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| Broadcast area | |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 96.5MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Kix 96 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Country |
| Subchannels | HD2:WSEGsports radio simulcast |
| Affiliations | Westwood One |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WEAS-FM,WIXV,WTYB | |
| History | |
First air date | June 18, 1972; 52 years ago (1972-06-18) |
Call sign meaning | Named for founderJ. Curtis Lewis |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 37178 |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 100,000watts |
| HAAT | 354 meters (1,161 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | |
| Website | www |
WJCL-FM (96.5MHz, "Kix 96") is acommercialradio station inSavannah, Georgia. It is owned byCumulus Media and it airs acountry musicformat. It carries thesyndicatedKincaid & Dallas morningdrive time show fromWKHXAtlanta. The studios are on Television Circle in Savannah.
WJCL-FM is aClass C FM station. Theeffective radiated power (ERP) is 100,000watts, the maximum for most FM stations. Thetransmitter is on Fort Argyle Road amid other FM and TVtowers, west of the city in unincorporatedChatham County.[2] WJCL-FM serves as the secondaryEmergency Alert System radio station for the region.
The stationsigned on the air on June 18, 1972; 52 years ago (1972-06-18). It has always had the WJCL-FMcall sign.[3]
The station was founded byJ. Curtis Lewis, Jr., who operated the radio station in conjunction withWJCL-TV on the south side of Savannah, adjacent to his car dealership. The call letters are the founder's initials. Lewis, a former mayor of Savannah, sold the TV station in 1999 to Grapevine Communications.
It carried aneasy listening music format, a mix of instrumentals and soft vocals. Savannah broadcasting pioneer Al Jennings not only managed the station, he was a frequent on-air presence, voicing numerous commercials, sports reports, and programs featuringbig band music andadult standards. A personal friend of Savannah native sonJohnny Mercer, Jennings often paid tribute to the legendary songwriter with radio shows featuring unique insights and trivia.
WJCL-FM was one of the first radio stations in the area to use anautomation system to play music and commercials, followingWEAS-FM's earlier attempts in the late 1960s, which did not succeed. During morning and afternoon drive times, live announcers were used. Over time, the easy listening format was expanded to includesoft adult contemporary music.
Other notable personalities on the station in its early years included Ben Mayo, host of an afternoon program called "Music with Mayo", Joe Cox, known to a generation of Savannahians as weatherman "Cap'n Sandy", Charlie Solomons, who played drums in a local big band and featured big band music on his morning show, and Pete Preston, who was also a weathercaster on WJCL-TV. Morning and afternoon news updates were read by veteran local newscaster Richard Lantz.
In the late 1980s, many easy listening stations saw their audiences aging, while most advertisers seek a younger audience. The station flipped tocountry music in the early 1990s. It began calling itself "KIX 96".1⁄2 NotableDJs in the country format included Big Mac, Bill West, Tyler Morgan, Jay Scott, Boomer Lee, Mike Miller and Laura Anderson.
The station was a powerhouse, becoming the top country station in the market. The main country competitor in Savannah, WCHY, saw its ratings decline. It changed to anurban contemporary format asWQBT.
WJCL-FM began using the "Nash FM" branding in 2013. On December 4, 2015, WJCL-FM stopped calling itself "Nash FM" and reverted to its former "Kix 96" branding.[4]
32°03′29″N81°20′17″W / 32.058°N 81.338°W /32.058; -81.338