WAFX
Encyclopedia
WAFX is a Classic Hits
formatted broadcast
radio station
licensed to Suffolk, Virginia
, serving Hampton Roads
and Southeastern Virginia. WAFX is owned and operated by Saga Communications, Inc.
format, branded as "Kix 106", broadcasting out of its transmitter location in Windsor Va .
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"
, some 90 miles away and has appeared in local ratings books.
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
formatted broadcast
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk is the largest city by area in Virginia, United States, and is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,585. Its median household income was $57,546.-History:...
, serving Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
and Southeastern Virginia. WAFX is owned and operated by Saga Communications, Inc.
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 CountryCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format, branded as "Kix 106", broadcasting out of its transmitter location in Windsor Va .
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
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format. This was an attempt to topple then country giant WCMS
WXMM
WVHT is a Contemporary Hit Radio formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Norfolk, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads. WVHT is owned and operated by Max Broadcast Group Holdings, LLC.-History:...
. When this proved unsuccessful, WSKX became WAFX on February 27, 1989, and changed the format to Classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
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
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
ratings, a virtually unprecedented achievement for a Classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
station in a medium-sized market. However, by 1993 the station's ratings had slipped and WAFX was acquired by Saga Communications
Saga Communications
Saga Communications is a broadcasting company that owns and operates stations in 26 markets in the United States. The company, which is based in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, primarily operates radio stations , but it also operates 9 television stations Saga Communications is a broadcasting...
, 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
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
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
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
format, branded as "Classic Hits 106.9, The Fox"
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 RichmondRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, some 90 miles away and has appeared in local ratings books.