WRFX
iHeartMedia, Inc. | |
| W254AZ, WEND, WHQC, WKKT, WLKO | |
| History | |
First air date | September 1964 (as WRKB-FM) |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | "Fox" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 53970 |
| Class | C1 |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 321 meters (1,053 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 35°17′13″N 80°41′46″W / 35.287°N 80.696°W |
| Translator(s) | HD2: 98.7 W254AZ (Belmont) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live (via iHeartRadio) |
| Website | 997thefox |
WRFX (99.7
WRFX has an
History
WRKB-FM
In September 1964, the station
Initially licensed with 3,000 watts on a 150-foot (46 m) tower, the station covered most of Cabarrus County, North Carolina, and Rowan County, North Carolina, but little beyond. WRKB-FM was co-owned with WRKB (1460 AM), and simulcast the AM station's daytime-only operation, only separating from the AM station to carry high school sports in the evenings.
WRKB-FM's first studios were located at 101 West 1st Street in Kannapolis, on the second floor of a Jewelry Shop in a building owned by Cannon Mills. In 1967, the station built a 320-foot (98 m) tower and increased the FM power to 10,000 watts. The early format was
Bill Hefner
On weekdays from 3 to 5 p.m., the station played Top 40 music, on a program called "Tunes For Teens". Early in 1969, Foy T. Hinson died from lung cancer, and his wife, Gertrude Hinson began to manage the station. Her management tenure was short-lived, and in 1971 the WRKB stations were sold to
Upon taking control of the stations, the operating hours of WRKB-FM were extended to 1 a.m. nightly and the stations launched a full-time country music format. Popular disc jockeys during this time were Randy Whitley, Kip Yates, Tracey Hudson, David Roberts, George Berry and Randy Turner, the latter of whom would return to the station 15 years later as Animal R. O'Boogie.
In 1972, the nighttime programming of WRKB-FM was changed to southern gospel music. Popular disc jockeys in this format included John Stiles, Jeannette Kenley and Sammy Oxendine.
On July 12, 1976, the stations relocated to a studio/transmitter complex at 910 Fairview Street in Kannapolis, and WRKB-FM began broadcasting in
AC and Top 40
On May 15, 1982, the station began an
New owner/General Manager Paul Downs extensively improved the station technically, and built out the station's existing
Album rock
In late 1985, the WJZR transmitter moved to a 1,000-foot (300 m) tower near Enochville, North Carolina, in Rowan County, and the power increased to the legal maximum 100,000 watts. The station made the change to album-oriented rock under its current call letters WRFX, "99.7 The Fox", in 1986.[5] Later that year, John Boy and Billy were hired as morning hosts.[6] The show began airing nationally in 1993 out of WRFX's studios.
Over the years, the station's music has moved more in a classic rock direction. In 1996, the WRFX transmitter site moved again, this time to co-locate with WTVI's facilities in Charlotte.
After 38 years, WRFX dropped John Boy and Billy on November 15, 2024; the show will continue to be syndicated by iHeart's Premier Networks.[7]
Sports broadcasts
In 2000, WRFX became the flagship station of the
In 2011, WRFX joined the
The station became the flagship of the Carolina Panthers Radio Network once again starting with the 2022 season.[8]
HD2 channel
In August 2014,
On August 1, 2016, Martz Media Inc. began leasing the HD channel and translator, and flipped it to Spanish CHR as "Ke Buena 98.7".[11][12]
At 8:00 p.m. on October 31, 2017, iHeartMedia re-assumed control of the HD2 channel and translator, and flipped the Spanish CHR format to an all-
On June 29, 2020, fifteen iHeart stations in markets with large
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WRFX". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ FCC.gov/WRFX
- ^ "WRFX-FM 99.7 MHz - Kannapolis, NC". radio-locator.com. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ "W254AZ-FM 98.7 MHz - Belmont, NC". radio-locator.com. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ Jeff Borden, "WJZR Trades Old Format for New Sound, Name," The Charlotte Observer, April 15, 1986.
- ^ Jeff Borden, "WRFX Radio to Reunite John Boy and Billy Team," The Charlotte Observer, August 21, 1986.
- ^ Venta, Lance (November 14, 2024). "John Boy & Billy To Depart 99.7 The Fox Charlotte After 38 Years In Mornings". Radioinsight.
- ^ a b Alexander, Jonathan (May 17, 2022). "Carolina Panthers will broadcast games on new Charlotte radio station this year". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
- The Salisbury Post. March 2, 2011. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ^ Washburn, Mark (August 13, 2014). "FM sports talk station to hit Charlotte". The Charlotte Observer. p. 10B.
- ^ Venta, Lance (June 30, 2016). "Ke Buena 98.7 Debuting in Charlotte". radioinsight. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
- ^ "New Spanish FM replacing Fox sports talk". Charlotte Observer. June 30, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ Venta, Lance (November 1, 2017). "iHeart Brings Commercial Free Christmas To Charlotte". radioinsight. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- ^ "iHeartMedia Launches Black Information Network - RadioInsight". June 30, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ "Several iHeartMedia Stations Stunting With Speeches, New Format To Be Announced Tomorrow". All Access. June 29, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- ^ "iHeartMedia Debuts All-News BIN: Black Information Network". All Access. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
External links
- Official website
- Another Useful Site on Charlotte Radio
- Facility details for Facility ID 53970 (WRFX) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WRFX in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- Facility details for Facility ID 140562 (W254AZ) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- W254AZ at FCCdata.org