W258CN
| Industry | Radio broadcasting |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Jacksonville, Florida , United States |
Area served | Jacksonville metropolitan area |
| Products | Radio broadcasting (News and talk format) |
| Owner | Cox Media Group |
WOKV-FM (104.5 MHz) is a radio station licensed to Atlantic Beach, Florida and serves the Jacksonville metropolitan area. The station broadcasts a news and talk format under the brand "News 104.5 WOKV" and is part of the Cox Media Group portfolio. Its studios are situated on Central Parkway in Jacksonville’s Southside neighborhood.
Operating with an effective radiated power (ERP) close to 100,000 watts— the standard maximum for most FM broadcasters—WOKV-FM’s transmitter is positioned on Hogan Road near Southside Boulevard (Florida State Road 115). The station utilizes HD Radio technology; its HD2 channel airs an alternative rock format, which is also transmitted via FM translator W258CN at 99.5 MHz.
WAQB, WJNJ and WFYV
The station began broadcasting as WAQB-FM on 104.9 MHz, initially simulcasting WKTX (1600 AM) with a middle of the road (MOR) music format at 3,000 watts. Around 1970, it changed its call sign to WJNJ-FM.
In 1979, the station adopted the call letters WFYV, shifted its frequency to 104.5 MHz, and increased power to 100,000 watts. This upgrade expanded its coverage to encompass Jacksonville’s expanding suburbs, reaching areas from Southeast Georgia down to St. Augustine and Gainesville.
Album rock and classic rock
On March 10, 1980, WFYV transitioned to an album rock format branded as Rock 105, eventually evolving into a classic rock station. In 2010, after a competitor altered its format, WFYV rebranded as Rock 104.5, Jacksonville's Best Rock, moving toward mainstream rock programming. Syndicated shows included Lex and Terry and Bubba The Love Sponge.
On September 24, 2008, morning host Gregg Stepp executed an on-air stunt suggesting he was quitting live to build anticipation for the return of popular morning personality Doug "The Greaseman" Tracht. The stunt concluded with Stepp delivering a critical statement directed at Cox Radio Jacksonville management before silence and music followed. It was later disclosed that the resignation was fabricated.
Switch to talk radio
On April 10, 2013, Cox Media announced that "Rock 104.5" would retire as of April 28. At precisely 10:07 p.m., the station signed off by playing a live rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" followed by a minute of silence. This was succeeded by a stunt loop featuring teasers for several possible formats including hot talk ("Raw Talk, 104.5 The Bone"), soft adult contemporary ("Easy 104.5"), country ("104.5 Brad-FM"), urban contemporary ("Power 104.5"), and Spanish tropical ("Caliente 104.5"). Listeners of rock music were directed to alternative sister station WXXJ.
The stunt concluded at midnight on May 1, 2013, when WFYV-FM began simulcasting news/talk programming from WOKV at 690 AM, ceasing all music content. Previously broadcasting on FM at 106.5 MHz, WOKV shifted to the stronger signal at 104.5 FM; subsequently, WFYV-FM changed its call letters to WOKV-FM on May 16, 2013.
The simulcast between FM and AM continued until January 2, 2019, when WOKV AM transitioned to sports radio as an affiliate of ESPN Sports Radio.
Programming
Weekday mornings on WOKV-FM feature Jacksonville's Morning News with Rich Jones, which provides interviews along with the latest updates on news, sports, weather, and traffic conditions. The station’s weekday schedule primarily includes nationally syndicated conservative talk shows hosted by personalities such as Brian Kilmeade, Erick Erickson, Sean Hannity, Chad Benson, Jimmy Failla, and the late-night program Coast to Coast AM with George Noory.
During weekends, the station offers a variety of programs focusing on topics like finance, health, firearms, gardening, and home improvement, including the syndicated Sunday Night with Bill Cunningham. Certain weekend segments are allocated to paid brokered programming. Updates from Fox News Radio are commonly broadcast during evenings and weekends.
HD Radio
WOKV-FM employs HD Radio technology to provide an additional digital subchannel known as "X 99.5," which delivers an Alternative rock format through FM translator W258CN at 99.5 FM. This alternative rock format was formerly aired on 106.5 FM under the call sign WXXJ as "X 106.5" before a frequency exchange with its sister station "Hot 99.5."
On August 31, 2023, a frequency swap took place between WOKV-FM and "X 106.5": "Hot 99.5" transitioned to 106.5 FM, rebranding itself as "Hot 106.5" and adopting the WHJX call letters. Consequently, the alternative rock programming now broadcasts on the 99.5 FM translator and the HD2 subchannel.