WFNX (FM)

Last updated
WFNX
Broadcast area North Shore (Lake Superior)
Frequency 95.3 MHz
Branding95.3 The Otter
Programming
Language(s) English
Format Defunct (was adult album alternative)
Ownership
OwnerShire & Shore Communications, LLC.
History
First air date
1998 (as WXXZ)
Last air date
January 23, 2024 (2024-01-23)
Former call signs
  • KANQ (1995-1996)
  • WXXZ (1996-2018)
  • WVVE (2018-2020)
Call sign meaning
The WFNX call sign once belonged to a modern Rock station in Boston from 1983 to 2012, now known as WBWL; the call sign was acquired by WVVE when 99.9 in Boston was acquired by the Educational Media Foundation and their call sign was changed from WFNX to WKMY
Technical information
Facility ID 18531
Class C1
ERP 63,000 watts
HAAT 209 meters (686 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
47°44′56″N90°21′28″W / 47.74889°N 90.35778°W / 47.74889; -90.35778
Links
Website theotter.fm

WFNX (95.3 FM; "The Otter") was a commercial FM radio station licensed to Grand Marais, Minnesota, United States, and serving the North Shore region. The station aired an adult album alternative format. WFNX broadcast with an ERP of 63,000 watts.

Contents

History

As WXXZ, this station along with KAOD (106.7 FM) in Babbitt, formerly simulcast KQDS-FM from Duluth. In 2017, Midwest Communications sold W288AI (Ely), WXXZ, and KAOD to Aurora Broadcasting LLC.

In 2017, WXXZ and KAOD both changed their call signs. WXXZ changed its call sign to WVVE, and KOAD changed its call sign to KZJZ.

In May 2018, after stunting, WVVE and KZJZ launched an adult album alternative format branded as "Radio North Of Ordinary".

In June 2019, Shire & Shore Communications announced that it would sell WVVE to Zoe Communications, Inc, [1] however the transaction was never consummated.

On September 16, 2019, WVVE returned to air simulcasting WHRY, an oldies station in Hurley, Wisconsin. [2] Its call sign was changed to WFNX on June 15, 2020.

In March 2021, the radio station, now operating as 95.3 The Otter, re-committed to its AAA format as a local, independent broadcasting company serving the Minnesota North Shore.

WFNX returned its license to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on January 23, 2024. [3] The FCC cancelled it on January 25, 2024.

Sources

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMNV</span> Regional Mexican radio station in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area

KMNV is a commercial AM radio station licensed to St. Paul, Minnesota, and serving the Twin Cities radio market. It is owned by Santamaria Broadcasting and broadcasts a Spanish-language radio format featuring Regional Mexican music with some weekday comedy shows. KMNV's radio studios and offices are in Richfield.

Red River Broadcasting is a television broadcasting company based in Fargo, North Dakota. It operates Fox affiliates in the Fargo, North Dakota and Duluth, Minnesota–Superior, Wisconsin television markets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMWA</span> Radio station in Edina, Minnesota

KMWA is a non-commercial FM radio station licensed to Edina, Minnesota, and serving the Twin Cities area. The station is owned by the Educational Media Foundation, and airs programming from EMF's nationally syndicated "Air1" radio format featuring Christian Worship Music. KMWA's transmitter is located in New Hope.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WIAD</span> FM radio station in Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.

WIAD is a commercial radio station licensed to Bethesda, Maryland, and serving the Washington metropolitan area. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc., through licensee Audacy License, LLC, and broadcasts a classic hits radio format, branded as "94.7 The Drive". The studios and offices are on Half Street SE near the Navy Yard in Southeast Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midwest Communications</span> American radio broadcasting company

Midwest Communications, Inc. is a Wausau, Wisconsin–based radio broadcasting company. It owns 82 radio stations located primarily within the Midwest United States, in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Illinois and Wisconsin. The company is a family-owned business and is headed by the Wright family.

KQDS-FM is a classic rock music formatted radio station located in Duluth, Minnesota. Established in 1976 as KAOH-FM, the station is owned by Midwest Communications, and follows a format similar to that of the well-known KQRS-FM in the Twin Cities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WELJ</span> Radio station in New York, United States

WELJ branded as "104.7 WELJ", is a commercial radio station licensed to Montauk, New York, and serving Eastern Long Island, and Southeastern Connecticut. It is owned by BOLD Broadcasting and airs a soft adult contemporary radio format. Its radio studios and offices are on Waverly Avenue in Holtsville, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTVL</span> Radio station in Waterville, Maine, United States

WTVL was a commercial AM radio station licensed to serve Waterville, Maine, and serving Kennebec County. The station was owned by Townsquare Media and until January 2023, it broadcast an adult standards radio format, playing softer hits from the 1950s, '60s, '70s, and '80s. The station featured the music of Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Nat King Cole and Dionne Warwick in its playlist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WVEI-FM</span> Radio station in Westerly, Rhode Island

WVEI-FM is a radio station broadcasting a sports radio format, largely simulcasting Boston-based WEEI-FM. The station is licensed to Westerly, Rhode Island, United States, and is owned by Audacy, Inc. In addition to WEEI programming, WVEI-FM carries Providence Friars men's basketball, Boston Bruins hockey, and ESPN Radio. Its transmitter is in Exeter, Rhode Island; due to it being mostly a simulcast, its operations are run out of WEEI-FM's studios in Boston's Brighton neighborhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGXI</span> Radio station in Plymouth, Wisconsin

WGXI is a radio station licensed to Plymouth, Wisconsin and serving the Sheboygan County area, which features a classic country/rock hybrid format under the branding "Cow Country 1420AM 98.5FM". WGXI is affiliated with the Midwest Farm Report, Bill Baker's Dairy Minute, weather forecasts from WISN-TV in Milwaukee, and carries Plymouth High School boys varsity football. The station's studios are located on WI 57 North just east of Plymouth, with its transmitter behind the studio building. WGXI also utilizes an FM translator station, W253CW (98.5), which also broadcasts from the same facility and allows a clear stereo signal to be carried at all hours throughout most of Sheboygan County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPCA (AM)</span> Radio station in Waupaca, Wisconsin

WPCA is a radio station broadcasting an active rock format. Licensed to Waupaca, Wisconsin, United States, the station is currently owned by Donald Grassman and Keith Bratel, through licensee Tower Road Media.

WQVD is a radio station licensed to serve Orange–Athol, Massachusetts, United States. The station is owned by Kurt Jackson's Hampden Communications Co. It simulcasts the classic hits format of commonly-owned WQVR in Webster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WEVE-FM</span> Radio station in Eveleth, Minnesota

WEVE-FM is a radio station on 97.9 FM in Eveleth, Minnesota. The station is programmed with an adult contemporary format targeted towards the 25-54 age group. Established in 1978, WEVE-FM is owned by Midwest Communications. Although the station broadcasts satellite-syndicated programming, it also features local on-air personalities and a full news staff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KEMJ</span> Radio station in St. James, Minnesota

KEMJ is a radio station broadcasting a Hot Adult Contemporary format serving the St. James/Fairmont, Minnesota area. The station is currently owned by Linder Radio Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WYDR</span> Radio station in Neenah-Menasha, Wisconsin

WYDR is a radio station broadcasting a variety hits music format, licensed to both Neenah and Menasha, Wisconsin and transmitting from High Cliff State Park in Northwestern Calumet County. WYDR has its studios at Midwest Communications' facilities on Bellevue Street in the Green Bay suburb of Bellevue, adjacent to the tower site of sister station WNFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBWL (FM)</span> Country music radio station in Lynn–Boston, Massachusetts

WBWL is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Lynn, Massachusetts. Established in 1963, WBWL is owned by iHeartMedia and serves the Boston metropolitan area. The station broadcasts a country music format. The station's studios are located in Medford and the transmitter site is on Murray Hill, also in Medford. From 1983 to 2012, the station was known as WFNX, which was among the first stations to broadcast the modern rock format.

WKMY is a radio station broadcasting a contemporary Christian music format. Licensed to Athol, Massachusetts, United States, it serves the North County and Pioneer Valley areas. The signal for WKMY can be heard in north central Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire, and southern Vermont. It first began broadcasting in 1989 under the call sign WCAT-FM. The station is owned by the Educational Media Foundation.

WAJC 88.1 FM is a radio station licensed to Newport, Minnesota, and serving the south central Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. The station broadcasts a Contemporary Christian music format and is owned by the Maranatha Assembly of God Church. Its transmitter is located in a park near Coates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KZJZ (FM)</span> Radio station in Babbitt–Ely, Minnesota

KZJZ is an FM radio station on 106.7 MHz licensed to Babbitt, Minnesota. KZJZ is owned by Real Presence Radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRRW (FM)</span> Radio station in Winthrop–New Ulm, Minnesota

KRRW is a radio station broadcasting a classic country format in New Ulm, Minnesota. The station serves the New Ulm area, as well as the Mankato metropolitan area with a fringe signal. KRRW is owned by Linder Radio Group.

References