WAVF

Hanahan, South Carolina
Broadcast area	South Carolina Lowcountry - Charleston metropolitan area
Frequency	101.7 MHz
Branding	101.7 Chuck FM
Programming
Format	Adult hits
Ownership
Owner	Saga Communications (Saga South Communications, LLC)
Sister stations	WCKN, WMXZ, WSPO, WXST
History
First air date	July 3, 1969; 55 years ago (1969-07-03) (as WTGR-FM)
Former call signs	WTGR-FM (1969–1973) WKZQ (1973–1983) WKZQ-FM (1983–2008)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	24776
Class	C1
ERP	100,000 watts
HAAT	238.4 meters (782 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	32°49′4.00″N 79°50′8.00″W / 32.8177778°N 79.8355556°W / 32.8177778; -79.8355556
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	1017chuckfm.com

WAVF (101.7 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Hanahan, South Carolina, and serving the South Carolina Lowcountry and Charleston metropolitan area. It is owned by Saga Communications as part of its Charleston Radio Group, and airs an adult hits radio format branded as "Chuck FM". The radio studios and offices are on Clements Ferry Road in Charleston.^[2]

WAVF has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts, the maximum for non-grandfathered FM stations. The transmitter is off Venning Road in Mount Pleasant.^[3]

Managing Partner Paul W. Robinson of Emerald City Media Partners oversaw the construction of a new radio station in the Charleston market. WAVF came on the air on March 11, 1985 on 96.1 FM as "96 Wave". It used the sound effects of ocean waves, played continuously over a week. When the stunt was over, the station debuted with an album-oriented rock (AOR) format.

Over time, 96 Wave shifted its format to alternative rock.^{[citation needed]}

Atom Taler was the wake-up host at 96 Wave for nine years. For the last three of those years he was joined by Jim Voigt, known as "The Critic". As their once-popular morning show began to see a decline in ratings, it was replaced. On February 23, 1998, "The Howard Stern Show" debuted for the Charleston radio market, syndicated from New York City.^[4] Ratings fell still further, but program director Rob Cressman pointed out ratings increased from a year earlier. He also said the station would improve with a format that relied less on alternative rock and more on personality.^[5]

After a year and a half, Charleston radio listeners had grown to like the program. Stern had the market's no. 1 morning show. WAVF also brought back The Critic for afternoons.^[6] 96 Wave was sold to Apex Broadcasting late in 2001.^[7]

On February 22, 2002, 96 Wave dropped Stern. Some advertisers did not like the show, so they would buy time on 96 Wave but not on Stern's show, or they avoided WAVF altogether. Stern's show also cost the station a high subscription fee, so airing his show became too expensive. Dick Dale, syndicated from WMMS in Cleveland, replaced Stern. WMMS created the show to compete with Stern and began syndicating it to Clear Channel Communications stations. But Dale, who knew The Critic, had left WMMS, so this show would be local. WAVF General manager Dean Pearce described Dale's show as "intelligent", while program director Greg Patrick described it as "fast-paced", pointing out that the show would include music. Dale described his show as radio's answer to cable TV's The Daily Show.

On August 31, 2007 at 5 p.m., "96 Wave" became known as "96.1 Chuck FM". Leading up to the switch, the station stunted for over 20 minutes playing the "Charles in Charge" theme song. The first song played on the new 96.1 FM was "Take This Job and Shove It" by Johnny Paycheck. The final song played on WAVF was "My Wave" by Soundgarden.

On September 6, 2017, the sale of the station to Saga Communications was complete.^[8]

WTZR-FM signed on the air July 3, 1969; 55 years ago (1969-07-03). It was the sister station to WTGR 1520 AM in Myrtle Beach. FM 101.7 was originally established as an automated beautiful music station, operating out of an equipment room. By the late 1970s, WTZR-FM changed its call letters to WKZQ. It switched to a Top 40-AOR hybrid, known as "The All New Energy 102 WKZQ".

By the late 1980s, it was playing mainstream rock, then active rock in the 1990s and finally alternative rock. With this alternative format, WKZQ was a popular radio station both in South Carolina and among alternative rock fans across the country. Rolling Stone magazine named it one of the "Top 5 Radio Stations" in America.

Because Myrtle Beach is a smaller radio market than Charleston, the decision was made to move WKZQ to a community near Charleston. That would allow it to charge more for the commercials it played and enjoy more revenue.

In September 2008, WKZQ abandoned its historic frequency of 101.7 MHz and migrated to 96.1 MHz in a frequency swap with WAVF.^[9] WKZQ continues as an alternative rock station serving the Myrtle Beach market from its city of license in Forestbrook, South Carolina. WAVF remains an adult hits station, serving the Charleston market from its 101.7 MHz frequency.

• Official Website
• Facility details for Facility ID 24776 (WAVF) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• WAVF in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
• Charleston Post & Courier article on Wave's demise