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  Do you have trouble hearing Clear Channel CHR "Hot 101.9" WHTE Ruckersville/Charlottesville in downtown C-ville? Clear Channel is now using the 104.9 frequency to relay programming from WHTE. The new translator, W285EF, is doing 46 watts..... (2/28/06) A new classified ad has been posted on VARTV today. East Carolina Radio is looking for on-air talent for several of their stations in the cluster. Click "Classified Ads" on the left navigation panel for the complete details.If your station/organization has any positions available (media oriented), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who's reading..... (2/28/06)
 | Tuesday, February 28, 2006FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Max Media of Hampton Roads Director of Programming and Operations, John Shomby, has announced that former Metro Traffic reporter Nathan James will take over as the 7pm-Midnight personality for 97-3 The Eagle (WGH-FM) and handle the newly-created Promotion Director duties for Adult Contemporary 92-9 The Wave (WVBW-FM) and Rock 100.5 Max-FM (WXMM-FM). Nathan replaces Kimi Stevens on The Eagle who, ironically, heads over to Metro Traffic to handle airborne drive time traffic duties for a number of stations including The Eagle and The Wave. Nathan had been in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre serving as the Director of Marketing and Promotions for Entercom Media’s Pocono Northeast cluster of stations until he joined Metro Traffic in January of this year. Prior to that he was Promotions Coordinator for the Hampton Roads station WNVZ and an on-air Personality for WPTE in Hampton Roads.
| Monday, February 27, 2006Hampton Roads DirecTV satellite customers who subscribe to the provider's local channels package will get a new full-power broadcast station added to the line-up. Beginning Wednesday March 8, University of North Carolina's (UNC-TV) WUND (2/PBS) will be added on channel 2. If you remember, UNC-TV successfully petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to change WUND's community of license (COL) from Columbia NC which is outside of the Norfolk TV market to Edenton which is in the Norfolk DMA. As soon as that was made official, UNC-TV requested that WUND be added to DirecTV's LIL package. Also, DirecTV is dropping the "i" TV network (channel 255) and all of it's O&O stations from their line-up including WPXV/49 at the end of day tomorrow. The other satellite provider, Dish Network, had already started carrying WUND on 7297.
A new classified ad has been posted on VARTV today. New World Radio Group's "NewsTalk 1200" WAGE Leesburg is seeking a Media Marketing Consultant. Click "Classified Ads" on the left navigation panel for the complete details.If your station/organization has any positions available (media oriented), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who's reading..... (2/27/06)
| Monday, February 27, 2006Sinclair Communications AM Production Director Denis Reidy's son, Elias Reidy and his band, will be playing tonight at the NorVa. "The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus" is opening the show for "The Starting Line" and "Cartel" tonight at 8 p.m. A quintet out of Jacksonville, "The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus" got a 2-CD deal with Virgin Records -- the self titled CD will be out this Spring with the single "Face Down" being released in a matter of weeks.
Plans are to relocate its antenna to expand station's coverage... | Friday, February 24, 2006  Good morning, Henrico County! The county's student-run radio station soon will broadcast countywide so residents from Short Pump to Varina can tune in -- a vast improvement from the current service area of 25 square miles on a good day. Extended coverage likely will bring more broadcast offerings. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)
 | Friday, February 24, 2006Former "Your NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk Peninsula Reporter/morning anchor, Kathleen Carey, started a new post recently as she remains in Hampton Roads and teams up with the new Sheriff Gabe Morgan acting as the first ever Public Information Officer for the Newport News Sheriff's Department. She follows in the footsteps of other individuals who have seen the "light" -- Paula Miller (Virginia Beach Sheriff's Dept) and Bonita Billingsley Harris (Norfolk Sheriff's Dept).
Congratulations to Greg Burton of "CBS6" WTVR Richmond and Gee Communications' "ESPN Radio 950" WXGI Richmond. Burton is the winner of Virginia Sportscaster of the Year. The award is given by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association to a writer and sportscaster from each state..... (2/24/2006)
| Friday, February 24, 2006Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting Corp (CPBC) has ditched Spanish "Radio Vida" for Gospel on WRJR/1010 Portsmouth. The station is now known as "Spirit 1010." Interestingly, as posted here before, WRJR is scheduled to go dark at the end of May. Under a new LMA with the trustee running WBVA/1450 Bayside (Virginia Beach) and WVAB/1550 Virginia Beach, CPBC could eventually slide the "Spirit" format to one of those two frequencies. By the way, Spirit is streaming on the Internet (at a whopping 224kbps).
| Thursday, February 23, 2006NEWS RELEASE--- Radio Station WBVA-AM-1450, Bayside-Virginia Beach, VA, resumed broadcasting operations on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2006, according to Media Broker/Consultant Ray H. Rosenblum of Pittsburgh. WBVA is currently duplicating the programming of WWIP-FM-89.1, Cheriton, Virginia. The programmer is Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting Corporation, which owns and programs a number of radio stations in the Hampton Roads area. Mr. Rosenblum added that Chesapeake-Portsmouth also plans to program WVAB-AM-1550 in Virginia Beach when that station returns to the air as expected within the next week. Both stations have been silent since last year. Both WBVA and WVAB are currently licensed to Chapter VII Bankruptcy Trustee R. Clinton Stackhouse, Jr. of Norfolk. According to Mr. Rosenblum, Mr. Stackhouse has leased out the stations under a Local Marketing Agreement, approved by the Bankruptcy Court, to Chesapeake-Portsmouth, subject to an anticipated sale in the near future of the ownership of the licenses and assets of WBVA/WVAB.
| Thursday, February 23, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Morning Show personality, Stephanie Thomas will kick-off the 3rd Annual STAR 94.1 Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids® Radiothon Thursday, February 23 at 6:00 a.m. The Radiothon will raise money and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, the world’s premier center for the research and treatment of cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Thursday, February 23, 2006Entercom Norfolk (WWDE/101.3, WNVZ/104.5, WVKL/95.7, WPTE/94.9) Business Manager Christine Morelli quickly filled the Traffic Coordinator slot left opened when Debbie Johnson, resigned and jumped ship to Max Media Hampton Roads. Kym Wollman is the new Coordinator, with Morelli saying, "Kym has five years radio traffic experience, most recently with Sinclair (Communications... WPYA/93.7, WROX/96.1, WZNR/106.1, WNIS/790, WTAR/850). Wollman started at Entercom last Friday.
| Thursday, February 23, 2006FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Targeted Publications is launching a new lifestyle magazine, “Down Home,” on March 1. It will celebrate good, clean American living in Hampton Roads and have a special focus on NASCAR and country music, two areas of high interest locally. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Thursday, February 23, 2006171.3 million total viewers have watched the Olympics on the networks of NBC Universal through the second Tuesday of the Games, pacing just one percent behind this same point during the Salt Lake Games (173.3 million). 56 million total, unduplicated viewers watched NBC's coverage of the Torino Games last night, according to Nielsen Media fast national ratings... (read more - NBC Universal) Editor's note: Hampton Roads places 23rd among metered markets, pulling a 14.4/21 (rating/share). Richmond ranks 40th with 12.3/19 and DC is tied at 41st with a 12.2/20...
| Wednesday, February 22, 2006 News Corp. announced (today) it would launch a new mini-network called My Network TV that will supply prime-time shows for the 10 local TV stations the company owns that were left without programming after UPN announced that it would close. The new lineup will be centered around two serial dramas that will air six days a week with 13-week story lines... (read more - Associated Press)
| Tuesday, February 21, 2006Comcast Corp. said yesterday that it has boosted speeds on its cable modem service in Reston without raising prices, in the face of fresh TV and Internet competition from Verizon Communications Inc. The announcement is the latest escalation of the battle between cable companies such as Comcast and phone companies such as Verizon to offer packages of TV, Internet and phone service as they move into each other's traditional businesses. (read more - The Washington Post)
 | Monday, February 20, 2006As we posted on Thursday, Rick Party and his Sizzle Productions (iROCKtheMIC.com) is the new voice imaging heard on On Top Urban "Hot 102.1 WWHV Virginia Beach. Party is the voice of BET (Black Entertainment Television), Styles Media's Classic/Current Hip-Hop KDAY/93.5 Redondo Beach/Los Angeles, New York City's "#1 Hip Hop y Reggaeton, LaKalle 105.9" and over 50 of America's top radio stations and has done hundreds of national & international commercial voice-over work. Part of Party's resume includes a brief on-air stint at Urban "103Jamz" WOWI Norfolk in the late 80s. Hot 102.1 was using Dr Dave (Ferguson) until he signed a long-tern agreement with Entercom Urban AC "95-7 R&B" WVKL.
| Sunday, February 19, 2006Clear Channel Country "104.9 The Bull" WZBL Roanoke is finishing up it's first Classic Country weekend. But is this just a weekend? Go to The Bull's website (1049thebull.com) and note the last ten songs played... not just an occasional classic. The station fired it's LIVE morning show, "Nick & EJ," back on Friday, February 3. AllAccess.com was reporting strong rumors of a flip to a "we play anything" type format. For now, that doesn't appear to be true. But, how long will the Classic Country stay? WZBL dropped an 80s format for Country back in March 2005 and went head-to-head with Mel Wheeler's "Star Country" WSLC/94.9 and flanked sister station WYYD/107.9.
Non-comm WCVE easily in the 10 most listened to stations | Sunday, February 19, 2006 In its first Arbitron survey, new radio station WWLB-FM (Liberty 98.9) scored big, ranking No. 4 in its target audience, listeners 25 to 54. In another advertiser-friendly number (and that's what ratings are for), the station that plays anything was No. 1 among adults 25 to 54 in households earning $75,000 or more... (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Another WSLS weatherman admits struggle with (drug) | Saturday, February 18, 2006 Not one, but two WSLS (Channel 10) meteorologists -- Marc Lamarre and Jamey Singleton -- have struggled with a heroin addiction in recent months, according to an interview with Singleton that aired on WSLS's late-night newscast Friday. (read more - The Roanoke Times)
| Saturday, February 18, 2006 LIN TV's WAVY (10/NBC) Portsmouth/Norfolk introduced new graphics for it's weather segments during its 5 p.m. newscast on Thursday. The same new graphics are being used on LIN's "WAVY Weather Station."Anchor/reporter Tracey Rosa signed off yesterday to head for Florida. Rosa was with the station for 5½ years. She heads home to be with family near Tampa.
| Friday, February 17, 2006
Bell Broadcasting's "UPN Richmond" WUPV/65 Ashland/Richmond got its hand slapped by the FCC the other day. When the station filed to renew its license with the FCC, it admitted the station hadn't followed FCC rules. The FCC requires "commercial licensees to provide information to the public about the shows (educational and informational needs of children) they air to fulfill their obligation... (requiring) each commercial television broadcast station to prepare and place in its public inspection file a Children’s Television Programming Report for each calendar quarter reflecting... the efforts it has made during the quarter to serve the educational needs of children." Channel 65 didn't start doing that until the first quarter of 1999.The FCC said in a statement, "Based upon the record before us, the violations described in your renewal application appear to have been isolated occurrences. Although we do not rule out more severe sanctions for violations of this nature in the future, we have determined that an admonition is appropriate at this time. Therefore, based upon the facts and circumstances before us, we ADMONISH you for the admitted violations... of the Rules..."
| Friday, February 17, 2006
The CW network is asking prospective affiliates to name their price. In a letter sent to stations this week, the network outlined its affiliation terms and asked owners to submit proposals that include programming fees, the length of the deal, and contributions to launch support and regular promotion. (read more - Broadcasting & Cable)Editor's note: The "major" markets affected in Virginia are Hampton Roads, Richmond and Roanoke. The CW affiliation for Hampton Roads was sealed up from day one. CBS O&O "UPN27" WGNT will become "CW27" this fall. Sinclair Broadcasting's "WB33" WTVZ will go Independent. In Richmond, Bell Broadcasting's "UPN Richmond" WUPV/65 has the huge advantage. There are no other full-power stations in the market. The CW could demand reverse compensation for an affiliation, where WUPV would pay The CW to air its programs. Some station owners are balking at that. WUPV could do the same thing. In Roanoke/Lynchburg, Melvin Eleazer's (debtor in possession) "UPN24" WDRL Danville has the leg up here. There are no other full-power stations here plus the "i" affiliated station is an "i" O&O. One interesting note, The CW is requiring affiliates to broadcast its programming in HD (when available). WDRL sends out a digital signal but has no hi-def capabilities right now.
| Friday, February 17, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... East Carolina Radio Group's AM 1240 WCNC and AM 1260 WZBO will once again have the most complete coverage of college basketball's premiere conference tournament, the 53rd annual Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament from Greensboro, North Carolina. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Thursday, February 16, 2006Max Media Rock "100.5 MAX FM" WXMM Norfolk canned the nationally syndicated "Nights with Alice Cooper" show from their 7 p.m. to midnight slot early last week. Cooper was only heard on the station for 7½ months. A statement that appeared on their website last week said, "Alice Cooper has been FIRED! You asked for it, and you got it. 100.5 now goes MAX To The MAX At Night. We crank up the rock harder and louder than ever!" MAX FM introduced Cooper as it's first on-air jock with much fanfare including numerous on-air announcements back in June 2005. Cooper's LIVE show is still heard on over three dozen stations around the country.
| Thursday, February 16, 2006Fletcher, former MD/afternoons at Cox Radio Alternative "Y101" WDYL/101.1 Richmond, will resurface as Dustin Matthews at Adventure Radio's "Rock 106.1" WFXH Hilton Head Island SC/Savannah GA as that station's new PD and afternoon guy. Matthews said, "My time in Richmond has been really great. I was part of a fantastic team and achieved a lot of goals... now, I’m ready to focus on new challenges and bring some fresh ideas to Savannah." He went on to say, "Rock 106.1 is already an amazing station and I’m really excited to work with (cluster OM) Susan Groves." Matthews starts at WFXH on March 1.
| Thursday, February 16, 2006Virginia native Billy Surf (WAVA/105.1, Washington, WRVQ/94.5, Richmond) has started a Voice Over company SurfNoise.com, www.surfnoise.com. He can be heard on radio and TV all over the world. Billy has scored major clients like Winter X Games, Holiday Inn Select Hotels, Ford and hundreds of others. Billy has been voicing TV stations since last summer and started to branch out into radio this week welcoming his latest client Clear Channel CHR WNOK/104.7, Columbia SC. Also, check out Billy weekends at 12N on Brazils #1 station www.radiogiga.com.br.
Several new classified ads have been posted on VARTV within the past week.
If your station/organization has any positions available (media oriented), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who's reading..... (2/16/06)
| Thursday, February 16, 2006 UPDATED: Entercom Urban AC "95-7 R&B" WVKL Norfolk has a new imaging voice, Dave Ferguson. OM Don London told staff that," After many months of searching for the perfect WVKL station image voice, we have put together a long term agreement with Dave Ferguson, also known as Dr. Dave. Dave does voice work for over 70 of America's top rated radio and TV stations as well as voice work for National commercial clients. Some of the many successful radio stations that Dave does voice work for include Urban A/C leaders WRKS/New York, KKBT/Los Angeles and WVEE/Atlanta."WVKL had been using Chase Thomas, one half of the former Supreme Team morning show previously heard on Clear Channel Urban "103JAMZ" WOWI/102.9 and then On Top Urban "Hot 102.1" WWHV. Thomas is now in Detroit as the Executive Morning Show Producer for "MC Serch In The Morning with CoCo & Foolish" morning show on Clear Channel Urban "JLB" WJLB/97.9. Thomas, who was working part-time at Entercom Norfolk, told VARTV back in August 2005, "I enjoyed every shift I did over at Entercom. (And) since the death of Luther Vandross, I (had) been doing the imaging for WVKL." Dr Dave's voice is not new to Hampton Roads listeners. He is still the imaging voice on On Top Urban "Hot 102.1" and has been for awhile. Dr Dave is market exclusive. What's going on???? Stay tuned... UPDATE: We now hear that Rick Party has been signed-on as the new voice for Hot 102.1. No idea when he appears on the station.
| Thursday, February 16, 2006FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Belo Corp. Senior Vice President Rick Keilty announced the appointment of Amy Warren as the new Director of Sales and Marketing for WVEC-TV13. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
Saga Communications Classic Rock "106.9 The Fox" WAFX Suffolk/Norfolk website, 1069thefox.com, gets an extreme makeover. Check it out! (2/16/2006):// A Channel 10 anchor is MIA | Wednesday, February 15, 2006We hear that LIN TV WAVY (10/NBC) Portsmouth/Norfolk anchor Les Smith has been off the air all week. His absence in is the middle of the February TV sweeps for all TV stations where the best anchors and reporters are always on the air. More to come...
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006Sinclair Communications Adult/Variety Hits "93-7 BOB FM" WPYA Chesapeake has a new web address for the station at 937bobfm.com. Also, BOB FM celebrates Valentine's Day today by playing all "love songs."
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006Positive Alternative Radio CCM WPER/89.9 Culpeper//WJYJ/90.5 Fredericksburg General Manager/Program Director Frankie Morea introduces all the changes this morning just after 7:15 on the" Summers & Jones" morning show. This aircheck is scoped. It was recorded off of the station's Internet stream.
Virginia's Positive Hits 89.9 and the NEW 90.5 | Tuesday, February 14, 2006FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Positive Alternative Radio has purchased the former CSN Virginia and will expand its coverage of 89.9 WPER from Richmond to Winchester. In addition to 90.5 in Fredericksburg, six translators covering key Virginia locations will carry contemporary Christian music. Flint Hill 96.5, Alexandria 97.7, and Leesburg 93.5 and signing on in the very near future Front Royal 88.1, Winchester 106.3, and Stanardsville 88.1. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... After 12 years of broadcasting to Roanoke, Lynchburg and Southwest Virginia, Positive Alternative Radio’s listener supported Spirit FM (A/C Christian) debuted today in the Charlottesville area on WPVA, Waynesboro at 90.1 FM; Charlottesville translator 106.7 FM; WJYA, Emporia at 89.5 FM; WJCN, Nassawadox (Eastern Shore) at 90.1; FM. Plus, translators in Farmville, Petersburg, Smithfield, and Crewe, Virginia. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Tuesday, February 14, 2006 VARTV's speculation is correct as Positive Alternative Radio's (PAR) newly acquired WJYJ/90.5 Fredericksburg (and some of its translators) will team up with their upbeat Christian Contemporary music formatted WPER/89.9 Culpeper to eventually form "Virginia's Positive Hits." The new simulcast will also be heard on Alexandria/97.7, Flint Hill/96.5, Front Royal/88.1 (by the end of the week), Leesburg/93.5, Stanardsville/88.1 and Winchester/106.3 (by the end of the week).As mentioned last week, the rest of the former CSN Virginia stations are now or will be with PAR's "Spirit FM" simulcast from WRXT/90.3 Roanoke.
| Monday, February 13, 2006 Media broker John L Pierce of John Pierce & Co has announced that Mount Rich Media is buying Salem Communications "Spirited Talk" WBTK/1380 Richmond for $1.5M. Mount Rich Media is headed up by Rev Sun Young Joo. Salem doesn't disappear completely from Richmond. Chesapeake Portsmouth Broadcasting Corp, a subsidiary of Salem Communications, was granted a CP (construction permit) in December 2005 by the FCC to change the community of license of WLES/580 Lawrenceville to Bon Air, just outside of Richmond. Stay tuned.
 | Monday, February 13, 2006Entercom Norfolk OM Don London announced late last week that Entercom Greensboro Urban AC WQMG/97.1 afternooner Busta Brown will hold down mornings on Urban AC "95-7 R&B" WVKL Norfolk. Mornings have been empty ever since WVKL's only morning host (as an Urban AC formatted station), Sonny Andre, exited late November 2005. Brown is the third person to come from Entercom Greensboro in recent months. London told the staff, "... Busta is a household name in Urban radio in Greensboro... (he) has worked in Greensboro radio for 13 years and was consistently rated number one in morning drive for seven straight years on (Entercom Urban "102Jamz") WJMH/Greensboro. Busta Brown has also been top rated in afternoon drive on WQMG/Greensboro which is the market's exclusive Urban A/C station. Brown will begin his new morning show duties on Wednesday, March 1, 2006.
| Monday, February 13, 2006Entercom Norfolk (WWDE/101.3, WNVZ/104.5, WVKL/95.7, WPTE/94.9) Business Manager Christine Morelli informed staff this past Friday that Debbie Johnson, the cluster's Traffic Director, resigned effective that same day. Take a wild guess where she ends up landing? Yep, we hear Max Media Hampton Roads (WXEZ/94.1, WVBW/92.9, WGH-FM/97.3, WXMM/100.5, WGH/1310). It has pushed over a dozen former Entercom employees that are now around the corner at Max Media.
 | Monday, February 13, 2006Sinclair Communications Alternative "96X" WROX/96.1 Exmore/Norfolk weekender Knothead exits after over 18 months to go back home to Pittsburgh. He's been away from "home" the past eight years. Before 96X, Knothead programmed Ocean Broadcasting's Alternative "Surf 98.3" WSFM Oak Island/Wilmington NC. Knothead is exploring new opportunities in Western Pennsylvania. Reach out to him now (757) 618-7598 or at knotheadradio.com.
| Monday, February 13, 2006Hampton Roads Sports Talk listeners, get ready to podcast. ESPN Radio 1310 announced today that podcasting of “The Tony Mercurio Show” has arrived and is available on the radio station web-site. Listeners will be able to visit espnradio1310.com and download each days show to their MP3 player or computer... (read more - VARTV Press Room)
 | Saturday, February 11, 2006One of Roanoke's best-known television personalities, meteorologist Marc Lamarre, nearly died of a heroin overdose last week, the attorney for his alleged drug dealer said yesterday. The attorney, Greg Phillips of Salem, said an Ohio man accused of helping Lamarre get the drug is being held on federal charges. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)
| Saturday, February 11, 2006
97-3 The Eagle/WGH-FM presents the 15th Annual St. Valentine’s Day “Mass Wedding”, Tuesday, February 14, 2006 at The Ted Constant Center. The past couple of weeks, Jimmy Ray Dunn and Jennifer Lewis, morning show personalities on 97-3 The Eagle, interviewed couples on the air that wanted to get married for Valentine’s… 46 lucky couples were selected and have agreed to say “I Do...” (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Saturday, February 11, 2006
Peter Dennant has left his post as Director of Technology for Belo's WVEC (13/ABC) Hampton/Norfolk. Dennant was with the station for 16½ years. This is now the third major position open at the station (GM, Director of Sales being the other two). Dennant told friends and colleagues, "During my time with the station, my career grew and blossomed. I will miss the people there that I have worked so closely with over the years."Dennant will now focus his attention on his own company: XBE Group, LLC. He says, "With this company, I’ll be taking on design projects, project management and other consulting in connection with the skills I have developed over my thirty six years in broadcasting." If your company or clients need any assistance, reach out to Peter at (757) 630-4700 or email pdennant@verizon.net.
| Friday, February 10, 2006 Satellite TV provider DirecTV has announced that it will be dropping the iTV network (formerly PAX) from its national channel line-up and all i O&O television stations from its locals-in-local packages. On March 1st, iTV will no longer be available on channel 255 and will drop WPXW/66 Manassas/Washington and WPXV/49 Norfolk from the LIL packages. DirecTV says, "When DIRECTV agreed to carry iTV and PAX local stations, the owners promised that their programming would consist of general, family-oriented entertainment. Now, most of their programming consists of infomercials and other promotional shows. As a result, we have terminated our agreement to carry iTV and local PAX stations."
| Friday, February 10, 2006For over two years we have been working on this. At first it was only a possibility. Sometimes a strong possibility, other times it looked like it was slipping away. Well, now it is a done deal! On Tuesday, Valentine's Day, Spirit FM will again expand it’s borders to include the cities of Charlottesville, Harrisonburg and the surrounding areas. (read more - Spirit FM)Editor's note: Not mentioned on Spirit FM's website was WJYJ/90.5 and five translators (Alexandria/97.7, Front Royal/88.1, Leesburg/93.5, Stanardsville/88.1, Winchester/106.3). Speculation is those signals, with Positive Alternative Radio's WPER/89.9 Culpeper, could have something in common. WPER's website is still under construction after a month.
| Friday, February 10, 2006Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting's (CPBC) has announced that silent WBVA/1450 Bayside (Virginia Beach) and WVAB/1550 Virginia Beach have been acquired by the company according to The Virginian Pilot. Work is now being performed on WBVA's transmitter and could be on the air before the end of the month or sooner. The minority owner of the AHL's Norfolk Admirals, Dave Rosenfield, told The Virginian-Pilot that soon the remainder of the Admirals' 2005-06 regular season and playoff games will be heard on the station. These new broadcasts will be in addition to the games already being heard on CPBC's Religious WPMH/670 Claremont and WTJZ/1270 Newport News. The Virginia Beach area has been the weakest link in the broadcasts being heard in Hampton Roads. Rosenfield said, "It covers Virginia Beach very well..." WBVA does 1,000 watts day and night. These two stations were owned by Ronn Cowan which featured Extreme Talk on WBVA as "1450 The Buzz" and "CNN Headline News" on WVAB. The two left the air at the end of March 2005. In May 2005, Ray Rosenblum was appointed as the media broker for the liquidation sale of the licenses and assets of the two stations under Chapter 7 bankruptcy rules. In December, Clint Stackhouse became the Interim Trustee. There has been no announcement to what Hoot will do with WVAB/1550. He does have a LMA with ABC Radio to run Spanish WRJR/1010 Portsmouth but that station will go permanently dark at the end of May because of expanded radio band grant (AM 1610-1710) WHKT/1650 Chesapeake. The Spanish format could easily slide to 1550. 1550 is licensed to do 5,000 watts during the day but only 9 watts at night. Editor's note: A source close to WBVA and WVAB says that CPBC is simply "renting the stations" from the trustee.
| Friday, February 10, 2006A Detroit man is being held on federal charges in connection with the near-fatal heroin overdose of former WSLS (Channel 10) meteorologist Marc Lamarre, a Salem defense attorney said. Gilbert Dennis Hadden, 21, of Detroit, is charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of heroin, according to a federal affidavit filed Sunday. (read more - The Roanoke Times)
| Thursday, February 9, 2006Media General "Newschannel 10" WSLS (NBC) Roanoke Anchor John Carlin tells station manager Kathy Mohn that "we have this stack of emails right here that represents the concern from viewers. We've had countless other phone calls even greater than this number of emails." In all seriousness, VARTV has also received A LOT of emails and has actually seen an over 30% increase in website traffic the past several days. "Marc Lamarre," by far, is the biggest search string bringing visitors to VARTV. Click here to see the video of Carlin interviewing Mohn on air.
A new classified ad has been posted on VARTV today. CBS O&O "UPN27" WGNT Portsmouth/Norfolk is looking for a Television Master Control Operator. Click "Classified Ads" on the left navigation panel for the complete details.If your station/organization has any positions available (media oriented), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who's reading..... (2/9/06)
 | Thursday, February 9, 2006One rumor posted on a local blog is true: Beth Duffy is leaving her post as anchor on NBC29 News at Sunrise. The other speculation on the cvillenews.com website-- that Duffy will be joining one of the new TV stations-- is not. "I'm exploring several options," says Duffy, but those will not include on-air work. (read more - The HooK)
| Thursday, February 9, 2006FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Max Media announced today that effective February 13, 2006 Ms. Karen Bradley and Ms. Nancy Moore will accept positions with Max Media’s five radio stations in the Hampton Roads, Virginia market. Effective March 10, 2006 Ms. Robin Goff and Ms. Janet Goldman and Ms. Gina Alexander will also join the staff at Max Media. All five women were most recently sales executives in the Virginia Beach – Norfolk market. All are senior staff with experience ranging from five to nine years. Vonneva Carter, Max Media’s General Manager was quoted, “I have worked with and known these five incredible women for almost 10 years. They are truly the very best at what they do. Whether they are helping to plan a media campaign or assisting in its execution, I am supremely confident that Max Media clients will learn and come to expect a new level of accountability and success. On a personal note this is like reuniting with family at the holidays, I am absolutely thrilled that all these people want to work with me again.
| Thursday, February 9, 2006New PD Michael Bryan, at Entercom Rhythmic "Z104" WNVZ/104.5 Norfolk, ups night jock Zack Daniels to the station's Imaging Director effective immediately. In addition to his weeknight "Freek Show," Daniels will "focus all of his off-air efforts on creative writing and imaging to help Z104 continue to stand out in a crowded marketplace. He'll be in charge of all Promos, Sweeps, Liners, etc."
 | Wednesday, February 8, 2006In an unscheduled meeting today, President and General Manager of Belo Broadcasting's WVEC (13/ABC) Hampton/Norfolk Mario A Hewitt resigned. Two Fridays ago, according to The Virginian-Pilot, Hewitt was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, being stopped at drunken driving check point on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach just after 2 a.m. The Pilot said, "Hewitt was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and refusing to submit to a breath or blood-alcohol test. He was released from the city jail after posting an unspecified bond." We hear the mood in and around the newsroom was one of somber and shock. Hewitt, who is also president of the Virginia Association of Broadcasters, joined WVEC in December 1995 as the station's Director of Sales and Marketing and was quickly upped to VP/GM in June 1997 then President/GM in January 2005.
| Wednesday, February 8, 2006 Super Bowl XL, which featured the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks, was the most watched Super Bowl since 1996. Nationally, the game on ABC averaged a 41.6 household rating (60 share) according to Nielsen Media Research, up a half of a point from last year’s 41.1 rating for the game between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles. In Hampton Roads on WVEC (13), the game averaged a bit higher around a 46.5 rating, 65 share. We say around 46.5 because the game ran late pushing the post-game show into the 10 o' clock hour with "Grey's Anatomy" not starting until 10:47. By the way, the game averaged a 57.4 household rating (83 share!) in Pittsburgh on WTAE (4) and a 55 rating in Seattle on KOMO (4).
| Tuesday, February 7, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Max Media announced today that effective February 7, 2006 Ms. Peggy Freeman will accept the position as Regional Account Executive for Max Media’s five radio stations in the Hampton Roads, Virginia market.Ms. Freeman has been in the Norfolk-Virginia Beach market for 5 years. She was most recently the Regional Sales Manager for the Entercom Stations focusing on the Washington-Baltimore territory. Vonneva Carter, Max Media’s General Manager was quoted, “I have worked with and known Peggy for over 15 years. She is a true media professional focusing on the long term needs and growth opportunities of her clients and developing strategies to help them achieve their goals. She will bring a new understanding to radio for Max Media and I suspect have immediate impact on our business. I am thrilled she has chosen to join us.”
| Tuesday, February 7, 2006 The James Madison University/nTelos Sports Network will expand into the greater Washington, D.C., area beginning in the fall following an agreement between the university and radio station WMET-AM. The three-year agreement will allow WMET, with its 50,000-watt daytime and 1,500-watt nighttime signal, to provide live broadcasts of all JMU football and men’s basketball games. (read more - JMUSports.com)
| Tuesday, February 7, 2006IT'S GRAMMY TIME once again, so in the spirit of celebrating local expertise, we tapped some of Hampton Roads' radio jocks to give us their predictions in the most popular categories... (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
| Tuesday, February 7, 2006Meteorologist Marc Lamarre has been relieved of his duties at WSLS-TV Newschannel 10, Shane Moreland, the station’s news director, said today. “He’s no longer an employee of WSLS,” Moreland said. He declined to give further details or to say whether Lamarre had completed the terms of his contract. (read more - The Roanoke Times)
| Monday, February 6, 2006Citadel Broadcasting Corp (to be renamed Citadel Communications) has agreed to purchase parts of ABC Radio for $2.7B. This will have no affect on ABC Radio's Virginia stations -- two Radio Disney outlets, WHKT/1650 Portsmouth and WDZY/1290, and WRJR/1010 Portsmouth. ABC will keep the Radio Disney outlets and ESPN Radio. By the way, WRJR is scheduled to go permanently dark at the end of May. WHKT was an expanded band grant by the FCC. More from The Walt Disney Company.
Nashville tunes, Talk, Rock dominate (Harrisonburg) radio | Monday, February 6, 2006 News-talk and country music continue to dominate the central Valley’s airwaves, while rock and contemporary hit formats also had strong showings in the recently released fall Arbitron Inc. survey. WSVA-AM (News Radio 550) and WKCY-FM (Country KCY) tied for Harrisonburg’s top ranking with 12.9 shares of listeners over age 12. (read more - Daily News Record)
| Friday, February 3, 2006One of the pioneers in TV news in Hampton Roads passed away last Monday. Ben "Sonny" Pulliam worked at WTAR-TV/WTKR-TV from 1953 to 1996, and was Chief Photographer. He covered all the big events during those times including the Gen. Douglas MacArthur funeral in 1964, the 1957 International Naval Review, as well as many fashion shows for former talk show host on Channel 3, Mildred Alexander.
| Friday, February 3, 2006Congratulations to "13News" WVEC (ABC) Hampton/Norfolk Anchor/Reporter Janet Roach and husband Harold on their new baby boy, Trevor James. Trevor, who was born this morning shortly before 12:30, weighed in at 6lbs and 13oz. Janet and Harold also have a 2-year old daughter, Gabrielle.
CBS Radio has begun Internet streaming the audio of Rhythmic WPGC-FM/95.5 (wpgc955.com) and Gospel "Heaven 1580" WPGC (heaven1580am.com)..... (2/3/2006)
| Friday, February 3, 2006
As an ABC network affiliate, (TV3 Winchester) will provide our viewers with the highest quality entertainment and informative news content from Winchester, Front Royal, Berryville, and beyond. Whether you need the latest information on local politics, the weather forecast for tomorrow’s commute, or highlights of your son’s or daughter’s high school game, we look forward to being your source. (read more - TV3 Winchester)
| Friday, February 3, 2006Cable and telephone companies have set aside their animosity and agreed on new franchise rules for television service in Virginia, easing the way for Verizon Communications Inc. to launch its TV offerings in the state. Officials of Verizon and cable provider Cox Communications Inc. applauded the compromise on the two General Assembly bills... (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
Several new classified ads have been posted on VARTV within the past week.
If your station/organization has any positions available (media oriented), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who's reading..... (2/2/06)
| Wednesday, February 1, 2006 (W)HSV-TV3, Harrisonburg’s only local television station, plans to launch a digital Fox affiliate this fall to serve Harrisonburg, Staunton and Waynesboro. The station’s parent company, Gray Television Inc., will spend about $1 million to upgrade WHSV’s facility on North Main Street in downtown Harrisonburg, said general manager Tracy Jones. The new station will broadcast on (digital) Channel 49 and will be available on cable... (read more - Harrisonburg Daily News-Record)
 | Wednesday, February 1, 2006Jason Myers has joined Young Broadcasting's "8News" WRIC (ABC/Petersburg) as the station's fourth meteorologist. Myers comes to WRIC from Mission Broadcasting's KRBC (9/NBC) Abilene TX. Before that, he was the forecaster for UNC-Chapel Hill's weekly student produced newscast, Carolina Week. Myers replaces Brian Travers, who left Channel 8 in 2005 for Sinclair Broadcast Group's "CBS2" KGAN Cedar Rapids IA.
Former NBC12 (WWBT/Richmond) political reporter Michael Porter has joined Virginia Commonwealth University as a public-relations specialist for University News Service. (2/1/2006)
| Wednesday, February 1, 2006John "Hollywood" Harlow has accepted a position with Entercom Modern AC "94.9 The Point" WPTE Virginia Beach. He'll be doing weekends for The Point. Hollywood comes from Journal Broadcast Group's Hot AC WKTI/94.5 Milwaukee where he did weeknights and weekends for the past 18 months.
| Wednesday, February 1, 2006VARTV saw a record amount of visitors to the VARTV.com website in January 2006. After six months of nearly steady readership, Internet surfers got bored and turned to VARTV for their media news and information. Thank you all for visiting! With over 1,000,000 readers, the typical visitor stays with VARTV for four minutes and eight seconds, reading 1.9 pages on the website.....
| Tuesday, January 31, 2006 Arbitron released the latest radio ratings for Roanoke/Lynchburg earlier today. In a huge surprise, Clear Channel Rock WROV/96.3 soars to the #1 spot (12+). Second was Mel Wheeler AC "Q99" WSLQ/99.1, previous market leader slipping to third was Mel Wheeler "Star Country 94.9" WSLC, fourth was CC CHR "Jammin" WJJS/WJJX and fifth was rival Mel Wheeler CHR "K92" WXLK/92.3. Other market notables, CC Soft AC "Sunny 93.5" WSNV//WSNZ doubles it's audience share from the Spring Book. CC's Country "104.9 The Bull" WZBL makes no impact since dropping the 80's format last March. Centennial's Standards "106.9 The Lake WLEQ almost triples its audience from the previous Books.
| Tuesday, January 31, 2006FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Morning Show personalities, Jimmy Ray Dunn and Jennifer Lewis kicked-off the 14th Annual 97.3 The Eagle Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® Radiothon Thursday, January 26 at 6:00 a.m. The event continued until Midnight on Thursday and resumed on Friday, January 27 from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. 97.3 The Eagle broadcasted live both days from Haynes Furniture in Va. Beach. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Tuesday, January 31, 2006John Willett, one of a handful of radio and television pioneers in Roanoke during the 1950s and '60s, died Monday morning of lung cancer. He was 74. A former manager and radio announcer at WSLS, Willett was known for his sonorous, authoritative voice during newscasts and a late-night television show. (read more - The Roanoke Times)
In the early '90s, he worked as a reporter for WTVR-Channel 6 | Tuesday, January 31, 2006"When he was named anchor, I said to myself, 'I knew that would be the case.'" Those words, from a former sports director at WTVR-Channel 6, sum up the local opinion of injured ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff, who worked as a reporter for WTVR in the early'90s. (read more - Richmond Times -Dispatch)
| Monday, January 30, 2006Ever wonder? From November 2005, Adults 18+... 
| Monday, January 30, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WGRQ-FM, Fredericksburg, VA's home for The SuperHits Of The 60's & 70's can now be heard live, online. To hear all of your favorites as well as local news, weather & traffic, just click on www.959wgrq.com and then click on the "Listen Now" button to hear Your Hometown Radio Station pumping through your computer's speakers. So, whether you work outside the regular listening area, are traveling or can't have a radio at work, take 95.9 along with you on your computer. 95.9 WGRQ!
| Monday, January 30, 2006
| Sunday, January 29, 2006This month, Cox Communications surveyed Hampton Roads consumers about their feelings on fair competition. We did so in light of the fact that across the country, the nation's big telephone companies are asserting that they need special favors from legislators and regulators in order to enter the local video business. Of course, the notion that the regional Bell behemoths need a government handout to compete strains credulity. Read more of Cox Communications Hampton Roads VP/RM Frank Bowers opinion in the Daily Press.
| Saturday, January 28, 2006The president and general manager of WVEC-TV (13/ABC, Hampton/Norfolk) (and president of the Virginia Association of Broadcasters) was arrested early Friday morning on suspicion of drunken driving. Police spokeswoman Rene Ball said Mario A. Hewitt, 56, was stopped at 2:05 a.m. in the 3200 block of Shore Drive, a few blocks east of the Lesner Bridge... (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
| Friday, January 27, 2006On the NBC 29 news, Kristina Cruise appears unflappable. But newscasters aren't born knowing how to look natural in front of the camera, and Cruise has mastered some TV tricks of the trade. For instance, where to point while reporting the weather in front of a blank green screen. (There are smaller screens to the side with the map-- but she can't appear to be looking toward them.) (read more - The Hook)
Our thoughts and prayers go out to family and friends of (L) Earl Hundley, former GM/personality WLPM/1450 Suffolk. Earl passed away Monday in Virginia Beach at 85. More about Earl can be found here and a post script here..... (1/26/2006) On another sad note, we send our condolences to Lou Power, operations with WTVR (6/CBS) Richmond, (along with family and friends) who lost his father Louis Atwell Power, Jr late last night at the age of 68. More about "At" can be found here..... (1/26/2006)
| Wednesday, January 25, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Announcing Fox Sports 850 on your AM radio dial. Sinclair Communications is proud to present the addition of Fox Sports to WTAR. Beginning Monday, January 30th, area listeners will have front row seats to the best sports radio station in Hampton Roads. Read the entire release in the brand spanking new VARTV Press Room.
| Wednesday, January 25, 2006Television's UPN, famous for shows like "Everybody Hates Chris" and "America's Next Top Model," will become The CW in Hampton Roads starting in September. No, it doesn't stand for Colonial Williamsburg. The new network comes from the brains at CBS and Warner Brothers, hence the initials C and W. (read more - Daily Press)Pro wrestling’s thundering “Smackdown” will be moving in with the cerebral “Gilmore Girls” as TV networks WB and UPN called it quits as sputtering wannabes and announced a merger Tuesday. For Hampton Roads, this means WGNT UPN27, based in Portsmouth, will be the surviving member of the two networks’ local affiliates... (read more - The Virginian-Pilot) Great news, Richmond TV viewers. We're finally getting the WB, or, rather, what's left of it after the WB and UPN networks merge. CBS, which owns UPN, and Warner Bros., which owns the majority stake in WB, announced yesterday that the two mini-nets would merge, with a new network -- CW -- to launch this fall. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch) Fans of WWE's "Smackdown!" and "Gilmore Girls" will have a lot in common come September when UPN and the WB are shuttered and their most successful programming is used to launch a new network called The CW. The network, announced yesterday at a news conference in New York, will be a 50-50 partnership between CBS, which owns UPN, and Warner Bros., a division of Time Warner, the majority owner of the WB. (read more - The Washington Post) Two small, long-struggling television networks -- UPN and the WB, which air on Channels 20 and 50, respectively, in the Washington area -- will shut down this fall, and programming from both will be used to start a new network aimed mainly at young and minority viewers. (read more - The Washington Times)
| Tuesday, January 24, 2006Last Wednesday, Michael Bryan, PD for Entercom Rhythmic "Z104" WNVZ/104.5 Norfolk, added Assistant Music Director stripes to Z Morning Zoo co-host Shaggy. Bryan told staffers via email, "Shaggy's passion and knowledge for Z104 music and great attitude has earned him this promotion. He'll be taking care of music scheduling and record label relations for Z104."
Liberty and BOB FM soar with Adult/Variety Hits format in Hampton Roads and Richmond | Tuesday, January 24, 2006 Arbitron released the latest radio ratings for Hampton Roads for the Fall period; covering September 22 thru December 14 today. Clear Channel Urban "103Jamz" WOWI has regained the top spot for the most listened to radio station (12+ demo) in Hampton Roads. The Summer Book leader Max Media Country "97-3 Eagle" WGH took a big ratings hit (27% decline in audience, 12+) but only slides to second. Third was CC Urban AC "105-3 Kiss FM" WKUS, fourth was Max Media Contemporary Inspirational "Star 94.1" WXEZ and fifth was Sinclair Adult/Variety Hits "93-7 BOB FM" WPYA. BOB actually finished second in THE money demo, All Persons 25-54. Other market notables, the Rock format took a good hit on Saga's Active Rocker "FM99" WNOR/98.7 (34% decline in audience, 12+) and even a bigger hit on Max Media Mainstream Rock "100.5 Max FM" WXMM (52% decline in audience, 12+). Hindlin Broadcasting's Spanish "Selecta 1050" WVXX did well in its first complete Book, just falling short of a 1.0 (12+). The talk line-up on Sinclair "TalkRadio 850" WTAR continued to flounder, sinking to a new low. Sinclair will put the Talk line-up to rest. A Fox Sports source says Sinclair will launch "Fox Sports Radio 850" on Monday morning... In Richmond, CC Soft AC "Lite 98" WTVR/98.1 regained the top spot. Radio One Urban AC "Kiss FM" WKJS/WKJM was second closely followed by sister Gospel "Praise 104.7" WPZZ. Fourth was a tie between Cox Radio Country "K95" WKHK and CC "NewsRadio 1140" WRVA. Other market notables, Main Line Broadcasting's Adult/Variety Hits "98-9 Liberty" WWLB soars to the eighth most listened to station in its first ratings Book. The "Alt" wars remained virtually the same with CC's "102-1 The X" WRXL with a good lead over Cox Radio's "Y101" WDYL/101.1. CC CHR "Q94" WRVQ/94.5 drops back into familiar territory, slipping from a 5.2 to a 3.7... Free Lance Star Radio's Country WFLS/93.3 was tops again last week when Fredericksburg's ratings were released. Closely on their heels was Mid Atlantic Network's Hot AC "B101.5" WBQB, third was Bonneville's WTOP Radio Network and a tie at fourth, Free Lance Star Radio "Classic Rock 96.9" WWUZ and Howard University's Urban AC WHUR/96.3. Other market notables, seventh was Mid Atlantic Network "NewsTalk 1230" WFVA, eighth a tie between Telemedia Oldies WGRQ/95.9 and Free Lance Star Radio Alternative WYSK/99.3, 14th was Telemedia Country 'Thunder 104.5" WGRX and 26th was Piedmont Communication's Country WJMA/103.1. Inside some other demos Persons 18-34 WBQB, WFLS, WYSK/WKYS/WBTJ (tie); Persons 18-49 WBQB, WFLS, WTOP/WJFK (tie); Persons 25-54 WBQB, WFLS, WTOP.
| Tuesday, January 24, 2006UPDATED: Two small, struggling television networks, UPN and WB, will merge to form a new network called The CW, executives from the companies that own them said Tuesday. The announcement was made by executives from CBS Corp., which owns UPN, and Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc., which owns WB. Both UPN and WB had struggled to compete against larger rivals in the broadcast TV business, including Walt Disney Co.'s ABC, News Corp.'s Fox, General Electric Co.'s NBC and CBS Corp.'s CBS. (read more - Business Wire)Editor's Note: In Hampton Roads, this announcement will leave Sinclair Broadcasting's "WB33" WTVZ Norfolk without a network affiliation. "UPN27" WGNT Portsmouth is a CBS O&O and has already signed a 10-year affiliation agreement with "The CW." In Richmond, Lockwood Broadcasting's "UPN Richmond" WUPV (65) Ashland is probably the hands-down choice for the new "The CW." There are no other independent stations in the market.
| Tuesday, January 24, 2006In a cobblestone alley near historic homes and trendy shops, a thin black wire spins from the back of a truck, rises between two utility poles and twists around a thick phone cable. The wire carries tiny fiber-optic strands that will support not only phone service and broadband Internet but also video. Verizon Communications Inc. is spending billions of dollars to build these networks in Virginia and other markets, entering territory dominated by cable firms. (read more - The Free Lance Star)
| Tuesday, January 24, 2006Clear Channel Roanoke announced last August that Jake Glenn was tapped to do nights on CHR "Jammin' JJS" WJJS/WJJX Roanoke/Lynchburg. He's still there but was also heard this past weekend on sister CHR "Q94" WRVQ/94.5 Richmond. Ironically, Glenn was heard on Q94 last spring until most of the air staff including Glenn was blown out when the station went through massive changes in front of and behind the mic.
It appears that Don Imus and his nationally syndicated "Imus In The Morning" show will lose another affiliate in the Commonwealth. One month ago, Davidson Media Group blew up "TalkRadio 1480" WTOX Glen Allen/Richmond, on which Imus was heard, for Regional Mexican "La Equis." What station is next to drop the I-man? (1/24/2006)
| Monday, January 23, 2006Clear Channel Toledo has announced that Aaron Roberts, Program Director for Clear Channel Mainstream Rock WROV/96.3 Martinsville/Roanoke, will be the new PD at sister rocker WIOT/104.7 Toledo. Roberts starts his new gig on Monday, February 20.
More on the launch of Saga Communication's "Progressive Talk" WVAX/1450 Charlottesville we reported on Friday from The Daily Progress. WVAX's website is at WVAX.com. (1/23/2006)
| Monday, January 23, 2006It appears that Belo Broadcasting's WVEC (13/ABC) Hampton/Norfolk is about to debut its "high-definition" radar soon, maybe in time for the Superbowl and/or the February TV "sweeps" period. Viewers got a sneak peek, sort of, this weekend with Evan Stewart when he used the term "high-definition" along side a new radar view. The high definition is referring to the WeatherLab's PC video card being able to output 1280 lines of resolution (downrezzed to 525 lines for analog/NTSC). The new real-time NEXRAD is 8-bit, with 256 levels of intensity. Their current radar is 4-bit with 16 levels of intensity (light green, medium green, dark green, yellow, etc); the same as the NEXRAD images on the National Weather Service website. New York Times' "Your NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk has been referring to its radar as "high-definition" for several months but we're told it's just 3-bit, eight levels of intensity. More from the StormWarnTeamSuperDopplerMaxWeatherLab soon.....
| Monday, January 23, 2006Reuters News Service is reporting that Disney is close to an agreement to sell its ABC Radio unit to Citadel Broadcasting for almost $3 billion according to its sources. "The deal could be struck within the next two weeks with Citadel..." Other bidders included KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co) and Entercom. ABC Radio has an outlet in Hampton Roads and Richmond (Radio Disney) and a three station cluster in DC (WMAL/630, WRQX/107.3, WJZW/105.9).
| Saturday, January 21, 2006 Congratulations goes out to Radio One Gospel "Praise 104.7" WPZZ Crewe/Richmond which won "Station Of The Year" for medium-sized radio markets this past weekend at the 21st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards held at The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville TN.
| Friday, January 20, 2006Eastlan's growth in the Eastern part of United States continued today with the announcement that the nation's second largest radio audience measurement company is beginning service to Fredericksburg, Virginia. Eastlan will measure the market in the Spring & Fall with an in-tab of 1,500 per measurement. (read more - Eastlan)
| Friday, January 20, 2006
It didn't take the University of Richmond long to find a new radio home for football and men's basketball. The Spiders and WXGI yesterday announced a three-year partnership that will include selected coverage of baseball as well as women's basketball. "We think it's a really good fit for both the school and ESPN 950," said David Gee, who owns the station. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)The official Press Release is in the brand spanking new VARTV Press Room...
| Friday, January 20, 2006 Mel Wheeler "NewsTalk 960" WFIR Roanoke announced a news and weather partnership with Schurz Communications' WDBJ-TV (7/CBS) Roanoke on Monday. Channel 7's Chief Meteorologist, Robin Reed, will be providing weather for "The Roanoke Valley's Morning News" and afternoon drive on WFIR. Over the next few weeks, the two will be expanding the partnership into news, trading story ideas and putting WDBJ material and reporters on the air during WFIR's news. The new partnership, I'm told, will not involve a reduction in staff at WFIR, and that the station will continue to produce local news internally.
| Friday, January 20, 2006 Saga Communications has launched Progressive Talk on its newly acquired WVAX/1450 Charlottesville. The station carries the Liberal net Air America. Here's what we hear the weekday on-air schedule will look like:
9 a.m. - Noon - "(Jerry) Springer on the Radio" Noon - 3 p.m. - "The Al Franken Show" 3-7 p.m. - "The Randi Rhodes Show" 7-10 p.m. - "The Majority Report" with Janeane Garafolo and Sam Seder 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. - "Lionel" (instead of the network's Mike Malloy) 1-4 a.m. - Westwood One's "The Jim Bohannon Show" (tape-delayed) 4-6 a.m. - "The Randi Rhodes Show" (rebroadcast)
| Wednesday, January 18, 2006Clear Channel Norfolk has begun streaming the audio all of their stations in the cluster on the Internet. They include Urban "103Jamz" WOWI/102.9, Urban AC "105-3 KISS FM" WKUS, Soft Rock "107-7 Lite FM" WJCD and Oldies "Cool 92-1" WCDG.
| Wednesday, January 18, 2006Piedmont Communications' Adult/Variety Hits "105.5 SAM FM" WOJL Louisa has filed papers with the FCC to increase its antenna height to 99m (from 91m), just one meter short of the maximum for a Class A facility (6kW/100m or any combination of)... Positive Alternative Radio requests from the FCC to take its recently acquired WTTX/107.1 Appomattox VA to non-commercial from commercial status. Everything you wanted to know AND more from the FCC...
HD Digital Radio Alliance Names First 28 Markets for New HD2 Programming Rollouts; More Than 250 New Channels Created So Far | Wednesday, January 18, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... The HD Digital Radio Alliance, a joint initiative of leading radio broadcasters to accelerate the rollout of HD digital radio, today announced the initial 28 markets that will begin broadcasting HD2 multicast programming under the Alliance’s format-selection program. Alliance members are readying individual HD2 channel launches in each market, and the first are expected within a few days. (read more - iBiquity)
| Wednesday, January 18, 2006Truth Broadcasting has brought Lynchburg's WLVA/590 back to life after being on and off silent for the past several years. The station came back on the air sometime this past weekend. We hear the station has a "VERY weak signal... sounds like someone strung a longwire out a window to a tree!" They're doing a Christian talk format, calling it "The Truth." Truth Broadcasting closed on the sale of WLVA from Kovas Communications on 11/28/2005 for $275,000.
| Tuesday, January 17, 2006 Here's a webcam shot of "13NEWS" WVEC (ABC) Hampton/Norfolk Anchor David Alan just after the 6 p.m. newscast ended. Maybe he can't believe the moronic comments recently made by New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin??? Don't blame ya Dave, they were pretty STUPID. Or... "Why Does WAVY keep saying their radar is LIVE? It just isn't!"
| Tuesday, January 17, 2006ISP Sports and the Virginia Tech Athletics Department announced today that radio stations WRNL (SportsRadio910) and WRVA (News Radio 1140) in Richmond, Virginia have joined the Virginia Tech ISP Sports Network. Beginning with the 2006 football season, all Virginia Tech football and men's basketball games will air on SportsRadio 910, WRNL. Night time football and men's basketball broadcasts will also air on News Radio 1140, WRVA. (read more - HokieSports.com)
| Tuesday, January 17, 2006 Boomer, former PD at Clear Channel CHR "Z107.7" KSLZ St Louis MO, has been named the new PD for Clear Channel CHR "Q94" WRVQ/94.5 Richmond as of February 1. Boomer technically replaces PD Wayne Coy who left WRVQ on November 10, 2005 to join Consolidated Media. Morning man and Assistant PD Darrin Stone was acting PD for the interim.Clear Channel Regional VP Bill Cahill stated in the press release, "We looked at a lot of great candidates and Boomer just stood out, not only for his size, but for his large sense of creativity and passion for great radio..." In the same release Boomer said, "It truly is a thrill for me to join the Clear Channel/Richmond team and take the lead at one of America's great heritage Top 40s, WRVQ. As any real radio pro knows, this station has been doing top-notch Top 40 radio for decades and has aged very well. I look forward to continuing & expanding the station's success..."
| Tuesday, January 17, 2006The News department at Free Lance-Star Radio's WFLS/93.3 Fredericksburg is now putting some of their stories online for people to listen. The page at wfls.com/news/audio/ will be expanded.
| Tuesday, January 17, 2006We're hearing that Radio One Gospel WROU/1240 Petersburg is moving back under Radio One management. Hoffman Communications (WGGM/820, WZEZ/100.5) has been running the station for quite awhile. More to come.
| Tuesday, January 17, 2006 MHD, the high-definition channel from MTV Networks, launched at 6 p.m. yesterday on Cox Communications' HDTV tier across the country including their systems in Virginia and North Carolina. According to Cox, "MHD presents an unmatchable music offering in HD and surround sound - like nothing you have ever seen or heard. With 70+ concerts planned for 2006, the MHD library will entertain you with Music Videos, Tentpole Events, Music Festivals, Concert Series and Special Concerts from your views favorite music channels: MTV, VH1, and CMT." The HD channel can usually be found on 7xx, replacing the last two numbers to the corresponding channel of MTV on the cable system.
Small town, Iron Gate VA, gets allotted new Class A FM | Monday, January 16, 2006The Federal Communications Commission has approved a request to move the license for WFMX-FM 105.7 to Clemmons NC. Though the station's operator, radio giant Clear Channel Communications, still needs to get FCC permission to construct a tower and facilities, the licensing decision opens the way for Clear Channel to buy the station outright. The company now operates the station under a contract with the San Antonio, Texas,-based Mercury Broadcasting. (read more - BizJournals.com)
Is Max Media's Sports "ESPN Radio 1310" WGH Newport News/Norfolk set to get some competition soon, within two weeks? Will they be out FOX-ed??? (1/13/06) A new classified ad has been posted on VARTV today. Salem Communications' "Spirited Talk" WBTK/1380 Richmond is looking for a full-time advertising salesperson. Click "Classified Ads" on the left navigation panel for the complete details.If your station/organization has any positions available (media oriented), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who's reading..... (1/13/06)
Powerful FM station blankets 24 counties in Southside Virginia | Thursday, January 12, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... ISP Sports and the Virginia Tech Athletics Department announced today that WBBC-FM (93.5FM) in Blackstone, Virginia has extended its contract to carry Virginia Tech sports through 2011.
WBBC-FM, with a powerful 25,000 watt FM signal, blankets 24 counties in Virginia and North Carolina. Bobcat Country will continue to broadcast Virginia Tech football and basketball games, the daily Davenport Virginia Tech Sports Quiz, the weekly Advance Auto Parts Hokie Hotline talk show, and the ACC men’s basketball tournament.“I’m excited about extending our contract with Virginia Tech and ISP Sports through 2011,” WBBC-FM owner and General Manager Dennis Royer said. “Tech has a great program with an avid fan base and we have (the) best signal in Southside Virginia. It’s a great partnership for us.” Like Tech’s athletics program, WBBC-FM has undergone tremendous growth in the past decade, upgrading its signal and programming. It’s now considered one of the top country music stations in the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as one of the strongest.  “We’re delighted that Bobcat Country, 93.5 has extended its relationship with the Hokies for an additional five years,” Tech Director of Athletics Jim Weaver said. “I’m happy for Virginia Tech fans and our loyal sponsors who rely on WBBC-FM to hear our broadcasts,” said ISP Sports Assistant Vice President Bill Roth. “When you talk about great-sounding radio stations in Virginia, you have to start with WBBC. It’s a station with a tremendous, rich stereo sound and its signal carries forever. We’re fortunate to have this partnership with Dennis Royer and his remarkable staff.”
 | Wednesday, January 11, 2006Beau Kennedy, APD/MD/afternoon drive at Max Media Carolinas "Water Country 94.5" WCMS Hatteras NC and Production Director for the entire cluster (WCMS, WCXL/104.1, WQDK/99.3, WGAI/560), will exit The Outer Banks for... Elkhart IN. Whew... Kennedy heads to Federated Media's AC "Froggy 102.7" WLEG Ligonier/Elkhart IN (90 miles east of Chicago) to head up that station's new morning show. Kennedy tells VARTV, "My four years with Max have been fantastic, and I would recommend the company to anybody looking for a smart, community-oriented company that treats its employees well and truly gives them the tools to succeed... After living here for nearly 11 years, my wife Lezlie and I will miss the Outer Banks profoundly, but this opportunity was just too good to pass up. Thanks to everybody at Max Radio of the Carolinas, and deepest thanks to everybody who tuned in and put up with me acting the fool for four hours a day. It's been a great ride, and I'll miss you all." Kennedy who has been APD/MD/afternoons for WCMS (previously known as WWOC) for nearly four years and Production Director for the past two years leaves Friday, January 20. Anybody who wants to reach out is welcome to e-mail Beau at beau_ceephus@yahoo.com.
Three new classified ads have been posted on VARTV today. Max Media Carolinas is looking for an afternoon personality for "Water Country 94.5" WCMS Hatteras NC. Clear Channel Harrisonburg is seeking a Promotions/Air Talent person. Sinclair Communications is in need of a Regional Account Manager for Adult/Variety Hits "93-7 BOB FM" WPYA Poquoson/Hampton Roads VA. Click "Classified Ads" on the left navigation panel for the complete details.If your station/organization has any positions available (media oriented), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who's reading..... (1/10/06)
| Tuesday, January 10, 2006We really, REALLY don't like speculation but when some things start "lining-up," it's hard not to. A quick travel to Positive Alternative Radio (PAR) Bright AC WPER/89.9's (Culpeper) website at wper.org, says "We are building our NEW website." New website? The name for the current logo graphic is "logotemp.gif." Temp? Plus, we received a misdirected email meant for WPER and not VARTV. It gets us thinking about WPER's format coming to PAR's newly acquired WJYJ/90.5 Fredericksburg (and WJYA/89.3 Emporia, WJCN/90.1 Nassawadox, WPVA/90.1 Waynesboro plus 14 translators). Stay tuned.....
| Monday, January 9, 2006Did anyone hear it? CSN International's translator W217BC/91.3 Fredericksburg dropped Christian Alternative "The Effect," which was relaying KEFX/88.9 Twin Falls ID, at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday afternoon to relay its main signal KAWZ/89.9 Twin Falls ID.
| Monday, January 9, 2006The religious outfit CSN Virginia (now owned by Positive Alternative Radio) successfully moved a translator in Smithfield from 102.1 to 102.3 back in mid-November. The repeater's antenna is now located on the same tower as WKGM/940 Smithfield. The translator was receiving a lot of interference from Clear Channel Alternative "102-1 The X" WRXL Richmond and some interference from On Top Urban "Hot 102.1" WWHV Virginia Beach. The pending new calls are W272CC. Right now, the signal is stunting with Christmas music as "Nick FM."
Congratulations to "NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk morning co-anchor Bianca Martinez and husband Mike on their new baby boy - Lucas. Lucas came into the world on Saturday..... (1/9/2006)
| Saturday, January 7, 2006Proof of how competitive the (Richmond) newscasts are can be found in Nielsen Media Research's November ratings book, the first of the official TV season. According to overall program averages, WTVR-Channel 6 and WRIC-Channel 8 are neck and neck for second place in several key time periods, while only one rating point separates stations from first and second place in several instances. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)  NOTE: The chart covers November 3 to November 30, 2005 (M-F, 5-day avg)
| Thursday, January 5, 2006 Jefferson-Pilot's "NBC12" WWBT Richmond has added the NBC network's "Weather Plus" to its digital signal on channel 12-2. Comcast digital subscribers can find the channel on 208.WeatherPlus is a partnership between NBC12 and NBC. Using the "L-bar" technology, local weather conditions and the Seven Day Planner are displayed 24/7, even during commercials. Every few minutes, viewers get full coverage weather updates from NBC12 meteorologists. WeatherPlus recently launched its own website at nbcweatherplus.com.
Some new paint was recently thrown on Free Lance Star Radio's "Classic Rock 96.9" WWUZ's (Bowling Green) website at classicrock969.com..... (1/5/06)
| Wednesday, January 4, 2006When Max Media Hampton Roads decided to drop their in-house "Hampton Roads Traffic Network" and go with Westwood One's "Metro Traffic," afternoon traffic reporter Diane Letterman could have made the switch to Metro but declined the offer and instead is concentrating on her career in Mediation. She is the Mediation Coordinator at the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. Letterman will still do part time/fill-in work for the Max Media stations.
A new classified ad has been posted on VARTV today. Two Rivers Communications is looking for a new Morning Show for its soon to be acquired (pending FCC approval) Standards "Windy 105" WNDJ/104.9 Whitestone VA. Click "Classified Ads" on the left navigation panel for the complete details.If your station/organization has any positions available (media oriented), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who's reading..... (1/5/06)
Family Friendly service to be broadcast in Spring 2006 | Thursday, January 5, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), U.S. Digital Television, LLC (USDTV) today announced it has selected Norfolk, Virginia as the fifth rollout market and first on the East Coast of its all-digital wireless TV service. The unique low-cost cable alternative will begin broadcasting this spring in the Norfolk/Hampton Roads market over the new digital TV facilities of LIN TV. USDTV has also created a Norfolk website to take advance subscriptions and list employment opportunities at www.usdtv.com/norfolk. (read more - USDTV Norfolk)
USDTV, Cavalier telephone's TV service comes to Hampton Roads soon | Thursday, January 5, 2006Consumers who have decried the limited number of alternatives to cable television will soon find themselves besieged with choices. A growing group of providers – from telephone companies to businesses working with traditional TV broadcasters – plan to bring video service that competes with local cable system operators. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot). The Daily Press has its own take on the USDTV announcement. (read more - Daily Press) Cavalier's Broadband TV service will be first introduced to Richmond area customers. (read more - Cavalier Telephone)
| Wednesday, January 4, 2006Bonneville DC dumps Modern AC "Z104" WWZZ/104.1 Waldorf MD/Washington, WWVZ 103.9 Frederick MD today at noon. The Classical format heard on WGMS/103.5 Washington is moved into its place. News WTOP (107.7, 1500, 820, 104.3) get a stronger DC signal with that format taking the 103.5 signal. Even more changes are planned. For the latest on all of this, go to DCRTV.com.
| Wednesday, January 4, 2006Max Media Hampton Roads (AC/Classic Hits "92-9 The Wave" WVBW, Contemporary Inspirational "Star 94.1" WXEZ, Country "97-3 The Eagle" WGH, Mainstream Rock "100.5 MAX FM" WXMM, Sports "ESPN Radio 1310" WGH) has dropped their in-house traffic reporting and has handed it off to Westwood One's Metro Traffic as of yesterday. These same stations (some which have since switched formats) used Metro Traffic until August 2002 when the then owners, Hampton Roads Radio Group (Barnstable Broadcasting), started their own traffic reporting network called Hampton Roads Traffic Network. Five months later, Clear Channel Norfolk (WOWI, WSVY now WKUS, WBHH now WCDG, WJCD) dropped Metro for it's own reporting network called Traffic Pulse Networks... Speaking of Metro Traffic, Nathan James has returned to Hampton Roads to do both radio and TV reporting for the outlet. James was with Metro early last year before focusing on new duties as the Promotions Coordinator for Entercom Norfolk (WWDE, WNVZ, WPTE, WVKL). He left for Entercom Poconos NE to become that cluster's Director of Marketing and Promotions just six months ago.
Jumps a boatload of markets from market #108 | Tuesday, January 3, 2006 Cox Radio Richmond has announced that Eric Kristensen is the new Program Director for Alternative "Y101" WDYL/101.1 Richmond. Kristensen, who hails from Journal Broadcast Group's Modern Rock "100.3 The X" KQXR Payette/Boise ID, fills the vacant seat since Mike Murphy left in September for the PD position at CBS Talk/Alternative "105.7 Free FM" WHFS Catonsville/Baltimore MD. Kristensen starts at Y on Monday, January 23.
| Tuesday, January 3, 2006 Entercom Norfolk (WWDE, WNVZ, WPTE, WVKL) announced that Heather Branch will be the new midday personality and Music Director for Modern AC "94.9 The Point" WPTE Virginia Beach. Branch was the Marketing Director for Entercom Adult/Variety Hits "98-7 Simon FM" WSMW Greensboro. Before that station dumped it's Modern AC format (The Zone, WOZN), she handled the afternoon drive.We reported last month that Michael Bryan, the then PD at Simon FM, was tapped to fill the shoes of Mike Klein who has exited Rhythmic "Z104" WNVZ/104.5 Norfolk for... Greensboro. Bryan also took over PD duties from Don London. By the way, Branch starts at The Point on Monday, January 9.
| Tuesday, January 3, 2006FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Max Media announced today that effective January 1, 2006 Ms. Vonneva Carter was promoted to General Manager for Max Media’s five radio stations in the Hampton Roads, Virginia market. Ms. Carter has been in the Norfolk-Virginia Beach market since 1998. She has been the Director of Sales for the Entercom Communications cluster of stations and in 2005 became the Director of Radio Sales for Max Media.Max Media Radio President Eric Mastel, who made the announcement said, “It gives me tremendous pleasure to promote Vonneva to this well deserved opportunity. I will continue to function as the President of Max Radio, including the Hampton Roads stations, plus our other 32 radio properties and future acquisitions. Ms. Carter responded, “I have devoted the majority of life to this business and am grateful to everyone at Max Media for giving me this opportunity. I have learned that this business is not rocket science, to be successful we simply need to surround ourselves with passionate caring people who put the listeners and clients needs above their own, that is exactly what Max Media and the Hampton Roads stations continually strive for.”
 | Monday, January 2, 2006Paul Shugrue slips on a pair of headphones, clears his throat several times and pulls the microphone close. “Welcome new music adventurers, to two hours of the best in blues, rock and Americana,” he says to open “Out of the Box,” his public radio show. He then introduces the first song of the night, an acoustic tune by jam rocker Keller Williams. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
| Saturday, December 31, 2005 Sounds odd but true. CSN Virginia's religious "Praise FM" WJYJ/90.5 is stunting this morning, calling itself "The New Nick FM, All Christmas All The Time" and playing Christmas music. They even have a website dedicated to Nick FM. We reported at the end of June that CSN Virginia, a subsidiary of CSN International which owns WJYJ, WJYA/89.3 Emporia, WJCN/90.1 Nassawadox , WPVA/90.1 Waynesboro and 14 translators throughout Virginia, was selling all of it's stations to Positive Alternative Radio (PAR) for $8M. PAR already has a Christian AC (CCM) outlet WPER/89.9 Culpeper and the bigger "Spirit FM" simulcast in Roanoke (WRXT/90.3) and the surrounding areas (on several full-power and translator stations).It appears now that PAR is ready to take these acquired stations in a different direction. But what direction? Split up the former CSN Virginia stations between "Spirit FM" and WPER or introduce a new (religious-based) format? Stay tuned.
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