WIWF

WIWF (96.9 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station in Charleston, South Carolina, broadcasting to the Lowcountry area South Carolina. It is owned by Cumulus Media and airs a classic hits radio format branded as "96.9 The Wolf." WIWF leans toward classic rock and does not play pop or dance artists such as Michael Jackson or Madonna, as might be heard on most classic hits stations. Studios are located in North Charleston. The syndicated John Boy & Billy show, from Premiere Networks, is heard weekday mornings on WIWF, with local DJs heard the rest of the day.

WIWF
CityCharleston, South Carolina
Broadcast areaLowcountry
Branding96.9 The Wolf
SloganCharleston's Classic Hits
Frequency96.9 MHz
First air dateApril 1, 1948 (as WCSC-FM)
FormatClassic Hits/Classic Rock
ERP99,000 watts
100,000 with beam tilt
HAAT539 meters (1,768 ft)
ClassC
Facility ID60039
Transmitter coordinates32°55′28.00″N 79°41′58.00″W
Call sign meaningW I WolF
Former call signsWCSC-FM (1948–1973)
WXTC (1973–1987)
WXTC-FM (1987–1996)
WJZK (1996–1997)
WSUY (1997–2007)
AffiliationsPremiere Networks
OwnerCumulus Media
(Radio License Holding CBC, LLC)
Sister stationsWSSX, WWWZ, WTMA
WebcastListen Live
Website969thewolf.com

WIWF's transmitter tower is off Seewee Road in Awendaw.[1] It is powered at 99,000 watts (100,000 with beam tilt).[2] The antenna height above average terrain (HAAT) is 539 meters (1,758 feet). With a good radio, WIWF can be heard from Myrtle Beach to Hilton Head Island.

History

Early Years

The station signed on the air April 1, 1948, as WCSC-FM.[3] It was the FM sister to AM 1390 WCSC (now WSPO). WCSC-FM was Charleston's second FM station, going on the air a year after 95.1 WTMA-FM (now WSSX). WCSC-AM-FM were CBS Radio Network affiliates, simulcasting CBS's schedule of dramas, comedies, news and sports. As network programming moved from radio to television, WCSC-AM-FM switched to a full service middle of the road format of popular adult music, news and sports.

In the late 1960s, the Federal Communications Commission began requiring FM stations to end their simulcasts. WCSC-FM switched to a beautiful music format. To give it a separate identity from WCSC, the FM station became WXTC-FM in 1973, calling itself "Ecstasy." In the 1990s, WXTC-FM switched to soft adult contemporary. It later flipped to smooth jazz (as WJZK) and a few years later, playing 1970s oldies. In the 2000s, adult contemporary music was the format.

The AC format was dropped on October 11, 2007 and the DJs were dismissed. The station then continued playing AC music with liners directing listeners to sister station 95.1 WSSX. The next day, a country music format was launched as "96.9 The Wolf." This came shortly before Citadel Broadcasting moved its Charleston country outlet, WNKT, into the Columbia, South Carolina radio market. With the change to The Wolf, Citadel Broadcasting had a country music station in the Charleston market, even after WNKT relocated, to compete with rival country music station WEZL, owned by Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia). However, the changes left Charleston without any adult contemporary radio stations. Shortly after the flip to country, the WSUY call letters were changed to WIWF. WXLY 102.5 FM soon became an adult contemporary station.

Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[4] On February 3, 2014 WIWF, along with nine other Cumulus owned country music stations, made the switch to the "Nash FM" branding.[5] Jessica Chandler and Jay Shadix moved to afternoons as their morning show was replaced by America's Morning Show.[6]

On November 19, 2018, WIWF dropped the "Nash FM" branding and the country music format. It returned to the "96.9 The Wolf" branding, and began playing Christmas music for the holiday season.[7] On December 26, 2018, WIWF launched a classic hits format, retaining the "Wolf" branding.[8] WIWF also brought in the syndicated John Boy & Billy radio show for mornings, based at WRFX in Charlotte, North Carolina.

References
  1. Radio-Locator.com/WIWF
  2. FCC.gov/WIWF
  3. Broadcasting Yearbook 1950 page 268
  4. "Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting". Atlanta Business Journal. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  5. cumulus-adds-11-more-nashfms
  6. Palisin, Steve (February 15, 2014). "Myrtle Beach-area radio stations change up some shows". The Sun News. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  7. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/172163/96-9-nash-fm-charleston-returns-to-wolf-identity-flips-to-christmas-music/
  8. Cumulus Launches Classic Hits 96.9 The Wolf Charleston Radioinsight - December 26, 2018

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