|
 :// I've run out of headlines for WTKR  | Wednesday, August 31, 2005UPDATED: Two more people are leaving New York Times' "Your NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk, one by choice and the other is getting fired. First, Tom Randles, after more than a decade as one of the station's primary anchors, as decided not to renew his contract. General Manager Frank Chebalo told staffers this afternoon in a staff meeting that Randles will exit Channel 3 on Friday, September 9. Randles along with Barbara Ciara were a huge hope for the station back in '92, '93 -- high profiles with high salaries. It hasn't panned out for WTKR... (read more - The Virginian-Pilot) The station will also lose its Chief Engineer, Ted Hand, in two weeks. He's being fired. Hand has been with the station since September 1999. :// Hampton Roads Hurricane Katrina relief efforts | Wednesday, August 31, 2005  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Entercom Norfolk radio stations 2WD, 94.9 the Point, 95-7 R&B and Z104 (WWDE-FM, WPTE-FM, WVKL-FM and WNVZ-FM Norfolk/Va. Beach) will be spearheading a Hurricane Relief effort with partners, Newschannel 3, The American Red Cross and Haynes Furniture, Wednesday (August 31).From 5a-11:30p, Entercom radio stations and Newschannel 3 will be conducting Operation Hurricane Katrina Relief to assist our neighbors in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama affected by today’s natural disaster. Station personalities will be both manning a phone bank at Newschannel 3 (Norfolk) taking pledges – from 5a-11:30p - and will be on location at Haynes on Virginia Beach Blvd. in Virginia Beach (5:30a-7p) accepting monetary donations only. All funds collected will go to the AMERICAN RED CROSS DISASTER RELIEF FUND with all donations going SPECIFICALLY to help the disaster victims of Hurricane Katrina. After the Wednesday relief effort, Entercom Norfolk will direct listeners to continue to make their donations by calling 1-800 helpnow or online at www.redcross.org. (The phone bank number for Wednesday is (757) 626-0303). Entercom Norfolk Vice President/Market Manager, Skip Schmidt, commented, “This one hits even closer to home as Entercom owns radio stations in New Orleans, of which courageous personnel continue to broadcast important information to their listeners in spite of receiving extensive damage to their sites. We are one big family who always reaches out to our neighbors whenever there is a need. I’m proud that Entercom Norfolk and our partners at Newschannel 3, The Red Cross and Haynes are going to work together with the generous citizens of our community. The people of Hampton Roads will indeed act as if what we do makes a difference because it does.” :// Stream steam | Tuesday, August 30, 2005Sinclair Communications is now streaming the audio of all of their radio properties over the Internet with the two newest streams being added just yesterday - "NewsRadio 790" WNIS and "TalkRadio 850" WTAR. The others are Variety Hits "93-7 BOB FM" WPYA, Alternative "96X" WROX/96.1 and CHR "The Zone@106-1" WZNR. :// Afternoons filled at WINC, nights filled at Hot 100 | Tuesday, August 30, 2005 Dave Gunning, who used the name Sean McCoy at Cumulus Media's CHR "Hot 100" WFNR/100.7 Christiansburg/Blacksburg, fills the afternoon void on Mid-Atlantic Network's Hot AC "92.5 WINC-FM" Winchester. Gunning left Blacksburg for personal reasons at the end of July...In the same breath, Don Wilde will handle nights at Hot. He's returning to radio after being a PGA Assistant Pro. Using his old on-air name "Gizmo," Wilde also will do imaging for the station. Before golf, Gizmo did nights at Infinity's Modern AC "100.5 The Zone" KZZO Sacramento.  A brand new classified ad has been posted on VARTV. The Free Lance-Star is looking for a Radio Sales Assistant for its radio cluster in Fredericksburg (WFLS, WYSK, WWUZ). Click "Classified Ads" on the left navigation panel for the complete details.If your station/organization has any positions available (media orientated), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who reading..... (8/30/05) :// Funeral today for Allen Knight Jr | Tuesday, August 30, 2005Broadcaster Allen "The Wizard" Knight Jr., an African-American pioneer in Richmond radio and an important figure in the city's entertainment business, died of complications of Parkinson's Disease Syndrome Thursday in a local hospital. He was 79. A funeral will be held today at 1 p.m. at Moore Street Missionary Baptist Church, 1408 W. Leigh St. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch) :// High school football on ESPN950 | Tuesday, August 30, 2005ESPN 950 AM (WXGI-Richmond) announces their 2005 High School Football Schedule. At 6 p.m., it's The Friday Night Countdown presented by Fork Union Military Academy hosted by Gary Criswell & Mark Smith. In-game reports from other key games from a host of long time reporters plus new additions Brent Williams, Head Coach, Richmond Bandits and Tom Garrett from VirginiaPreps.com. At 7:15 p.m., the ESPN 950 High School Game of the Week with play-by-play: Robert Fish and studio show: Bob McFarland. The schedule:
9/16- LC Bird @ Meadowbrook 9/23- Meadowbrook @ Manchester 9/30 - Wild card game. The station will check the races and do the best game available in the Southside. 10/7- Thomas Dale @ Meadowbrook 10/14- Matoaca @ Thomas Dale 10/21- LC Bird @ Manchester 10/28-LC Bird @ Huguenot 11/4- Douglas Freeman @ Hermitage 11/11- Wild card game | Monday, August 29, 2005FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Main Line Broadcasting, LLC, headed by Dan Savadove, has agreed to purchase the assets of MainQuad Communications, Inc. and Richmond Broadcasting, Inc., (Richmond Broadcasting's "93.1 The Wolf" WJZV Ettrick, and MainQuad's "Oldies 107.3" WBBT Powhatan (simulcast with WARV/100.3 Petersburg) and recent move-in WCUL/98.9 Midlothian, which is currently silent) all FM stations serving Richmond, VA, for $25,000,000. Dan Savadove said “The acquisition of the Richmond stations serves as a keystone acquisition in the establishment of Main Line Broadcasting and we look forward to serving the listeners and advertisers in the Richmond market. Main Line is poised to continue to grow and we anticipate adding additional markets this year.” Arbitron ranks Richmond as America’s 56th largest radio market and 47th in terms of radio revenue. Main Line Broadcasting closed on its first acquisition of five radio stations in the Hagerstown, MD/Chambersburg, PA market on August 1; this latest acquisition puts Main Line in two markets with nine radio stations. Dan Berman, President of the MainQuad Group, stated that he was “pleased to pass the keys to MainQuad’s Richmond operations to a broadcaster as experienced and well respected in the industry as Dan Savadove.” :// The Redskins play here | Monday, August 29, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Telemedia Broadcasting, Inc. is pleased to announce that Coach Joe Gibbs and The Washington Redskins have found a home for all their games. 95.9 WGRQ-FM is the new home for area radio broadcasts of The Washington Redskins of The National Football League. Effective immediately following the September 1 pre-season game with the Baltimore Ravens, 95.9 WGRQ will reunite with The Washington Redskin’s Radio Network. “We’re proud to add weekly broadcasts of all the Redskin’s games to our current Redskin’s-related programming, including The Redskin’s Roundup (broadcast weekdays at 5:20 AM and 5:20 PM) and The Redskin’s Roundtable (broadcast 7 – 8 PM Monday evenings)” announces Program Director Jim Herring. “This is the heart of Redskin’s Country and we’re proud to say that the Redskins play here!”In addition to Washington Redskins games, 95.9 WGRQ also brings area high school football to the airwaves Friday evenings at 7:15 and is the area’s Official Hokie Headquarters with live weekly broadcasts of the ACC’s Virginia Tech Hokies Football. :// The exodus from WTKR continues The writing was on the wall | Monday, August 29, 2005News Director Jeff Parsons at New York Times' "Your NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk, told weekend morning anchor Chris Hopkins and Peninsula reporter Kathleen Carey that their contracts will not be renewed. Bluntly? They've been fired. Hopkins and Carey were "repositioned" just over two months ago, when Parsons demoted (my words) Hopkins from weekday morning anchor to weekend morning anchor. Hopkins replaced Carey who got bumped to weekday reporter on the Peninsula. We hear that their contracts expire in October and November. :// The Lake returns | Monday, August 29, 2005Centennial Broadcasting did indeed bring back "The Lake" on WBWR/106.9 Bedford Friday afternoon at 5:50. On Monday, August 15, Centennial began simulcasting its Oldies "BOB FM" (WZZI/101.5 Vinton/Roanoke, WZZU/97.9 Lynchburg), on 106.9 and its 10 watt Roanoke (actually Vinton) translator at 97.3 (W247AD) when the sale from Cumulus Media closed. This isn't the first time the Standards-formatted "The Lake" was on this frequency. In it's previous incarnation, the station went farther back in time with its music and we hear the new Lake is a bit more Contemporary than the old WLQE. The new Lake has requested the WLEQ call letters. :// LIVE Hurricane Katrina coverage | Sunday, August 28, 2005 View LIVE Hurricane Katrina coverage from New Orleans on Belo Broadcasting's WWL (4/CBS) and Hearst-Argyle's WDSU (6/NBC). When Internet traffic to these links get too heavy, the respective national networks could possibly pick-up the local New Orleans feeds. :// Seacrest... in! | Saturday, August 27, 2005Starting tomorrow (Sunday, August 28), Sinclair Communications' CHR "The Zone@106-1" WZNR Poquoson will carry Premiere Radio Networks' "American Top 40 Countdown with Ryan Seacrest" from 8 a.m. until noon. More on the AT40 at at40.com. :// Bruno returns to Charlottesville | Friday, August 26, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... On Monday September 12th the award winning Tony Bruno Show will return to (Clear Channel's) Sports Radio 1400 The Ticket! (WKAV/Charlottesville). Sporting News Radio began syndicating the Tony Bruno Show in August and we are proud to be one of its first affiliates. Bruno will air each weekday morning between 9:00 AM and Noon and should provide a great lead in for Jim Rome. Since Tony Bruno left the airwaves of Central Virginia in 2004, fans have been clamoring for his return. We've listened ... and we're excited about the opportunity to give Charlottesville sports fans what they wanted! Tune in Monday September 12th at 9:00 AM for the Tony Bruno Show, only on Sports Radio 1400, The Ticket.:// New 2005 TV DMA® figures out Hampton Roads drops one place, Richmond is up one | Thursday, August 25, 2005Nielsen Media Research just announced today a new list of Designated Market Area (DMA®) TV rankings for the 2005-2006 television season which starts on September 24, 2005. The research company says the total number of television households within the US is now estimated at 110,200,000.
:// Liberty Corporation to "merge" with Raycom Media, Inc | Thursday, August 25, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... The Liberty Corporation announced today that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Raycom Media, Inc. (Raycom owns "CBS6" WTVR Richmond.) Pursuant to the terms of the merger, Raycom will pay cash consideration of $47.35 per share of Liberty common stock and will assume approximately $110 million of debt for a total enterprise value of approximately $987 million. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, Raycom is a privately held television broadcaster with 37 stations in 28 markets.The closing of the transaction is subject to the approval of Liberty’s shareholders, the approval of the Federal Communications Commission and other customary conditions. Liberty shareholders owning approximately 20% of Liberty’s outstanding shares have agreed to vote in favor of the merger. According to Hayne Hipp, Chairman and CEO of Liberty, “Broadcasting has been essential to the success of Liberty Corporation for 70 years of the century we’ve been in business. The transaction we announce today is testimony to the exemplary reputation we’ve built as both a standard-bearer in the industry and a champion of each community in which we serve. In Raycom, we have found a company whose stellar record of public service and commitment to local news and information mirror our own. This transaction will afford our employees the opportunity to flourish within a company dedicated to the television broadcasting business, and enable our shareholders to realize full and fair value.” :// Sure you wanna go? | Thursday, August 25, 2005UPDATED: Brian Sinkoff, a sports anchor for New York Times' "Your NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk, recently handed in his resignation for a Sports Director position at Young Broadcasting's "News10" WTEN (ABC) Albany. Sinkoff is replacing a very popular, veteran Sports Director at the station, Dan Murphy whose contract was not renewed. Apparently the General Manager of WTEN, Rene LaSpina, has made a name for herself... LaSpineless. Media Critic Mark McGuire of the Albany Times-Union gets you all caught on are latest episode, in an endless string of them, of LaSpina and Sinkoff's new station. After reading all of that, why would any one want to go there? Well, we do hear that both Sinkoff and LaSpina worked together at WNEP (16/ABC) Scranton PA. :// FIR gets new news anchor | Thursday, August 25, 2005 Mel Wheeler News/Talk WFIR/960 Roanoke names Tom Williams as its new morning news anchor. Williams comes from West Virginia via Bristol Broadcasting's "SuperTalk 950" WVTS Charleston where he served as the station's Program Director.:// RDS update | Thursday, August 25, 2005Davis Media's AAA "107-9 The Tide" WYTD West Point/Williamsburg recently started using RDS (Radio Data Service). For now, only "THE TIDE" is being displayed. :// Fun on The Lake | Thursday, August 25, 2005Centennial's WBWR (106.9) Bedford is stunting, playing a loop of "lake" sound effects (splashing water, ducks, motorboat, etc.). A legal ID from 8 a.m. (voiced by Bob Abbott) was recorded this morning. The signal, from Thaxton Mountain between Lynchburg and Roanoke, offers ideal coverage of Smith Mountain Lake, home of retirees and water lovers. The station used to play Standards and call itself, "The Lake." As we reported last Friday, looks like it will be deja vu all over again. :// 96X-er featured | Tuesday, August 23, 2005PD Michele Diamond of Sinclair's Alternative '96X" WROX/96.1 is featured this week on AllAccess.com's "10 Questions With..." in the site's Alternative section. :// Prop that door open, another exits WTKR | Tuesday, August 23, 2005President & GM Frank Chebalo of New York Times' "Your NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk announced to his staff that General Sales Manager (GSM) Thomas Becker has left the station. Chebalo told staffers thru an email Becker's exit was "the culmination of a process started some time ago," nevertheless, Channel 3 loses another person. In the same email, Chebalo announces that Jeff McCallister is the new "acting" GSM for WTKR. :// The Bob & Tom Show comes to Real Classic Rock! “The Funniest Morning Show in America” to debut August 29th | Tuesday, August 23, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Real Classic Rock 104.9/105.5 (WWRT/WWRE) is pleased to announce the addition of The Bob & Tom Show to its lineup, starting Monday, August 29, 2005. In addition to Bob & Tom’s weekday morning hilarity from 5 to 10, Real Classic Rock will also feature “The Best of Bob & Tom” every Saturday morning from 6 to 10.Premiering on WFBQ (Q95) in Indianapolis in 1983, Bob & Tom quickly became legendary in Indiana’s capital city. In 1995 The Bob & Tom Show network was launched and over the last ten years it’s grown to include over 150 stations in markets small and large in every corner of the country. “Bob & Tom are ‘laugh out loud’ funny,” said Real Classic Rock Operations Manager Jeff Adams. “Listeners all over the country can’t wait to hear what’s going to happen next every morning. We’re delighted to bring ‘the funniest morning show in America’ to Real Classic Rock.” The Bob & Tom Show features hosts Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold along with News Director Kristi Lee, Sports Director Chick McGee and a cast of hundreds. Regular guests to The Bob & Tom Show include Tim Allen, Peter Frampton, Brad Garrett, Bobcat Goldthwait, Larry The Cable Guy, George Lopez, Ed McMahon, John Mellencamp, Dick Vitale and hundreds of other celebrities from comedy, music, sports and entertainment. Longtime Real Classic Rock morning man Joe Sanchez will be heard every weekday afternoon from 2 until 7 beginning August 29th. “Joe has been a huge part of Real Classic Rock’s success ever since we debuted and I think listeners will love hearing him at work and on the drive home every weekday,” said Adams. Real Classic Rock’s weekday lineup, effective August 29th, looks like this:
For more information on The Bob & Tom Show, visit www.bobandtom.com. :// Surf sells | Monday, August 22, 2005 Davis Media, whose only station is Triple A "107-9 The Tide" WYTD West Point/Williamsburg, likes the area so much that it decides to purchase Bullseye Broadcasting's 50s-70s Oldies "Surf 92.3" WSRV Deltaville/Gloucester. Davis Media, headed up by Tom Davis, purchased WWBR/107.9 (now WTYD) from Jim Campana's Winner Broadcasting. Bullseye Broadcasting was another company of Jim's. Jim passed away last October.His widow Sherry Campana took over both companies and ends up selling both stations to Davis Media. Davis gets WSRV for $850,000. Mitt Younts of EnVest Media brokered the deal. A brand new classified ad has been posted on VARTV. Clear Channel Charlottesville is looking for a full-time on-air personality for 60s-70s Hits "SuperHits 102.3" WSUH. Click "Classified Ads" on the left navigation panel for the complete details.If your station/organization has any positions available (media orientated), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who reading..... (8/22/05) :// Channel 3 loses another one | Friday, August 19, 2005 Sports Reporter Brian Sinkoff of New York TImes "Your NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk has turned in his resignation. Sinkoff has accepted the Sports Director position at Young Broadcasting's "NEWS10" WTEN (ABC) Albany NY. That station just recently announced it wasn't renewing the contract of its long time Sports Director Dan Murphy. More on Murphy's exit from WTEN at Albany's TimesUnion.com. After Ted Alexander jumped ship to radio (mornings on Entercom AC WWDE/101.3), Sinkoff was doing sports Wednesdays through Sunday. The station, at times, wasn't doing any sports reporting on Mondays and Tuesdays. Sinkoff's resignation comes on the heels of WTKR announcing the hiring of their new Sports Director, to replace Alexander. Troy Brettson starts Monday. :// You ever wonder... | Friday, August 19, 2005... who's the idiot behind VARTV??? Ladies, I'm happily married...  :// Jammin' fills night void | Friday, August 19, 2005 Clear Channel Roanoke has announced that Jake Glenn will do nights on CHR "Jammin' JJS" WJJS/WJJX Roanoke/Lynchburg. Glenn is not new to Clear Channel, previously doing nights at CHR "Q94" WRVQ/94.5 Richmond. Also, Jammin' welcomes CC Dance "103-5 KTU" WKTU New York Harry Legg for voiceover and creative work. Expect to hear both voices in the next few weeks. Things are all well around the station, especially now, coming off of their best radio ratings Book in 10 years and beating crosstown rival Mel Wheeler CHR "K92" WXLK/92.3 which had their worst... ever.:// Is Star too wild for Richmond? | Friday, August 19, 2005Star, whose coarse talk show "Star & Buc Wild" has enraged local radio listeners, set the record straight: He is not African-American. His mother is a Caucasian of Italian descent. His father, "an American Negro." "I know nothing about Africa," he said. "Teresa Heinz Kerry is more African than I am." (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch) :// Bob eats Bear, Standards format to come??? | Friday, August 19, 2005Earlier this week, Centennial Broadcasting began simulcasting its Oldies "BOB FM" (WZZI/101.5 Vinton/Roanoke, WZZU/97.9 Lynchburg), on Centennial's recently picked up 106.9/WBWR Bedford/Roanoke-Lynchburg signal and its 10 watt Roanoke (actually Vinton) translator at 97.3 - W247AD - from Cumulus Media. The parent Bear frequency on 105.3, WBRW/Blacksburg, remains Rock and with Cumulus. The BOB FM trimulcast is temporary until a new, unannounced format is ready for debut. The 106.9 frequency purchase (and its repeater) set back Centennial $1.9M. :// Voth lands in NC | Friday, August 19, 2005 Former Anchor/Sports Reporter Bill Voth at Young Broadcasting's "8News" WRIC Petersburg/Richmond (ABC) has found his way south to North Carolina and in a bigger market. Voth was just announced as Cox Television "Channel 9 Eyewitness News" WSOC-TV's (ABC/Charlotte) newest Sports Reporter. Voth's replacement at WRIC is Dawn Davenport. A brand new classified ad has been posted on VARTV. Belo Broadcasting's WVEC (13/ABC) Hampton/Norfolk is looking for an Account Executive. Click "Classified Ads" on the left navigation panel for the complete details.If your station/organization has any positions available (media orientated), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who reading..... (8/18/05) :// Watch the Tube? What is this station? Digital channel shows videos 24/7 | Thursday, August 18, 2005 I'm not sure which surprised me more, that the 9 p.m. Monday repeat of "Everybody Loves Raymond" wasn't on -- furthering my sadness over its departure -- or that in its place was a show about music videos.Perhaps you caught WTVR's "preview" of The Tube, the new 24-hour video channel it quietly rolled out a few months ago and is now ready to trumpet. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch) :// A new arrival at 8News | Wednesday, August 17, 2005 Dawn Davenport is WRIC's (8/ABC) new Weekend Sports Anchor. She's hails from Liberty Broadcasting's "NewsChannel 3" WWAY Wilmington NC where she was a sports reporter and anchor. According to her old bio at WWAY, Davenport grew up in Atlanta, graduating with honors from Auburn University in December 2002 with a degree in Mass Communication/Radio Television, Film, and a minor in Theatre. Before coming to Wilmington, Davenport was a sports intern at Raycom Media WTOC (11/CBS) in Savannah GA. :// A new arrival at 13News | Wednesday, August 17, 2005 Sula Kim is joining the 13News (WVEC/ABC) team as Weekend Morning Anchor/Reporter. Kim comes to WVEC from Young Broadcasting's "Action News 2" WBAY(ABC) Green Bay, where she spent four winters. She was a reporter and fill-in anchor there. Prior to that, she worked as a reporter at Liberty Broadcasting's "NewsChannel 11" KCBD-TV (NBC) Lubbock TX. Her family lives in Los Angeles, and she attended UC San Diego. Just so you'll know... Sula is pronounced "Sella." She joins WVEC officially on September 13. :// More on ND's dismissal | Wednesday, August 17, 2005Today's Daily Press has more on Gary Stokes' exit at WAVY/WVBT. A brand new classified ad has been posted on VARTV. SInclair Communications is looking for a Control Operator/Announcer for its Norfolk cluster. Click "Classified Ads" on the left navigation panel for the complete details.If your station/organization has any positions available (media orientated), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who reading..... (8/16/05) :// NAACP protests "106.5 The Beat" morning show | Tuesday, August 16, 2005 The NAACP is planning a protest of a local radio show, calling the show offensive. The 106.5 (WBTJ/Richmond) radio station’s new syndicated morning show, “Star and Buc Wild” caused several NBC12 viewers to call and complain about the show’s content. Now Virginia’s NAACP is launching a protest against the radio station’s management, Clear Channel Broadcasting, Inc. (read more - NBC12.com) :// SportsRadio 910 news | Tuesday, August 16, 2005The first piece of news affects all FOX Sports Radio affiliates including Clear Channel's "SportsRadio 910" WRNL. Van Earl Wright has been canned. Wright co-anchored the "Fox Morning Extravaganza," with Wright based in Los Angeles since October 2004. The show has been billed as "two guys and a girl talking sports and having fun." For now, the show goes on with co-hosts Andrew Siciliano and Krystal Fernandez. It airs Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-noon, ET... WRNL is the new radio home for the National Football League's Washington Redskins. The former radio home was on Radio One Urban Oldies "Majic 105.7" WJMO... :// Wavy's ND exits | Tuesday, August 16, 2005LIN TV WAVY (10/NBC) News Director, Gary Stokes announced he and the station were parting ways. The "philosophical differences" was the reason given. For more than one year now, WVEC (13/ABC) has taken the top spot from WAVY in the coveted 90 minutes of news (5-6:30 p.m.). Channel 13 sits comfortably on top in the dinner hour now. Oddly enough, Stokes' announcement came at the same time, we hear, WVEC staffers were meeting with their newly named News Director Rich Levenson. :// Emergency landing broadcast LIVE | Monday, August 15, 2005UPDATED: WAVY (10/NBC) Portsmouth and WVEC (13/ABC) Hampton/Norfolk broke into their regular programmimg around 7:15 tonight to show dramatic LIVE coverage of a military C2 COD aircraft attempt, with sucess, an emergency landing at Naval Air Station Norfolk. The aircraft's rear landing gear would not come down. "Chopper 10" pilot John Massey and WVEC's "Sky13" were assisting the military throughout the ordeal, sticking with the coverage through the landing. Moments after the aircraft "landed," the 25 crew members and passengers were seen running from the plane to an area off the runway. With the exception of a few passengers that were shook-up, everyone aboard the plane was fine. There was no immediate mention on-air at WTKR (3/CBS) at the time. :// Congratulations to Hampton Roads Black Media Professionals! | Monday, August 15, 2005FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... On Friday, August 5, at the annual National Association of Black Journalists' Convention in Atlanta, HRBMP was awarded the Chapter of the Year honor! Below is the presentation made by NABJ as they presented this special honor to HRBMP. "At 24 years-old and counting, our chapter of the year was founded primarily to educate and contribute to the welfare of its surrounding African-American community. They regularly host seminars designed to help grassroots community organizations better utilize the media to their advantage. Last fall, they held such a seminar designed especially for small church congregations. This chapter is what you would call a model NABJ chapter. The chapter has a full calendar each year with professional development workshops for both students and professionals, as well as forums on issues that face the community. Through aggressive fundraisers like their spectacular annual Excel Awards gala, this chapter has awarded over $100,000 in scholarships and community contributions since it was founded. The chapter has an active, involved mentoring presence with area journalism students, and hosts mentoring events throughout the year. In fact, during the Hampton University controversy over censoring the school newspaper, this chapter joined the national office as pivotal forces in holding the university's feet to the fire on the tenets of journalism. And as the collective journalism struggle continues, still this chapter serves. For these reasons NABJ is proud to present the 2005 Chapter of the Year Award to the Hampton Roads Black Media Professionals!" The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is an association of journalists, students and media-related professionals that provides quality programs and services to benefit Black journalists worldwide. It is the largest national organization serving African-American journalists. Congratulations and thank you to all who continue to serve and make HRBMP, Inc. a strong and exemplary chapter! :// Personalities on Cool 92.1 | Monday, August 15, 2005 Do you recognize the voice in the sweepers on Clear Channel's new 60-70s Oldies "Cool 92.1?" It's nationally syndicated "Truckin' Tom Kent." We're thinking he'll appear with his show at night (7 p.m. to midnight) on Cool within the next few weeks. According to his website truckintom.com, he's LIVE from his basement in suburban Cleveland... and "plays the hits we all grew up with in the 60s and 70s on his syndicated radio shows "Hall Of Fame Coast To Coast" and "Into The Seventies." Susie Cruise, from CC Charlottesville's "SuperHits 102.3" WSUH, appears to be doing breaks (voicetracking) for Cool 92.1. It's not known if this is temporary or permanent... :// Charlottesville July 2005 TV Sweeps | Monday, August 15, 2005 When Gray Television signed on two new newscasts on "CBS19" WCAV and "ABC16" WVAW-LP in Charlottesville, it knew it couldn't topple market leader "NBC29" WVIR which had had the market to itself. Gray wanted viewers to have a choice when comes to news (and a piece of the TV news pie). Unfortunately, very few have taken notice... NOTE: The chart covers June 30 to July 27, 2005 (M-F, 5-day avg). Some ratings/shares figures are estimated. :// Chase now in the Big D | Monday, August 15, 2005Chase Thomas, one half of the "Supreme Team" (the other was Herman Hurston), has left Hampton Roads for a major market - Detroit. Beginning this morning, Thomas is the Executive Morning Show Producer for "MC Serch In The Morning with CoCo & Foolish" morning show on Clear Channel Urban "JLB" WJLB/97.9. Recently, Thomas was doing part-time work with Entercom Norfolk at Urban AC "95-7 R&B" WVKL and Rhythmic "Z104" WNVZ/104.5. Thomas said "Don London (OM at Entercom Norfolk) really looked out for me... I enjoyed every shift I did over at Entercom. (And) since the death of Luther Vandross, I (had) been doing the imaging for WVKL." He hopes that will continue. He mentions Production is his "love" too. But Thomas will be most remembered with the Supreme Team on Clear Channel Urban "103Jamz" WOWI/102.9. That show show started August 1991 with Thomas, Jammin' Jeanie and Scorpio. The name "Supreme Team" never went away. When Clear Channel Norfolk canned Hip-Hop on their 92.1 signal on March 1, 2004, the "Doug Banks Show" moved to sister WOWI, displacing the Supreme Team. Initially, Thomas was offered a position with sister station Urban AC "Vive 105.3" WSVY (known now as "105-3 KISS FM" WKUS) but instead "thought" the grass might be greener on the other side -- at On Top Communications' Urban "Hot 102.1/107.9" WWHV/WWBR. The Supreme Team lasted only one year on Hot. We hear Steve Hegwood (President/CEO of On Top Communications) couldn't afford having a LIVE morning show on WWHV. Thomas says about his exit, "I love Hampton Rds -- and Hampton Rds will always be my home." This is his second time leaving the area for a major market. The first time was back in April 1995, leaving CC to work at "Star 104.5" WYXR Philadelphia to do the love song show "Between The Sheets" for two years. :// Marketing to the masses tends to miss many | Monday, August 15, 2005Those who assume that African Americans who are both middle age and middle class watch pretty much the same movies and TV programs and read the same newspapers and magazines as do their white counterparts do so at their own peril. Try this experiment: Go around the workplace and say the name "Tom Joyner." When USA TODAY corporate management reporter Del Jones did that, white colleagues gave him an unknowing stare, while black colleagues lit up in recognition. Joyner reaches 8 million nationwide on 115 radio stations. His listeners average 40 years in age and have an average household income of $48,500. As the African-American market closes in on $1 trillion a year in spending power, Joyner warns that many companies have yet to figure out how to capture it. (read more - USA Today) Several new classified ads have been posted on VARTV including groups in Hampton Roads, Richmond and Fredericksburg. Click "Classified Ads" on the left navigation panel for the complete details.If your station/organization has any positions available (media orientated), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who reading..... (8/14/05) :// It's big vs. bigger in telecom war | Sunday, August 14, 2005 After Verizon Communications Inc. announced earlier this year that it planned to sell television services to compete with regional cable companies, it began digging in Virginia Beach to lay the necessary fiber-optic equipment.A few months later, cable operator Cox Communications Inc. began complaining about damage that the phone company was inflicting on Cox’s underground lines in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. Cox filed its objections with state regulators, claiming that Verizon has failed to notify the cable operator of cut lines and left it with service outages and angry customers. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot) :// Charlottesville viewers wake-up to new morning show Good Morning Charlottesville debuts after four months of planning | Saturday, August 13, 2005 "5, 4, 3, 2...," Jorma Tuomisto, the director of Good Morning Charlottesville, commands.While many of you were sleeping, many of us at the Newsplex, were working on Charlottesville's newest morning show. "We've been on the air, we know all the systems work, and it's just a terrific feeling," said News Director Jeremy Settle. (read more - CBS19) :// They’re Back!! Oldies are alive on…The ALL new Cool 92.1! | Friday, August 12, 2005FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Big News at Clear Channel Radio Norfolk as of 1:00PM today! The simulcast of WJCD/WCDG (LITE FM 107.7/92.1) has officially become two stations with two distinct formats. WCDG, 92.1 fm, is now Hampton Roads’ exclusive Oldies format station. The NEW COOL 92.1 will target the actively growing Baby Boomer population in and around the Hampton Roads area. WJCD, 107.7, LITE FM will maintain its Soft AC format and continue to cater to Adults 25-54. Clear Channel Radio Norfolk Vice President & Market Manager, Reggie Jordan, says that 25% of the Hampton Roads population are Baby Boomers or older, and we’ve heard from many who want the Oldies format back, so we have filled the void with a fun, upbeat format that will have some really great features. Beach music is a HUGE factor in Virginia Beach and is being ignored. “The New Cool 92.1” will cater to those listeners and more. Plus the oldies format gives us a market exclusive position! :// Oldies comes back to Hampton Roads | Friday, August 12, 2005Clear Channel Norfolk has dropped the Soft AC "Lite FM" simulcast on 92.1/WCDG and flipped it to 60s-70s Oldies. The flip occurred this afternoon at 1:03. The first song? "What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am" by Bill Deal. "Cool" fills the void left when Max Media dumped the format in July for Classic Hits/AC "92-9 The Wave." For now, "Cool 92.1" is jockless. :// WVEC-TV13 hires Rich Lebenson as new Executive News Director | Friday, August 12, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... President and General Manager Mario A. Hewitt announced the appointment of Rich Lebenson as the new Executive News Director for 13NEWS, effective September 6th.“Rich brings nearly twenty years of newsroom leadership to WVEC-TV and will help us continue to provide a long tradition of journalistic excellence to our Hampton Roads viewers.” said Hewitt. “This is an exciting time for us now, our station continues to lead the market and it’s clear his background and innovative style will take us even further.” Rich Lebenson, a native of New York, joins WVEC-TV from Belo station KREM-TV2 in Spokane, Washington. He served as Executive News Director there for over four years. His newsroom coverage has spanned major stories including California Wildfires, the 1989 Bay Area Earthquake and Hurricane Andrew. “13NEWS has an outstanding reputation. I'm excited and honored to join this award winning team and build on the legacy and great success of 13NEWS." says Lebenson Prior to being Executive News Director in Spokane, he has been in markets including San Francisco, Sacramento, Orlando, Cincinnati, Buffalo and Austin. :// Congrats! | Friday, August 12, 2005Frank Turner, Director of Operations of Metro Networks in Norfolk, announces that he and his wife Shannon, have adopted a baby girl from Guatemala. After nearly a 2 year process, Audra Victoria arrived to the United States Friday, August 5 and has been enjoying her American citizenship ever since. The Turner's have two other sons, Zane who is 15 and Casey, 7. :// Hungate back on the air | Friday, August 12, 2005At least for one week. Free Lance-Star's "Classic Rock 96.9" WWUZ has announced that Dick Hungate will fill in for Doc next week, beginning Tuesday at 2 p.m. Doc will be doing mornings for vacationing APD/MD/Morning host Rich Creeger. After eight years, Hungate was let go from Cox Radio's "96.5 The Planet" WKLR two weeks ago and replaced by a computer. For Richmonders who have missed Hungate on the air, WWUZ puts in a listenable signal into the northern half of the Metro. More on Hungate's arrival at classicrock969.com. :// WKCY, WSVA remain top radio stations | Friday, August 12, 2005News-talk and country music are the stations of choice for Valley radio listeners, but two pop stations made the biggest gains in the spring radio survey, and three other stations changed formats. Clear Channel’s country giant WKCY-FM led the market, according to survey results that Arbitron Inc. released Wednesday. (read more - Daily News-Record) :// Cox HSI to up speeds... again | Friday, August 12, 2005 Cox Cable Hampton Roads announced Tuesday that it was boosting speeds on it High Speed Internet (HSI) service with no fee increases. This is the second time in a year that they have done so.Cox is facing a looming competitive threat from Verizon. The telco recently begun to run fiber optics (FTTP, fiber to the premises) in Hampton Roads with advertised speeds three to four times faster than Cox's current speeds. Verizon is marketing their high speed Internet and new TV service as "FiOS" (fiber optic service). Thom Prevette, Cox Hampton Roads VP for Government and Public Affairs, said starting next week and continuing through March 2006, Cox will increase its "Preferred" Internet service's speed (up) to 5Mbps for uploads and (up to) 2Mbps for downloads. Currently, that tier offers speeds of (up to) 4Mbps up and (up to) 512Kbps down. The price will remain at $39.95/mo for all customers. The "Premiere" service will see an increase to 15Mbps for uploads and 2Mbps for downloads. Currently, that tier offers 5Mbps/768Kbps. The "Premiere's" cost stays put at $54.95/mo. The company offers a "Value" package of 256Kbps, up/down but there's no word yet if that tier will receive any increases. Prevette said, "(the speed increases) will make large download files happen instantaneously, rather than in four or five seconds". The company says the start of the upgrade, beginning next week, will commence on the Southside with most upgrades done by the end of the year. Cox HSI customers don't need to do anything. Cox will be updating customer's modems through software over the Internet. A brand new classified ad has been posted on VARTV. Sinclair Communications Norfolk is looking for an Account Executive for their FM stations (WPYA, WROX, WZNR). Click "Classified Ads" on the left navigation panel for the complete details.If your station/organization has any positions available (media orientated), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who reading..... (8/12/05) :// Sneak peek | Thursday, August 11, 2005We hear there will be a sneak peek of the brand new "Good Morning Charlottesville" AM news program airing on Gray Television's "CBS19" WCAV and "ABC16" tomorrow morning from 5 to 7. The show officially premieres on Monday. :// Give them a chance Jack, Bob, other formats returning element of fun to the radio | Thursday, August 11, 2005A few months ago while driving back from a concert in Norfolk, I started fiddling around with the buttons on the radio deck in the company car, desperate to tune in something along that particular stretch of I-64 that seems to swallow the air. What I found could have been a playback of the song list on my MP3 player. Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" was on. KISS' "I Was Made for Lovin' You" followed. After that came a parade of artists more incompatible than Tom and Katie. Barry White into Vanilla Ice into Gavin DeGraw into Prince into Dave Matthews Band into Gwen Stefani. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch) :// Another website makeover | Wednesday, August 10, 2005And this one is for the good. Bulleye's Broadcasting's 50s-70s Oldies "Surf 92.3" WSRV Deltaville/Middle Peninsula has completely renovated their website at wsrv.com. Check it out. :// WTKR names new Sports Director  | Wednesday, August 10, 2005New York Times' "Your NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk has named Troy Brettson as its new Sports Director. The slot has been vacant since May when Ted Alexander jumped from TV to radio to do mornings on Entercom Mainstream AC "2WD" WWDE/101.3. Jeff Parsons, WTKR's News Director, told staffers that Brettson will join the station "by August 22" with his on-air debut "TBD" (to be determined). Parsons mentioned that Brettson most recently hosted "The Wandering Golfer" on Scripp Network's "Fine Living" network, being one of four people who competed for six months for a long-term assignment. Before the hosting job, Brettson was with LIN TV's WOOD (8/NBC) Grand Rapids MI for six years as that station's weekend sports anchor/reporter. Brettson is represented by Steve Swienckowski at The David Crane Agency. Here's a short clip of Brettson at work. :// Podcasting comes to Hampton Roads stations  | Wednesday, August 10, 2005Saga Communications' Active Rocker "FM99" WNOR/98.7 Norfolk has a brand new podcasting page on its fm99.com website. A station official says, "We at FM 99 and the FOX feel that you can either embrace technology or get passed by. People lives have changed and they want their fun when they want it. This, along with our radio streaming is another great way to provide out content to listeners "On demand." They can either listen in as it plays, or download the best of the morning shows directly to their iPODS, MP3 players, etc." The new podcast page can be found at www.fm99.com/podpage.asp. The station rep went on to say, "We'll be updating it daily, and making tweaks to the page to allow it to be more user friendly. (As far as I know), we're the only stations in HR to make this available... Unique content on Demand! We're very excited about this new undertaking for FM 99 and the FOX!" The podcasting page for Classic Rock "106.9 The Fox" WAFX will be available next week featuring the best of "John & Leila" in the morning. :// The End of Rock (Except in Richmond) Rock stations failing in some big markets | Tuesday, August 9, 2005Modern rock, alternative rock, progressive rock, new rock – whatever you may call it, the rock format is failing in some of the larger markets across the U.S. One of the exceptions: Richmond. That's right, the 56th largest market (according to Arbitron) with an estimated population of 900,000 has not only one station with a rock format but two. (read more - Richmond.com) :// Studio Center goes Hollywood! | Tuesday, August 9, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... William “Woody” Prettyman, CEO of Studio Center Worldwide Audio, today announced the acquisition of Hollywood, CA based Tele-Talent International, Inc. as part of their nationwide expansion. “We love the Los Angeles market and Tele-Talent International, Inc. has been very successful there for twenty-three years. We are extremely excited about the long term prospects of this acquisition.”Studio Center Worldwide Audio, founded 39 years ago has grown into America’s number one production facility, producing over 10,000 commercials annually for clients such as A&E, AOL, BMW, Blockbuster Video, Bud Light, the Cartoon Network, Domino’s, GEICO, Kroger, HGTV, Heineken, The History Channel, Lowe’s, McDonald’s, MTV, NASA, NASCAR, PBS, Pepsi, Starbucks, Subway, Victoria’s Secret and The Washington Post. Tele-Talent International, Inc. founded 1982 as a full-service voice-over production studio has served the Los Angeles market for over twenty years. Tele-Talent International, Inc. provides the very best of Hollywood’s actors and voice-talents for TV commercials, radio commercials and movie trailers. Tele-Talent International, Inc. is well known in the advertising community for their outstanding foreign language voice-over and translation division. “Foreign language translation and voice-overs is a rapidly growing market. By acquiring Tele-Talent International, Inc. we bolster our own foreign roster and hopefully attract more voices from around the world.” Studio Center Worldwide Audio has 16 studios in four cities producing Radio and TV commercial audio, plus audio for documentaries, CD-ROMS, in-flight entertainment, computer games, toys, web sites, corporate training programs and in-store announcements for clients in all 50 states and 23 countries around the world. Studio Center Worldwide Audio has received over 900 awards over the last four decades, including Local, Regional and National Addys, Tellys, Clios, Silver Microphones and a Grammy Award. :// Metro Networks' RealTraffic web service exceeds 30M page views WTOP Washington DC leads the pack | Tuesday, August 9, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Metro Networks, with its subsidiary, SmartRoute Systems, both Westwood One companies, together with Maptuit® Corporation, announced today that their RealTraffic™ web service has exceeded 30 million website page views this calendar year. Of all the Radio, TV, Newspaper, and State Departments of Transportation using RealTraffic, WTOP-AM listeners in Washington DC, were responsible for almost 3,800,000 page views, this year alone. All of this coming in less than nine months since debuting the service.Stations using RealTraffic in addition to WTOP-AM include, WUSA-TV and WRC-TV, The Washington Post and numerous others. "Traffic is the #1 thing that we cover. It is the DNA of WTOP," said WTOP's Jim Farley, Vice President of News and Programming. "In Washington DC quality of life is defined by where you live, where you work and how long it take to get from one to the other. Traffic is the biggest draw to the station. It's traffic, then news - in that order. RealTraffic is a very important weapon in our arsenal. It is the biggest entry point for our website (wtopnews.com)... our listeners are extremely pleased. While nothing can be updated as fast as radio broadcasts, RealTraffic comes awfully close and there are very few products on the web that can say that." By using RealTraffic, commuters who subscribe to the service are able to set up personalized accounts where they can enter locations such as "work" and "home," as well as define trips between them such as "home to the gym on weekdays at 7:30AM", or "work to home, weekdays between 5:30PM and 7PM". At the specified time intervals, the RealTraffic service checks each trip for traffic incidents and notifies the commuter of any traffic advisory that will impact their trip using a SMS (Short Message Service) or e-mail alert. Using the website, the commuter will have the ability to request an alternate route that avoids congestion. :// It's a boy! | Tuesday, August 9, 2005Kerri Furey, morning and midday co-anchor at WAVY (10/NBC), gave birth to a baby boy yesterday afternoon at 12:08. Samuel was born 6 pounds, 13 ounces and 20 inches long. Kerri, husband Kevin, and Samuel are all doing well. :// New set for 8News | Monday, August 8, 2005Young Broadcasting debuted the new news set for WRIC (8/ABC) today during the 6 p.m. newscast. :// New Arbitron radio market rankings released Hampton Roads, Richmond stay steady  | Monday, August 8, 2005The new market rankings will take effect for the Fall 2005 ratings period...
A brand new classified ad has been posted on VARTV. Davis Media (Triple A "107-9 The Tide" WTYD West Point/Williamsburg) has started an Internship Program. Click "Classified Ads" on the left navigation panel for the complete details.If your station/organization has any positions available (media orientated), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who reading..... (8/8/05) :// On Top Communications having hard time paying its bills | Monday, August 8, 2005 According to InsideRadio.com, Steve Hegwood's On Top Communications filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US Bankruptcy Court in Maryland. We hear it was Thursday, July 28. In addition to owning Urban "Hot 102.1" WWHV Virginia Beach, the group also has stations in Jackson MS, New Orleans and Albany GA. InsideRadio.com says Hegwood's red ink totals $19.8M. The bankruptcy filing shows he lost $407,229 of his own money. On Top's corporate office is in Lanham MD.:// Former morning host has new website | Friday, August 5, 2005Barry Michaels, formerly mornings on Max Media defunct WFOG/92.9 with "Michaels In The Morning," has recently launched a brand new website at thebarrymichaels.com. Fans of Michaels, we still get 'em daily, can sign and read a guestbook on the site. :// A note... | Thursday, August 4, 2005You can now access Max Media of the Carolinas "Water Country 94.5" WCMS Hatteras website at wcms.com. :// Website makeover | Thursday, August 4, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Fredericksburg's new News Talk 1230 website debuted on Monday to rave reviews. www.NewsTalk1230.net is now the area's premiere location for online news (Top news from ABC, local news from the award-winning News Talk 1230 News Team), a robust community calendar, closings and delays, information and links to in-studio guests, PLUS connections to the country's #1 lineup of Talk Show hosts: Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Kim Komando, and Alan Colmes.News Talk 1230 Operations Manager Brian Demay said "it was time to showcase the talent on this station in a cleaner, more dynamic way. Without the clutter of other area sites, www.NewsTalk1230.net has everything a News Talk 1230 listener needs, along with some classy pictures of the area. I'm very pleased with the new site, and the online games are a lot of fun too!" :// CC Harrisionburg changes | Thursday, August 4, 2005A couple of updates from Clear Channel Harrisonburg. Dan Joyce transfers over from CC Charlottesville promotions to the APD/Morning slot on AC "Mix 93-1" WSVO Staunton. Kirby is the new PM jock for CHR "93-7 KISS FM" WAZR. Kirby hails from CC Raleigh, where he did weekend/swing/promotions at CHR "G105" WCDG/105.1. :// Joy gets PD | Wednesday, August 3, 2005Davidson Media Group has announced that Dee Daniels will be Southern Gospel "Joy 990" WLEE's new Program Director. She will also handle mornings for the new station. Daniels was previously with Metro Traffic Richmond. :// Changes at The Planet | Wednesday, August 3, 2005Dick Hungate, on-the-air in Richmond since August 1982 and for the last eight years as midday personality for Cox Radio's Classic Rocker "96.5 The Planet" WKLR was let go last Friday afternoon. According to Hungate, "General Manager Steve McCall and new Operations Manager Tim Baldwin were very nice and professional about it. There wasn't any tension or negativity on either side, although I must say I was completely, completely surprised. The reason cited was a desire to cut fixed costs...period. They stressed the dismissal had absolutely nothing to do with ratings or job performance, but just a plan to voice-track the 10 a.m.-3 p.m. show using the Planet's brand new PD from KOOJ in Baton Rouge, Louisiana...Paul Cannell. I do NOT have a non-compete and am very interested in getting back on the air with another Richmond-area station. I understand that Cox Radio has a perfect right to run its radio stations any way it sees fit and am taking this action philosophically rather than personally. It is no different than when the Atlanta Braves decided that veteran pitchers such as Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine no longer fitted into plans. Maddux and Glavine were traded but continue to be friendly with Braves management and that's how I feel about the great folks at Cox Radio Richmond. They've been good to me and we had a nice ride together. I wish them only the best." Hungate began his radio career at age 15 with Jefferson-Pilot down in Greensboro, NC and his travels took him to WMMR in Philadelphia, where he did middays and music under then PD and now consultant Jeff Pollack in 1978 and 79. In 1980, he was the PD/middays for Shamrock Broadcasting's "W-4" WWWW in Detroit and personally hired Howard Stern away from WCCC-AM in Hartford, CT for mornings. (We all know the rest of that story!) After W-4 switched to country in late 1980, Hungate went back to Philadelphia and was PD/midday man for WYSP, later the very first acquisition by Mel Karmazin for the fledgling Infinity Broadcasting. Replaced by a hand-groomed understudy to Tony Beradini at their flagship station WBCN in Boston, Hungate ended up coming to Richmond in late August of 1982 to do middays for Rocker "XL102" WRXL, then owned by Jim Goodman's Capital Broadcasting out of Raleigh. With other veterans such as Paul Shugrue, Dal Hunter, Jeff Beck, Jeff McKee, Rik Maybee and Brian McFadden, XL102 began a long and steady ratings climb that crested with a #1 across-the-board Arbitron in 1989. Dick Hungate can be reached at (804) 748-7472. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch). :// Point promotion | Wednesday, August 3, 2005Entercom Norfolk recently announced that Modern AC "94.9 The Point" WPTE middayer Mark McCarthy has been promoted to Music Director. :// WHEE snags crosstown WMVA Martinsville Media Group announces acquisition of WMVA Radio | Wednesday, August 3, 2005FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... On July 22nd, 2005 The Martinsville Media Group that includes WHEE Radio - AM1370 and WYAT-TV40 acquired WMVA Radio - AM1450. Bill Wyatt, owner and operator of WHEE Radio and WYAT-TV40 assumes duties of station operation of all three broadcast facilities. “As large corporations continue to buy locally owned and operated stations across the country, we continue to consolidate our operations in order to be competitive in the marketplace” Wyatt said. Bill Wilson, who sold the station to Wyatt said “It was important to me that WMVA remain in the hands of someone who lives here and is committed to the area. Joining WHEE Radio, WYAT-TV40, and WMVA Radio just makes good business sense.” Specific programming changes will be announced within the month. Commenting on the sale, Wyatt said “WMVA will continue its long heritage of broadcasting local news, weather, and sports to the area. We are excited about returning high school football and basketball to the airwaves and WMVA will continue its long relationship with Virginia Tech Sports. WHEE will continue its relationship with UVA Sports. We will be returning some of the programs that have been heard on 1450 for as long as anyone can remember and we will be introducing some new programs as well. TV40’s studios are currently housed at our Franklin Street building where the WHEE studios are located. We knew we were going to be out of room by the time we got on the air and recognized that in order for TV40 to grow into the station we intend for it to be, we were going to have to relocate the TV studios in the coming months to accommodate our growth. The WMVA facility on Chatham Heights Road will allow us the room we need to outfit a quality TV control room, TV production room, and four permanent TV studio sets. :// Comcast carries subchannels | Wednesday, August 3, 2005Comcast Richmond has begun to carry the digital subchannels of Raycom Media's WTVR-DT (6/CBS) Richmond. WTVR's high definition channel (6-1) is still on Comcast channel 212 with DopplerMax 6 Radar (6-2) now on Comcast channel 206 and Tube Network (6-3) on Comcast channel 207. Cable subscribers only need basic digital cable service to receive the new WTVR subchannels. :// Baker Family at it again | Tuesday, August 2, 2005A buying spree... The Baker's Positive Alternative Radio has agree to purchase CLL's (Terry L Cook) religious "The Lord's Station" WTTX/107.1 Appomattox/Lynchburg. The Baker's have already made a $200,000 down payment and will pay $300,000 cash at closing, along with a $1.3 million promissory note ($1.8M grand total). In the meantime, a TBA (Time Brokerage Agreement) has been forged for $8K/mo. WTTX is a Class A, doing 1.7kW at 427ft. VARTV reported late June that Positive Alternative Radio agreed to purchase all of CSN Virginia's stations (4 full power and 14 translators) for $8M. The group already has a Christian AC (CCM) outlet in Culpeper -- "89.9 WPER" and the bigger CCM "Spirit FM" simulcast in Roanoke (WRXT/91.3) and the surrounding areas including Lynchburg. :// Changes at WVHL | Tuesday, August 2, 2005FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (The Farmville Herald) WVHL "92.9 Kickin' Country" (Farmville) is proud to introduce its revamped weekday on-air lineup:
10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Mid-Day Shuffle with Brad... with 3 hours of music and requests to make your mid-days more interesting. 1-5 p.m.: Afternoons with Jeff McMurray...Keeping the afternoons "Kickin'" with music, news, and humor 5 p.m.-12 m: JD's Country Nights: Southside's only live nighttime jock plays your requests from 5-7 p.m... plus Southern Rock from 11-12! | Monday, August 1, 2005Country was the hot format in this Spring radio ratings books in Virginia. The Country format was tops (12+) in Fredericksburg (WFLS), then Winchester (WUSQ), Charlottesville (WCYK) and now Richmond (WKHK) and Hampton Roads (WGH).  Max Media's "97-3 The Eagle" WGH, which bills itself the #1 most listened-to Arbitron rated Country music station in Virginia, soars to the top of the Spring Book. It's been quite awhile since the market has had only one Country station. Clear Channel Urban AC "105-3 KISS FM" WKUS was second, improving on its Winter numbers which had it placed first. Sister Urban "103Jamz" WOWI was third, Max Media's Contemporary Inspirational "Star 94.1" WXEZ was fourth with Entercom Mainstream AC "2WD" WWDE/101.3 rounding out the Top 5. Market notables... The distance between Active Rock "FM99" WNOR/98.7 and Max Media's Rock "100.5 MAX FM" continues, slowly. Sinclair's Alternative "96X" WROX/96.1 got a much needed boost after two straight dismal periods. The news isn't good at sister station CHR "The Zone@106-1" WZNR. It just mustered a 1.3 (12+). Within the last several weeks, the station has added a lot of Hip-Hop tracks to its playlist especially in the afternoon and evening hours and is targeting crosstown Rhythmic "Z104" WNVZ/104.5... In Richmond, Cox Radio's Country "K95" WKHK/95.3 being consistent, and with CC Soft AC "Lite 98" WTVR/98.1 taking a big dip, places the station in first (12+). Lite 98 gets a second place tie with Radio One's Urban AC "99.3/105.7 KISS FM" WKJS/WKJM. Following closely at fourth was CC Urban "106-5 The Beat" WBTJ with fifth going to sister "NewsRadio 1140" WRVA. Market notables... The gap slowly continues to grow between The X (WRXL/102.1) and Y (WDYL/101.1) with The X on top. CC's CHR "Q94" WRVQ/94.5 continues to show life. Early last year, the station was experiencing some of its lowest ratings... ever. MainQuad's "93-1 The Wolf, Country That Rocks" WJZV gets a big jump from Winter. CC's "SportsRadio 910" WRNL doubles Gee Communications "ESPN Radio 950" WXGI's 12+ numbers. And where is Davidson Media's Spanish "Selecta 1320" WVNZ? No where to be found this ratings period (12+)...:// Verizon seeks Fairfax approval for cable franchise | Saturday, July 30, 2005 Verizon is moving full steam ahead with plans to jump into competition with cable TV companies.It has submitted a cable franchise application with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to offer broadband and video services to residents of the county, one of the first areas in the nation to get it. The county will hold a public hearing on Verizon's application Sept. 26. (read more - BizJournals) :// Chuck Allen has passed away | Saturday, July 30, 2005 Charles Nelson Allen, III, a Hampton Roads on air personality with stops at "2WD" WWDE/101.3 and WFOG/92.9, passed away last Sunday, July 24. He was 53. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Monday, August 1, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. tomorrow at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home located at 2551 N Armistead Ave, Hampton. Friends are encouraged to visit mem.com to share tributes or words of comfort. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
1625 Big Bethel Rd Hampton VA 23666 | Friday, July 29, 2005 Get ready, Richmond and Henrico County. It's your turn. Last month, Comcast Cable of Chesterfield drastically altered its channel lineup, repositioning most of the channels on the analog tier. Those channel changes take place on the rest of the Comcast Richmond systems beginning tomorrow. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch):// Hampton Roads July 2005 TV Sweeps | Friday, July 29, 2005The following chart below has been revised. It was brought to our attention that WTKR's 5 a.m. newscast got beaten by repeats of The Cosby Show at 5 a.m. and Sabrina, The Teenage Witch at 5:30 a.m. on "UPN27" WGNT.  NOTE: The chart covers June 30 to July 27, 2005 (M-F, 5-day avg). Some ratings/shares figures are estimated. :// 96X beats up WVEC | Friday, July 29, 2005This one slipped past us but last Saturday, July 23, "96X" WROX/96.1 beat WVEC (13/ABC) in the media softball league championship game 14 to 6. Big Kev help lead the 96X crew with two diving catches in one inning and Ralph Almodovar who pitched victories in the first two playoff games and the championship game went 9-10 at bat. Recently, Mike Mazursky of Davidson Media Group, received the new title of Vice-President Sales and Marketing..... (7/29/05):// More on WAGE being sold | Friday, July 29, 2005One of the last home-owned radio stations in the Commonwealth, WAGE-AM, has been sold to a Northern Virginia company, Potomac Radio LLC. Former Washington, DC, communications attorney, James Weitzman, heads the company. (read more - Leesburg Today) (read more - Loudoun Times-Mirror) :// Changes to the WRVA line-up | Thursday, July 28, 2005Clear Channel "NewsRadio 1140" WRVA Richmond will be adding Sean Hannity from WTOX/1480 to it's line-up come Monday, August 1. The station is dropping Dr Laura Schlessinger. Here is the new weekday line-up starting at 3 p.m.:  3-6 p.m. Mac Watson6-9 p.m. Sean Hannity 9 p.m.-midnight Michael Savage midnight-5 a.m. - Coast to Coast :// Christmas in July on K95 | Thursday, July 28, 2005As the mercury inched its way to 100, country music station WKHK in Richmond, Virginia, dusted off the Christmas carols. And its listeners simply loved the idea of beating the heat by the power of suggestion."The phones just went bananas," program director Jim Tice said. "People really appreciated the cooling effect." A cold front began bringing temperatures down early Thursday, but cooler weather seemed light years away Wednesday as the East Coast soared into the upper 90s for a fourth straight day. (read more - CNN.com) :// Changes to the WGH-AM line-up | Thursday, July 28, 2005Max Media's Sports "ESPN Radio 1310" WGH will have a new on-air line-up effective Monday, August 1. The station will be eliminating Fox Sports Net's "The Jim Rome Show." The new line-up on WGH is:  6-10 a.m. Mike and Mike In The Morning10 a.m.-1 p.m. The Herd 1-3 p.m. Dan Patrick 3-7 p.m. Tony Mercurio Show (local) 7 p.m.-midnight Game Night midnight-6 a.m. ESPN Radio :// Changes to the WTOX line-up | Thursday, July 28, 2005Davidson Media's "Talk Radio 1480" WTOX Glen Allen/Richmond is dropping Sean Hannity for local shows beginning August 1. The new on-air line-up on WTOX is:  Imus In The Morning 6-10 a.m.Gallagher 10 a.m.-12 noon Dennis Prager 12 noon-2 p.m. Local shows 2 p.m.-7 p.m. Local shows and/or sports 7 p.m.-6 a.m. :// New Friday afternoon lineup starts next week on WXGI | Wednesday, July 27, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... ESPN Radio 950 WXGI will begin to debut its new Friday afternoon lineup starting August 5th at 5pm. “Pro Football Weekly” will air from 5 until 6, every Friday afternoon throughout the NFL season. Pro Football Weekly is in its 18th year, as one of America’s leading nationally syndicated sports programs. It is hosted by PFW Publisher/Editor, Hub Arkush, and legendary NFL Play by Play announcer, and voice of the Green Bay Packers, Wayne Larrivee. The show also features in-depth previews of the week’s biggest games in football throughout the NFL season with interviews from the leading coaches, writers and broadcasters around the country.Starting September 2nd ESPN Radio 950 listeners will get a long awaited wish; live, local programming on Friday afternoons. The Friday Sports Beat will air live from 4 to 5pm, hosted by Matt Smith and Mike Litos. Matt and Mike will talk about the latest topics in sports, with guest interviews and listener phone calls. The Friday Sports Beat is the first live call-in show on Friday afternoons since The Drive began in it's Monday thru Thursday format last July. Matt has been a fixture on the sidelines at University of Richmond sporting events over the past 17 years, serving in a variety of capacities. Currently, he is the sideline reporter for Spider football broadcasts, the play-by-play voice for the UR women’s basketball program and a fill-in color commentator for selected men’s basketball broadcasts. The former marketing manager for Tuff Stuff magazine promoted and managed some of the nation’s largest sports memorabilia conventions and wrote a monthly column for the magazine. While with Tuff Stuff, he managed more than 100 personal appearances by former and current professional athletes. A native of Frederick, MD - Matt got his first taste of spots journalism covering minor league baseball for WFMD radio and writing about prep sports for the Frederick News Post. He’s also worked as a TV college basketball statistician for ESPN, Fox and Comcast. Matt is currently with Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance, where he handles marketing and public relations. He and his wife, Heather, have a daughter Gillian. Michael grew up in Roanoke, VA and was weaned on ACC basketball. His family had season tickets to University of Virginia games spanning the Wally Walker and Ralph Sampson years, and University Hall is where he fell in love with the game of college basketball. After writing for the school newspaper at Virginia Commonwealth University, Michael spent the first eight years of his career as a magazine writer and editor for several sports and sports memorabilia titles. He was both a columnist and feature writer, and logged many hours editing other writers’ work. Michael has deep interviewing experience, including sports celebrities from Mickey Mantle to Alex Rodriguez to Brett Favre. He’s been quoted on multiple occasions in USA Today and once received a personal letter of appreciation from Chris Berman of ESPN. Currently, Michael runs his own free lance writing business and is working on a book about mid major college basketball. If he’s not in front of his laptop, Michael can usually be found on the golf course chasing the elusive hole in one. High School Football will make its return to ESPN Radio 950 starting September 9th. Coverage will start weekly at 6:15 with the Pigskin Preview pre-game show. Gary Criswell and Mark Smith are teamed together again this season, bringing the return of high school football to the station for the first time in three years. The play-by-play broadcast beings at 7:15. This year’s schedule is as follows:
9/16 LC Bird @ Meadowbrook 9/23 Meadowbrook @ Manchester 9/30 Clover Hill @ LC Bird 10/7 Thomas Dale @ Meadowbrook 10/14 Matoaca @ Thomas Dale 10/21 LC Bird @ Manchester 10/28 LC Bird @ Huguenot 11/4 Douglas Freeman @ Hermitage 11/11 TBD 11/18 Central Region Playoffs 11/25 Central Region Playoffs 12/3 State Semi-Finals 12/10 State Finals :// A Wave of changes, West comes back home | Wednesday, July 27, 2005Max Media Hampton Roads is making on-air changes at three of its stations. Karen West, previously middays on defunct 70s-60s Hits WFOG/92.9, moves back over to sister station Country "97-3 The Eagle" WGH in the same time slot beginning Monday, August 1. She was a 13-year Eagle veteran before being moved over to WFOG two years ago. To make room for West's arrival on The Eagle, current middayer, Zak Tyler, will move to sister station Mainstream Rock "100.5 MAX FM" WXMM. In this interesting move, Tyler will become MAX FM's new morning personality at a station that touts "Shut Up... And Rock Mornings," an obvious jab at crosstown Rocker "FM99" WNOR/98.7. Don't expect too much chatter from Tyler when he starts later in August. More on the on-air line-up at Max Media's Classic Hits/AC "92-9 The Wave" WVBW coming soon. :// Rumors... | Tuesday, July 26, 2005We hear there was a meeting today at the MainQuad HQs. Were they talking about how hot it was today??? :// WB33 off of DISH? | Tuesday, July 26, 2005 It could happen. Sinclair Broadcasting Group's "WB33" WTVZ Norfolk and satellite provider Echostar with its DISH Network are in negotiations, presumably over transmission fees, to keep WTVZ on DISH past August 1. A "crawl" has been running on the bottom screen saying that the station was in negotiations with DISH network to remain on their service. Apparently, this could be affecting other Sinclair-owned stations around the country. The following is a quote from a link on WTVZ's website...
The agreement between Echostar and Sinclair, which allows Sinclair's television stations to be carried by the DISH satellite network, is scheduled to expire on Monday, August 1, 2005. We recently offered to extend the agreement for an additional month to allow us additional time to negotiate with Echostar, but Echostar has unfortunately refused to agree to such an extension. Although we remain willing to negotiate with Echostar and hope to reach a long-term agreement, a risk exists that our television stations will no longer be carried on the DISH network after August 1, 2005. Accordingly, in order to ensure your uninterrupted ability to watch the quality programming appearing on Sinclair's television stations, you may want to consider contacting your local cable operator or DirecTV, whose ability to continue to carry our programming will not be impacted. We will keep you informed of any change in the status of our negotiations. | Monday, July 25, 2005The syndicated Star & Buc Wild morning show debuted on Clear Channel Urban "106-5 The Beat" WBTJ Richmond this morning. Their show replaces the Doug Banks Show heard 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Star and Buc were fired from Emmis' Rhythmic "Hot 97" WQHT New York in 2003, being with the station for three years in the morning. While they sat out a non-compete with Emmis, they signed with Clear Channel's Urban "Power 104.1" WPHH Hartford CT and eventually syndicated to CC's Urban "Power 99" WUSL Philadelphia. They are now heard in New York again on CC Urban "Power 105.1" WWPR along with Miami, Augusta GA and now in Richmond. :// WKHK to get juiced up | Monday, July 25, 2005VARTV reported this past January (1/3/05) that Cox Radio submitted an application to the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) to reclassify Country "K95" WKHK/95.3 Colonial Heights to a full Class B license from its current B1 status. The FCC granted the application today. Cox Radio will increase WKHK's power to 50kW from its current 17.5kW, the antenna will be 30 meters (98 feet) higher up on a new tower just west of Charles City. They currently beam from a location right near Chippenham and I-95. To do this, Cox Radio is compensating JLC Properties, headed up by John L Cole, to move the transmitter site of Hot AC WHLF/95.3 South Boston approximately five miles to the NW and power down to 4kW (from 6kW) and lower it's antenna to 50 meters/164 feet (from 75m/246ft) at the new site. The compensation amount from Cox Radio to JLC Properties is unknown. :// Help FOX pick a new anchor | Monday, July 25, 2005 Roanoke's FOX affiliate, WFXR/WJPR, is using the "American Idol" approach to selecting a new anchor for its 10:00 pm newscast. Anchor candidates are being auditioned - on the air and during sweeps no less - and viewers are being asked to select their favorite from the crop. The Roanoke Times offers more information in the following article: roanoke.com. A brand new classified ad has been posted on VARTV. Easy Radio Inc (Stardust 105.7/WMXH Luray/Harrisonburg, Classic Country 1330/WRAA Luray) is looking for a part-time board op PLUS other duties. Click "Classified Ads" on the left navigation panel for the complete details.If your station/organization has any positions available (media orientated), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who reading..... (7/25/05) :// Hampton Roads just got another TV station | Monday, July 25, 2005And were not talking about Channel 21 Virginia Beach either. The FCC has granted UNC-TV's (University of North Carolina) request to change the community of license (COL) of PBS affiliated WUND-TV/DT (analog 2/digital 20) from Columbia NC to Edenton NC. That takes the station out of the Greenville/Washington/New Bern TV DMA and puts into the Norfolk/Portsmouth/Newport News TV DMA. UNC-TV requested the change to get carriage on direct broadcast services (DBS/satellite providers) for residents in NE North Carolina which are considered to be in the Norfolk DMA. The COL move to Edenton will essentially force DirecTV and DISH Network to carry WUND for ALL Norfolk DMA residents. We say force because UNC-TV will demand that those two sat providers carry WUND. Our guess will be sometime this Fall. This was a big blow to Hampton Roads Educational Telecommunication Association's (HRETA) PBS affiliated WHRO-TV/DT (15). The station requested the proposed COL move be denied. One of the arguments of WHRO was UNC-TV's move was just a smoke screen to move into the Hampton Roads TV market. WHRO fears UNC-TV's move will hinder its fund raising efforts in Hampton Roads. WUND is already seen on the area's largest cable provider, Cox Cable Hampton Roads (Southside-only), on channel 6. Click here for the entire FCC ruling. Something to ponder... In the future, will UNC-TV try to move its antenna closer to Hampton Roads (to pick up residents on the Peninsula) and still cover their new COL with a city-grade contour??? :// Feeding the Q-Zoo’s listeners | Friday, July 22, 2005If you’re hearing guests like Mariah Carey, Will Smith, Joey McIntyre and the latest victims from Survivor on local radio, odds are you’re listening to the Q94 Morning Zoo (WRVQ/94.5 Richmond). (read more - Richmond Magazine) A brand new classified ad has been posted on VARTV. Davidson Media Group's Spanish "Selecta 1050" WVXX Norfolk is looking few a few good Sales persons. Click "Classified Ads" on the left navigation panel for the complete details.If your station/organization has any positions available (media orientated), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who reading..... (7/22/05) :// Smack cuts back | Friday, July 22, 2005Jay Smack, host of Clear Channel Alternative "102-1 The X" WRXL Richmond "Studio B" show and longtime production assistant at Clear Channel Radio, is cutting back his time at the company. Smack, who was MD, APD and PD at the now-defunct "The Buzz" WBZU has taken a job outside the radio industry. He will continue to host his weekend show on The X..... "FM 92-9" WFOG becomes "92-9 The Wave" WVBW. Heard the first hour on The Wave...
| Thursday, July 21, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... A brand new radio station launched this morning at 6 a.m. when 92.9 The WAVE, More of Your Favorites from Yesterday and Today (WVBW-FM) played its first song “Forever Young” by Rod Stewart. The final song that was played on 92.9 WFOG was “Catch A Wave” by The Beach Boys.After months of research and analysis, MAX MEDIA has introduced The WAVE as a new radio station that plays more of the music targeted exclusively for Hampton Roads Adults. WVBW 92.9 The WAVE is the upbeat / up tempo station designed to give the listeners the sound and excitement they have asked for. 92.9 The WAVE (WVBW) plays songs from superstars/legends Elton John, The Eagles, Rod Stewart, Fleetwood Mac and more. 92.9 The WAVE plays a wider variety of music than any other Hampton Roads radio station; it’s the only area station whose library spans the 60’s all the way to today’s music on a locally owned and operated radio station with primary focus on community and families. Eric Mastel, Max Media President commented, “WOW”, “The WAVE is one great radio station, I love it! I hope everyone else does too.” The WAVE is a great compliment to our incredible cluster of stations: 97.3 The Eagle (WGH-FM), Hampton Roads only country station, STAR 94.1(WXEZ-FM), 100.5 MAX-FM (WXMM-FM) and ESPN 1310 (WGH-AM)..... :// 92-9 The Wave debuts tomorrow | Wednesday, July 20, 2005Max Media confirms that WFOG will segue into a female-like Adult Hits/AC format as "92-9 The Wave" playing hits/"best of" from the 60s thru the 90s starting tomorrow. Hampton Roads already has Sinclair's Adult Hits "93-7 BOB FM" WPYA. Will The Wave be similiar to "Jill FM" in Los Angeles? That market also has a "Jack FM." Here's the email sent from WFOG PD Mike Allen ...Over the past few months we have talked to many of our listeners and received their suggestions via email and research surveys, and the common theme we heard was "we love the 60s and 70s, but there are other great songs out there. Expand the playlist. Play more music, from more eras.":// FM99 studio records Evanescence single Unplugged singing at radio station to be released nationwide | Wednesday, July 20, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... It’s hard to believe that an impromptu song, recorded live at a radio station in Chesapeake, Virginia, could make it so big. On April 14, 2003, the band Evanescence greeted a handful of fans at FM99’s studios. Winners of an on-air contest got to meet lead singer Amy Lee and then-guitarist Ben Moody. After being interviewed by FM99’s midday announcer Sonja, the pair agreed to sing an unplugged version of their hit “Going Under” live on the air. Sonja rolled tape, just in case it was worth playing again. She hit audio gold. Evanescence’s performance was not only flawless, but it was so inspiring that the band’s record label, SonyBMG, decided to release it as a single in Europe. Now, it’s going to be available in the United States. The recording will be released again on an upcoming compilation to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The CD, entitled the Power of Pink, Vol. 2, will be available only at Target stores. The release date will be announced later.“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of this,” Sonja said. “And the fact that it’s going to benefit such a great charity is an awesome bonus.” FM99 will get a small credit on the CD’s liner notes, as well. You can bet the staff will be among the first to rush to the store to snatch up a copy..... :// Michaels says goodbye, 92-9 The Wave... | Wednesday, July 20, 2005With The FOG dissipating, will that usher in The Wave??? Also, Barry Michaels said his good-byes today on-air, choking up co-host Jennifer Roberts. And, thank you for the mention of VARTV on-air, Barry, good luck to you! That's now six confirmed readers of VARTV..... :// Jack Prater back on the air | Tuesday, July 19, 2005FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Sinclair Communications is proud to announce the addition of Jack Prater to the WNIS morning show with Tony Macrini. All other members remain in place. Jack has been a voice in the Hampton Roads market for many years including stints in Oldies, Adult Contemporary, and Country formats. Most recently he was Program Director/Afternoon Drive personality for Sinclairs now defunct WKCK..... :// Radio refugees | Monday, July 18, 2005Five years ago, as personnel changes roiled the airwaves at Richmond's most popular AM radio station, three of its top people jumped ship. The former executives from WRVA decided to stick with what they knew -- sort of -- and started an advertising agency. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch) :// DTV's settle | Monday, July 18, 2005Regarding VARTV's post "Virginia DTVs face channel deadline" dated 6/29/05, Belo Broadcasting's WVEC (13/ABC) and Jefferson Pilot WWBT (12/NBC) have agreed to accept the "impermissible interference" to each other's stations, following the cessation of analog services, when both stations will move their digital operations to their former analog channels. The formal documentation has been drafted and forwarded to both stations and both stations are hopeful that this will satisfy the FCC and the issue of post-transition channel allotments. Right now, WWBT-DT is broadcasting on UHF channel 54 and WVEC-DT on UHF 41..... :// Rush hour reporters | Monday, July 18, 2005 At 6 a.m., Fredericksburg-area commuters hear a radio traffic reporter talk of bottlenecks on northbound Interstate 95. Minutes later, listeners in Frederick, Md., hear the same voice on an AM station there, this time warning about clogged areas on Interstate 270.To those listeners of western Maryland station WTRI-AM, known as Vegas radio, the reporter is Chip Bets. But to listeners of WBQB-FM in Fredericksburg, he's Robert Workman. (read more - The Free Lance-Star) :// Disappearing FOG | Thursday, July 14, 2005We're thinking that the WFOG call letters on Max Media's 92.9 signal will be a "thing of the past." Also after their "20 years in 20 days" thingy is over, it's commercial-free music thru the end of the month..... :// 3rd Annual “Picnic In The Park” | Thursday, July 14, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... STAR 94.1 FM, Hampton Roads Contemporary Inspirational Station is hosting the 3rd Annual “Picnic In The Park”, Saturday, July 16 at The Fort Monroe Army Base in Hampton. The “Picnic In The Park” will be hosted by STAR 94.1 morning show personality Stephanie Thomas, midday personality Mark Rawlison and afternoon personality Dale Murray.The day will feature 13+ national and local artists offering a wide variety of inspirational music. Some of the artists performing will include Sounds of Blackness, Rizen, JoAnn Rosario, Virtue, B.I.U., Lori Perry, James Fortune and Andra Cross. STAR 94.1 Program Director and Afternoon Drive Personality, Dale Murray is excited about the annual event commenting that, “The Picnic In The Park” is one of the ways of spotlighting the ever growing popularity of Inspirational Music in the Hampton Roads area. It’s a celebration of music and fellowship at it’s finest and achieves our goal of being a family-oriented radio station”. The gates open at 11 a.m. and the entertainment will start at Noon. Tickets are available at TicketMaster locations. The cost is $15.00 in advance and $20.00 at the gate and kids under 12 are free..... :// WLRT "1490 The Outlaw," Race Talk Live and Langley Join forces | Thursday, July 14, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Two of the best-known and most experienced forces in weekly short-track NASCAR stock car racing are teaming up to further strengthen the sponsorship and marketing at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va. King Hodges, VP of the .396-mile Dodge Weekly Racing Series track..., is happy to announce a working agreement with Chuck Hall and his staff at WLRT-1490 The Outlaw/ RaceTalkLive.com . Their association is effective immediately."This will be a great relationship because we have the same goal -- to keep making Langley the most successful short track in the NASCAR family,'' Hodges said from his office. The 55-year-old paved speedway is enjoying its best year in recent memory. Hall said, "I've always had a love for this track and the people who race here. I'm very happy to see that King and the Lemonds family are bringing it back to its glory days, when the grandstands were packed and the pits were full of cars... we plan to use WLRT-1490 and www.racetalklive.com to get the word out about Langley. We'll broadcast from there on Saturday afternoons and have a Monday night show for Langley drivers and fans." 
:// WTVR-TV's tower struck by lightning | Thursday, July 14, 2005Just before 5 p.m. Wednesday, the tower for Raycom Media "CBS6" WTVR Richmond on W Broad St. was struck by lightning. A photog for the station caught it on camera. It appeared the strike knocked out WTVR's ability to import live data from its Doppler tower in Goochland county... having to rely on images from their Vipir software with radar data from the National Weather Service. All is well now. Check out the video..... :// VARTV website news | Thursday, July 14, 2005Some of the pages on VARTV are getting new addresses, their own subdomains i.e. the Hampton Roads market page can now be found at hamptonroads.vartv.com. If you find any errors just let us know..... :// A redo for WFLS' website | Wednesday, July 13, 2005Free Lance-Star has made over the website for Country WFLS/93.3 Fredericksburg. WFLS.com now resembles the station's award winning news page..... :// Seid exits | Wednesday, July 13, 2005Jon Seid has withdrawn from participation as anchor/salesperson in RNN (Richmond News Network), which was set up to be the replacement news service for many of the stations who were old affiliates of the now defunct "Times Dispatch News Service." Seid's role has been assumed by former TDNS News Director John Ogle. As for Seid, we're hearing that he was talking with Davis Media's start-up AAA "107.9 The Tide" WTYD West Point/Williamsburg..... :// Carolina jock moves to VA  As was reported below, Tawne Hayes the former Program Director/Middays for East Carolina Radio "102.5 The Shark" WERX Columbia NC left the building and the state! Hayes is now the new morning personality at Two Rivers AC "101-7 The New Bay FM" WKWI Kilmarnock. Her parents live up the road near Reedville and she wanted to get closer to them. A station official said, "(t)he opportunity came her way and she took it and we are thrilled with her. Hard worker, great personality and a tremendous asset to our team." (7/13/05):// Cuervo's plate gets bigger  Tawne Hayes, Program Director/Middays for East Carolina Radio "102.5 The Shark" WERX Columbia NC, has left the building. Cuervo Curtis, PD/afternoons on sister Active Rock "98X" WOBX, will now handle programming duties for The Shark as well as WOBX. We hear the midday slot on WERX will be filled "very soon." (7/12/05):// Two VA stations nominated for Marconi awards The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has announced the nominees for the 2005 NAB Marconi Radio Awards. "Established in 1989, and named after inventor and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi, the NAB Marconi Radio Awards are given to radio stations and outstanding on-air personalities to recognize excellence in radio. An independent task force selected finalists in 22 categories." In Virginia, Clear Channel Urban AC "105.3 Kiss FM" WKUS Norfolk has been nominated "Medium Market Station of the Year" and Max Media Country "97-3 The Eagle" WGH for "Country Station of the Year." The complete list of nominees can be found at nab.org..... (7/11/05) :// New GSM for WVKL  Entercom Norfolk Director of Sales Mark Warlaumont announced early last week that Jeff Havis is Urban AC "95-7 R&B" WVKL's new General Sales Manager. Havis was with Clear Channel Memphis "where he played a significant roll in CC’s success with their Urban Radio properties (Urban "K97" WHRK, Black Gospel "Hallelujah 95.7" WHAL) including the Tom Joyner Morning Show (on "V101.1" KJMS)." Later, he was appointed to run Clear Channel’s start-up traffic network in Memphis. Havis starts Monday, July 18..... (7/10/05) First Media Radio starts using "3WD" on AC WWDW/103.1 Alberta/South Hill today at 4 p.m..... (7/8/05):// Flood rescue in Petersburg "NBC12" WWBT Richmond photog Dwight Nixon and "CBS6" WTVR reporter Jon Burkett went to cover the storms in Petersburg last night. Both came on a car with passengers inside who were stranded in rising waters. Dixon had long extension cords in his vehicle. Using the power cords, he created a rescue line to wade out to the stranded driver and passenger. Even though the driver did not want to leave her car, Dixon convinced her to since the waters were rising. The rescue was caught on tape by Burkett, who captured the video for both WTVR and WWBT. Burkett even interviewed Dixon for his package for WTVR's 11 p.m. newscast. Gene Cox noted on WWBT's 11 p.m. news the cooperation between Dixon and Burkett, saying a reporter from "a competing TV station" assisted in capturing the video and the rescue. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch) (read more - nbc12.com)..... (7/8/05) :// Anchor's daughter in London during time of attacks The daughter of "NBC12" WWBT Richmond morning anchor Andrea McDaniel is studying in London and was there during the terrorists attack yesterday morning. A producer from WWBT was able to get through a phone call to the the university where McDaniel's daughter is studying and was able to locate her to speak with WWBT and McDaniel by phone to say she and the other UVA students in the program were safe. Another student who was interviewed on the phone was near the subway stations when the explosions occurred and described the scene. McDaniel appeared on NBC12's noon news to tell of her daughter's situation and played the audio of her phone conversation with her daughter and the other student..... (7/8/05) 
:// Tacky, tacky, tackyIn today's Daily Break section of The Virginian-Pilot, writer Jeff Maisey pens the "Hear & Now" article, profiling several local musical artists including jazz musician "NewsChannel 3" WTKR anchor Tom Randles. Unfortunately for Randles, the newspaper used a cropped picture of his police mugshot instead of a publicity photo..... (7/8/05) :// Memorial website Karen West, middays on Max Media WFOG/92.9, has set up a memorial website for her sister Ginni (Virginia Estelle Turpin-Michek) who passed away in April after a 10-year battle with breast cancer. It was created for Ginni where friends and family can share memories, pictures and/or light candles for her children. Please be encouraged to visit the website..... (7/8/05) Brion O'Brion, MD/middays at Entercom Urban AC "95-7 R&B" WVKL Norfolk, is featured this week on AllAccess.com's "10 Questions With..." in their Urban/Urban AC section..... (7/7/05):// Some Cox Internet customers in NOVA lose service Cox Communications Inc. said yesterday that some of its Northern Virginia customers were unable to access the Internet after June 22, when the company began upgrading its high-speed service. Customers using Toshiba PCX 1000 or Toshiba PCX 1100 cable modems have the problems. The upgrade raised connection speeds for customers with two of the three Internet packages that Cox offers, and those modems are not compatible with the higher speeds. (read more - The Washington Post)..... (7/7/05) First Media Radio will be adding the Doug Banks Morning Show to Urban "99-5 Jamz" WYTT Emporia in the very near future..... (7/7/05):// Futból en Español  Davidson Media Group's Spanish "Selecta 1050" WVXX Norfolk will broadcast play by play of Liga Hispanic De Virginia (Local Hispanic Soccer Super Bowl) Sunday, July 10 starting at 12:30 PM. The games will be played at Virginia Wesleyan College. When the 2005-2006 season begins in a few weeks, WVXX will broadcast all the games Sunday afternoons..... (7/7/05):// American Music Festival: Line-up to be announced Thursday at 10 a.m. Rumor has it that FM99 WNOR personalities Rod Fitzwell, Tim Parker, Chuck "The Intern" and former FM99 Traffic Guru, Sky Pilot Scott Ellis aka: "The Flying Svengs" are about to be reunited. The Flying Svengs formed in late 1998 and played throughout Hampton Roads over a three year and half year period. Unfortunately, after opening for Joan Jett, Telsa, Great White, and many other artists, as well as headlining their own festival, "Svengstock" in Toano, the band broke up. To this day, not one member of the Svengs will say why the band broke up, but the important thing is that they have apparently agreed to reunite. Expect to see The Flying Svengs performing rock-punk covers of Stones, Beatles, Elvis, John Denver, Beach Boys tunes as well as Broadway show tunes done in their impeccable Sveng-like fashion as they open for Quiet Riot at the (Virginia Beach) Oceanfront during this year's American Music Festival..... (7/6/05) :// An old friend returns FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... At 5 (a.m.) this morning (Tuesday, July 5), an old friend returned to the morning airwaves in the Northern, VA area as Dave Adler brings his morning show to 95.9 WGRQ in Fredericksburg. Dave's arrival was announced at the station's 4th Of July festivities Saturday night and was greeted with much enthusiasm in the area."Dave's personality and experience will be another welcome addition to the strong staff already in place here at 95.9" says WGRQ Program Director Jim Herring. "He's a talent that is ready to hit the ground running and one who has been missed since his departure from the area's morning airwaves." Dave's Morning Show with Dave Adler will be airing each Monday through Friday morning from 5 AM - 10 AM. Dave brings his 30 years of experience at WASH, WBIG, WARW and many other stations to Fredericksburg's Hometown Radio Station. He'll continue to have Impossible Trivia and solicit input from listeners via the studio line at 540-891-9959. It's all live and local with Dave's Morning Show. The SuperHits Of The 60's & 70's, 95.9 WGRQ is owned by Telemedia Broadcasting, Inc. which also owns WGRX, Thunder 104.5, Country That Rocks! (7/5/05) Wasting no time, Copeland Channel 21, LLC takes the WHRE call letters for the new NTSC (analog TV) station licensed to Virginia Beach..... (7/4/05):// WCMS is back, WGH calls "back where they belong" Virginia Beach-based Max Media has changed the call letters of "Water Country 94.5" WWOC Hatteras to WCMS. No need to explain the significance of those call letters on the FM band to Hampton Roads residents. Since Max Media had WCMS-AM (ESPN Radio 1310) Newport News, there was no problem with Max using them on the FM side. At the same time, Max has changed the calls of WCMS-AM/1310 back to it's original call letters... WGH..... (7/3/05) :// Piedmont Communications announces the arrival of SAM in Central Virginia WOJL FM, formerly Oldies 105, is now 105.5 SAM FM  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SAM (or Simply About Music) will deliver exactly what today's listeners want: more variety with five to ten times the number of songs as other stations, less repetition, less talk, and more of the hits people want to hear. Listening to SAM is like having your own personal iPod on shuffle, loaded with your favorite songs and programmed so you never know what's going to play next.According to Gary Harrison, Director of Operations, "Listeners increasingly complain about the tight playlists and repetitive music of the over-programmed stations available today. They're going to love 105.5 SAM FM--You never know what we'll play next." Piedmont Communications, Inc. is a locally owned radio broadcasting company which operates stations in Culpeper, Orange, and Louisa and serves listeners and advertisers in a market bounded by Fredericksburg to Short Pump in the east and Charlottesville to Warrenton in the west... By the way, WOJL made the switch to SAM at 12 noon today..... (7/2/05) :// Luther Vandross has passed away Luther Vandross passed away this afternoon at 1:47 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, NJ, at the age of 54. He's been the station voice for Entercom Urban AC "95-7 R&B" WVKL Norfolk since its sign-on 4½ years ago..... (7/1/05) :// First Media news First Media Radio has changed the call letters of 103.1 Alberta/South Hill from WSMY to WWDW and will start using the moniker "3WD" soon. The station is still using ABC Radio's Starstation satellite service... Joe Collins has been named the new Operations Manager for the cluster. He'll over see AC "3WD" WWDW/103.1 Alberta/South Hill VA, Urban "99-5 Jamz" WYTT Emporia VA, Oldies "The Great 98" WTRG/97.9 Gaston NC, "Today's Country" WPTM/102.3 Roanoke Rapids NC, Black Gospel "Rejoice 1400" WSMY Weldon NC, Black Gospel "Rejoice 1080" WWDR Murfreesboro NC and Soft AC "98.3 The River" WDLZ Murfreesboro. The cluster also owns WNVN-LP/20 Roanoke Rapids NC..... (7/1/05) :// Evacuation makes stations jockless There was an emergency evacuation of the 300 Arboritum Place Office Building yesterday afternoon because someone found "white powder" in the mail. One of the businesses that was evacuated was MainQuad Communications. While the MQ's stations were on the air (WBBT/107.3 and WARV/100.3, WJZV/93.1) with their normal formats, they were "jockless" between about 4:00 p.m. and 4:45 pm. The jocks were heard again around 4:45 pm..... (7/1/05) :// Rocker WBOP is gone After 13 years as a rocker, Greater Eastern Radio blew up WBOP Churchville/Harrisonburg for 60s-80s Hits as "Magic 106.3, The Greatest Hits of All Time." Regionally syndicated Greaseman morning show is also out. In his place is a new LIVE and local show..... (7/1/05) Max Media WFOG/92.9 begins their "20 Years in 20 Days" promotion today playing the Top 100 hits of each decade from 1965 to 1985. The station has is now going simply by "FM 92.9." Hear their new legal ID..... (7/1/05)News Archives.....  |
|
|