WVNN

WVNN is a news/talk radio station licensed to Athens, Alabama, serving the Huntsville, Alabama market, and owned by Cumulus Media, a company founded by Lew Dickey. The station broadcasts on the AM radio frequency of 770 kHz and the FM radio frequency of 92.5 MHz, and features a lineup of popular talk show hosts, including Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin. WVNN is also an affiliate of Fox News Radio, CBS News, and AccuWeather, providing its listeners with up-to-date news, weather, and sports information from CNN, NBC News, and ESPN.

● Overview

WVNN is a commercial radio station that broadcasts a news/talk format, featuring a mix of local and syndicated programming, including shows from Premiere Networks, Westwood One, and Salem Media Group. The station's programming includes talk shows, news programs, and sports broadcasts, and it is an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team, providing coverage of games and events from Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Bryant-Denny Stadium. WVNN also broadcasts news and information from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today, and features interviews with newsmakers and experts from Harvard University, Stanford University, and MIT.

● History

WVNN was first licensed in 1947 and has undergone several format changes over the years, including middle of the road, adult contemporary, and oldies formats, before adopting its current news/talk format in the 1990s, under the ownership of Clear Channel Communications, which was later acquired by iHeartMedia. The station has been owned by Cumulus Media since 2011, and has been an affiliate of Fox News Radio and CBS News since 2012, providing its listeners with news and information from CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News Channel. WVNN has also been an affiliate of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team since 2013, and has broadcast games and events from Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Knoxville, Tennessee.

● Programming

WVNN's programming includes a mix of local and syndicated shows, featuring hosts such as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin, as well as local hosts like Dale Jackson and Jessica Vaughn, who discuss topics such as politics, current events, and social issues, with guests from The Heritage Foundation, The Brookings Institution, and The Cato Institute. The station also broadcasts news and information from The Associated Press, Reuters, and Bloomberg News, and features sports broadcasts from ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio, including games and events from the National Football League, Major League Baseball, and the National Basketball Association. WVNN is also an affiliate of the Tennessee Titans and the Nashville Predators, providing coverage of games and events from Nissan Stadium and Bridgestone Arena.

● Controversies

WVNN has been involved in several controversies over the years, including a 2013 incident in which the station's owner, Cumulus Media, was sued by Dickey Broadcasting Company over a contract dispute, and a 2019 incident in which the station's host, Rush Limbaugh, was criticized for his comments on climate change and immigration, which were also discussed by CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News Channel. The station has also been criticized for its coverage of local issues, including a 2018 controversy over the station's coverage of a Huntsville, Alabama city council meeting, which was also reported by The Huntsville Times and WAFF-TV. WVNN has also been involved in controversies surrounding its hosts, including Sean Hannity and Mark Levin, who have been criticized for their comments on politics and social issues, which have been discussed by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Politico.

● Reception

WVNN has a strong signal that covers much of northern Alabama and southern Tennessee, including the cities of Huntsville, Alabama, Decatur, Alabama, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, and is also available online through its website and mobile app, which can be accessed from Google Play and the App Store. The station has a loyal listener base and is one of the top-rated radio stations in the Huntsville, Alabama market, according to Nielsen Media Research and Arbitron. WVNN has also been recognized for its community service, including its coverage of local events and charitable organizations, such as the United Way and the American Red Cross, which have been supported by Walmart, Target, and Kohl's. The station has also been an affiliate of the National Weather Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, providing its listeners with critical information during severe weather events and emergencies, which have been reported by CNN, Fox News Channel, and The Weather Channel.