WNOH

On August 3, 1962, WXRI signed on the air on 104.5 MHz, licensed to Norfolk.{{cite web|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1964/Section%20B2%20N%20Z%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201964.pdf|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1964 page B-166|website=Americanradiohistory.com|access-date=November 7, 2017}} It was owned by the Christian Broadcasting Network, headed by Pat Robertson, and carried a Christian radio format for 27 years, but it started with an antiquated 3,000-watt transmitter located in an abandoned garage.[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RCA-Broadcast-News/RCA-152.pdf RCA Broadcast News] No. 152 (February 1974, p.14) A year after signing on, it was approved to move to its present 105.3 MHz and increased its transmitter power to 50,000 watts.Broadcast Actions, Broadcasting December 9, 1963 CBN, then headquartered in Portsmouth, also owned WYAH-TV (channel 27, now WGNT), and the two stations shared studio facilities on Spratley Street in Portsmouth.

In 1981, the format was modified to what was described as a "sanitized secular format" in preparation for planned syndication throughout the U.S. by CBN's Continental Radio division.{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|date=February 7, 1981|title=Fresh Radio Format Blends Pop, Religion|first=Jean|last=Callahan}} The format mixed Christian contemporary songs with adult contemporary, avoiding overt proselytism of religious views.

The 1989 sale of WXRI to Win Communications severed CBN's ties to the station and prompted the station's call sign to change to WZCL. The Christian format initially moved to 96.1 WKSV, which received CBN's music library, hired most of its former DJs and even considered changing its call letters to WXRI.{{cite news|url=https://www.dailypress.com/1989/05/13/local-radio-stations-switch-formats/|first=Joseph|last=Pryweller|title=Local Radio Stations Switch Formats|date=May 13, 1989|work=Daily Press|access-date=June 26, 2016}} WZCL went through a period of stunting with everything from album rock to beautiful music.{{cite news|title=Schaeffer PD at WZCL|date=May 19, 1989|work=Radio & Records}} On May 19, the new WZCL became "Cool 105" with an oldies format.{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|date=May 27, 1989|title=Vox Jox}} On September 3, 1990, after briefly stunting with country music, WZCL became adult contemporary-formatted WMXN, "Mix 105".{{cite web|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1990/RR-1990-09-07.pdf|title=Radio & Record : Issue 856|date=September 7, 1990|website=Americanradiohistory.com|access-date=September 8, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlWfu_hHmZE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/YlWfu_hHmZE |archive-date=December 19, 2021 |url-status=live|title=WMXN 105.3 Norfolk VA 1990 commercial Mix 105|date=August 24, 2016|access-date=September 8, 2018|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

In 1995, ML Media Opportunity Partners sold WMXN to US Radio L.P., which owned WSVY and WOWI.{{cite magazine|title=Newsline|magazine=Billboard|date=March 4, 1995|page=85|volume=107|issue=9}} The following year, WMXN and co-owned WOWI were acquired by Clear Channel Communications, a forerunner to current owner iHeartMedia, Inc.{{cite web|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1998/D-Radio-NE-Ter-BC-YB-1998.pdf|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1998 page D-462|website=Americanradiohistory.com|access-date=September 8, 2018}} Clear Channel switched the format to smooth Jazz as WJCD on March 17, 1995.{{Cite journal|date=January 21, 1996|title=FOR JAZZ STATION WJCD, RISE TO TOP WAS SMOOTH AS A HOT SAX RIFF.(DAILY BREAK)|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-68635679.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423034041/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-68635679.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 23, 2018|website=Highbeam.com}} On June 25, 2001, WJCD and sister WSVY-FM swapped formats and call letters, with smooth jazz WJCD moving to 107.7 FM, while WSVY's urban AC format moved to 105.3, and rebranded as "Vibe 105.3".{{cite web|url=http://tophour.com/audio/Norfolk-Virginia%20Beach%20VA/fm1053_2003-08_wsvy-fm_dbaines.mp3|format=MP3|title=Sound file|website=Tophour.com|access-date=September 8, 2018}} On March 19, 2004, WSVY rebranded as "105.3 Kiss FM", and on March 29, the station became WKUS.{{Cite journal|date=April 4, 2004|title=EX-WOWI PAIR ENJOY THEIR "HOT" REUNION.(DAILY BREAK)|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-114956855.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423033746/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-114956855.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 23, 2018|website=Highbeam.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAOo1qO-5Ns |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/pAOo1qO-5Ns |archive-date=December 19, 2021 |url-status=live|title=WSVY 105.3 Kiss FM - Norfolk, VA (March 21, 2004)|last=W82DD CH2|date=February 3, 2018|access-date=September 8, 2018|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|date=December 30, 2004|title=airwaves 2004 in review: local radio.(Daily Break)|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-126615299.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423033612/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-126615299.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 23, 2018|website=Highbeam.com}}

On October 11, 2010, WKUS' urban AC format moved from 105.3 to the 92.1 and 107.7 signals to make room for the launch of WVMA, an AC-leaning classic hits format as "Magic 105.3". The move meant the end of the oldies format on 92.1 and the smooth jazz format on 107.7.[http://weblogs.dailypress.com/entertainment/music/pop/blog/2010/10/smooth_jazz_format_bumped_in_c.html "Smooth jazz format dropped in Clear Channel radio shuffle"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106161459/http://weblogs.dailypress.com/entertainment/music/pop/blog/2010/10/smooth_jazz_format_bumped_in_c.html |date=January 6, 2011 }} from Daily Press October 11, 2010{{Cite news|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/netgnomes/18265/making-magic-in-virginia-beach/|title=Three Way Format Change In Norfolk/Virginia Beach |date=October 11, 2010|website=RadioInsight.com|access-date=April 22, 2018|language=en-US}}

On April 5, 2012, WVMA changed their format to contemporary hit radio, branded as "The New 105.3".{{cite web|url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/56265/magic-105-3-norfolk-goes-chr/#.T30hs-0Zy70|title=Magic 105.3 Norfolk Goes CHR - RadioInsight|date=April 4, 2012|website=Radioinsight.com|access-date=November 7, 2017}}

On January 25, 2013, WVMA rebranded as "Now 105.3".{{cite web|url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/80702/new-is-now-in-norfolk/|title=New Is Now In Norfolk - RadioInsight|date=January 25, 2013|website=Radioinsight.com|access-date=November 7, 2017}} Ten days later, WVMA shortened the branding to "Now 105".{{cite web|url=http://www.now105.com/main.html|title=ALT 105.3 - Hampton Roads Alternative Rock|website=ALT 105.3|access-date=November 7, 2017}} On March 11, 2013, the station changed its call sign to the current WNOH. WNOH primarily competed with WNVZ and WVHT.

On October 31, 2017, at midnight, after playing "Let Me Love You" by DJ Snake, WNOH began stunting with a loop of "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. At 2 p.m. that day, WNOH flipped to alternative rock, branded as "Alt 105.3". The syndicated programs moved to WVHT. The first song on "Alt" was "Feel It Still" by Portugal. The Man. The station primarily competed against Sinclair Communications-owned WROX-FM, as well as Saga Communications' active rock-formatted WNOR.{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/120659/now-105-norfolk-flips-alternative/|title=Now 105 Norfolk Flips To Alternative - RadioInsight|date=October 31, 2017|website=Radioinsight.com|access-date=November 7, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE9ekuwfMJg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/qE9ekuwfMJg |archive-date=December 19, 2021 |url-status=live|title=WNOH Flip to Alt 105.3 - Norfolk, VA (October 31, 2017)|last=W82DD CH2|date=October 31, 2017|access-date=September 8, 2018|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

On June 29, 2020, fifteen iHeart stations in markets with large African American populations, including WNOH, began stunting with African American speeches, interspersed with messages such as "Our Voices Will Be Heard" and "Our side of the story is about to be told," with a new format slated to launch the following day at Noon.[https://radioinsight.com/alert/189803/fifteen-iheartmedia-stations-stunting-ahead-of-new-network-launch/ Fifteen iHeartMedia Stations Stunting Ahead Of New Network Launch]{{cite news |title=Several iHeartMedia Stations Stunting With Speeches, New Format To Be Announced Tomorrow |url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/197805/several-iheartmedia-stations-stunting-with-speeche |access-date=June 30, 2020 |work=All Access |date=June 29, 2020}} At the promised time, WNOH, along with the other fourteen stations, became the launch stations for the Black Information Network, an African American-oriented all-news radio network.[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/189803/fifteen-iheartmedia-stations-stunting-ahead-of-new-network-launch/ iHeartMedia Launches Black Information Network] As of May 2023, WNOH is the only full-power FM affiliate of the network.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://binnewsnorfolk.com/ BIN 105.3 Norfolk Online]
• {{FM station data|69570|WNOH}}

{{Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News Radio}}

{{News/Talk Radio Stations in Virginia}}

{{iHeartMedia}}

{{All-News Radio}}

Category:1962 establishments in Virginia

Category:All-news radio stations in the United States

Category:Black Information Network stations

Category:IHeartMedia radio stations

Category:Radio stations established in 1962

NOH