Formats You’ll Flip Over
• Alpha Media Rhythmic WVBX (99.3 The Vibe)/Fredericksburg, VA has tweaked its format to Mainstream Top 40 and rebranded as LIVE 99.3. The station will target the 18-49 demo with hit music from Ed Sheeran, Camila Cabello, Drake, Maroon 5, Imagine Dragons, Kendrick Lamar, etc.
Beth Vickers, Market Manager of Alpha Media Fredericksburg, commented, “We are very excited to have launched a radio station in Fredericksburg that plays the hit music of today’s hottest artists. Alpha Fredericksburg continues to deliver top quality programming with local and live personalities.”
Operations Manager Bill West concurs, adding, “The Fredericksburg area, including Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, Caroline and Orange counties have been asking for their own Top 40 station, and with today’s music being the best it’s been in a decade, it only makes sense to go LIVE! Big thanks to our Music Director DJ 2Much and Promotions/Marketing Director Steffanie Atkins for all of their hard work to make this happen.”
• iHeartMedia made some serious spoken-word moves in Asheville, NC, launching ESPN Asheville on multiple frequencies — 92.9 FM, 880 AM & 1400 AM. ESPN Asheville will carry the ESPN Radio lineup, including Golic and Wingoin the mornings, Dan LeBatard from 10am-noon, the regionally syndicated David Glenn Showfrom noon-3pm, Will Cain from 3-5pm and The Paul Finebaum Show from 5-7pm. ESPN Asheville is also the new home for University of North Carolina football and basketball.
“I’m really excited we’re bringing the ESPN format back to sports talk listeners here in Western North Carolina,” said Brian Hall, SVP of Programming for iHeartMedia Asheville. “The ESPN brand aligns perfectly with our platform of top-rated iHeartMedia radio stations here in Asheville.” Bill McMartin, Area President for iHeartMedia Asheville remarked, “ESPN is the premium brand in all of sports and ESPN Radio offers the best programming on the planet for sports fans. iHeartMedia is already the home to the best local and regional sports in the area. Having ESPN Radio available in Western North Carolina will provide our listeners with even more coverage of the teams they love.”
ESPN Asheville replaces Progressive Talk WPEK-AM/W225CJ (880 The Revolution) and is now also carried on WMXF-AM/Waynesville, NC, which had been simulcasting News-Talk sister WWNC-AM. The Progressive programming has moved up to 101.1FM, courtesy of translator W266CP, licensed to nearby Candler, NC.
