WDXI

On June 3, 1947, Aaron B. Robinson, trading as the Dixie Broadcasting Company, filed with the Federal Communications Commission to build a new daytime-only radio station in Jackson. Robinson had previously worked from 1943 to 1946 at WTJS, the station of The Jackson Sun,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023675/posthumous-honor-for-raido-legend/|date=May 25, 2016|page=Neighbors 3|first=Danica|last=Smithwick|title=Posthumous honor for radio legend|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620235105/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023675/posthumous-honor-for-radio-legend/|url-status=live}} and already had built WCMA in Corinth, Mississippi, and WENK in Union City.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023651/wdxi-is-key-station-in-dixie-network/|date=May 29, 1972|page=Sesquicentennial 10|title=WDXI Is Key Station In Dixie Network|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619082232/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023651/wdxi-is-key-station-in-dixie-network/|url-status=live}} Originally specifying 930 kHz, the application was amended to 1310 kHz before being approved on April 29, 1948.{{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=51737 |title= History Cards for WDXI|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} (Guide to reading History Cards) From interim studios on North Market Street and a transmitter north of town,{{r|hc}} WDXI debuted on October 31.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023257/radio-station-wdxi-on-the-air-today/|date=October 31, 1948|page=10|title=Radio Station WDXI – On The Air TODAY!|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619082155/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023257/radio-station-wdxi-on-the-air-today/|url-status=live}} The station planned to affiliate with the Dixie Network, an operation owned by Robinson, and Mutual Broadcasting System, but it did not do so at launch because it wanted to wait until the FCC granted its application to begin nighttime broadcasts, which also included a daytime increase to 5,000 watts.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023277/radio-station-wdxi-on-the-air-next-sunda/|date=October 24, 1948|page=7|title=Radio Station WDXI On The Air Next Sunday October 31st|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022}} These changes took effect in July 1949,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023305/this-is-dixie-now-one-of-the-souths-do/|date=July 31, 1949|page=5|title=This Is Dixie: Now One of the South's Dominant Radio Station|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620235105/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023305/this-is-dixie-now-one-of-the-souths/|url-status=live}} by which time WDXI had moved into permanent studio quarters in the newly completed Williams Building at Lafayette and Highland streets the preceding March.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023183/firms-to-occupy-new-williams-building-an/|date=December 9, 1948|page=12|title=Firms To Occupy New Williams Building Announced Today|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620235106/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023183/firms-to-occupy-new-williams-building/|url-status=live}} The studios featured an auditorium with seating for 200.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023578/radio-station-wdxi-opening-of-new-studio/|date=March 13, 1949|page=1|title=Radio Station WDXI Opening Of New Studios Set March 20|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620235106/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023578/radio-station-wdxi-opening-of-new/|url-status=live}} After buying out and shutting down Jackson station WPLI in 1953,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104132928/aaron-robinson-purchases-wpli-it-goes-o/|date=January 12, 1953|page=1|title=Aaron Robinson Purchases WPLI, It Goes Off Air|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 21, 2022}} Robinson would bring television to Jackson in 1955 with the establishment of WDXI-TV, a CBS/ABC affiliate on channel 7.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023627/wdxi-television-to-open-this-afternoon/|date=March 6, 1955|page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023631/ 9]|title=WDXI Television To Open This Afternoon At 2:30|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619082230/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023627/wdxi-television-to-open-this-afternoon/|url-status=live}}

Robinson died of a heart attack in 1961 at the age of 55.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023721/a-b-robinson-dies-in-sleep-at-home-her/|date=December 5, 1961|page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023731/ 3]|title=A. B. Robinson Dies in Sleep At Home Here|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620235106/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023721/a-b-robinson-dies-in-sleep-at-home/|url-status=live}} His estate sold WDXI-TV to Bahakel Broadcasting in 1966, at which time it was renamed WBBJ-TV.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023644/wdxi-tv-sold-waits-okay-by-fcc/|date=April 19, 1966|page=6|title=WDXI-TV Sold, Waits Okay By FCC|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619082232/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023644/wdxi-tv-sold-waits-okay-by-fcc/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023618/wdxi-tv-seeks-change-to-wbbj/|date=September 8, 1966|page=6|title=WDXI-TV Seeks Change To WBBJ|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619082217/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023618/wdxi-tv-seeks-change-to-wbbj/|url-status=live}}

The Williams Building was heavily damaged by fire on the morning of January 21, 1972, beginning in the WDXI suite on the third floor, which completely collapsed.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023490/williams-building-badly-damaged-by-ragin/|date=January 21, 1972|page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023495/ 3]|first=Jay|last=Jackson|title=Williams Building Badly Damaged By Raging Fire|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620235107/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023490/williams-building-badly-damaged-by/|url-status=live}} The last person in the building before the blaze broke out was a WDXI announcer who had stayed late;{{r|Jack720121}} the studios were completely destroyed, and within a week the wrecking ball had come to demolish the structure.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023459/funeral-rites-for-burned-out-williams-bu/|date=January 27, 1972|page=10|first=Jay|last=Jackson|title=Funeral Rites For Burned-Out Williams Building Begin With A Dull Thud|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022}} WDXI had already been contemplating new offices at its transmitter site at the time of the fire,{{r|Jack720121}} and it engaged architects for a possible office site on Airways Boulevard in the wake of the blaze,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023463/wdxi-to-have-new-home/|date=January 27, 1972|page=10|title=WDXI To Have New Home|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619082230/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023463/wdxi-to-have-new-home/|url-status=live}} but it first set up shop in the New Southern Building.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023548/burned-out-businesses-find-new-quarters/|date=January 24, 1972|page=7|title=Burned-Out Businesses Find New Quarters|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619082232/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023548/burned-out-businesses-find-new-quarters/|url-status=live}} WTJS donated records, while WJAK loaned the use of its facilities to allow the station to produce commercials.{{r|Jack720124}} That same year, an anniversary edition of the Sun noted that a reference to "Dixie" in Jackson had a "50–50 chance" of being about WDXI, not the South.{{r|Jack720529}}

In 1973, WDXI was sold to Community Service Broadcasting of Mount Vernon, Illinois.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023805/winter-backs-county-reform/|date=August 9, 1973|page=3|title=Winter Backs County Reform|newspaper=The Commercial Appeal|location=Memphis, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619082159/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023805/winter-backs-county-reform/|url-status=live}} Instead of facilities on Airways, the firm commissioned a studio and office building at the transmitter site,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023661/studio-construction-to-start-soon/|date=August 15, 1974|page=1-A|title=Studio Construction To Start Soon|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619082229/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023661/studio-construction-to-start-soon/|url-status=live}} which was completed in February 1975. By that time, it was broadcasting a country format.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023691/country-goes-uptown-at-radio-park/|date=February 7, 1975|page=5-A|first=Delores|last=Ballard|title=Country Goes Uptown At Radio Park|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619082233/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023691/country-goes-uptown-at-radio-park/|url-status=live}} Community Service expanded in Jackson by purchasing WJHR (103.1 FM) at the end of 1982;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023801/competitors-to-buy-no-1-rock-station/|date=December 29, 1982|page=1B|first=Lisa|last=Frye|title=Competitors to buy No. 1 rock station|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619082210/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104023801/competitors-to-buy-no-1-rock-station/|url-status=live}} Community Service had applied for the frequency but lost out to another group.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104046107/after-6-year-delay-new-fm-station-aims/|date=February 8, 1979|page=1A|first=Delores|last=Ballard|title=After 6-year delay, new FM station aims to start service by May 1|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619201041/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104046107/after-6-year-delay-new-fm-station-aims/|url-status=live}} It then sold its broadcast properties to CR Broadcasting in 1987 for $4 million;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104044962/jackson-being-confirmed-for-firms-headq/|date=December 16, 1986|page=8B|title=Jackson being confirmed for firm's headquarters|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620235107/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104044962/jackson-being-confirmed-for-firms/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1980s/1986/RR-1986-12-19.pdf|date=December 19, 1986|work=Radio & Records|title=Transactions: CR Broadcasting Pays $4 Million For Three Combos|page=14|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=March 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305132943/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1980s/1986/RR-1986-12-19.pdf|url-status=live}} CR set up corporate headquarters in Jackson and relaunched the FM station, then hits-formatted WRJX, as adult contemporary WMXX-FM.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104044803/rock-radio-station-changes-to-adult-cont/|date=May 7, 1987|page=7A|first=Tim|last=Tanton|title=Rock radio station changes to adult contemporary music|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022}} It also experimented with converting the station to an all-Elvis Presley format during the day from November 1988 to May 1989.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104047107/long-live-the-king-station-says-wdxi-g/|date=November 30, 1988|page=1A|first=Delores|last=Ballard|title=Long live the King, station says: WDXI goes all-Elvis, offers half million for live Presley|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620235112/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104047107/long-live-the-king-station-says-wdxi/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104047032/elvis-format-no-longer-king-radio-to-cr/|date=May 25, 1989|page=1A|first=Mickey|last=Harris|title=Elvis format no longer king; radio to crown country top dog again|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620235108/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104047032/elvis-format-no-longer-king-radio-to/|url-status=live}}

The Glassman brothers, owners of Community Service Broadcasting, opted to buy back CR Broadcasting's stations in 1992; by that time, WDXI had converted from country music to a news/talk format.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104045294/brothers-buying-back-radio-stations/|date=April 21, 1992|page=1B|first=Stan|last=Diel|title=Brothers buying back radio stations|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619201045/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104045294/brothers-buying-back-radio-stations/|url-status=live}} However, the Jackson stations were sold later that year to Gerald Wayne Hunt, Sr., of Pickwick Dam. WDXI was new but the FM was not; he had been part of the consortium that put WMXX on the air as WJHR in 1979.{{r|Jack790208}} WDXI aired programming from the Business Radio Network, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104045979/music-to-their-ears/|date=November 4, 1996|page=6C|first=W. Matt|last=Meyer|title=Music to their ears|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619201034/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104045979/music-to-their-ears/|url-status=live}} and NBC Talknet.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104046699/fm-station-to-break-new-ground/|date=August 19, 1993|page=6C|first=Robert J.|last=Moore|title=FM station to break new ground|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619201035/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104046699/fm-station-to-break-new-ground/|url-status=live}} The business and sports format for WDXI continued untouched for nearly 25 years, as did WMXX, which Hunt flipped to oldies. WDXI had one local show by 2013, a Saturday morning sports talk show.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104046331/business-of-broadcasting-format-remains/|date=April 21, 2013|page=6B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104047308/ 5B]|first=David|last=Thomas|title=Business of broadcasting: Format remains the same at AM and FM stations|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620235108/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104046331/business-of-broadcasting-format/|url-status=live}}

In 2017, WDXI launched an FM translator, W279AZ (103.7 FM) (now W278CL at 103.5), and revamped its programming to feature conservative talk including The Rush Limbaugh Show and The Sean Hannity Show and a local morning show, as well as existing coverage of St. Louis Cardinals baseball.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104049082/time-for-a-change-longtime-radio-tel/|date=February 23, 2017|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104049471/ 6A]|first=Brandon|last=Shields|title='Time for a change': Longtime radio, television host Bowers launches show to 103.7|newspaper=The Jackson Sun|location=Jackson, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 19, 2022|archive-date=June 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620235108/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104049082/time-for-a-change-longtime-radio/|url-status=live}} By 2022, when the station was taken silent, Hunt Sr. had suffered several strokes and other medical complications and was reported to be in a long-term care facility.{{r|cdbs100963}}

On May 12, 2025, WDXI rebranded as "Talk-N West TN Sports".[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/300299/fox-sports-radio-returns-to-jackson-tn/ Fox Sports Radio Returns to Jackson TN] Radioinsight - May 12, 2025

{{Reflist}}

{{AM station data|37244|WDXI}}

• {{FCC-LMS-Facility|152536|W278CL}}
• {{FXL|W278CL}}

{{Jackson TN Radio}}

{{Sports Radio Stations in Tennessee}}

DXI

Category:Sports radio stations in the United States

Category:1948 establishments in Tennessee

Category:Radio stations established in 1948

Category:Jackson, Tennessee