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 :// WLEE getting nostalgic spin on XM radio  | Thursday, August 31, 2006Do you remember WLEE Radio from 40 years ago? The '60s version that may have introduced you to the Beatles and the Supremes? XM Satellite Radio will be reviving the former version of the Richmond station on its XM Channel 6, "The 60s," from 4 to 9 p.m. tomorrow (9/1). (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)
WTKR investigative reporter arrested for "failing to obey a police order" | Thursday, August 31, 2006 MacArthur Center was shut down for more than an hour Wednesday while a car was searched for explosives after police arrested a man and a woman believed to be the pair that robbed a Norfolk bank last week. It started around 11:10 a.m., after investigators followed the duo from St. Paul's Boulevard to City Hall Avenue, and then into a parking garage for the mall. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot) New York Times' "Your NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk ND Jeff Parsons told staffers, "Expect to see a story in the Pilot on Thursday about the police charge and summons of Mike Mather during the mall evacuation today. Police stopped and charged Mike for violating a police order in trying to reach a public area. Mike says, and has witnesses, that he was not crossing into protected police areas but was trying to reach our crew on site. We are gathering information and talking to necessary legal folks about what we need to do... we will not do this as a story on-air. If down the road we have evidence to prove that police routinely cross the line in these types of situations, a story may be warranted... I believe it's best that we do not do a story on our air. Instead I want to invest our effort at gathering information and formulating a plan that serves our station and Mike's best interest."
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 The R&B All Stars Morning Show is gone from Entercom Urban AC "95-7 R&B" WVKL Norfolk, we've learned today, to be replaced with the nationally syndicated "The Steve Harvey Morning Show." WVKL's show was headed up by Busta Brown who returns to his former station Entercom Greensboro Urban AC WQMG/97.1 after just five months on the air at 95-7 R&B. Brown replaced Sonny Andre, who exited the station late November 2005. We hear that morning co-host Karen Parker Chesson will probably be the local producer for The Steve Harvey Morning Show to run the show and read the news during the breaks. Harvey starts on WVKL Tuesday, September 5. Learn more about The Steve Harvey Morning Show, heard on over two dozen stations around the country, at the Morning Show's website... steveharvey.premiereinteractive.com.
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006  Clear Channel CHR "Q94" WRVQ/94.5 Richmond has announced that Sid Kelly will be the new co-host with Melissa Chase for the station's morning show. Kelly replaces co-host/APD Darrin Stone who exited for Eugene OR Friday, June 30.Kelly co-hosted mornings on Cumulus' CHR "Hot 104" WYOK/104.1 Atmore/Mobile AL until April when that station was blown up for Country. He's also not new to Virginia. Kelly was once a night slammer at Mel Wheeler's CHR "K92" WXLK/92.3 Roanoke in the late 90s. The new Q94 show, "Melissa & Sid," will debut on Tuesday, September 12.
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006  Efforts by Harrisonburg-based WHSV TV to create a local news broadcast for Winchester and surrounding areas are on time, station officials say.General Manager Brad Ramsey said work on a facility to house TV3 Winchester is on schedule and the first broadcast should be on the air by the end of the year. (read more - The Daily News record)
| Wednesday, August 30, 2006 From Television Business Report (TVBR):CW affiliate to be brings 47 million Southeastern Media Holdings, headed by President Donna Barrett, is getting its 4th station with a deal to buy WUPV-TV (65/Ashland) Richmond, VA, market #60. It is a nice payoff for Bell Broadcasting, headed by CEO Jim Lockwood Jr., which bought the station for 10 million in 1997 and has built it up from there with its current UPN affiliation - due to change next week to the new CW. "It certainly shows that people are paying up for the right stations," said broker Susan Patrick of Patrick Communications, which put the parties together... After this deal closes, Lockwood's company will still have stations in two markets. TVBR observation: We're sure it is just coincidence, but Southeastern always seems to buy in markets where Raycom already has a station. We look for WUPV to be put into a shared services agreement with Raycom's WTVR-TV (Ch. 6, CBS). More than a coincidence, we hear from multiple sources that indeed a shared services agreement will be set up with Raycom’s "CBS6" WTVR. WUPV will operate out of WTVR’s Broad Street facility.
 What two Virginia TV stations are about to be under one roof? Stay tuned..... (8/29/2006)
| Tuesday, August 29, 2006CapSan Media has rolled out brand new websites for its recently acquired NE NC radio station cluster. Check them out... "Classic Hits 104.9" WFMZ Hertford at classichits1049.com, Album Adult Alternative "99.1 The Sound" WVOD Manteo at wvod.com, Soft AC "The Wind 97.1" WYND Hatteras at thewind971.com and CHR "Power 92-3" WZPR Nags Head at wzpr.com.
| Monday, August 28, 2006 Gray Television has announced the hiring of Bill Duvall as news director and main anchor for its WHSV News project in Winchester -- "TV3 Winchester." Duvall served as morning co-anchor of "NBC29 News at Sunrise" from 1997 until 2005. He's the second WVIR anchor to join Gray's expanding projects in Virginia. Duvall's former co-anchor, Beth Duffy, joined Gray's Charlottesville stations (WCAV/19, WVAW-LP/16, WAHU-CA/27) as a sales executive earlier this year. More information on Duvall's new job can be found at tv3winchester.com and graytvinc.com.
| Monday, August 28, 2006They say two is better than one, but two traffic reporters? Well, seasoned veteran photojournalist Ricardo Major of New York Times' "Your NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk will pull double duty next month as he shifts his responsibilities to not only shooting on occasion but will get some face time as the new Peninsula Traffic Reporter for the Channel 3 morning newscasts. He will teaming up with Southside Traffic Reporter Jennifer Cooper. Major will be based at WTKR's Peninsula Bureau over at the City Center at Oyster Point.
| Monday, August 28, 2006 One of the highest rated UPN affiliates in the country is now going by a different name. Over the weekend, CBS' WGNT (27) Portsmouth/Norfolk dropped the UPN27 name in favor of CW27.On January 24, 2006, UPN and The WB networks announced they would merge into a newly combined network called The CW; the letters representing the first initial of its corporate parents CBS and the Warner Brothers unit of Time Warner. The CW launches September 18.
| Monday, August 28, 2006 Two of the most popular series on Roanoke/Lynchburg television get even easier to watch in September. WDBJ’s Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy telecasts will be broadcast in high definition beginning with the new season on September 18. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Sunday, August 27, 2006Beginning Oct. 1, The Virginian-Pilot will publish its North Carolina section three days a week instead of daily. The paper is scaling back on the number of sections because "there has not been enough advertising support to fill seven days a week," said Bruce Bradley, president and publisher of the newspaper. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
 | Saturday, August 26, 2006FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Newton Media a full-service Direct Response and Ministry media management company announces the addition of Ken Thomas to the position of Director of Ministry Development. Thomas, formerly with INSP Network, will be located in Charlotte, NC and be responsible for adding new television ministry clients. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Friday, August 25, 2006A federal judge in Virginia dashed the hopes of a small town there that wanted a chance to buy the local Adelphia Communications system, rather than seeing it transferred to new owners under the operator’s bankruptcy settlement. Judge Michael Urbanski, in a ruling made public Thursday, ruled in favor of the acquiring operators, Comcast and Time Warner Cable, in a suit brought by Martinsville Cable. (read more - MultiChannel News)
| Friday, August 25, 2006 Multi-system cable operator Cox Communications has entered an agreement with digital video recorder (DVR) service provider TiVo, making TiVo’s DVR and interactive advertising services available for download to existing Cox DVRs.Under the agreement, TiVo will customize its cable software for deployment on compatible Cox DVR set-top-boxes. A company spokesperson could not disclose the number of subscribers currently using such equipment. (read more - Twice)
| Thursday, August 24, 2006Silver Dolphin Communications silenced Traditional Country WHAP/1340 Hopewell on Thursday, August 17. The station was on the air for just two and a half months. Rick Brady, formerly nights at The Star Radio Group's Country WFLS/93.3 Fredericksburg, formed Silver Dolphin to acquire WHAP from it's former owners, MainQuad Communications for $200,000. The station was silent for nearly 10 months before Brady signed it back-on on June 1.
| Thursday, August 24, 2006 Max Media of Hampton Roads (WGH-FM, WVBW-FM, WXEZ-FM, WXMM-FM, WGH-AM) and The Coaches Corner Gameday Magazine is pleased to announce their partnership with the monthly publication.ESPN Radio 1310 (WGH-AM) will play a vital part of GAMEDAY Magazine with extensive coverage of local high school sports... (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Thursday, August 24, 2006Stafford County and University of South Carolina grad Darragh Copley has taken the job of assignment editor at Lincoln Financial Media's "NBC12" WWBT Richmond. Copley had previously worked at WLTX Columbia SC before coming home to The Star Radio Group's WFLS/93.3 Fredericksburg where she worked for nearly two years.
Hampton Roads stays put, Richmond drops one  | Thursday, August 24, 2006Nielsen Media Research just announced yesterday a new list of Designated Market Area (DMA®) TV rankings for the 2006-2007 television season which starts on September 23, 2006. The research company says the total number of television households within the US is now estimated at 111.4 million, an increase of 1.1% since last year...
:// A healthier Alveta Ewell returns to WAVY | Wednesday, August 23, 2006Local news anchor Alveta Ewell said today she was away from WAVY-TV, Channel 10 for medical reasons -- and that's all she has to say on the subject. "It's personal. I don't really want to talk about it," said Ewell, who returned to the WAVY anchor desk on Aug. 14 after a three-month absence. (read more - Daily Press)
| Tuesday, August 22, 2006Sinclair Communications has announced that they have filled the night slot at CHR "The Zone @ 106-1" WZNR Poquoson/Norfolk. The new night slammer is Diaz from nights at Clear Channel Rhythmic "95.1 The Beat" WBVD Melbourne FL. He also serves as The Beat's Imaging/Production Director. Diaz, who starts at The Zone on Monday, September 4, replaces Anna & Kevin.
| Tuesday, August 22, 2006Belo's WVEC (13/ABC) Hampton/Norfolk has named two new reporters for two departing reporters from the station, Patrick Terpstra and Shannon Sims.  Terpstra is the Space Coast reporter for Bright House Network's "Central Florida News 13" (cable-only) Orlando. According to his CFN bio, the DC native graduated magna cum laude from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. He was a studio assistant in the senators' private Capitol production facilities for the US Senate TV studio and followed that up with a stint at CNN Washington as a researcher, floor director and personal assistant to Wolf Blitzer. Terpstra joins WVEC on Tuesday, September 5. Sims, currently the North Idaho reporter for Belo's KREM (2/CBS) Spokane, will be in Hampton Roads in October. According to her KREM bio, Sims worked behind the scenes at KGO in San Francisco as an assignment desk assistant before making the switch to in front of the camera as a news reporter at KREM in February 2004. She's also an accomplished singer, with a degree in music from the Manhattan School of Music.Terpstra and Sims replace departing anchors/reporters Vince Kelly and Natasha Barrett. Barrett exited in July and now reports for Allbritton Communications "ABC7" WJLA Washington DC. Kelly, a brand new dad, is headed back to South Florida to be closer to family in West Palm Beach. Channel 13 Executive News Director Rich Lebenson said, "Vince Kelly has sold his home and his final day at WVEC will be next Tuesday, August 29th. He will be missed." Lebenson also announced that David Alan will join Sandra Parker as co-anchor of "Pilot 13 News" at 10 p.m. on LNC5 (Cox Cable-only) beginning on Tuesday, September 5th. Alan will continue to anchor the 5:30 p.m. newscast and co-anchor the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. news with Regina Mobley.
| Tuesday, August 22, 2006 LIN Television's WAVY (10/NBC) Portsmouth/Norfolk debuted a new reporter on air yesterday, Jason Marks. Not only is Marks familiar with the area (he's from Virginia Beach), Marks is very familiar with the station he's landed at, Channel 10. After Marks graduated from Virginia Wesleyan College in May 1998 where he earned his Bachelor degree in communications, he worked for four years at WAVY as a sound and camera technician. Marks was the Sports Director for Bahakel Communications "ABC7" WBBJ Jackson TN when in May 2003, he was the first reporter, local or national, to witness the aftermath of the devastating tornadoes that destroyed downtown Jackson. That's when Marks decided that news stories are what he wanted to cover. Six months later, he became a reporter for New York Times' "NewsChannel 19" WHNT (CBS) Huntsville AL.
| Monday, August 21, 2006JJ Kincaid was announced today as the personality getting the afternoon drive slot at Clear Channel CHR "Z100" WHTZ/100.3 Newark/New York. Known as Special Ed at Entercom Rhythmic "Z104" WNVZ/104.5 Norfolk, Kincaid co-hosted the station's morning show, The Z Morning Zoo. He exited Z104 in February 2004 and landed what he thought was he dream gig, doing afternoons at Clear Channel CHR "106-1 KISS FM" KHKS Dallas. Kincaid replaces Hampton Roads native Paul "Cubby" Bryant who now morning co-hosts with Whoopi Goldberg on CC Dance WKTU/103.5 Lake Success/New York. (read more - Radio & Records)
WXGI talk-show host will give up the microphone for 'Sports Phone' program | Sunday, August 20, 2006 The familiar voice of Richmond radio talk show host Al Coleman will become much less familiar as the result of staff and programming changes at Coleman's employer, (Red Zebra Broadcasting) ESPN950 AM (WXGI). (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)
| Sunday, August 20, 2006It's a few minutes before 6 on Wednesday morning, and the sun hasn't yet risen, but Vice Mayor Paul R. Riddick is awake and cracking jokes in the studio of WPCE, a religious radio station on Church Street. (read more - The Virginian=Pilot)
| Friday, August 18, 2006Anthony Davis has been named Associate Producer for Raycom Media's "CBS6" WTVR (CBS) Richmond new "Virginia This Morning" program to debut this fall at 10 a.m. Davis has been with WTVR since 2001, starting as a production assistant and recently was weekend Master Control Operator. Before CBS6, Davis worked in New York with Universal Records and Island Def Jam Music Group coordinating logistics and promotional efforts.
| Thursday, August 17, 2006Kristen Nash, middays on The Star Radio Group's Country WFLS/93.3 Fredericksburg, had a baby girl on Tuesday. (read more - WFLS). Former WMZQ-er Jessica Cash is filling in in the meantime.
| Thursday, August 17, 2006Clear Channel has announced the new HD digital multicasts its Richmond stations will be broadcasting on their HD2 channels in the near future.
WTVR/98.1 -- Smooth Jazz WRXL/102.1 -- Album Adult Alternative WBTJ/106.5 -- Mixes
Thousands of live traffic views available... | Thursday, August 17, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... The TrafficLand Company, based in Fairfax, VA, announced today that it has added dozens of markets to its real-time traffic camera network. In addition to over 20 new U.S. markets, the company has added foreign markets for the first time, including London, Montreal and Toronto. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Thursday, August 17, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Red Zebra Broadcasting announced today that Randy Gardner has joined the company as Commercial Production Director. Gardner comes to Red Zebra Broadcasting from Bonneville AC WWZZ (Z104) in Washington, DC.Gardner will serve as Commercial Production Director for Red Zebra Broadcasting’s Triple X ESPN Radio (94.3 FM/WWXT, 92.7 FM/WWXX, 730 AM/WXTR) the new home of The Washington Redskins. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Wednesday, August 16, 2006Vox Communications blew up satellite fed Adult/Variety Hits "Sam 95.5" WZXI Buffalo Gap/Harrisonburg today and started a simulcast with 60s-70s Hits "Magic 106.3" WBOP Churchville/Staunton on the 95.5 frequency. The station is now being imaged simply as "Magic 95.5." Promos began running today telling listeners to tune in to 95.5 from 106.3. Additional on air announcements state that webcasting on the station's new website -- www.magic955fm.com will begin very soon. The owners of the 106.3 frequency, Force 5 Communications which had an LMA with Vox, recently won FCC approval to move the COL (community of license) to Keswick (less than 10 miles east of Charlottesville) on 106.1. The new signal will broadcast from a tower five miles south of Charlottesville. We hear on Thursday, August 31 at midnight 106.3 will go dark from Buffalo Gap. The WBOP call letters will shift to 95.5.
| Wednesday, August 16, 2006Not local but this story is causing an Internet stir. After six years of being a part-time on-air personality at Cumulus Urban "93 BLX" WBLX/92.9 Mobile AL, Inetta quits... on the air... and speaks her mind before exiting. Thanks to UrbanInsite.com for the clip.
| Wednesday, August 16, 2006FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Vonneva Carter, General Manager of Max Media of Hampton Roads (WVBW/92.9, WXEZ/94.1, WGH/97.3, WXMM/100.5, WGH/1310), announced today (8/15) the promotion of Karen Bradley as Regional Sales Manager. Ms. Bradley is a native of Virginia Beach and has 13+ years experience in marketing, promotions and sales. Max Media is confident she will do an excellent job and is excited for Karen on her new and exciting responsibilities.
| Wednesday, August 16, 2006Several key off air personnel at Entercom Norfolk have exited the cluster (WPTE/94.9, WVKL/95.7, WWDE/101.3, WNVZ/104,5) recently. Christine Morelli, Entercom Norfolk's Business Manager, resigned yesterday (8/15/06) following on the heels of the resignation of Entercom Norfolk Office Manager Brenda Hanbury who resigned the previous day. Over at Z104 (WNVZ), GSM (General Sales Manager) Nadine Paniccia resigned two weeks ago, and Account Executive Erica Saxon left her position with the cluster to move back to Richmond where she has taken a AE (Account Executive) position with Main Line Broadcasting's Adult/Variety Hits "Liberty 98.9" WWLB Midlothian/Richmond.
| Tuesday, August 15, 2006The HD Digital Radio Alliance, a joint initiative of leading radio broadcasters to accelerate the rollout of HD digital radio, today announced that 18 new, local markets will begin HD2 multicast programming this fall, marking the third wave of stations rolling out side channels under the Alliance’s format-selection program. (read more - HDRadio.com)
| Tuesday, August 15, 2006Sinclair Communications announced last week that Ralph Almodovar will handle the Sales Manager position for Adult/Variety Hits "93-7 BOB FM" WPYA Chesapeake on an interim basis until Luciana Varverud returns from maternity leave. Varverud replaces Jeff Kautz who resigned as WPYA's sales manager to accept the GSM (General Sales Manager) position with Beasley (Broadcast Group) Las Vegas. Varverud has been with Sinclair for over seven years and was most recently Regional AE (Account Executive) for Alternative "96X" WROX/96.1 Exmore/Norfolk and CHR "The Zone @ 106.1" WZNR Poquoson/Norfolk.
| Tuesday, August 15, 2006Scott Sanders, GM (General Manager) of Sinclair Broadcasting Group's (SBG) "WB33" WTVZ Norfolk, exited the station on July 28. A new replacement has already been announced at WTVZ. Bill Scafitti, new to SBG, will report to work Tuesday, September 5; the same day the station joins the new MyNetworkTV. WTVZ will drop "WB33" for "MyTVZ" very soon.
| Tuesday, August 15, 2006As you are aware, we were hoping to be able to bring 89.1 WCNV to the Northern Neck this past June, but unfortunately, we have been faced with some obstacles that have delayed the launch of the station. (read more - WCVE-FM)
| Monday, August 14, 2006Clear Channel Broadcasting Inc., which operates six radio stations in Harrisonburg, Staunton and Waynesboro, has dropped the "Imus in the Morning" show from two of its properties. On Aug. 7, WKCY-AM 1300 in Harrisonburg and WKCI-AM 970 in Waynesboro began airing "The Country Club" with Kris Neal weekdays from 6 to 9 a.m., the time slot formerly occupied by Imus. (read more - [Harrisonburg] The Daily News Record)
| Saturday, August 12, 2006 Rumors are now reality that Steve Hegwood has indeed been tapped as the new Program Director for Radio One Urban WKYS/93.9 Washington. GM Michelle Williams told staffers in-house of the news. Hegwood replaces Derrick Brown, who exited WKYS last month. Hegwood has been on the Left Coast serving as PD/consultant to Styles Media's Urban "K-Day" KDAY 93.3 Redondo Beach/Los Angeles//KDAI 93.3 Ontario/Los Angeles. A Radio & Records piece says, Hegwood "has previously worked for Radio One as VP/Programming and also programmed WKYS; his resume includes WQUL/Atlanta, WYLD/New Orleans, WJLB & WMXD/Detroit and the original KDAY, among others." Hegwood starts his new programming duties September 5.
| Saturday, August 12, 2006Hampton Roads really likes its pro football. Even when the games involve players who in two or three weeks will be asking, "You want fries with that?" The drawing power of the NFL was on display Sunday night, when the season's first exhibition game received a heftier-than-expected Nielsen rating among local viewers. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
| Friday, August 11, 2006One of Richmond radio's most popular personalities will soon be on local television as well. Bill Bevins, of WTVR-FM (Lite 98), has been named co-anchor of "Virginia This Morning," a weekday morning program debuting on WTVR-TV in October. He'll be teamed with Cheryl Miller, who anchors the TV station's noon, 5 and 5:30 p.m. newscasts. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)
| Thursday, August 10, 2006 News-talk, rock and country dominated the Harrisonburg market in the spring 2006 radio survey, released this week by Arbitron Inc. WSVA-AM (News Radio 550) led the way with a 13.9 share of the total audience. The VerStandig Broadcasting property also dominated the morning time slot with a 25.3 share. (read more - The Daily News Record)
| Wednesday, August 9, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Daisy Davis was named as the new Operations Manager for Radio One, Inc.’s Philadelphia cluster, which includes WPHI-FM 100.3 The Beat (Hip-Hop/R&B), WRNB-FM 107.9 (Urban AC) and WPPZ-FM 103.9 (Gospel), General Manager Chester Schofield, announced today that “Daisy Davis will make a positive impact for the cluster of our stations in Philadelphia. Daisy’s creative and innovative approach will differentiate us from the competition. Many extremely talented individuals were interviewed but the single best person that can get us there is Ms. Davis and we are extremely excited to have her.” (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Wednesday, August 9, 2006Sinclair Communications Adult/Variety Hits "93-7 BOB FM" WPYA Chesapeake/Norfolk Sales Manager Jeff Kautz turned in his resignation Monday to accept the GSM (General Sales Manager) position with Beasley (Broadcast Group) Las Vegas. Kautz will oversee Classic Rock/KKLZ, 80s/KSTJ, Country/KCYE, and Talk/KDWN. His wife Ann resigned from Max Media Hampton Roads sales to also join Beasley's Las Vegas cluster.
Tests failed to prove that heroin caused former weatherman Marc Lamarre's collapse | Tuesday, August 8, 2006 Now several months after his overdose, Marc Lamarre still suffers from damage to the right side of his brain, which makes it difficult to learn, a prosecutor said. Former WSLS (Channel 10) meteorologist Marc Lamarre overdosed on drugs the night of Feb. 2, but federal prosecutors now say they have no evidence it was heroin. Because two urine samples taken that night did not turn up heroin in Lamarre's system, Chad Rhudolph Honaker, 33, and Gilbert Dennis Hadden, 21, escaped charges that their heroin dealing caused serious bodily injury. (read more - The Roanoke Times)
| Tuesday, August 8, 2006Just after 5 p.m. yesterday, Entercom Rhythmic "Z104" WNVZ/104.5 Norfolk launched the new Z104.com website. After six months in the planning/works, "(t)his new site features the latest technology and will become an interactive meeting place for our incredibly active Audience," said a company suit.
Former New York Times "Your NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk Anchor/Reporter Kathleen Carey is now Lieutenant Carey, at the Newport News Sheriff's Office. She just graduated the Corrections Academy. Congrats! (8/8/2006)
| Tuesday, August 8, 2006 The Daily Press reported last week that LIN TV WAVY (10/NBC) Portsmouth/Norfolk Anchor Alveta Ewell would return to the station on Monday, August 7. So did The Virginian-Pilot's entertainment reporter Larry Bonko. This past weekend, the Daily Press revised Ewell's return date to the following Monday -- August 14th. WAVY anchor Les Smith stated on yesterday's 6 p.m. newscast that "published reports" saying Alveta Ewell would return tonight (August 7) were "premature." Smith went on to say "she would return 'soon'." Ewell has been on personal leave since early May.
| Monday, August 7, 2006After a year doing nights at Sinclair Communications CHR "The Zone @ 106-1" WZNR Poquoson/Norfolk, duo Anna & Kevin exit. Reach them at (832) 498-2737. So, WZNR needs a fast-paced night show with a killer personality who can entertain and work the phones in a big way. Must be ready to grip and grin with the audience. Rush your package to JayMichaels@sinclairstations.com, and include your resume, audio, and link to MySpace.com page if you have one. Or, send your material via snail mail, to Jay at WZNR, 999 Waterside Dr., Suite 500, Norfolk, VA 23510.
| Saturday, August 5, 2006The FCC Friday ruled that Gray Television' ABC affiliate WHSV-TV Harrisonburg, Va., can seek must-carry/retransmission consent status from three cable systems serving counties in the Washington designated market area (DMA)--Frederick, Clarke and Warren, but ABC may have something to say about that. The move was opposed by a number of stations in the Washington market. (read more - Broadcasting & Cable)
Cable company, MASN settle long-standing dispute | Friday, August 4, 2006 Nationals fans in the Washington region will be able to watch the team's games on Comcast starting Sept. 1 after the cable company and the sports network that carries most of the games settled a dispute that had lasted for more than a year, a Comcast executive said today. (read more - The Washington Post)
| Friday, August 4, 2006The FCC has granted a "special relief" request by Gray Television's WHSV (3/ABC) Harrisonburg to modify the Harrisonburg, Virginia designated market area (DMA) to include Berryville, Boyce, Frederick, Middletown, Stephens City, Winchester, Front Royal and Warren VA which currently are in the Washington DC DMA. An opposition was filed by Allbritton's WJLA (7/ABC) and a joint opposition was filed by NBC O&O WRC (4/NBC), FOX O&O's WTTG (5/FOX) and WDCA (20/MNT), Gannett's WUSA (9/CBS), and Tribune's WDCW (50/CW). WHSV wants to preserve its signal carriage on local (Adelphia) cable systems in those communities. Read the complete discussion at FCC.gov.
| Friday, August 4, 2006Joanna Massee, weekend news anchor at Young Broadcasting's "8News" WRIC (ABC) Petersburg/Richmond, will start next month as a reporter for Meredith Corp's "CBS46" WGCL Atlanta. Richmond is TV market #60, Atlanta is #9. Massee joined WRIC as a reporter in January 2002.
| Friday, August 4, 2006An accident involving a News-7 satellite truck on its way to a robbery created a temporary slowdown on I-81 - and left a permanent loss at Your Hometown Station. State Police say the driver, Herbert "Bucky" Stover, suffered an apparent heart attack as he drove southbound Thursday morning on the Interstate near Salem. (read more - WDBJ)
| Thursday, August 3, 2006Veteran morning man Barry Michaels has a new radio home at Clear Channel Country WYYD/107.9 Amherst/Roanoke. He replaces Lisa Lewis and Dave Clark, who exit. Michaels was let go at Max Media WFOG/92.9 Suffolk/Norfolk one year ago when the station dumped its 60s-70s Hits format for an AC/Classic Hits hybrid, now known as "92-9 The Wave" WVBW. At WYYD, Michaels will be known as “the Bear” on air.
| Thursday, August 3, 2006 Mid Atlantic Network' Hot AC "B101.5" WBQB Fredericksburg welcomes Crystal Presley to the team. Crystal will hold down the midday shift as well as taking on the Music Director responsibilities. She replaces Lisa Parker who left on June 9 to jump to The Star Radio Group's "Classic Rock 96.9" WWUZ Bowling Green/Fredericksburg to do afternoons. Presley comes from Panama City FL where she was PD/midday host at Styles Media Group's AC "Wave 100" WVVE/100.1.
| Wednesday, August 2, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... The University of Virginia athletics department announced on Monday (July 31) plans to broaden its television partnership with Gray Television. The agreement reached by the two parties enables Gray to become the flagship television partner for Virginia Athletics.Gray Television's three stations in the Charlottesville area - WCAV-CBS19, WVAWABC16, and WAHU-FOX27- will continue as the home of "Cavalier Sports Weekly" for the next five years. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Wednesday, August 2, 2006The Association for Women in Communications has announced that the news staff of WFLS-FM is the recipient of this year’s National Clarion Award for Radio Newscast. The award winning newscast featured stories from WFLS reporters Nancy Ball, Niche Herman and Darragh Copley was broadcast June 2, 2005. News Director Frank Hammon was the newscast’s anchor. (read more - WFLS)
| Wednesday, August 2, 2006 NewsBlues.com tells us that the weekend sports anchor opening at Young Broadcasting WRIC (8/ABC) Petersburg/Richmond will be filled by Adam Shadoff. Shadoff recently resigned from Communications Corp of America's "NewsChannel 9" KTSM (NBC) El Paso TX where he had similar duties. According to his KTSM bio, Shadoff is originally from Albuquerque NM, getting his first television job at WUTR (20/ABC) Utica NY, "a miserable place to live and work." Shadoff then joined KTSM in November 2003.
| Tuesday, August 1, 2006WAVY-TV, Channel 10, news anchor Alveta Ewell will return to the air on Aug. 7. Ewell, who co-anchors the 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts, has been off the air since May. (read more - Daily Press)
| Monday, July 31, 2006Arbitron released the ratings for Hampton Roads radio stations earlier today. The survey period covers March 30 thru June 21. Clear Channel Urban AC '105-3 Kiss FM" WKUS was on top again with sister Urban "103Jamz" WOWI/102.9 just a half point away. Third was Country "97-3 The Eagle" WGH, 4th was Max Media Contemporary Inspirational "Star 94.1" WXEZ, 5th Entercom Rhythmic "Z104" WNVZ/104.5, 6th Saga Classic Rock "106.9 The Fox" WAFX, 7th sister Active Rock "FM99" WNOR/98.7, 8th Max Media AC/Classic Hits "92-9 The Wave" WVBW, 9th Urban AC "95-7 R&B" WVKL and 10th Sinclair Communications News/Talk WNIS/790. Mornings (12+ persons)... WKUS, WGH, WOWI, WNOR, WAFX and WVBW, WXEZ, WPTE, WNVZ, WNIS. Mornings (25-54 all persons)... WNOR, WKUS, WAFX, WPTE, WGH and WOWI and WXEZ, WVBW, WPYA and WWDE.
| Monday, July 31, 2006The "Wake Up with Whoopi" morning show debuted today on Clear Channel Dance 103-5 KTU" WKTU Lake Success/New York. The show is being syndicated to a small handful of radio stations in two weeks. Entercom Norfolk has sent a survey asking it's listeners at all four of its stations in the cluster (Rhythmic "Z104" WNVZ/104.5, Modern AC "94.9 The Point" WPTE, Urban AC "95-7 R&B" WVKL, Mainstream AC "2WD" WWDE/101.3) seven questions about Whoopi Goldberg.
Question #2: Are you? (Male/Female) Question #3: Are you familiar with Whoopi Goldberg? Question #4: Would you listen to a radio show based in New York hosted by Whoopi? Question #5: Do you find Whoopi Goldberg's sense of humor funny or offensive? Question #6: Who do you think Whoopi Goldberg would most likely appeal to? People of all ethnic and racial backgrounds Caucasian Americans African Americans other Question #7: What is your ethnic heritage?
| Monday, July 31, 2006FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Richmond veteran broadcaster JACK ALIX has announced the formation of his new multi-layered company, SMARTALIX, INC, which will launch soon in the greater Richmond area. Alix has been in the radio business for over 35 years... (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Monday, July 31, 2006Red Zebra Broadcasting is picking up bankrupt, and soon to be defunct, On Top Communications' Urban "Hot 102.1" WWHV Virginia Beach/Norfolk for $4.25M according to a filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). That's $1.25M more than Steve Hegwood paid for the CP (construction permit) back in early 2001. The Washington Redskins owned broadcasting company plans to, eventually, carry ESPN Radio and all of the Skins football games. There has been no announcement if and when a new format for the station will take place. The Redskins' games this year are being heard on Sinclair Communications News/Talk WNIS/790 with ESPN Radio heard on Max Media Sports WGH/1310. ESPN's contract ends on WGH 8/1/2007. WNIS' contract for the Skins games terminates at the end of this season. There could be a bidding war between WWHV and WGH for ESPN Radio. WGH doesn't want to let go of it. Stay tuned...
| Saturday, July 29, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... More Hampton Roads residents get their local news from WVEC-TV13 than any other station in the market…according to Nielsen HH Overnights for July 2006. 13NEWS wins based on HH ratings. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Friday, July 28, 2006Entercom Urban AC "95-7 R&B" WVKL Norfolk picks up Coco Butter for overnights and weekends. She let go from cross-town rival (Clear Channel Urban AC) "105.3 Kiss FM" WKUS Norfolk where Big Dose took her midday shift. The syndicated Michael Baisden is heard in Big Dose's former slot from 3-7 p.m. on WKUS. Coco Butter replaces Bob Thomas on WVKL. The former weekender/overnights, got nights two weeks ago at the station.
| Friday, July 28, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Broadcast consultancy PraterMedia has officially launched today. The new company was founded by Jay and Bart Prater, and offers broadcast groups guidance in all areas of programming including talent development, online presence, new media technologies, as well as marketing, promotions, engineering and music. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Friday, July 28, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... 97.3 The Eagle (WGH-FM) is introducing a new way to play contests with their listeners… Text Messaging.With the popularity of instant messaging and text messaging comes a new way for listeners to play contests on 97.3 The Eagle. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Friday, July 28, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... (Telemedia Broadcasting's) "Thunder 104.5, Country That Rocks!" WGRX Falmouth/Fredericksburg announces changes. Long time weekend midday host Braden Smith segues to the Monday-Friday midday slot effective Friday, July 28. Program Director Tim Stone said, “Braden has a proven track record and was the perfect fit for the midday slot, bringing Braden aboard full time just adds to our already terrific air staff.” Smith replaces Stephanie Taylor who exits middays to take over the 7 p.m.-midnight slot on (Max Media) Country "97-3 The Eagle" WGH Newport News/Norfolk.
| Thursday, July 27, 2006... and hello "CW Richmond." With the July 2006 TV ratings period over, Lockwood Broadcasting dumps all mentions of the UPN network on the air and their website for WUPV/65 Ashland/Richmond in favor for the CW network. The WB Television Network and UPN are being folded into the CW Television Network. The CW launches September 18 with the first new show debuting on September 20 -- America's Next Top Model. The WB, seen overnights on Lincoln Financial Media WWBT/12 Richmond, will stop airing at the end of August.
| Thursday, July 27, 2006
| Wednesday, July 26, 2006Radio Disney's WRJR/1010 Portsmouth is back on the air. The FCC granted the station a STA (special temporary authority) on June 1, for six months. WRJR's sister station is expanded band (AM 1610~1700) Radio Disney outlet WHKT/1650 Chesapeake. WRJR had to go dark; five years after the license for 1650 was originally granted which was May 2001 per the FCC 5-year expanded band rule. Several station operators with stations in the expanded band are trying to petition the FCC to keep these stations from going dark permanently. Radio Disney's WRJR has a LMA (local marketing agreement) with Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting Corp (CBPC). CPBC is programming the station with Salem's Adult CCM format "Word In Praise."
| Wednesday, July 26, 2006Sports anchor Cory Curtis will be leaving WKRN Channel 2 to become sports director at WTKR, a CBS affiliate in Norfolk, Va. Curtis’ final day at Channel 2 will be Aug. 4. He joined the station three years ago. (read more - The City Paper) Curtis replaces current Channel 3 Sports Director Troy Brettson who has only been with the station for one year.
| Wednesday, July 26, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... CapSan Media, LLC today announced it has hired former Hampton Roads radio personality Mark Jackson to be the Director of Programming for the company’s four newly purchased FM radio stations. Mr. Jackson will oversee the programming for WFMZ-FM, WVOD-FM, WYND-FM, and WZPR-FM, serving The Outer Banks of North Carolina and Elizabeth City. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Wednesday, July 26, 2006 After four years with Mel Wheeler CHR "K92" WXLK/92.3 Roanoke, night slammer Justin "The New Guy" Wright heads for Delmarva Broadcasting's CHR WSTW/93.7 Wilmington DE for a similar slot. Wright did have a brief stay in Hampton Roads in early 2004 (nine months, 3 months voicetracking from Roanoke, 6 months in Virginia Beach) when he was heard on Entercom Rhythmic "Z104" WNVZ/104.5 Norfolk. Wright starts at WSTW Monday, July 31. Back at K92, Wright's stunt guy "Tater" will hold down nights, for now.
| Tuesday, July 25, 2006 VARTV reported first, in early May, that Chief Meteorologist Dave Parker, a 9-year station vet at New York Times "Your NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk, will exit Channel 3 in July. He's been in television for 17 years; getting his big break at WSLS (10/NBC) Roanoke. But it all comes to an end tomorrow night. The 11 p.m. newscast will be his last. What will he be doing next? Radio. We hear Parker will join Sinclair Communications News/Talk WNIS/790 Norfolk for mornings. He'll be heard during Tony Macrini's "Macrini's Morning News Team" for the show's political commentary but will also do the sports and weather segments during the 6-10 a.m. program. Parker joins WNIS on Tuesday, August 1. Parker joins former Channel 3 colleague Ted Alexander in radioland. Alexander, WTKR's former Sports Director, started hosting mornings with Jennifer Pulley on Entercom Mainstream AC "2WD" WWDE/101.3 in early May 2005. Alexander was doing sports for WTKR and was a radio personality for 2WD for awhile before he decided to leave TV and go back to radio.
Black and McCarthy officially get more duties | Tuesday, July 25, 2006Beginning last Wednesday, Bob Thomas got the nod to host Entercom Urban AC "95-7 R&B" WVKL Norfolk 7 p.m. to midnight shift - "After Dark." OM Don London said, "Bob is an industry veteran and has worked in Washington, D.C. at WHUR, WMMJ, WKYS and at BET and numerous other notable broadcast outlets. He's done "Love Songs", "After Dark" and "The Quiet Storm" for many years and will be the perfect addition to one of the market's top ranked stations and one of the market's best air staffs." Thomas replaces Theressa Brown who moved to middays when MD/middays Brion O'Brion was let go earlier this month. According to the station's website, Thomas can be heard, on-the-air, a mind-boggling 67 hours a week! Down the hall, Charles Black (afternoons on WVKL) and Mark McCarthy (afternoons on Mainstream AC "2WD" WWDE/101.3) will now officially be Assistant Production Directors. London told staffers, "Charles and Mark will be writing, producing, retrieving, assigning and revising commercials and spec spots. They have already been performing many of these tasks and have been doing a great job on and off the air. They begin their official duties and assume these titles immediately."
| Tuesday, July 25, 2006This one got buried in our inbox; never too late... On Saturday July 15, Sinclair Communications Radio Group took home the media softball championship trophy with a 14-2 win over the Norfolk Jailbirds. The Sinclair Slammers won their second consecutive championship and also broke a league record by going undefeated in regular season play (12-0). No other team in the Media League's history had gone undefeated and won the championship in the same season. "Kudos to shortstop/coach Robbie Carpenter and pitcher Ralph Almodovar. Both batted over .600 this season."
| Tuesday, July 25, 2006Don Wayne and Jack Prater are no longer with Tony Macrini in the Morning on Sinclair Communications News/Talk WNIS/790 Norfolk. For now, Jeff Moreau is sitting in with Macrini.
| Tuesday, July 25, 2006Clear Channel's Urban WOWI/102.9 Norfolk is now streaming an HD2 channel on their digital over-the-air signal. Right now, its been mixes 24/7, commercial free. Their digital HD1 stream is a simulcast of their analog programming -- "103 Jamz." WOWI becomes the first commercial Hampton Roads radio station to stream a second channel (HD2). Hampton Roads Telecommunications Educational Association's Classical WHRO/90.3 Norfolk was the very first station to do an HD2 stream -- Big Band/Nostalgia/Old Time Radio "The 20's Radio Network" back in December 2005. However, WOWI was the first Hampton Roads radio station to start broadcasting digitally with iBiquity's HD Radio™ technology in March 2005.
| Monday, July 24, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... William “Woody” Prettyman, CEO of Studio Center Worldwide Audio announced today that Studio Center Worldwide Audio has moved its corporate headquarters from Norfolk’s Historic Ghent section, to Virginia Beach. “We loved Norfolk but we just outgrew our other facility. Virginia Beach is more centrally located and we have plenty of parking.” (read more - VARTV Press Room)
102.1 WWHV-FM to Broadcast Redskins Games and ESPN Radio | Monday, July 24, 2006FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Red Zebra Broadcasting today announced that it has finalized its acquisition of Virginia Beach-based 102.1 FM (WWHV-FM) from On Top Communications. This follows the successful launch of Red Zebra Broadcasting’s Triple X ESPN Radio... (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Saturday, July 22, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Gray television’s WCAV CBS19 was presented a runner up award for “Outstanding Newscast” by a television station in the state of Virginia by the Virginia Association of Broadcasters at its annual summer convention held in Virginia Beach. The other finalist and award winner was powerhouse WWBT NBC12 out of Richmond. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Friday, July 21, 2006Albert McGilvray, news and public affairs director for Ruarch Associates' Christian television station "AZTV Network" WAZT-CA (10) Woodstock, has resigned to become news director/anchor at Shenandoah Communications' News/Talk WRNR/740 Martinsburg WV. The change is effective Monday, July 24.
| Friday, July 21, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Veteran public radio host Cathy Lewis joins the line-up at WTAR 850 AM to host “The Cathy Lewis Show” weekdays from 7:00-9:00 AM. The program debuts Thursday, July 27. Cathy will continue to host “Hear/Say with Cathy Lewis,” the lunchtime public affairs program on WHRV 89.5 FM public radio that marks ten years on the air in October. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Friday, July 21, 2006With the above announcement that Cathy Lewis will be joining Sinclair Communications WTAR/850 Norfolk and Dr Laura Schlessinger rejoining the line-up on the station, WTAR has quickly shifted back to a Talker; a format it abandoned just six months for FOX Sports Radio. Only FOX Sports' Jim Rome remains on the weekday schedule (6 a.m.~10 p.m.) from noon to 3 p.m. Overnights and weekends are still populated with FOX Sports programming.
| Thursday, July 20, 2006 Gray Television WHSV (3/ABC) Harrisonburg is losing one of its veterans. Morning and noon meteorologist Jay Webb will say "so long" to the Shenandoah Valley on Friday, July 20. Webb has been with WHSV for six years. He's moving down Interstate 81 to take a job with Schurz Communications WDBJ (7/CBS) Roanoke. Webb has enjoyed a cult-like following in the Valley. His popularity has helped keep "TV3 News Daybreak" and "TV3 News at Noon" well ahead of the competition.
WLES/580 to sign-on in weeks | Thursday, July 20, 2006Mount Rich Media just closed on the purchase of Salem Communications' Christian Talk "Spirited Talk" WBTK/1380 Richmond. The station immediately dumped the format for Spanish Christian Contemporary music. VARTV reported in mid-February that Media broker John L Pierce of John Pierce & Co announced that Mount Rich Media was picking up the station for $1.5M. Read more where the old Talk programs are moving to at WBTK.com. On an interesting side note, the announcement on the website says "'Viewpoint'" with Chuck Crismier will remain on WBTK until the end of the month, then move to a new radio station that will begin soon on AM 580... A new station at AM 580 will be signing on in August..." Apparently Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting Corp's WLES/580 Bon Air/Richmond is ready to sign-on within the next several weeks. The FCC granted the station to move its COL (community of license) from way out in Lawrenceville to the suburbs of Richmond. It was doing Oldies at 500 watts during the day and 51 watts at night. With the new Christian format from Bon Air, it'll be doing 201 watts day and 27 watts night, enough power at that end of the dial to cover Richmond well.
| Wednesday, July 19, 2006The station is currently running under the moniker "Hot 102.1" and will continue its Urban format aimed at the Hampton Roads community until an LMA is negotiated, and possibly longer. CEO Bennett Zier bought the station in Federal bankruptcy court in Greenbelt, MD on Monday as part of the On Top Communications collapse. (read more - Radio & Records)
| Wednesday, July 19, 2006 The Charlottesville Radio Group will be holding a special fundraising event to help legendary broadcaster Dick Mountjoy with medical expenses due to cancer treatments. Mountjoy has been on medical leave from the WINA Morning Show since April... (read more - WINA.com)
| Tuesday, July 18, 2006 Sinclair Communications is pleased to announce that Jeff Moreau, a 26-year veteran of the Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News radio market, has joined the company's Norfolk cluster of stations. Moreau will focus on future station programming and production projects in addition to appearing on WNIS 790 AM, WTAR 850 AM and WPYA BOB-FM (93.7). (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Monday, July 17, 2006The new CW network will launch with a two-hour America’s Top Model on Wednesday, September 20 and then roll out the remainder of its schedule over the next two weeks. (read more - Broadcasting & Cable)
| Monday, July 17, 2006Gray Television has announced that Ed Reams has been tapped as WHSV (3/ABC) Harrisonburg new News Director. Reams comes to TV3 from Hearst-Argyle Television's WDSU (6/NBC) New Orleans where he has been a reporter and fill-in anchor for the station the past eight years. Reams replaces ND/Anchor Van Hackett who has agreed to stay on until the end of August, to help with the transition and he'll continue to anchor the 6 p.m. newscast. Reams starts as ND on Monday, August 7.
| Monday, July 17, 2006Sitting behind the NBC29 news-at-6-and-11 anchor desk, she's the consummate professional, but there's one way to get a rise out of Stephanie Cornwell Keppich. Tell her you want to go into journalism so you can be on TV. Keppich vents about Miss America candidates, the ones who say they want to be "in communications." "They don't say, 'I'm going to be a journalist,'" she says. "[Communications] means 'I want to be on TV.'" (read more - The HooK)
| Sunday, July 16, 2006So says The Virginian-Pilot's Larry Bonko. The news was buried today in his section of the Daily Break. Red Zebra Broadcasting, Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder's new radio broadcasting company, is rumored to take flight on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 18 and that bankrupted On Top Communications Urban "Hot 102.1" WWHV Virginia Beach will be its latest acquisition. The new radio network will have five O&O (owned & operated) stations and a couple of affiliated stations to be announced soon. Bonko did go on to say that Red Zebra was looking for an AM radio station in the area too -- mentioning the bankrupt stations in Virginia Beach (WBVA/1450, WVAB/1550). Bonko's piece is a little dated. The sale of those two stations (pending FCC approval) did go to Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting Corp (CPBC). That doesn't stop CPBC from turning around and spinning either WBVA or WVAB to Red Zebra in the near future. There was no mention what WWHV would carry outside of Red Zebra's programming.
| Saturday, July 15, 2006You may have noticed that mornings are different on WMXB (103.7 FM) - at least concerning half the team. The Jack and Linda Morning show is now the Jack and Jen Morning Show. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)
| Saturday, July 15, 2006Not-just-for-TV-anymore could be the motto of two Richmond TV stations that are taking their information to cell phones. WRIC-Channel 8 is now offering "Wireless Weather," a 24-hour service that provides weather information. The service includes automatic alerts... (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)
MyNetwork TV will be seen in Richmond over-the-air on WRLH-DT 35-2 | Friday, July 14, 2006 Along with the new CW network debuting this fall, look for another new TV service -- MyNetwork TV, premiering Sept. 5. In some TV markets, MyNetwork TV will be an over-the-air-channel. In Richmond, however, it will only be available to digital cable customers. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)
The uncomfortable silence at the Richmond Times-Dispatch | Friday, July 14, 2006This isn’t the story I had in mind. I’d intended this to be a pretty straightforward description of the Times-Dispatch, Richmond’s only daily, as it adjusts to a new editor and a new publisher. But in the process of researching and interviewing for this article, I found the story increasingly entangled... (read more - Style Weekly)
| Friday, July 14, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... After a long exhaustive search we finally have found a new morning news anchor for WFLS-FM (93.3) Fredericksburg. Mark Chace has joined the WFLS News team. Mark is an experienced, seasoned professional having worked for several stations in New England including WHJJ and 630 WPRO in Providence, RI. He also worked a stint at China Radio International. Mark’s knowledge and passion for news will continue the goal of elevating our commitment to the quality of news that our listeners can find on WFLS-FM. Mark replaces longtime morning news anchor Penny Wack who recently become co-host of the morning show with Brian Strobel.
| Friday, July 14, 2006 Stephanie Taylor, currently music director and midday personality on Telemedia "Country That Rocks!, Thunder 104.5" WGRX Falmouth/Fredericksburg, will take over the 7 p.m.-midnight slot on Country "97-3 The Eagle" WGH Newport News/Norfolk effective Tuesday, August 1. Taylor will replace Nathan James who will concentrate solely on his Promotion Director duties for sister stations, Mainstream Rock "100.5 MAX FM" WXMM and Classic Hits/AC "92-9 The Wave" WVBW.
| Friday, July 14, 2006 A unique radio partnership has put the Spiders on both the AM and FM dials in Richmond and throughout Central Virginia."The WOLF" 93.1 (WLFV-FM) has agreed to a multi-year deal in which the popular country music station will carry any nighttime football and men's basketball games. (read more - Richmond Spiders)
| Thursday, July 13, 2006 As expected, the FCC Thursday approved--by a 4-1 vote--Comcast and Time Warner's $17.6 billion purchase of bankrupt Adelphia Communications, with the two dividing up the systems.Democrat Jonathan Adelstein joined the Republicans in voting for the deal, leaving only Democrat Michael Copps opposing. Adelstein did dissent in part, saying the commission should have imposed network neutrality conditions, a deficit that also troubled Copps. (read more - Broadcasting & Cable)
"Ozone" on 8News tonight at 6 | Thursday, July 13, 2006FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... The plight of a 2 year old baby girl fighting for her life from a rare form of cancer, and a razor shaving through unfamiliar territory has prompted a Richmond, VA disc jockey to donate his face in an unusual effort to raise money to help with the little girl's health costs. The WBBT Oldies 1073 Morning DJ, who goes by the name 'Ozone', first learned of Grace Oughton's fight for survival earlier this year... (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Thursday, July 13, 2006 This Friday (7/14) on XM '60s on 6 "Sonic Sound Salutes: WGH Norfolk." The show will feature vintage WGH jingles, air personalities, and local happenings. Listen to Terry "The Motormouth" Young from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. ET.
| Wednesday, July 12, 2006After two hours of contentious hearings, the bankruptcy judge in Norfolk Wednesday approved the sale of WVAB/1550 Virginia Beach and WBVA/1450 Bayside (Virginia Beach) for $775,000 to Nancy Epperson’s Chesapeake Portsmouth Broadcasting Corp. (CPBC), which owns two other area stations (WPMH/670 Claremont, WTJZ/1270 Newport News). We hear there was an hour of "hostile" questioning from Ronn Cowan, the ousted owner of the two stations. Cowan contested the sale by Chapter Seven Trustee R. Clinton Stackhouse, Jr. Cowan stated in court that more money should have been gotten for the two stations which were off the air for 11 months until the negotiation of the LMA leading to the purchase. The sale now goes to the FCC. CPBC is running a simulcast of Christian Talk WPMH/670 on WBVA/1450 and started a new format on WVAB as Gospel "AM 1550, The Praise" when it was previously on WRJR/1010. That station is now permanently silent.
Several new classified ads have been posted on VARTV this past week.
If your station/organization has any positions available (media oriented), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who's reading..... (7/12/06)
Hampton Roads was next in line for launch | Wednesday, July 12, 2006 Fledgling wireless-cable-television-service provider U.S. Digital Television, which offered 30 channels of basic-cable TV for just $19.95 per month, threw in the towel last week, filing for Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy.USDTV, based in Draper, Utah, used digital-broadcast spectrum to beam its signals to homes in Dallas; Salt Lake City; Albuquerque, N.M..; and Las Vegas. The company has said that it has about 16,000 subscribers. (read more - MultiChannel News)
| Tuesday, July 11, 2006Metro Networks (Traffic) has promoted Don Burke to ADO (Assistant Director of Operations) for the Norfolk Bureau. He'll report to Director of Operations Dan Mandis for Metro Norfolk/Richmond.
| Tuesday, July 11, 2006 Entercom Norfolk let go Music Director and midday personality Brion O'Brion at Urban AC "95-7 R&B" WVKL Norfolk yesterday. O'Brion, who hails from Hampton, has done on-air work in Orlando, Charleston, Ocean City and has wore many stripes -- Music Director, Production Director and Assistant PD. He joined "95-7 R&B" in March 2005. With O'Brion's exit, Theressa Brown moves from nights to middays and weekends/overnights Bob Thomas gets weeknights for now. The station has begun a search for a new 7 p.m. to midnight (WVKL After Dark) air personality. By the way, O'Brion isn't unemployed... he's a full-time nurse in Hampton Roads.
| Monday, July 10, 2006Virginia Beach author Carolyn Castleberry has recently published "Women, Take Charge of Your Money - A Biblical Path to Financial Security" (Multnomah Publishers, $14.99). Castleberry, a former anchor with WAVY-TV and co-host of the daytime cable show "Living the Life," discusses a variety of topics in her book including budgeting, savings plan essentials and retirement planning, as well as creating a plan for getting out of debt. (read more - Daily Press)
| Monday, July 10, 2006Comcast Richmond and Raycom Media "CBS 6" WTVR Richmond are now offering "CBS 6" newscasts via On-Demand. Viewers can go to the On-Demand channel on Comcast and select "Get Local." Here, cable subscribers can access for free "CBS 6 This Morning," "CBS 6 News @ 6," and "CBS 6 News @ 11."
| Sunday, July 9, 2006Clear Channel Norfolk wanted to swap the COLs (community of license) for Class A licensed (1.7 kW at 620 ft) Soft AC "107.7 Lite FM" WJCD Windsor and Class B licensed (50kW at 479 ft) Urban AC "105-3 Kiss FM" WKUS Norfolk. CC submitted its request and reasons to the Federal Communications Commission last February 2005. They just recently denied Clear Channel's request, stating that the COL swap doesn't meet several FCC criteria for such a swap. The FCC stated it would essentially give WJCD a population gain of 1,000,000+ persons but nothing more for "public interest benefit." Read the entire FCC discussion on the channel swap at FCC.gov.
| Sunday, July 9, 2006 On Raycom Media "CBS 6" WTVR Richmond's website (www.wtvr.com), the station is seeking "a Producer to manage all day-to-day aspects of production for a new, Monday-Friday LIVE hour-long morning show." Is WTVR also adding an additional morning show for the upcoming fall season to compete with Young Broadcasting's "8News" WRIC (ABC) Petersburg/Richmond new 9 a.m. 30-minute newscast?
| Sunday, July 9, 2006Both stations are now offering content for cell phones and PDAs. WTVR has started offering "CBS 6 Everywhere," news and weather content for wireless users on their website at wtvr.com. WRIC also has started to offer weather content via cell phones -- "8News Stormtracker." More on this at wric.com.
| Saturday, July 8, 2006Somar Communications dumped the long time call letters of WMDM on 97.7 Lexington Park for WYRX. In late May, the station killed 50-70s Oldies "Oldies 97.7" for Modern Rock/Alternative -- "97-7 The Rocket, Southern Maryland's New Rock Alternative." Somar picked up "Moondog" to run its stations (WMDM/97.7, WSMD/98.3, WKIK/102.9, WPTX/1690) a couple of months previous to the format flip. In early June, Moondog said to a local newspaper "What will you hear (on the new 97.7)?... Rage Against the Machine, Butthole Surfers, whatever … There’s no corporate VP telling me to play these 5 songs every week.” Eight days later, the same newspaper reports that Somar had canned Moondog. Quickly, 97.7 morphed into Mainstream Rock -- "97-7 The Rocket, Southern Maryland's Rock Station."
| Saturday, July 8, 2006After two years in Hampton Roads, brand new dad and Anchor/Reporter Vince Kelly is headed back to South Florida to be closer to family says Belo WVEC (13/ABC) Hampton/Norfolk ND Rich Lebenson. Kelly currently anchors "Pilot 13 News" at 10 p.m. on LNC5 (Local News on Cable). Lebenson told staff members Friday that Kelly will be in the newsroom for several more weeks before heading to West Palm Beach.
| Friday, July 7, 2006 Louis Power, a 30+ year communications and broadcasting veteran, will be returning to the microphone on Silver Dolphin Communications' Classic Country WHAP/1340 Hopewell. Power will be heard 6-10 a.m. Saturday mornings starting July 15 playing bluegrass music; a format that he did twenty years ago hosting “Bluegrass Saturday Morning” on WXGI/950 Richmond. Power has also worked Top 40, Oldies, Big Band Jazz, R&B, Country, and Traditional Country and has "dabbled" in television operations and freelancing.
| Thursday, July 6, 2006 The Hampton Roads Black Media Professionals held their 17th Annual Excel Awards Media Competition on Thursday, June 22, 2006 at Nauticus, Downtown Norfolk. Click here for the complete list of winners. Congrats to all nominees and winners.
| Thursday, July 6, 2006 It's good to have friends in the music business. Last night, "red hot producer" (and Virginia native) Timbaland personally delivered Jive recording artist Justin Timberlake's new single "Sexy Back" to Entercom Rhythmic "Z104" WNVZ/104.5 Norfolk MD Shaggy. This morning, The Z Morning Zoo world premiered "Sexy Back" at 7 a.m. "with incredibly positive listener feedback." Z104 PD Michael Bryan said "Shaggy's my hero. He, however, is not Jive's hero at the moment. A C&D (cease & desist) arrived at 9 a.m." Timberlake's Jive single officially drops at midnight tonight.
| Thursday, July 6, 2006 Steve Hegwood could be replacing Mary Catherine Sneed as VP/Programming, says AllAccess.com yesterday. But today he denies the rumors. "The rumor is not true," Hegwood told Billboard Radio Monitor. "I am at KDAY." Hegwood's On Top Communications based in Lanham MD (a stone's throw to Radio One's corporate HQs) is in bankruptcy. The company has a station in Hampton Roads, Urban "Hot 102.1" WWHV Virginia Beach. One station has already been announced to be sold with another one in Louisiana being actively marketed for sale. All of his stations (now down to four) are currently held by a debtor-in-possession. Hegwood currently is listed as an "in-house consultant/PD" to Styles Broadcasting's Urban "K-Day" KDAY/93.5 Redondo Beach/Los Angeles, KDAI/93.5 Ontario/Los Angeles.
| Thursday, July 6, 2006FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... CapSan Media, LLC today announced it has completed the purchase of WFMZ-FM, WYND-FM, WZPR-FM, and WVOD-FM, serving The Outer Banks of North Carolina and Elizabeth City, (metro rank 244) from Convergent Broadcasting, LLC. The deal was brokered by Kalil and Co. for $3.5 million. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Thursday, July 6, 2006Billboard magazine was expected to announce Thursday (July 6) the acquisition of Radio & Records, its 33-year-old Los Angeles-based competitor, sources said. The future now appears uncertain for R&R, the venerable music trade publication that has always maintained a strong focus on the radio side of the business. (read more - Reuters)
| Wednesday, July 5, 2006Sinclair Communications has updated the logo for "FOX Sports Radio 850" WTAR Norfolk from the one on the left to the new one on the right...  
| Wednesday, July 5, 2006 If Chief Meteorologist Jeff Lawson of Belo's "13NEWS" WVEC (ABC) Hampton/Norfolk looked a little stiff on the news, it's because he had another bicycle accident. On Friday morning (6/30), he was riding his bike on base at Fort Story in Virginia Beach. The base was doing roadwork, and had torn up a small patch of the road. Lawson didn't see it -- hit the part of the road that was missing, and flew over his handle bars - breaking his collar bone and left shoulder blade. He was wearing a helmet, which did get cracked in the accident. Wearing a brace, Lawson is scheduled to do the weather tonight starting at 5 p.m.
| Wednesday, July 5, 2006Tidewater Communications (Saga Communications) has announced that its three-station Hampton Roads radio cluster is now broadcasting in HD Radio. Active Rock "FM99" WNOR/98.7 Norfolk, Classic Rock "106.9 The Fox" WAFX Suffolk and Standards WJOI/1230 Norfolk are sending out digital streams along with its traditional analog signals. This makes WJOI the first AM station in Hampton Roads to do HD Radio. No word yet what the cluster will do for their second (and/or additional) HD channels... Clear Channel Norfolk now has all four of its stations doing digital. 60s-70s Hits "Cool 92.1" WCDG Moyock/Norfolk was the last to convert to the hybrid analog/digital signal. We hear the cluster is very close to launching HD2 streams on all of its stations. When launched, WCDG-HD2 will be doing Standards (battling the digital Standards heard on WJOI??). Urban "103Jamz" WOWI's second channel will be Street Music, Soft AC "107-7 Lite FM" WJCD's second stream will feature Classic Country with Urban AC "105-3 Kiss FM" WKUS doing Smooth Jazz on its HD2 channel... There are nine radio stations (8 FM, 1 AM) broadcasting in HD Radio in Hampton Roads.
Local (Richmond) TV, radio stations honored. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch) (7/3/2006)
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