Cox has confirmed it will be a straight frequency swap with Adult R&B “Hot 99.5” moving to the 106.5 frequency that is currently home to Alternative “X106.5” WXXJ Ponte Vedra Beach, while the Alternative format will move to W258CN Jacksonville/WOKV-HD2 as “X99.5“.
Cox has reserved the WHJX call letters for 106.5, which were previously utilized by the “Hot” brand in Jacksonville when it launched on 106.5 in 2013 prior to its 2015 move to 99.5. The swap will take place on Thursday, August 31 at 5:00pm.
Original Report 8/8: Cox Media Group will move Adult R&B “Hot 99.5” W258CN Jacksonville/WOKV-HD2 to the 106.5 frequency that is currently home to Alternative “X106.5” WXXJ Ponte Vedra Beach on Thursday, August 31 at 5:00pm.
The move will upgrade the Adult R&B format from the 250 watt translator signal it currently occupies to WXXJ’s 6kW/100m Class A signal.
W258CN/WOKV-HD2 is currently running sweepers promoting the move to the full-powered signal. A Cox spokesperson confirmed the move telling us, “We can confirm that Hot 99.5 FM, Cox Media Group’s Jacksonville radio station, will transition to 106.5 FM on Aug. 31. 106.5 FM is a stronger signal that will allow us to extend our audience reach and benefit our advertisers. This move underscores our commitment to best serving our listeners and clients.” The statement does not clarify whether the Alternative format will move to 99.5 or whether a new format will debut on that frequency.
The move brings the Adult R&B brand back to the frequency where it first launched in May 2013. The Hot brand then moved to the 99.5 translator in September 2015.
W258CN/WOKV-HD2 registered a 1.9 share in the June 2023 Nielsen Audio ratings where it trails iHeartMedia’s “V101.5” WSOL third-ranked 7.9 share. WXXJ was just ahead of Hot with a 2.1 share.
Daniel Spencer
I heard they’re just switching frequencies: Hot 99.5 will become Hot 106.5 and X106.5 will become X99.5.