "Electric Lunch" at noon each weekday.
The station made the local news in August 2008 when it cut loose the year old Morning Team of John & Nikki and expanded Arlo's shift from 6 am to 1 pm (partially recorded from 9 am to 12 noon). Ironically, the duo had its best performance during its final ratings period (Summer of '08), when John and Nikki ranked 5th in their time slot in the coveted 25-54 demographic, beating (by 1/10 of a point) the Tommy & Rumble morning show at sister station WNOR. The final numbers came out a month after John & Nikki were dismissed. On the morning of September 2, 2008, the station reinstituted the Classic Hits format, branded as "Classic Hits 106.9, The Fox"[3]
On June 29, 2012, WAFX quietly switched their format from Classic Hits to Classic Rock.[4]
Transmission
Due to the location of WAFX's tower and its 100,000 watt signal, WAFX can be clearly heard in Northeastern North Carolina and Richmond, some 90 miles away and has appeared in local ratings books.
References
- ↑ "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
- ↑ "WAFX Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ↑ "WAFX 106.9 295C". VARTV.com. April 3, 2010.
- ↑ "VARTV; Formats". VARTV. July 3, 2012.
External links
- 106.9 The Fox Online
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WAFX
- Radio-Locator information on WAFX
- Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WAFX
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