Chattanooga, TN
WHJK - 95.3 Jack FM
When Clear Channel jettisoned the Variety Hits format that had existed on 97.3/99.3 (Max FM), it seemed like a curious move. However, it didn't take long for the format hole to be plugged in the market.
Brewer Broadcasting's CHR Alive 95 (95.3 WALV) began a migration to the company's 104.9 signal (WDNT-FM) in mid-January 2006, where it segued to Hot AC as Alive 105 (with the WALV calls soon to follow.) There was a temporary simulcast of Alive on 95.3 and 104.9, until 95.3 broke off and picked up the satellite-fed JACK-FM feed on Friday, January 27, 2006, becoming 95.3 Jack FM.
The station changed its call letters to WHJK on February 2, 2006.
Station Website: 953jackfm.com
Streaming Audio: Not Available
Special Audio: WHJK Legal ID (TopHour.com)
WNGA - 97.3/99.3 Max FM
Station changed formats on 1/1/2006
With rumors swirling in the Chattanooga market about Citadel's Oldies GT 108 (107.9 WOGT) about to flip to Variety Hits, Clear Channel made a pre-emptive strike. It shifted 80s formatted 97.3/99.3 The Max to Variety Hits as 97.3/99.3 Max FM on June 3, 2005. The station's staff remained intact in the change.
Clear Channel moved the WMAX-FM call letters to sister station 96.1 Max FM (which had been WVTI) in Grand Rapids, MI on November 16, 2005. The new calls for the station in Chattanooga were WNGA.
The fact that Clear Channel chose entirely new call letters for the Chattanooga Max seemed to hint that something was up, and sure enough, there was. With GT 108 having already flipped to country, the threat of that station flipping to Variety Hits seemed to have been quelled. And at midnight on January 1, 2006, Max FM flipped to a simulcast of classic country WTUN, better known as 101.9 The Legend.
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© Copyright 2005-2008 Lou Pickney. All Rights Reserved.
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