WVAX (1450 AM) was a

sports Sport is a physical activity or game, often competitive and organized, that maintains or improves physical ability and skills. Sport may provide enjoyment to participants and entertainment to spectators. The number of participants in ...

formatted

broadcast Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...

radio station licensed to

Charlottesville, Virginia Charlottesville, colloquially known as C'ville, is an independent city (United States), independent city in Virginia, United States. It is the county seat, seat of government of Albemarle County, Virginia, Albemarle County, which surrounds the ...

, serving Charlottesville and

Albemarle County, Virginia Albemarle County is a United States county (United States), county located in the Piedmont region of Virginia, Piedmont region of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia. Its county seat is Charlottesville, Virginia, Charlottes ...

. WVAX was owned by Saga Communications, and operated as part of its Charlottesville Radio Group. It operated from 2006 to 2025, launching with a progressive talk format before switching to sports in 2011.

History

WVAX was Charlottesville's newest AM station. The initial

construction permit Planning permission or building permit refers to the approval needed for construction or expansion (including significant renovation), and sometimes for demolition, in some jurisdictions. House building permits, for example, are subject to bu ...

was applied for in January 2004 by Anderson Communications LLC, owned by Charles M. Anderson of

Bowling Green, Kentucky Bowling Green is a city in Warren County, Kentucky, United States, and its county seat. Its population was 72,294 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Kentucky, third-most populous city in the stat ...

, 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. WVAX 102

Saga put the station on the air on January 20, 2006, with a progressive talk format from Air America. 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 national

sports radio Sports radio (or sports talk radio) is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sport, sporting events. A widespread programming genre that has a narrow audience appeal, sports radio is characterized by an often-low comed ...

programming from

ESPN Radio ESPN Radio, which is alternatively branded platform-agnostically as ESPN Audio, is an American sports radio network and extension of the ESPN television network. It was launched on January 1, 1992, under the banner "SportsRadio ESPN". The netw ...

. In May 2016, WVAX signed-on a 100-watt FM translator on 103.1 MHz from the Charlottesville

antenna farm An antenna farm, satellite dish farm or dish farm is an area dedicated to television or radio telecommunications transmitting or receiving antenna equipment, such as C band (IEEE), C, Ku band, Ku or Ka band, Ka Band (radio), band satellite dish ...

on Carter Mountain. This translator attracted opposition from Piedmont Communications, and listeners of their co-channel WJMA in Culpeper filed interference complaints. 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. In June 2017, Saga moved the translator to 102.9 MHz to end the dispute without admitting wrongdoing. On July 31, 2023, WVAX switched affiliations from ESPN Radio to Fox Sports Radio and rebranded as "Fox Sports 102.9". Saga surrendered the station’s license to the

Federal Communications Commission The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, internet, wi-fi, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains j ...

on February 13, 2025. The 102.9 translator continues with the same programming, originating instead on an

HD Radio HD Radio (HDR) is a trademark for in-band on-channel (IBOC) digital radio broadcast technology. HD radio generally simulcast, simulcasts an existing analog radio station in digital format with less noise and with additional text information. HD R ...

subchannel of WWWV (97.5 FM).

Translator

In addition to the main station, WVAX was relayed by an FM translator to widen its broadcast area.

References

External links

Fox Sports 102.9 Online
* * {{Charlottesville Radio 2006 establishments in Virginia 2025 disestablishments in Virginia VAX Defunct radio stations in the United States Radio stations disestablished in 2025 Radio stations established in 2006 VAX Mass media in Charlottesville, Virginia