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For the latest official media Press Releases, visit the VARTV Press Room...
:// We had to go there
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Calling on ALL media outlets including radio and TV stations, personalities, sales reps, office folk around the country, VARTV is now on MySpace. Pad your friends list at myspace.com/VARTV!
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Recently, Sinclair Broadcasting's "CBS6" WTVR Richmond picked up reporter Sam Brock from Gray Television's WHSV (3/ABC) Harrisonburg to fill one of the positions vacated by the departures of Laureen Martinez and Tim Trudell... (7/23/2008) | back to top |
Contestants can now register to win a Prius in the McGeorge Prius give-a-way
| Wednesday, July 23, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Cox Radio (K95, 96.5 KLR, Y101, Mix 103.7) and NBC 12 will begin accepting applications today for the “M.P.G., McGeorge Prius Give-a-way!” This 4 week contest will result in one lucky Richmonder driving away in a 2007 Prius! (read more - VARTV Press Room) | back to top |
| Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Portsmouth residents are a major step closer to having an innovative, reliable and competitive alternative for their cable television services, thanks to a unanimous vote by the City Council Tuesday night (July 22) authorizing Verizon to offer its fiber-optic-powered FiOS TV. (read more - Verizon) | back to top |
| Monday, July 21, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WAVY-TV continues its legacy of market leadership today with the launch of the area's first and only High Definition (HD) newscasts. WAVY-TV has maintained a history of “firsts” in Hampton Roads. (read more - VARTV Press Room) | back to top |
LIN TV's WAVY (10/NBC) Portsmouth/Norfolk began HD newscasts today with its noon newscast, the first to do so in Hampton Roads. Editor's Note: My 12-year old daughter noticed that meteorologist Jon Cash looked "different." He now has gray hair... (7/21/2008) | back to top |
| Sunday, July 20, 2008With a quick twist of the radio dial over the past few years, sports fanatics in Central Virginia have become accustomed to hearing talk show host Jerry Miller fill the air with numerous catchy, often comical, phrases. (read more - Charlottesville Daily Progress)
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| Saturday, July 19, 2008FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... AM 990 WLEE airs “It’s Your Job!” Starting Friday, August 1, featuring Dr. David Schein as host, presented by Claremont Management Group. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
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| Thursday, July 17, 2008LIN TV's WAVY (10/NBC) Portsmouth/Norfolk begin promoting today on air that the station will be doing HD newscasts.
Cheryl Nelson, and the rest of the on-air talent, will be in crystal clear HD "coming soon." When this happens, the station will be in HD mode from 5 p.m. to 1:36 a.m. weekdays come this fall (NBC national news is already in HD, Entertainment Tonight and The Insider will go HD this Fall, primetime, and the Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien late night shows are already in HD).
No word... yet, if sister station "FOX43" WVBT Virginia Beach will follow suit.
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| Thursday, July 17, 2008
Thanks to Mother Nature, Charlottesville’s PBS affiliate is transitioning to digital broadcasting a little earlier than expected — and that means free digital converter boxes for some local residents. (read more - Charlottesville Daily Progress) | back to top |
| Thursday, July 17, 2008News7's Travis Wells will become News7's sports director when Mike Stevens leaves the position later this month.
"It was clear right away that Travis was the right journalist for the job," said news director Amy Morris. (read more - WDBJ)
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Jayna! who does afternoons/nights as well as Promotions Director duties on CHR "93-7 KISS FM" WAZR Woodstock/Harrisonburg is leaving this week. She's been tapped to do middays on Berkshire Broadcasting's Hot AC "98Q" WDAQ/98.3 Danbury CT starting Monday, July 21... (7/16/2008) | back to top |
Local TV "NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk military reporter Stacy Davis is exiting the station for Capitol Broadcasting's WRAL (5/CBS) Raleigh. Davis' fiance, a photographer at WTKR, is joining her in Raleigh at a competing TV station... (7/16/2008) | back to top |
Clear Channel CHR "Jammin' JJS" WJJS/104.9 Roanoke morning show host Rich Minor will be stepping down later this summer for a yet announced gig in NY... (7/16/2008) | back to top |
| Wednesday, July 16, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WLEE, News Talk, 990, today announced the signing of Don Imus as the station’s new morning host beginning Monday, July 21st. Imus is bringing his team back to Richmond radio, including newsman Charles McCord. The show will air 6am to 9am. (read more - VARTV Press Room) | back to top |
| Tuesday, July 15, 2008CBS will officially take Evening News with Katie Couric into the HDTV era Monday, July 28, when it will begin broadcasting in the 1080-line interlace format. (read more - Broadcasting & Cable)
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| Tuesday, July 15, 2008Verizon, as part of its promise to federal regulators to eliminate analog TV service for FiOS TV, will stop distributing analog versions of broadcast signals in Maryland and Northern Virginia starting July 21. (read more - Multichannel News)
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| Monday, July 14, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Studio Center Total Production, the Nation’s largest production company, announces the hiring of Heather Garrett and Brian Bartusiak as Coordinating Producers. They will be overseeing all aspects of pre-production for the company's Film and Video Division. (read more - VARTV Press Room) | back to top |
| Saturday, July 12, 2008Amy Miller, PD for Davis Media's Triple A "92-3 The Tide" WTYD Deltaville/Williamsburg and Classical "WBACH" WBQK West Point/Williamsburg, has left the cluster and the state. Miller told staff and friends, "I've made a conscious decision to leave the station (and Williamsburg) because I'd like to take some time and pursue some other goals professionally." She heads for Boulder CO.
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| Saturday, July 12, 2008Verizon has started selling its FiOS television service to businesses in Virginia and 12 other states where the company has installed its new fiber optic service. (read more - The Daily Press)
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Wray misses fourth Frederick County sentencing hearing
| Friday, July 11, 2008A Frederick County Circuit Court judge Thursday ordered the arrest of a former radio talk show host convicted of embezzlement after the man failed to appear for his fourth consecutive sentencing date. (read more - The Northern Virginia Daily)
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| Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Two Rivers Communications has announced that Kris Richards is the Group's new Operations Manager for AC "101-7 Bay FM" WKWI Kilmarnock and Country WIGO/104.9 White Stone on the Northern Neck. He will also program WIGO.
Richards recently held the PD/morning host post at East Carolina Radio's Country "Dixie 105.7" WRSF Columbia/Outer Banks NC. Reach out to him at onair@1049wigo.com.
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Local TV "NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk sports anchor/reporter Jason Barr has left the building after three years. Barr is headed to Raycom Media's WMBF-DT (32/NBC) Myrtle Beach/Florence. The brand spanking new station is signing on August 8, 2008, just in time for the 2008 Summer Olympics being held in Beijing, China... (7/9/2008) | back to top |
| Wednesday, July 9, 2008Davis Media's Triple A "92.3 The Tide" WTYD Deltaville/Williamsburg taps Tim Kimble for the station's new morning show host.
Kimble recently left Centennial Broadcasting's cluster in Fredericksburg (Hot AC "B101.5" WBQB, News/Talk WFVA 1230) and was previously a producer at ABC Radio's (now Citadel Communications) News/Talk WMAL/630 Washington DC.
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| Wednesday, July 9, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Belo Corp. (NYSE: BLC) announced today that James R. (Jim) Berman has been named president and general manager of WVEC-TV13, Belo’s ABC affiliate in Hampton/Norfolk, beginning August 4, 2008. He will join WVEC-TV13 from WHP-TV and WLYH-TV in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania... (read more - VARTV Press Room) | back to top |
| Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Capsan Media (“ESPN 92.3” WZPR Nags Head, “Your Country 97.1” WYND Hatteras, Triple A "99-1 The Sound" WVOD Manteo, “Classic Hits 104-9” WFMZ Hertford) partner Jason Baker is buying out partner Bill Whitlow’s interest in the company for $1.Whitlow was an equal partner (at 41.117%). The buyout brings Baker's interest in Capsan to 82.234%.
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| Tuesday, July 8, 2008FOX Sports Radio Network will add Cumulus Media's News/Talk "Super Talk 101.7" WWBU Radford/Blacksburg as a new affiliate beginning in August. What does this mean? National sports updates from FOX Sports every hour/half-hour and not a format flip.
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| Sunday, July 6, 2008
NBC Universal says it has reached a deal to buy The Weather Channel from Landmark Communications Inc. for an undisclosed sum.NBC already operates a cable and broadcast weather service called NBC Weather Plus... (read more - USA Today)
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| Sunday, July 6, 2008Cox Radio's Classic Rock "96-5 KLR" WKLR Fort Lee/Richmond fills middays with Stevie Lynne. She's currently heard on a similar shift on Saga Communications Rock "3WV" WWWV/97.5 Charlottesville. Lynne drives down I-64 to start at WKLR on Monday, July 21.
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| Wednesday, July 2, 2008FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... His listeners have known it for years but now The Virginia Association of Broadcasters has made it official; “Dave’s Morning Show” is the best Morning show in Virginia. The award was presented at the 71st Annual Virginia Broadcasting Awards, held June 27th at the Hilton Virginia Beach. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
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| Wednesday, July 2, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WVEC-TV13 Medical Editor Kathryn Barrett retires her broadcast post after 25 years of industry excellence. “This was a difficult decision, but in the end, I wanted to spend the remaining time at home as my son enters his senior year in high school,” said 13NEWS Medical Editor Kathryn Barrett. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
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| Wednesday, July 2, 2008FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WAVY TV 10 claimed three first place honors and one runner up recognition from the Virginia Association of Broadcasters 71st Annual Awards, held at the Hilton at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront on Friday, June 27, 2008. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
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| Wednesday, July 2, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Red Zebra Broadcasting, a media company based in Washington, D.C. and known for its primary investor Daniel Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins football franchise has entered an agreement to purchase radio stations in Roanoke and Lynchburg, VA from Centennial Broadcasting, LLC. (read more - VARTV Press Room) | back to top |
| Wednesday, July 2, 2008Redskins owner Dan Synder's Red Zebra Broadcasting is acquiring the Centennial Broadcasting cluster in the Roanoke/Lynchburg market (WZZU/97.9 Lynchburg, WZZI/101.5 Vinton/Roanoke, WLNI/105.9 Lynchburg, WLEQ/106.9 Bedford) for $8M. A LMA (local marketing agreement) went into effect yesterday.
With this acquisition, the Redskins will have O&O stations in Washington DC, Richmond, Hampton Roads and now Roanoke/Lynchburg... More to come... Stay tuned!
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| Wednesday, July 2, 2008Some concerned Hampton Roads viewers are circulating a petition in support of WTKR-TV news personality Barbara Ciara.
Ciara, a Hampton University graduate at NewsChannel 3 since 2000, has seen her role shrink since August from anchoring three newscasts to just one show at noon. She was also removed from news department management. (read more - Daily Press)
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WAVY-TV/DT (10/NBC) and WVBT-TV/DT (43/FOX) are included
| Wednesday, July 2, 2008
LIN TV, a local television and digital media company, and Charter Communications announced today (7/1/2008) that the two companies have reached an agreement for the retransmission of LIN TV’s broadcast television stations’ analog and digital signals. (read more - LIN TV) | back to top |
| Wednesday, July 2, 2008Virginia radio and television stations were recognized for excellence in broadcasting at the 71st Annual Virginia Broadcasting Awards, held June 27th at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront in Virginia Beach, Va. This year's gala event included a red carpet reception and was followed by a special awards ceremony recognizing individual achievement in broadcasting... (read more - Virginia Association of Broadcasters)
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| Tuesday, July 1, 2008FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... The search heats up as online voting begins on MYFOXHamptonRoads.com for the first FACE OF FOX43. In the first two days of voting, contestant videos have been watched more than 48,000 times – logging over 40,000 votes! First round voting gives online viewers a chance to vote until midnight Sunday, July 13 for their favorite FACE OF FOX43! (read more - VARTV Press Room) | back to top |
Television and Radio documentaries receive top awards
| Tuesday, July 1, 2008FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WHRO was honored by the Virginia Association of Broadcasters at its 71st Annual Summer Conference, held on June 27th in Virginia Beach. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
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LIN TV veteran Ed Munson named GM of Meredith’s CBS Phoenix affiliate
| Monday, June 30, 2008LIN TV veteran Edward L. Munson is the new general manager of Meredith Broadcasting Group CBS affiliate KPHO Phoenix. (read more - Broadcasting & Cable)
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Operator looks to DOCSIS 3.0 to deliver 150 Mbps downloads down the road
| Friday, June 27, 2008
Cox Communications’ Northern Virginia division announced it will test DOCSIS 3.0 cable modems -- which the MSO said could eventually deliver as much as 150-megabit-per-second downloads -- as Verizon brings FiOS Internet 50-Mbps service into the market. (read more - Multichannel News) | back to top |
| Friday, June 27, 2008Today (6/26), WTKR General Manager, Jeff Hoffman announced the next News Director to lead Newschannel 3. (read more - WTKR)
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| Thursday, June 26, 2008NewsBlues is saying that Tina Luque-Blacklocke, News Director at Raycom Media "News 10" WIS (NBC) Columbia SC, resigned yesterday to fill the ND slot at Local TV's "NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk. If so, Blacklocke replaces Shane Moreland who was fired one week ago Thursday.
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| Wednesday, June 25, 2008The Richmond television-station dominoes are falling into place.
If the deal is approved by the Federal Communications Commission, WTVR will be sold to Sinclair Broadcasting Group of Hunt Valley, Md. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)
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| Wednesday, June 25, 2008Clear Channel's WTVR-HD2/98.1-2 Richmond has dropped The JAZZ Club in favor of Broadcast Architecture's Smooth Jazz Network, considered a Smooth AC format. The new on-air lineup looks like this:
The changes are effective immediately.
Weekdays:
Ramsey Lewis - mornings
Miranda Wilson - middays
Dave Koz - afternoons
Maria Lopez - nights
Billy Raven - overnightsWeekends:
Brian Culbertson - mornings
Kenny G - middays
Norman Brown - afternoons
Paul Hardcastle - nights
Billy Raven - overnights
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| Sunday, June 15, 2008A former local (Warren/Front Royal) radio talk show host (WZRV/95.3) continued his trend of not showing up for court dates by failing to appear Tuesday in Warren County General District Court. (read more - The Northern Virginia Daily)
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| Wednesday, June 25, 2008A couple of weeks ago, LIN TV and Comcast announced a retransmission agreement of LIN TV's broadcast television stations' analog and digital signals. The agreement covers stations owned and/or operated by LIN TV in 15 markets served by Comcast.
LIN TV, which owns WAVY (10/NBC) Portsmouth and WVBT (43/FOX) Virginia Beach, has a handful of subs with Comcast in Mathews and Northumberland Counties.
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| Tuesday, June 24, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) announced today that it has agreed to buy the assets of WTVR-TV (CBS 6) in the Richmond-Petersburg, Virginia market from Raycom Media, Inc. for $85.0 million and simultaneously sell the license assets of WRLH-TV (FOX 35) to Carma Broadcasting, LLC (a Sinclair shell company). (read more - Sinclair Broadcast Group) | back to top |
| Tuesday, June 24, 2008David Craft, the assignment manager at WTKR News Channel 3, left the television station Monday, general manager Jeff Hoffman said. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
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| Tuesday, June 24, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... 97.3 the Eagle (WGH-FM) has teamed up with Alion Science and Technology, USO of Hampton Roads and Ocean Breeze Waterpark to present The Christmas that You Missed Wednesday, June 25, 2008.The event is for military families who were separated at the Holidays due to deployment. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
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| Tuesday, June 24, 2008Poquoson residents are a major step closer to having an innovative, reliable and competitive alternative for their cable television services, thanks to a unanimous vote by the City Council Monday evening (June 23) authorizing Verizon to offer its fiber-optic-powered FiOS TV. (read more - Verizon) | back to top |
| Friday, June 20, 2008
Anchor/reporter Les Smith has quit Local TV's "NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk. His bio and pic have disappeared from the station's website and did not anchor this evening.Smith joined WTKR just eight weeks ago, co-anchoring the 5:30 p.m. newscast with Domonique Benn.
Smith left LIN TV's WAVY (10/NBC) Portsmouth/Norfolk in April 2007 after being with "Wavy" for over 22 years. He sat out a one-year non-compete before appearing on WTKR in late April of this year.
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| Friday, June 20, 2008"Television," says Bob Jenkins, Chief Engineer at Channel 29, the NBC affiliate here in town, "is imperfect."
He wasn't talking about the artistic content of shows, but about the quality of signals used to deliver those shows into our homes. (read more - The HooK)
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| Thursday, June 19, 2008The news director and assistant news director at WTKR NewsChannel 3 are “no longer employed at WTKR effective immediately,” the station’s general manager said Thursday in a staff memo. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
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More house cleaning at Local TV's "NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk. News Director Shane Moreland and the station's assistant ND, Melissa Klinzing, were both canned today. Stay tuned... (6/19/2008) | back to top |
| Wednesday, June 18, 2008Verizon Communications Inc. is set to offer faster speeds for FiOS Internet customers in response to the growing popularity of bandwidth-heavy activities such as video downloading and photo-sharing, according to a draft of an announcement due on Wednesday. (read more - Reuters)
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| Wednesday, June 18, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... 99.3 The Vibe announces the hiring of ‘The Entertainer John Blaze’ as host of “The Morning Vibe,” debuting the week of June 16th.John Blaze, a radio vet, most recently from WCKX (Power) 107.5 in Columbus, OH, from the highly rated Blaze & City Night Show. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
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Former Director of National Sales for Clear Channel Richmond and Norfolk, Bill Davis, has joined Beasley Broadcast Group as National Sales Manager for its five radio stations cluster in Las Vegas NV... (6/16/2008) | back to top |
| Monday, June 16, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... KUWAIT * Brian Farley, a Virginia Beach based soldier in the United States Navy serving in Kuwait, gets a taste of home every day by listening to 100.5 Max-FM via internet stream. Recently, Farley submitted a play list to MAXFM.FM... (read more - VARTV Press Room) | back to top |
| Monday, June 16, 2008Eighteen commercial and non-commercial radio broadcasters and major broadcast equipment makers filed with the FCC last Tuesday in support of a proposed power increase (MM Docket 99-325) for FM HD signals. The broadcasters included Clear Channel, CBS Radio, Emmis, Entercom, Greater Media and Cox Radio. (read more - RBR.com)
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| Sunday, June 15, 2008A former Front Royal radio talk show (WZRV/95.3) host failed to show up for sentencing on an embezzlement charge in Frederick County Circuit Court for a third time on Friday, with his attorney instead giving the judge and prosecutor a doctor's note. (read more - The Northern Virginia Daily)
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Construction to Be Completed in September 2008
| Saturday, June 14, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Made possible through private philanthropy, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will break ground this month for the construction of a new 2,657-square-foot walled garden terrace at Fourth Avenue South and Demonbreun. Construction is expected to be complete in September 2008. (read more - VARTV Press Room) | back to top |
| Saturday, June 14, 2008Dion Chavis, a local (Hampton Roads) radio personality who goes by the name Showtime, did not have what you would call “a warm and fuzzy relationship” with his father. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
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NBC News "Meet The Press" moderator Tim Russett has died. He was 58... More at MSNBC.com... (6/13/2008) | back to top |
| Friday, June 13, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... American Family Radio, Logos Bible Software and Hosanna Victory Church are proud to announce an upcoming rally to show our military men and women our support. The “Support Our Troops Rally” will be held on Friday, June 20th at 7 PM at Hosanna Victory Church of Richmond, 7903 Midlothian Turnpike. (read more - VARTV Press Room) | back to top |
| Friday, June 13, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Nationally-syndicated morning Show Rick and Bubba, who can be heard weekday mornings on 93.1FM The Wolf in Richmond from 6am-10am, are coming to Chester, VA on Thursday, June 19 as part of their National Promotional tour for their new book, “Rick and Bubba for President-The 2 Sexiest Fat Men Alive Take on Washington.” (read more - VARTV Press Room) | back to top |
Sinclair Communications' Alternative "96X" WROX/96.1 Exmore/Norfolk recently upped Tamo Sein to Music Director. She previously assisted PD Jay Michaels... (6/12/2008) | back to top |
| Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Mike Stevens is leaving his job as sports director for WDBJ-TV (Channel 7) to become the director of communications for the city of Salem, according to a news release from the city.
Stevens confirmed his job change in an interview with The Roanoke Times a few minutes ago. (read more - The Roanoke Times)
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| Tuesday, June 10, 2008The previously announced $6 million sale of MNE Broadcasting's WDRL Roanoke-Lynchburg to Liberty University has fallen through, and the station is up for sale again. (read more - TVNEWSDAY)
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Clear Channel Norfolk re-dos their websites for Urban "103JAMZ" WOWI/102.9, Classic Hits "Cool 92.1" WCDG, "Smooth Jazz 107.7" WJCD and Urban AC "105-3 KISS FM" WKUS... (6/10/2008) | back to top |
| Tuesday, June 10, 2008FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Studio Center Total Production announces the hiring of Julie Rosmer as General Sales Manager. She will be overseeing all aspects of new business development for the company’s multiple audio and video services. (read more - VARTV Press Room) | back to top |
| Tuesday, June 10, 2008Recently the LIN TV outlet has been doing their 10 p.m. newscasts from sister station WAVY (10/NBC) Portsmouth. FOX43's "Sports Wrap," which airs nightly at 10:50, is being shot using Chroma key; where an anchor stands/sits in front of a green screen with superimposed graphics overlayed onto it.
Yesterday, "trouble" hit the two stations when "WAVY News 10 Today at 6" aired 12 minutes of commercials from 6:42-6:55 a.m. All that was stated on air was they were having technical issues and apologized.
At night, during WVBT's 10 p.m. newscast, the station ran 24 minutes of commercials from 10:06-10:30. Co-anchor Nicole Livas came back on long enough to say that there were major issues that prevented them from being able to bring them a newscast and they re-ran the 6 p.m. news of WAVY.
The wall-to-wall commericals on WVBT from 10:15 to 10:30 was the second most watched programming that quarter hour just behind "CSI: Miami" on WTKR (3/CBS). Go figure...
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