| Broadcast area | Lowcountry |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 96.9MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Classic Hits 96.9 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic hits |
| Subchannels | HD2:WTMA simulcast HD3:Sports "96.9 HD3 The Game" |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks Westwood One |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WSSX-FM,WWWZ,WTMA,WMGL | |
| History | |
First air date | April 1,1948 (as WCSC-FM) |
Former call signs | WCSC-FM (1948–1973) WXTC (1973–1987) WXTC-FM (1987–1996) WJZK (1996–1997) WSUY (1997–2007) |
Call sign meaning | W IWolF (previous branding) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 60039 |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 99,000watts 100,000 withbeam tilt |
| HAAT | 539 meters (1,768 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 32°55′28.00″N79°41′58.00″W / 32.9244444°N 79.6994444°W /32.9244444; -79.6994444 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | classichits969.com |
WIWF (96.9FM) is acommercialradio station inCharleston, South Carolina, broadcasting to theLowcountry area South Carolina. It is owned byCumulus Media and airs aclassic hitsradio format branded as "Classic Hits 96.9." ThesyndicatedJohn Boy & Billy show, fromPremiere Networks, is heard weekday mornings on WIWF, with localDJs heard the rest of the day.
WIWF's studios are located inNorth Charleston. WIWF'stransmitter tower is off Seewee Road inAwendaw.[2] Its effective radiated power is 99,000watts (100,000 withbeam tilt).[3] The antennaheight above average terrain (HAAT) is 539 meters (1,758 feet).
The stationsigned on the air April 1, 1948, as WCSC-FM, the FM sister to WCSC (nowWSPO).[4] WCSC-FM was Charleston's second FM station, going on the air a year after WTMA-FM (nowWSSX-FM). WCSC-AM-FM wereCBS RadioNetwork affiliates,simulcasting CBS's schedule of dramas, comedies, news and sports. As network programming moved from radio to television, WCSC-AM-FM switched to afull servicemiddle of the road format of popular adult music, news and sports.
In the late 1960s, theFederal Communications Commission began requiring FM stations to end their simulcasts; WCSC-FM would switch to abeautiful music format. To give it a separate identity from WCSC, the FM station became WXTC-FM in 1973, calling itself "Ecstasy." In 1985, the station flipped toadult contemporary, and in the second half of the 1990s, WXTC-FM downgraded its format tosoft adult contemporary, which then later flipped tosmooth jazz (as WJZK) in 1996. In 1997, the format would switch again, this time to 1970s hits, and adopt the WSUY call letters. The format would shift towards its former adult contemporary format in the 2000s.
On October 11, 2007, after a day of redirecting listeners to sister stationWSSX, WSUY dropped the AC format and flipped tocountry music as "96.9 The Wolf." This came shortly beforeCitadel Broadcasting moved its Charleston country outlet,WNKT, into theColumbia, South Carolinaradio 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 stationWEZL, owned byClear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia). However, the changes left Charleston without any adult contemporary-formatted stations. Shortly after the flip to country, the WSUY call letters were changed to WIWF. (WXLY would soon become an adult contemporary station.)
Citadel merged withCumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[5] On February 3, 2014, WIWF, along with nine other Cumulus owned country music stations, made the switch to the "Nash FM" branding.[6] Jessica Chandler and Jay Shadix moved to afternoons as their morning show was replaced byAmerica's Morning Show.[7]
On November 19, 2018, WIWF dropped the "Nash FM" branding and the country music format for the return of the "96.9 The Wolf" branding, and began playingChristmas music for the holiday season.[8] On December 26, 2018, WIWF launched aclassic hits format, retaining the "Wolf" branding.[9] WIWF also brought in the syndicatedJohn Boy & Billy radio show for mornings, based atWRFX inCharlotte, North Carolina.
The playlist primarily consists of 1970s and 1980s rock, pop/rock, and soft rock hits from artists such asForeigner,Michael Jackson,Steve Miller Band,Prince,Eagles, andTom Petty.
On September 8, 2025, WIWF dropped "The Wolf" branding and rebranded as "Classic Hits 96.9".
32°55′30″N79°41′56″W / 32.925°N 79.699°W /32.925; -79.699