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  :// We had to go there  | Now     Calling on ALL media outlets including radio and TV stations, personalities, sales reps, office folk around the country, VARTV is on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, and Twitter.  :// NewsChannel 3 picks up third met  | Wednesday, May 16, 2012Last month, Local TV LLC's "NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk hired a third meteorologist. The station has picked up weekend meteorologist/reporter Dominic Brown from Bonten Media's "NewsChannel 12" WCTI (ABC) New Bern/Greenville NC. Channel 3 has been using just two statf meteorologists, Patrick Rockey and Myles Henderson, ever since Vanessa Murdock left for WCBS New York last fall. No word yet when Brown starts.
Could MyNetworkTV affiliate WTVZ/33 become a FOX O&O? | Wednesday, May 16, 2012The new affiliation deal runs through 2017 and includes an option for Sinclair to buy Fox's Baltimore MNT affiliate WUTB, while giving Fox the option to buy three MNT stations (including Channel 33 Norfolk) from Sinclair... (read more - TVNewsCheck)
| Tuesday, May 15, 2012Tony Mercurio, the always-opinionated, sometimes-controversial sports radio host, announced Monday that his ESPN 94.1 talk show will air for the final time May 24. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
Includes WESM/91.3 heard on Virginia's Eastern Shore | Tuesday, May 15, 2012Two licensees are punished by the FCC for falling "far short of the standard of compliance that would warrant routine license renewal." (read more - Radio-Info)
| Tuesday, May 15, 2012Cox Communications, which historically has beaten cable peers in customer satisfaction, saw its rating drop 6% in the past year on the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey. Meanwhile, Verizon Communications' FiOS TV gained 3% to an all-time pay-TV industry high... (read more - Multichannel News)
| Monday, May 14, 2012 Beach vacations have always been a top pick for summer travelers, and this year, those planning trips to popular destinations in the Mid-Atlantic region have another benefit to look forward to – access to reliable, high-speed mobile broadband service now that Verizon Wireless has expanded its 4G LTE network... (read more - Verizon Wireless)
| Monday, May 14, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... ESPN Radio 94.1 announces the departure of long time Hampton Roads Sports Talk announcer; Tony Mercurio.“While a two week "goodbye" is a bit unusual in radio these days, there's no one who deserves it more than Tony. (read more - ESPN Radio 94.1, WVSP)
| Friday, May 11, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Listeners heard a familiar voice on WINC-FM Friday afternoon, when Dave Gunning returned to the airwaves, his first appearance on 92.5 FM since 2007. “Dave was a very popular host on WINC-FM when he left to pursue other opportunities in radio,” says Brian Beddow Director of Programming WINC-FM. (read more - 92.5 WINC-FM)
| Thursday, May 10, 2012Fox News Channel’s Bill O’Reilly is taking on WAVY, the NBC-affiliate in Norfolk. At issue is the local coverage of an attack on Dave Forster and Marjon Rostami, two reporters at the Virginian-Pilot. (read more - TVSpy)
| Friday, May 4, 2012Cousin Amadeus is tapped to do mornings at Vox Communications' "Real Country 96.9" WSIG Harrisonburg. He displaces OM/PD JR to afternoons. Amadeus was most recently with Renda Broadcasting's "99.9 Gator Country" WGNE Middleburg/Jacksonville.
| Friday, May 4, 2012Delmarva Educational Association's 250-watt translator W249CI/97.7 Bellwood, which relays Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting Corp's Christian Talk "The Truth" WLES/590 Bon Air, requests to move its antenna to Richmond. This will give the translator metro Richmond coverage... Positive Alternative Radio's Bright AC "Virginia's Positive Hits" WJYJ/90.5 Fredericksburg has requested to increase its power from 26kW to 47kW (with slight directional to the ENE). This increase in power will push the signal farther north past Falmouth and a bit deeper into Richmond metro... Clear Channel Media & Entertainment's (CCM&E) Rock WROV/96.3 Martinsville/Roanoke recently launched Alternative Rock on the 240-watt translator W244AV Blacksburg as "96.7 The Alt Project." The translator is being fed via WROV's HD2 channel and covers Blacksburg, Radford and immediate surrounding areas... Hampton Roads Educational Telecommunications Association, Incorporated (let's just say WHRO) launched its AltRadio channel on their 250-watt translator W257BV/99.3 Virginia Beach. The format is Adult Alternative; it's commercial-free BUT listener supported. AltRadio originates from WHRV/89.5-HD3 Norfolk... CCM&E has dropped Classic Country "Foggy Mountain" on WKSA/92.1-HD2 Moyock/Norfolk for Contemporary Inspirational "Hallelujah." Could Hallelujah end up on translator W227BR/93.3 Portsmouth when it goes 250 watts? CCM&E will be leasing the signal from Educational Media Foundation (EMF, K-Love)...
| Wednesday, May 2, 2012Clear Channel Media & Entertainment's Urban "103JAMZ" WOWI/102.9 Norfolk just recently ditched the station's logo for a new one. It's our understanding that the old logo was used at least over 20 years...  
| Wednesday, May 2, 2012The Daily Press Media Group announced plans Tuesday to subcontract its printing operation to a Media General plant in Hanover County, resulting in the loss of around 85 jobs.. (read more - Daily Press)
| Tuesday, May 1, 2012 The Live Well Network , the multicast lifestyle TV service owned by the ABC Owned Television Stations Group, today announced an affiliation agreement with Allbritton Communications’ ABC affiliate WJLA Washington (DMA 8).(read more - TVNewsCheck)
| Monday, April 30, 2012 WDBJ-TV (Channel 7) has hired two new reporters. Orlando Salinas will be stationed in the Blacksburg-based New River Valley bureau, and Bryce Williams is a multimedia and general assignment reporter.(read more - The Roanoke Times)
| Monday, April 30, 2012Angela Hatcher didn't stay out of the television business long. Hatcher, who left a reporting and anchor job at WSLS-TV (Channel 10) last summer to become the communications director of Poplar Forest, was hired as an executive producer at Blue Ridge PBS... (scroll down to read more - The Roanoke Times)
WFLS captures top broadcast awards at state convention | Monday, April 30, 2012 WFLS-FM's news team has been named the state's Outstanding News Operation of 2012 by the Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters for the third year in a row. (read more - fredericksburg.com)
 The complete list of radio and TV winners from the 2012 Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters awards held this afternoon at the Marriott Courtyard in downtown Richmond... (4/28/2012)
| Friday, April 27, 2012Cox Communications is faking out Virginians with a specially commissioned piece of artwork that makes it look like they’re chillaxing with the MSO’s pint-sized Digeez mascots. The MSO has installed the artwork as the centerpiece of promotional campaigns at three malls in Fairfax, Roanoke and Hampton Roads... (read more - Multichannel News)
| Thursday, April 26, 2012 Cox Communications announced today the availability of Readable Voice Mail to Cox Digital Telephone customers in all Cox markets. This new feature allows Cox customers to read their home voice messages from any device with email access. (read more - Cox Communications)
Eighteen new classified ads have been placed on VARTV this month! Click "Classified Ads" on the left navigation panel for complete details.If your station/organization has any positions available (media oriented), get them on VARTV. You would be surprised who's reading..... (4/26/2012)
| Thursday, April 26, 2012 Perception Media Group Talk WFJX-A (FOX Radio 910)/Roanoke has inked veteran meteorologist Jamey Singleton to provide forecasts for weekday morning and afternoon drive, starting (Tuesday) May 1st. (read more - AllAccess)
| Wednesday, April 25, 2012We've learned that Jim Baum, President and CEO of Blue Ridge PBS (WBRA/15 Roanoke, WSBN/47 Norton, WMSY/52 Marion), was in a serious motorcycle accident this past Friday. Baum has been in the ICU ever since. We hear that recovery "will take a very long time."
| Wednesday, April 25, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Dick Clark, who sadly passed away on April 18, 2012, will be honored on WBBT-FM, Big Oldies107.3 this Sunday morning at 10 during a special broadcast of American Top 40 – the only time he filled in for Casey Kasem. (read more - Big Oldies 107.3, WBBT)
Most recently senior partner and consultant at Max Media | Wednesday, April 25, 2012Charles A. "Chuck" McFadden Jr., 79, died surrounded by family on April 23, 2012, after a courageous battle with prostate cancer. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
| Wednesday, April 25, 2012FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Show your support for the March of Dimes and its mission for healthier babies by joining WAVY-TV 10’s Kerri Furey and Eagle 97.3’s Jimmy Ray for the 21st Anniversary of Eagle Walk! (read more - WAVY-TV 10)
| Tuesday, April 24, 2012Why just listen to music when you can EXPERIENCE it?! Your Music Choice channels are coming out with a new look starting April 24th. Check it out!
| Tuesday, April 24, 2012In March, Nielsen and BDSradio released a study of the AC format in Canada, looking at its evolution in terms of core artists. A similar study has now been released on AC radio in the U.S., finding pretty much the same thing. (read more - FMQB)
| Tuesday, April 24, 2012FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WTVR-TV, CBS 6 announced today it has hired Phil Wrobel to the position of Marketing Director. Wrobel will lead a dynamic marketing team in the station’s continuing efforts to engage and interact with the community it serves. (read more - CBS 6, WTVR-TV)
| Tuesday, April 24, 2012 A local radio icon has passed. John D. Wilson, a veteran radio broadcaster and senior partner and president of Colonial Broadcasting Company Inc. which includes WFLO AM and FM passed away this morning. He was 85. (read more - WFLO)
| Tuesday, April 24, 2012The 12th Annual Dr. Mary V. Bicouvaris Memorial Tennis Tournament will feature four players from the Menchville High School girls' tennis team in a televised doubles match. (read more - NNPSTV)
| Monday, April 23, 2012  Back on Monday, April 5 we tweeted and facebooked, "Is a Talk station finally coming to FM in Hampton Roads? Rumors are strong for it..."Well, our friends at RadioInsight recently dug up some potential NEW domain names for Red Zebra Broadcasting's Sports "102.1 The Game" WXTG//WXTG-FM Hampton/Virginia Beach. All are from Steve Batton, former morning host heard on Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting's conservative talk "K-Talk 1650" WHKT Portsmouth (now known as "Conservative Talk 1650"). Batton exited WHKT at the end of December but vowed to come back to the local airwaves soon after (in the form of a station purchase or LMA??). The domain names of Talk1021.com and FMTalk1021.com were taken out on the 12th but a newer one,  Freedom1021fm.com, was taken out on the 19th. And its that domain, we think if this happens, will become the new station's name and web address. "Freedom" was the name used by Batton when WHKT originally flipped to conservative talk nearly two years ago.Meanwhile, the Washington Redskins radio broadcasts, the cornerstone for "The Game," have been shopped around, we hear, to other stations in the market. The Skins, though popular on TV in Hampton Roads, "may" have not been so on radio. In general, the highest the station garnered recently was an anemic 0.4 (6+ demo) rating. It gets worse in the off-season. Or... maybe none of this will happen... stay tuned...
| Monday, April 23, 2012 The Community Idea Stations, which includes public radio and three TV stations in Richmond and Charlottesville, said Friday it will eliminate 11 positions before the end of June because of cuts in state funding for public broadcasting. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)
| Sunday, April 22, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Norfolk announced today (4/20/12) that Kevin Harbison has been named Operations Manager, effective April 30, 2012. Harbison will oversee all programming for Clear Channel Norfolk’s four station cluster and will be the day to day Program Director for WMOV and WVMA. (read more - CCME Norfolk)
| Sunday, April 22, 2012 The Free Lance-Star won 39 awards--more than any other newspaper in its category--at a Virginia Press Association ceremony Saturday night in Roanoke.The Free Lance-Star was one of six newspapers in its category, with daily circulations from 23,000 to almost 50,000. (read more - Fredericksburg The Free Lance-Star)
| Sunday, April 22, 2012 The Washington Times received four first-place awards in the Virginia Press Association’s annual contest, for work published during 2011. The Times was honored for reporting, column writing, headline writing and photography. (read more - The Washington Times)
| Sunday, April 22, 2012 Danville Register & Bee journalists won an impressive 22 awards for writing, photography and design at Saturday night’s Virginia Press Association Annual Meeting.(read more - Danville Register & Bee)
| Sunday, April 22, 2012 The News & Advance received a total of 28 awards for its news photos, stories, and design during the annual Virginia Press Association convention in Roanoke Saturday night. The news staff received eight first place awards. (read more - Lynchburg The News & Advance)
| Sunday, April 22, 2012 The Daily Progress picked up 21 journalism awards at the Virginia Press Association’s annual conference on Saturday, including a first-place award for investigative journalism.(read more - Charlottesville The Daily Progress)
| Sunday, April 22, 2012 Staff members of the Daily Press Media Group won seven awards from the Virginia Press Association at a ceremony Saturday night.The awards honored the 2011 work of staff members, who won for their individual performance and for staff entries. (read more - Daily Press)
| Sunday, April 22, 2012 The Roanoke Times' coverage of the 2011 Memorial Day shooting death of Jennifer Agee, and the response of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office before her death, earned a first-place general news writing award from the Virginia Press Association. (read more - The Roanoke Times)
| Sunday, April 22, 2012 Members of the Richmond Times-Dispatch news, editorial and advertising staffs won 10 first-place awards in the 2011 Virginia Press Association news and advertising contests. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)
| Sunday, April 22, 2012 The Virginian-Pilot again has been named the winner of the Virginia Press Association's sweepstakes award as the best in its circulation category, and the newspaper's five-part series about the combat hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan, took top honors for public service.The awards were presented Saturday in Roanoke at the VPA's annual meeting. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
| Wednesday, April 18, 2012 It's been a year since we looked closely at wireless service in the United States, and in the interim that service has changed considerably--mostly in positive ways. The industry is in the midst of another major technology transition, this time moving from a 3G world to a 4G one while trying to grasp the implications, realize the opportunities, and deal with the growing pains. All of this should be good (even fun!) for consumers... (read more - PC World)
Dick Clark has died at the age of 82 after suffering a heart attack... (4/18/2012)
| Monday, April 16, 2012 EMF Broadcasting Contemporary Christian Air1 Radio Network announced the addition of Brenda Price as midday host starting (Wednesday) April 18th. Price will be on the air from 11a to 3p (ET). (read more - All Access)Editor's note: Air1 is heard on O&O (owned and operated) WGTI/97.7 Winfall NC/Hampton Roads...
| Monday, April 16, 2012It was a special and proud night for all of us here at NBC12 as our friend and colleague Sabrina Squire was inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame. (read more - NBC12, WWBT)
| Saturday, April 14, 2012All Access has learned some encouraging news on American Family Radio (AFR) midday host Jon Rivers, who was taken to the hospital earlier this week... (read more - All Access) Editor's note: AFR is heard on WRIH/88.1 Richmond and WARN/91.5 Culpeper...
| Friday, April 13, 2012 The Radio Television Digital News Association has announced the 2012 National Edward R. Murrow Award winners in our area -- Region 12 (Delaware, DC, Maryland, Virginia). The awards honor excellence in electronic journalism.(read more - RTDNA)
| Wednesday, April 11, 2012 Contemporary Christian WGTS/Washington, D.C. announced changes to its morning show, effective June 11th. Taking over the morning show will be Jerry Woods and the station's own Blanca Vega.(read more - AllAccess)
| Tuesday, April 10, 2012Natalie Wilson has joined Charlottesville NBC-affiliate WVIR as a general assignment reporter. (read more - TVSpy)
| Monday, April 9, 2012The RAMP (MyDawnChannel) newsletter this morning had more info on the move of WVMA Windsor/Norfolk from Classic Hits (Magic 105-3) to CHR. Market Manager Katerina Perez told RAMP that "The New 105-3" WVMA "will be headed up... by SVP of Programming Rod Phillips, RPM David Miller and the company's CHR Imaging Team." The RAMP piece went on to say that Magic afternooner Mark McCarthy remains as Production Director and even though Travis Dylan is not the cluster's Operations Manager anymore he remains with the company.
| Friday, April 6, 2012 Eastlan Ratings will not deviate from its policy to include all stations in their 12+ public release. This announcement comes on the heels of Arbitron's decision to list only those stations that are Arbitron customers.(read more - Eastlan Ratings)
| Friday, April 6, 2012The man who struck and killed popular radio personality Brian Strobel last month while he was walking a dog has been charged with reckless driving. (read more - The Free Lance-Star)
| Friday, April 6, 2012FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Do you have what it takes to be the next Face of FOX43? The fifth search kicks off on April 9 with the call for audition video entries! FOX43 is offering a one-year, paid contract... (read more - FOX43, WVBT)
| Friday, April 6, 2012 "This is the main living area, hopefully where all the fun stuff will happen,” said K92 DJ Kid Carter.He showed us around the "Get a Life" house, where they'll host their own reality show. Six contestants will live in a Pebble Creek apartment, voting someone off each day. (read more - WSLS)
| Thursday, April 5, 2012Sinclair Communications Country "US106" WUSH/106.1 Poquoson/Norfolk is no longer carrying CMT Radio's "LIVE with Cody Alan." Night jock Kristi Michael's shift is expanded; 6 p.m. to midnight weeknights.
| Thursday, April 5, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Norfolk announced today the debut of its latest station, The New 105.3 Today’s Hit Music, effective today, April 4, at 7:00 p.m. ET.The New 105.3 Today’s Hit Music will launch with 10,000 commercial free songs in a row. (read more - The New 105-3, WVMA)
Clear Channel drops Classic Hits "Magic 105-3" WVMA Windsor/Norfolk for CHR as "The New 105-3;" a straight up battle with Max Media CHR "Hot 100.5" WVHT. Stay tuned... (4/5/2012)
| Wednesday, April 4, 2012Mel Wheeler has agreed to pick up low-power translator W274AD/97.3 Vinton from Centennial Broadcasting for $75,000. In a simultaneous application filed with the FCC, it has been requested that the signal be relicensed to Roanoke and an increase of power to 99 watts from 10 watts. Right now, 97.3 is doing "FOX Sports" but according to the FCC filing, Wheeler will use the new translator to fill in CHR “K92” WXLK/92.3 Roanoke (don't count on that staying that way). This past summer, Wheeler picked up WKCJ/97.7 Lewisburg WV (now WVBB), moved it to just outside Salem, and installed it's Urban AC "Vibe" on it.
| Wednesday, April 4, 2012Opening statements are scheduled for this morning in the federal fraud trial of a local religious broadcaster and a business partner accused of using a Ponzi scheme to bilk investors out of more than $750,000. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
| Monday, April 2, 2012Lexington conservative radio host Leland Conway is leaving WLAP 630-AM to host a similar show in Richmond, Va. (read more - Lexington Herald-Leader)
| Monday, April 2, 2012Star Radio Group threw some new paint on two of their stations recently. The biggest change was made at WWUZ/96.9 Bowling Green/Fredericksburg two weeks ago. The station was reimaged from "Classic Rock 96.9" to "96.9 The Rock" but with the format intact. WWUZ gets a new logo and website. Over at Country WFLS/93.3, the station's positioner is adjusted from "Real Country Variety" to "Today's Country" with the format intact but gets a new website as well.
| Sunday, April 1, 2012Verizon Wireless plans to begin selling an antenna-based broadband service in the Roanoke area today (3/28). The antenna, which requires a one-time fee of $200, is fixed to the outside of a building. It captures the 4G LTE Verizon Wireless signal... (read more - The Roanoke Times) (read more - wireless and mobile news)
| Saturday, March 31, 2012 Envision Radio Networks® and The Guitar Radio Show, LLC are proud to welcome WWUZ-FM/Richmond, VA as the latest affiliate of Classic Rock Live, the two hour classic rock show featuring recorded live performances and hosted by rock radio legend Pierre Robert... (read more - Envision Radio)
| Friday, March 30, 2012A federal court jury Thursday found that WAVY-TV newscasters defamed a Chesapeake couple and ordered the station to pay them $1.2 million. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
| Thursday, March 29, 2012FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Richmond is hosting the Richmond Employment and Education Fair Tuesday, April 3. Over 30 area employers and schools will be on-site from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Science Museum of Virginia, located at 2500 West Broad Street. (read more - Cox Media Group)
| Thursday, March 29, 2012Clear Channel Media+Entertainment Norfolk Operations Manager Travis Dylan has left the building. Dylan oversaw Urban AC "92.1 Kiss FM" WKSA, Urban "103Jamz" WOWI, Classic Hits "Magic 105-3" WMVA and Rhythmic AC "Movin' 107-7" WMOV, and voice-tracked Movin's midday slot. CCM+E is already advertising for his replacement.
| Thursday, March 29, 2012Cox Communications said a message apparently displayed to broadband customers on its website indicating they would be billed overage fees for exceeding monthly bandwidth usage was a mistake... (read more - Multichannel News)
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