| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | |
| Frequency | 1450kHz |
| Branding | Fox Sports 102.9 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Sports[1] |
| Affiliations | Fox Sports Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WCNR,WCVL-FM,WINA,WQMZ,WWWV | |
| History | |
First air date | January 20,2006 |
Last air date | February 13, 2025 (2025-2-13) |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 161156 |
| Class | C |
| Power | 1,000 watts |
Transmitter coordinates | 38°2′54.5″N78°28′11″W / 38.048472°N 78.46972°W /38.048472; -78.46972 |
| Translator(s) | 102.9 W275CL (Charlottesville) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | www |
WVAX (1450AM) was asports formattedbroadcast radio station licensed toCharlottesville, Virginia, serving Charlottesville andAlbemarle County, Virginia.[1] WVAX was owned by Saga Communications, and operated as part of its Charlottesville Radio Group.[3] It operated from 2006 to 2025, launching with aprogressive talk format before switching to sports in 2011.
WVAX was Charlottesville's newest AM station. The initialconstruction permit was applied for in January 2004 by Anderson Communications LLC, owned by Charles M. Anderson ofBowling Green, Kentucky, who holds separate interests in several FM stations in that state. The construction permit was granted in September 2005, and by the end of the month Anderson sold it to Saga Communications for $150,000.[4]
Saga put the station on the air on January 20, 2006, with aprogressive talk format fromAir America.[5] Air America ceased national programming in January 2010, precipitating format changes at many of its affiliates. WVAX continued with the talk format until April 1, 2011, when it flipped to nationalsports radio programming fromESPN Radio.
In May 2016, WVAX signed-on a 100-watt FM translator on 103.1 MHz from the Charlottesvilleantenna farm on Carter Mountain.[6] This translator attracted opposition from Piedmont Communications, and listeners of their co-channelWJMA inCulpeper filed interference complaints.[7] Saga's investigation into the interference was largely inconclusive, as several persons admitted that they did not personally experience interference and only complained after a DJ prompted them on-air, while others refused to meet with investigators or did not respond to follow-ups at all.[8] In June 2017, Saga moved the translator to 102.9 MHz to end the dispute without admitting wrongdoing.[9][10]
On July 31, 2023, WVAX switched affiliations from ESPN Radio to Fox Sports Radio and rebranded as "Fox Sports 102.9".[11]
Saga surrendered the station’s license to theFederal Communications Commission on February 13, 2025.[12] The 102.9 translator continues with the same programming, originating instead on anHD Radio subchannel ofWWWV (97.5 FM).[13][14]
In addition to the main station, WVAX was relayed by an FM translator to widen its broadcast area.[15]
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT | Class | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W275CL | 102.9 FM | Charlottesville, Virginia | 141162 | 120 | 92 m (302 ft) | D | LMS |