WMMS-HD2 (100.7-2FM) is adigital subchannel ofWMMS, a commercialradio station licensed toCleveland, Ohio, and features asports radio format as "Sports Radio 99.1". Owned byiHeartMedia, WMMS-HD2 servesGreater Cleveland and surroundingNortheast Ohio. Using theproprietary technologyHD Radio for its maindigital transmission, WMMS-HD2 is rebroadcast over low-poweranalogtranslator W256BT (99.1 FM), and streams online viaiHeartRadio. WMMS-HD2's studios are located at theSix Six Eight Building indowntown Cleveland'sGateway District, while the WMMS-HD2 and W256BT transmitters reside inSeven Hills andParma, respectively.

On April 25, 2006,iHeartMedia (then known as Clear Channel Communications) announced the launch of several new HD Radio "multicast channels" in various markets across the United States; among these was WMMS-HD2, a digital subchannel of Cleveland rock stationWMMS (100.7 FM), with a planned "classicalternative" format.^[2] As late as February 22, 2007, WMMS-HD2 was still not on the air, but by March 2, 2007, the new channel had gone "live".^[3][4] In the beginning, WMMS-HD2 was mostlyautomated andcommercial-free.^[5] By February 2008, and lasting until at least 2010, WMMS-HD2 broadcast anactive rock format under the brand "Nitro";^[6][7][8] WMMS.com referred to the programming as "Today'sHard Rock".^[9] As of July 2011, WMMS-HD2 had reverted to an alternative rock format, this time programmed nationally viaPremium Choice;^[10][11] and had also begun serving as a local affiliate forSixx Sense with Nikki Sixx, a mix of talk and alternative rock syndicated viaPremiere Networks.^[12] As of August 2011, WMMS-HD2 had rebranded as "The Alternative Project".^[13]

On May 23, 2012, WMMS-HD2 began rebroadcasting over low-power Cleveland translator W256BT (99.1 FM) under the brand "99X".^[14] The move was the latest in a trend made possible by a May 3, 2010, decision by theFederal Communications Commission (FCC). Although low-power FM translators in the United States are generally not permitted to originate their own programming, the FCC decision affirmed that translators are free to retransmit the programming of HD Radio digital subchannels – effectively creating new analog "radio stations" on theFM band – and thereby expanding the potential audience of digital-only channels like WMMS-HD2 that require an HD Radio receiver.^[15] The translator's launch marked the return of alternative rock to the Cleveland radio market for the first time – via an analog signal – sinceWKRK-FM had dropped the format from its main broadcast in 2011.^[16] The first song to air over this new rebroadcast was "Gold on the Ceiling" byThe Black Keys.^[14] WMMS program director Bo Matthews (Alex Guitterez) was named the program director for 99X, having been "integral" to its launch.^[17]

As 99X, WMMS-HD2 continued to airSixx Sense with Nikki Sixx, the syndicated mix of talk and rock hosted byMötley Crüe co-founderNikki Sixx;^[18] later, 99X would also air its weekend companionThe Side Show Countdown with Nikki Sixx.^[19] On January 29, 2014, "Chris Tyler" Merluzzo was announced as the new program director for both WMMS and WMMS-HD2.^[20]Erika Lauren, co-host ofThe Alan Cox Show on WMMS, had begun hosting a local weekday morning music shift as of December 2015.^[21]

On December 21, 2017, WMMS-HD2 dropped the "99X" brand and replaced it with "ALT 99.1", the latest in a series of iHeartMedia alternative rock outlets to adopt the "ALT" brand following its adoption byKYSR/Los Angeles in August 2013; the change may have been related to a branding dispute with iHeartMedia rivalEntercom.^[22] On February 1, 2018, Jason Carr was announced as the new assistant program director for WMMS, as well as program director for WMMS-HD2.^[23]

On June 29, 2020, fifteen stations owned by iHeartMedia in markets with large African-American populations, including WMMS-HD2, beganstunting with a series of African-American speeches, interspersed with messages such as "Our Voices Will Be Heard" and "Our side of the story is about to be told," with a new format slated to launch the following day at 12:00 p.m.^[24][25] On June 30, it was made official that WMMS-HD2 would be a charter affiliate of iHeart's newBlack Information Network, which is anall-news format specifically geared toward African-American listeners; WMMS-HD2's analog translator simulcast over W256BT was unaffected.^[24]

On September 2, 2025, WMMS-HD2 and W256BT changed their format from classic hip hop to sports talk, branded as "Sports Radio 99.1", with programming fromFox Sports Radio.^[26]

W256BT began on November 2, 2004, as W262BN, a mostly silent radio translator licensed toLorain, Ohio, free to transmit at 100.3 MHz. On April 22, 2011, W262BN adopted the callsign W259BI; changed its frequency to 99.7 MHz; and moved its transmitter to acell phone tower inNorth Ridgeville. On May 23, 2012, W259BI adopted the callsign W256BT; changed its frequency to 99.1 MHz; changed itscity of license to Cleveland; and began airing an alternative rock format as a separateanalog radio station. TheWMJI radio tower currently serves as the site of the W256BT transmitter.^[14]

In July 2024, WMMS-HD2 switched translators from 99.1 W256BT (which began stunting, simulcasting WMMS-HD3) to W266CJ 101.1 FM Beachwood.^[27]

In fall 2024, WMMS-HD2 switched translators from W266CJ to W256BT; HD3 switched to W266CJ from W256BT.

WMMS-HD2 transmits text and images toHD Radio receivers, such asstation IDs and artist and song information, known asProgram Service Data (PSD); similarly, W256BT transmits text to compatible analog receivers via theRadio Data System (RDS). Both WMMS-HD2 and W256BT broadcast instereo.

• Official website
• Facility details for Facility ID 73273 (WMMS) in theFCC Licensing and Management System
• WMMS inNielsen Audio's FM station database

FM translator

• Facility details for Facility ID 154527 (W256BT) in theFCC Licensing and Management System
• W256BT at FCCdata.org

• 2007 establishments in Ohio
• Cleveland Monsters
• HD Radio stations
• IHeartMedia radio stations
• Radio stations established in 2007
• Radio stations in Cleveland

• CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list
• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use American English from February 2025
• All Wikipedia articles written in American English
• Use mdy dates from January 2025
• Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlas
• Articles using infobox radio station
• Official website not in Wikidata