WALV-FM


WALV-FM is known as "ESPN 105.1 The Zone" and is a radio station serving Chattanooga, Tennessee. The station is an affiliate of ESPN Radio.

History

The 104.9 facility signed on in 1976 as WNFM in Dayton, Tennessee. It was owned by Norman A. Thomas and quickly sold to the WDNT Broadcasting Company, co-owned with WDNT AM 1280. The station became WLCY in 1982, WTCX in 1987, and WDNT-FM in 1992. As WDNT-FM, the station initially broadcast country music. It later became "Oldies 104.9", programmed by the late Max Hackett, a longtime talk show host in the market. WDNT-FM eventually became "Lite Rock" with an adult contemporary format.
In 2006, the format of WALV "Alive 95", which had signed on in 1983 at 95.3, was relocated to this frequency. Brewer Broadcasting had acquired 95.3 in 1998 and proceeded to give the station a more uptempo and competitive sound. Morning drive was handled by Mike Lee and Ed Ramsey from 1998 until late 2006.
In December 2007, WALV-FM's main broadcast studio was moved to downtown Chattanooga with sister stations WJTT and WMPZ; sister station WHJK-FM was also moved into the Chattanooga building at this time.
WALV-FM was approved to move to 105.1 MHz in December 2008, along with a power increase that added Chattanooga to the contour. On June 15, 2009, WALV dropped its Hot AC format and "Alive" name for ESPN Radio as "ESPN 105.1 The Zone". Wells Guthrie is the station's program director.