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 :// New TV net debuts in Richmond  | Friday, October 31, 2008  This TV Network, a new general entertainment television network designed for digital terrestrial television subchannels, debuts tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. on Sinclair Broadcast Group WRLH-DT's subchannel 35-2 (cable channel 209). The station's subchannel (35-2, cable channel 209) will have a dual affiliation. The primetime schedule with MNT (My Network TV) will remain intact. The main channel (35-1) continues with FOX.This TV is a joint venture between film/TV studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting Co and will formally launch tomorrow, November 1, 2008.
| Friday, October 31, 2008 Media General Inc., the parent company of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, said today it has acquired Richmond.com, an online news and entertainment portal.Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Richmond.com was owned by TWG Portals LLC of Richmond. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Verizon beats cable with 105 HD channels for FiOS TV customers | Friday, October 31, 2008Verizon FiOS TV is now even better for customers in the Washington metropolitan area as the company is launching 55 new channels, including 53 additional high-definition (HD) channels. (read more - Verizon)
Leesburg AM-er to get more power, new frequency | Thursday, October 30, 2008Potomac Radio has earned FCC permission to execute a major upgrade of its WAGE-AM Leesburg VA, going from 5 kw to 50 kw during the day and from 1 kw to 3 kw at night. The project involves dropping a slot down the dial, from 1200 kHz to 1190... (read more - Radio Business Report)
Several DC TV stations to participate | Thursday, October 30, 2008ION Media Networks, along with NBC Universal, Telemundo and members of the Association of Public Television Stations, will schedule analog shut-off tests in multiple major markets, including Hartford, CT; Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. (read more - Broadcast Engineering)
| Wednesday, October 29, 2008Gray Television Charlottesville ("CBS19" WCAV, "ABC16" WVAW-LP, "FOX27" WAHU-LP) Vice President of News & Operations, Jeremy Settle, announced today in the cluster's morning meeting that he has taken the News Director job with Allbritton Communications' regional cable-only network "NewsChannel 8" in Washington DC. Settle will stay with the Charlottesville Newsplex thru the November ratings period. He's been in Charlottesville for the past four years.
| Tuesday, October 28, 2008 Today, WSLS Vice President and General Manager Warren Fiihr announces John Carlin’s plan to retire from broadcast television to join AccessPR, a division of Access Advertising+Design, as senior vice president. Longtime anchor/reporter Jay Warren will join Karen McNew as the WSLS featured anchor team. (read more - WSLS)
| Tuesday, October 28, 2008To save some money, Sinclair Communications with no notice has let go 30-year market vet Jeff Moreau (heard on News/Talk WNIS/790, Talk WTAR/850 and Variety Hits "93-7 BOB FM" WPYA) and 10-year station vet at Alternative "96X" WROX/96.1 night jock Kristi Michael.
 NewsBlues.com says that Shane Moreland, former ND at Local TV's "NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk, has been picked at Bonten Media's "News Channel 12" WCTI (ABC) New Bern, NC for the same capacity... (10/27/2008)
| Monday, October 27, 2008FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Today, Cox Communications announced its plan to add wireless offerings to its bundle of award-winning entertainment and communications services, such as digital cable, high-speed Internet and telephone in 2009. (read more - COX Communications)
| Sunday, October 26, 2008Donald Wayne Beckstrom, 63, answered the Lord's call on Oct. 23, 2008, at his residence in Virginia Beach. He was born July 1, 1945, in Arlington. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Phyllis B. Beckstrom. (please read more - Lynchburg The News & Advance)
| Friday, October 24, 2008 The FCC has granted a CP (construction permit) for The Popular Assembly Of New Horizons 3000 And His Successors' Adult Album Alternative/Public Radio "Revolutionary Radio Williamsburg" WRRW-LP/100.9 Williamsburg to move to an abandoned LPFM frequency, 102.5. The frequency was previously licensed to Christian Life Center of Williamsburg as WJRX-LP. CFC ran the station with a Christian Variety format known as "The Rain" but eventually they took the station dark and surrendered their license in April of this year.With Cox Radio moving its Alternative "Y101" WDYL/101.1 Chester to 100.9/Lakeside soon, the WRRW signal, also on 100.9, would be greatly compromised.
| Thursday, October 23, 2008 WVKL-FM, better known to listeners as 95.7 R&B, is once again the top-rated commercial radio station in Hampton Roads among all people ages 12 and above. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
| Thursday, October 23, 2008Cox Communications is raising prices in Hampton Roads in November for the cost of renting movies on demand, cable television, Internet and phone services. (read more - Daily Press)
Urban Adult Contemporary format tops in both markets | Wednesday, October 22, 2008Arbitron released the radio station ratings earlier today that covered the period June 26 thru September 17. For Hampton Roads, Entercom Urban AC "95-7 R&B" WVKL was tops again (12+ demo; on top two years straight in the 25-54 demo), followed by Clear Channel Urban "103Jamz" WOWI/102.9, Entercom Rhythmic "Z104" WNVZ/104.5, Max Media Country "97-3 The Eagle" WGH and then Clear Channel Urban AC "105-3 Kiss FM" WKUS, Max Media Inspirational Contemporary "Star 94.1" WXEZ and Sinclair News/Talk WNIS/790 all tied at fourth... For Richmond, Radio One Urban AC "105.7/99.3 Kiss FM" WKJS//WKJM is number 1 (in the 12+ demo), followed by a tie between Clear Channel stations "NewsRadio 1140" WRVA and Soft AC "Lite 98" WTVR/98.1, then soaring Radio One Urban "iPower 92-1" WCDX, Cox Radio Country "K95" WKHK/95.3 and Clear Channel Urban "106-5 The Beat" WBTJ... Ratings for all the markets around the country can be found at Arbitron.com.
| Wednesday, October 22, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... 94.9, The Point is proud to announce the addition of Ryan Seacrest to the station’s weekday talent line-up. “On Air with Ryan Seacrest”, the nationally syndicated radio show, will be heard exclusively in Hampton Roads on WPTE, Mondays through Fridays from 12 noon-3p, starting tomorrow, Thursday, October 23, 2008. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Wednesday, October 22, 2008 James Steele, Imaging Director for Sinclair Communications Hampton Roads (WPYA/93.7, WROX/96.1, WUSH/106.1, WNIS/790, WTAR/850) and on-air talent for Variety Hits "93-7 BOB FM" and Alternative "96X," gets the Music Director stripes at WROX. OM Jay Michaels said, "James is one of those rare talents that can do anything! He has worked extremely hard for all our stations and has been part of 96x since he arrived here 2 years ago!" Steele replaces Tamo Sein who exited for sister station Alternative "101X" KROX/101.5 Buda/Austin.
| Tuesday, October 21, 2008Mel Wheeler "Star Country 94.9" WSLC Roanoke Music Director Robynn Jaymes relinquishes her duties. But she remains as station's morning co-host. Her side kick and station PD Brett Sharp picks up the MD stripes. Jaymes says she'll now have more time to volunteer for the American Cancer Society where she's the president of the Leadership Committee for the Central and Southwest regions.
| Tuesday, October 21, 2008D&M Communications' (Tony DeNicola and Dave Marthouse) Classic Top 40 "Woody 1230" WODI Brookneal is being sold to Christianstead, St Croix, US Virgin Islands based The Rain Broadcasting for $135,000. The station SE of Lynchburg serves Brookneal including Campbell, Charlotte, Halifax and Appomattox Counties. The Rain Broadcasting runs (thru a LMA) one other station, AC "Paradise 93.5" WVVI Christianstead, St Croix.
| Monday, October 20, 2008Mike Baxter, Assistant Director of Operations for Metro Traffic Norfolk (Westwood One), has decided to step down from the position and both sides agree to keep him on a part-time, fill-in basis. Baxter will focus on his on-site PC repair business for residential customers with his wife and his DJ company, www.baxterservices.net.
| Monday, October 20, 2008FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WVXX – Selecta 1050 AM encouraged Hispanic listeners to join the fight against childhood cancer in an effort to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers, during their first “Promesa y Esperanza” (Promise and Hope) radiothon. (read more - WVXX)
Centennial Broadcasting unveils brand spanking new websites for Hot AC "B101.5" WBQB Fredricksburg at b1015.com and "NewsTalk 1230" WFVA Fredricksburg at newstalk1230.net. The new sites were produced by Stamford CT based InterTech Media... (10/20/2008)
WorldNow dropped in favor of FOX Interactive; WAVY, WVBT to get new sites soon | Monday, October 20, 2008 LIN TV, a local television (WAVY-TV/DT Portsmouth, WVBT/DT Virginia Beach) and digital media company, and Fox Interactive Media (FIM), a division of News Corporation, today announced a new strategic relationship and the launch of LIN TV’s new television station web sites. LIN TV is FIM’s first third-party digital publishing partner and will use FIM’s cutting-edge digital platform technology to provide users with a superior local online experience. (read more - LIN TV)
| Monday, October 20, 2008  On Thursday October 30, Cox Hampton Roads makes several additions to its channel lineup. New HD channels from Viacom Networks include MTV HD on channel 722, Nickelodeon HD (729), CMT HD (733), Spike HD (756), VH1 HD (767) and Rainbow Media's AMC HD (755) and IFC HD (800).At the same time, Palladia HD (formerly MHD) moves from channel 722 to channel 876 and Chiller, a popular horror network, launches on the Variety Tier on channel 266. The following Thursday, MOJO HD will be permanently removed from the channel lineup. MOJO HD will cease operations later this year. (originally posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008)
| Sunday, October 19, 2008Boston radio vet Paul Kelley, GM for Nassau Broadcasting's classical WCRB/99.5 Lowell/Boston, is named the new VP/Market Manager for Saga Communications Hampton Roads. He will oversee Active Rock "FM99" WNOR/98.7, Classic Hits "106.9 The Fox" WAFX and Standards "Joy" WJOI/1230. Kelley replaces Dave Paulus who has already started for Clear Channel West Michigan (11 radio stations between Grand Rapids and Muskegon) as VP/Director of Sales. Kelley starts with Saga on Monday, November 3.
| Saturday, October 18, 2008Cox Communications has told federal regulators that Hampton Roads consumers have enough options for paid-television services that it no longer needs certain restrictions on its service and pricing. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
| Friday, October 17, 2008FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WVEC-TV13 partnered with clean community commissions on October 11th to organize our first regional electronic recycling event in Hampton Roads. Hampton Roads residents responded to IT’S OUR WATCH / PROJECT GREEN, by dropping off more than 170,000 lbs of old electronics. (read more - WVEC)
| Friday, October 17, 2008 Real Media's "River Country 100.9" WNNT Warsaw is now "River Country 107.5," soon giving the station more power (3kW to 6kW) and a larger coverage area. The frequency shift happened yesterday.The move is just one small piece in a much bigger puzzle to where this now gives Cox Radio Alternative "Y101" WDYL/101.1 Chester to move to 100.9, to be licensed to Richmond suburb Lakeside, a significant increase in their coverage area.
| Thursday, October 16, 2008Aris Winger is a math professor; he never once thought he would have a radio show, but his Tuesday night on-air discussions on controversial issues have become popular on campus. (read more - Bristol Herald Courier)
| Wednesday, October 15, 2008 "It was very important for XM to continue, after the merger, to be headquartered in Washington, D.C. We've even said we won't have less employment here in the District than we already have."-- Sirius XM Radio chief executive Mel Karmazin, June 2007. (read more - The Washington Post)
| Wednesday, October 15, 2008 ... but at sister Entercom Soft Rock "2WD" WWDE/101.3 Hampton/Norfolk. (Jenna) Kehoe will be paired up with current 2WD morning host Mark McCarthy. She'll still be heard on The Point (WPTE/94.9, Virginia Beach) but now noon to 3 p.m. Morning co-host Woo Woo goes solo 10 a.m. to noon.Kehoe was moved from The Point morning show to middays seven months ago when it was announced that her and her husband, then and current Point morning host Chuck Doud, were splitting up in real life. McCarthy has been doing mornings for 2WD since December 2007 when the station canned "Waking Up With Whoopi." "Jenna & Mark In The Morning" debuts Monday, October 20. (read more - WWDE)
| Wednesday, October 15, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WLEE News Talk 990 is pleased to add to their schedule former WRVA talker and award winning talk show host Jack Gravely. The Jack Gravely Show will air Monday-Friday, 10-12N on WLEE News Talk 990. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
Popular WNIS morning talk show host speaks his mind | Tuesday, October 14, 2008 Republican State Senator Frank Wagner exits the WNIS-AM studio sharing one final laugh with talk show host Tony Macrini. The two spent nearly an hour on the air discussing energy solutions and fielding questions from listeners. Within seconds, producer Christie Lynn Hodge politely barges in with a list of potential guests... (read more - Port Folio Weekly)
| Sunday, October 12, 2008 More Hampton Roads consumers and small businesses can join the FiOS family as Verizon has expanded the availability of FiOS TV and FiOS Internet in Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach... (read more - Verizon)
| Saturday, October 11, 2008 Former Young Broadcasting WRIC (8/ABC) Petersburg/Richmond news anchor Lisa Schaffner writes her first story for Chesterfield County based "BOOMERlife" magazine: I’m a boomer. There, I’ve said it. That simple statement has been years in the making. It’s taken weeks of practice just to get the words out of my mouth. It’s not that I’m ashamed of being a boomer; it’s that I don’t feel like one. (read more - BOOMERlife)
| Friday, October 10, 2008 Centennial Broadcasting fired the morning show "Baxter & Bonnie" at its Hot AC "B101.5" WBQB Fredericksburg Wednesday after the show aired. All mentions of the duo, teamed up two and a half years ago, have been pulled from the B101.5 website. News reader Robert Workman still remains.Baxter has had several co-hosts for the station's "Breakfast Flakes" morning show during his tenure at WBQB including Bridget Dean, Heather Harwood (Demay) and his latest being Bonnie Phillips. He was with B101.5 since late 2001 after being let go in March of that year at Clear Channel (now Saga) Country WPOR/101.9 Portland ME. No replacement has been named yet.
| Thursday, October 9, 2008 Raycom Media "CBS6" WTVR Richmond morning meteorologist Jennifer Haynes has decided to leave the station for CNN International in Atlanta.Because of this decision, Haynes has been reassigned to weekends at CBS 6 for the remainder of her time at the station. She starts at CNN at the end of the month.
| Thursday, October 9, 2008 A team from Al Jazeera, the news agency sometimes called the CNN of the Middle East, is considering a live Election Day broadcast from Phoebus. Their goal is to show the political diversity of small towns in swing states like Virginia, which could go Republican or Democrat.Phoebus Coffee House owner Anne W. Doop said a news editor for Al Jazeera English, based in Washington, visited the coffee house... (read more - Newport News Daily Press)
| Thursday, October 9, 2008A 25-year-old Richmond blogger known for riffing on nightlife, his sexcapades, literary pursuits and local media personalities has been threatened with a defamation suit. In an e-mail to blogger Jack Lauterback last week, CBS 6 general manager Peter Maroney demands that he “immediately remove the false, damaging and salacious statements” on his blog related to the station’s newscasters, or face legal action. (read more - Richmond Style Weekly)
| Wednesday, October 8, 2008Patty Shaffer and Alan Arehart, owners of Hometown Broadcasting's WSVG/790 Mt Jackson, recently blew up the Adult Standards format for Talk -- "The Talk of the Valley." The current schedule includes "local host Craig Orndorff in the mornings with nationally syndicated hosts Dennis Miller, Bill O'Reilly, Clark Howard, Dave Ramsey and Jim Bohannon filling out the rest of the schedule."
Digital subchannel runs on WWBT-DT2 and WVIR-DT3 | Wednesday, October 8, 2008 The sun is setting on NBC Weather Plus, the 4-year-old digital joint venture between NBC and affiliated local stations, which programmed the 24/7 local weather service on their digital channels. (read more - TV Week)
| Tuesday, October 7, 2008The FCC recently granted two Liberty University owned CPs (construction permits) to translators in Virginia Beach to move the antennas to the state's tallest building, The Westin - Virginia Beach Town Center. W257BV/99.3 will now do 13 watts instead of 30 watts and W249BK/98.3 will also do 13 watts instead of just 2 watts. The channel number in the W249BK call letters "249" doesn't match up with its frequency "98.3" because the FCC also granted that translator to move from 97.7... A new FM radio station has been granted to Airwaves For Jesus on 91.3 to be licensed to Lawrenceville. The Class A station is scheduled to do 2.4kW at 90m (295ft) and will serve Lawrenceville, South Hill, Alberta areas...
WVXX Norfolk to go with new company for $1.06M, Richmond cluster unaffected | Tuesday, October 7, 2008 Peter Davidson is opening a Golden Door to a new radio group, taking 12 Davidson Media stations in six markets with him, as COO Felix Perez signs off on the transaction on behalf of Davidson Media. (read more - RBR.com)Editor's note: WVXX is in a LMA with Hindlin Broadcasting and is expected to stay Spanish "Selecta 1050." The Richmond cluster is WLEE/990 Richmond, WVNZ/1320 Richmond, WTOX/1480 Glen Allen, WREJ/1540 Richmond...
| Tuesday, October 7, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Tony Mercurio, program director of Max Media's ESPN Radio 1310 WGH, announced today that a couple of Major League Baseball playoff games are being moved to sister station 100.5 MAX-FM.The games to be moved to 100.5 MAX-FM are: Friday, October 10, ALCS Game 1 with the defending world champion Boston Red Sox at the Tampa Bay Rays, airtime at 8:05 p.m. Plus, Saturday, October 11, ALCS Game 2 with Boston at Tampa Bay, airtime at 8:05 p.m. "We moved the games to 100.5 MAX-FM due to conflicts with Norfolk Admirals Hockey on ESPN Radio 1310," noted Mercurio. "We actually carried some NFL playoff games on 100.5 MAX-FM last year due to conflict." Mercurio added, "as of now, the other baseball playoff games will continue to air live on ESPN Radio 1310."
| Monday, October 6, 2008Jim Spector, Program Director for "Classic Rock 96.9" WWUZ Bowling Green/Fredericksburg/Richmond and Rythmic CHR "99-3 The Vibe" WWVB Spotsylvania/Fredericksburg, announced that he’s leaving his position to join the Journal Broadcast Group cluster (AM/FM/TV) in Omaha NE as PD for Rock “Z92” KEZO/92.3. FLS Operations Manager Paul Johnson said, “Nooooooooooooooo.” He continued, “Jim’s impact in this building has been huge. He leaves these stations healthy, strong, and with great staffs in place. He’s a great PD, and an even better friend.” The search for his replacement begins immediately. (read more - VARTV Classifieds)
Hampton Roads and Richmond in the Top 10 | Saturday, October 4, 2008The combined overall household rating for Thursday night’s vice presidential debate, in 55 of the 56 local television markets where Nielsen maintains electronic TV meters, was 45.0. (read more - Nielsen)
| Saturday, October 4, 2008 Veteran Hampton Roads sports broadcaster, John Castleberry, was fired Friday afternoon from Red Zebra Broadcasting's Sports "102.1FM & 1490AM The Game" WXTG//WXTG-FM Hampton//Virginia Beach."The John Castleberry Show" aired LIVE on The Game weekday afternoons 2-4 p.m. since mid-January 2007. He also served as the station's manager. Market Manager, Gary Voss, told staff the reason for Castleberry's exit was budgetary. No word on who or what replaces Castleberry's LIVE show at 2 p.m.
| Friday, October 3, 2008Helen Powers, morning co-host with Barry Michaels at Clear Channel Country WYYD/107.9 Amherst/Roanoke, exits for Saga Communications Rock "3WV" WWWV/97.5 Charlottesville to handle middays. She was with WYYD for just 10 months. Middays at a Rock station is nothing new for Powers. She handled a similar shift at Citadel rocker KBER/101.1 Ogden/Salt Lake City UT for over 10 years. She got her start in radio at a Saga station in 1993 at WIXY Champaign IL. Powers starts at 3WV Monday, October 13.
| Friday, October 3, 2008The sun has set on Hunter Hughes' stint as host of the eclectic "Sunrise on Sundays" program heard weekly from 6 to 10 a.m. on WPYA Bob FM. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
| Thursday, October 2, 2008FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Kevin MaC took the state title and $1,000 at the 27th Annual Colgate Country Showdown Virginia State Final. The State Fair of Virginia in Richmond showcased eight acts who had won a local contest sponsored by radio stations throughout Virginia and Maryland, enabling each to perform at the state level competition of America’s largest country music talent search. (read more - WGH)
| Thursday, October 2, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Selecta 1050 AM and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ®, one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers have joined forces with Davidson Media Group (DMG), one of the largest multicultural radio groups in America, in an effort to raise awareness about St. Jude’s mission among Hispanics through a two-day radiothon. (read more - WVXX)
| Wednesday, October 1, 2008 DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading satellite television service provider, is now offering local HD programming to customers in the Norfolk-Newport News, Va., designated market area.The following broadcast networks are available in HD: WVEC/ABC, WAVY/NBC, WTKR/CBS and WVBT/FOX. (read more - DirecTV)
| Wednesday, October 1, 2008 Beginning November 1, almost all of the 400,000+ Cox Cable subs in Hampton Roads will see their bills increase (minus subscribers in contracts). Cox is increasing rates for its video, data (Internet) and phone services.Cox High Speed Internet sports four tiers with the lowest, Economy, increasing from $14.95/mo to $19.95/mo. The "Value" tier goes from $26.95/mo to $29.95/mo. Cox's most popular tier, Preferred, goes $41.95/mo to $43.95/mo and their fastest tier, Premier, jumps a dollar to $57.95/mo. On the video side, Cox's Standard Cable (70+ channels), increases $2.95/mo to $48.95 among several other small increases. Cox Telephone rates will increase $1 after remaining the same for the past three years. Phone packages though will remain intact price-wise. Cox Hampton Road's complete pricing plans can be found here.
| Wednesday, October 1, 2008 Sinclair Communications has reworked "Sunrise on Sunday" airing on Variety Hits "93-7 BOB FM" WPYA Chesapeake. The soft acoustic and eclectic sound of Sunrise gives way to a more "focused" version starting this Sunday with a new host, Holly WIlliams, and a tighter airing, 7-9 a.m. instead of the four hour show.Sunrise started on the frequency (as Sunrise on The Coast) in the early 90s when the station was Triple A "93-7 The Coast" WKOC. Hunter Hughes hosted the show up until last Sunday and now is no longer with Sinclair.
| Monday, September 29, 2008There are some new faces on Richmond-Petersburg television these days, and their names are McCain and Obama. A longtime Republican stronghold, Virginia is suddenly up for grabs. (read more - Broadcasting & Cable)
Comcast Richmond added some HD goodness this morning from News Corp (FOX Networks): FX-HD on 221, FOX News Channel HD on 222 and Speed HD on 242... (9/29/2008)
| Saturday, September 27, 2008Verizon FiOS TV is now even better for customers in Maryland and northern Virginia as the company is launching 39 new channels, including 19 additional high-definition (HD) channels. FiOS TV customers in the area now have more than 540 HD choices available at any time, with at least 49 HD channels... (read more - Verizon FiOS)
| Thursday, September 25, 2008Beginning next month, Cox Communication's Northern Virginia systems will add a handful of new HD and SD channels thoughout the month of October.Setanta Sports North America, programming international sports, is to be added October 8 on 298. South Korean network "MBC Plus" and WRC's digital channel "NBC Universal Sports" (over-the-air on 4-3) is to be added on channel 807, both starting October 22. Cox adds five high definition channels from MTV Networks (Viacom) starting on October 22: MTV HD -- 744The new HD channels gives Cox a total of 46.
| Thursday, September 25, 2008The music industry is looking for its next act. And MySpace, News Corp.'s (NWS) social network, intends to provide it. On Sept. 25, the giant social network is finally unveiling its long-anticipated (and hardly secret) MySpace Music site... (read more - BusinessWeek)
| Wednesday, September 24, 2008Footballs fill the Friday night skies at local high schools, but to experience the true pandemonium, high-risk drama and down-to-the wire exhilaration people associate with the sport, you'd probably be better off inside one of our local television studios as game highlights are assembled, edited and put on the air. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
| Tuesday, September 23, 2008Clear Channel will soon officially announce that RVP (previously)/OM (Richmond cluster)/PD (Soft AC "Lite 98" WTVR/98.1) Bill Cahill, based in Richmond, is the new Program Director for sister Soft AC WASH/97.1 and Classic Hits "Big 100.3" WBIG in Washington DC. Cahill will start in DC in mid-October after a nine year stay in Richmond.
| Monday, September 22, 2008 Clear Channel CHR "Q94" WRVQ/94.5 Richmond debuted the nationally syndicated "On Air with Ryan Seacrest" at 1 p.m today. To make room for Seacrest on Q94, middayer Taylor J is now on 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and Boomer gets squeezed to 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Seacrest's show is heard around the country on over 50,000 stations.
| Monday, September 22, 2008Congratulations to Adam Stubbs, APD/promotions director at Soft AC "Lite 98" WTVR/98.1 Richmond, for receiving Clear Channel’s “The Performance Excellence Award" presented September 9 at the Executive Leadership Summit in Atlanta. Stubbs received the award from Ryan Seacrest. 
| Monday, September 22, 2008FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... In June, Gospel Music Channel joined with Senators, Congress, The Gospel Music Association (GMA), and The Recording Academy® to launch Gospel Music Heritage Month. (read more - WFTH)
| Saturday, September 21, 2008Shares of Media General Inc. more than doubled in value Thursday, a day after the media company declared August its best month all year despite reporting a year-over-year decline in revenue. (read more - MSNBC)
| Thursday, September 18, 2008Cox Communications increased its Internet speeds on Thursday to match its emerging cable competitor Verizon Communications. For most customers who have the basic high-speed Internet service, their speed will double from 5 megabits per second to 10 megabits per second. The higher premier tier will see speeds increase from 15 megabits per second to 20 megabits per second. (read more - Daily Press) (more - Cox Hampton Roads)
| Wednesday, September 17, 2008... to the station. Raycom Media's WTVR Richmond picks Bill Anderson as its new News Director. He replaces Chip Mahaney who headed for Cincinnati to become Director of Digital Content for the E.W. Scripps Company. Anderson was serving as Channel 6's Marketing Director.
| Tuesday, September 16, 2008 MASN, the local leader in live sports entertainment, will launch a full-time HD channel in March of 2009 and will more than double the number of HD telecasts of Nationals and Orioles games. (read more - MASN)
| Tuesday, September 16, 2008Young Broadcasting's "8NEWS" WRIC Petersburg/Richmond taps Phil Orban as its new weekend Sports Anchor. He will anchor weekends and report sports for the ABC affiliate. Orban comes from Nexstar Broadcasting's "NBC10" KTVE El Dorado AR/Monroe LA, "FOX14" West Monroe/Monroe LA where he was the Sports Director for the duopoly.
| Sunday, September 14, 2008Last week, we reported that Dave Paulus, GM of Saga Communications' Hampton Roads cluster (WNOR/98.7, WAFX/106.9, WJOI/1230), decided to leave his post. We find out he has taken a position with Clear Channel West Michigan as VP/Director of Sales for the region. CC West Michigan has 11 radio stations (between Grand Rapids and Muskegon). The move to Grand Rapids reunites Paulus with his professional mentor GM, Tim Feagan. Feagan left the business for 12 years before returning to radio last October as the GM of the Grand Rapids stations. Paulus' first day in Michigan is October 6.
If you've been watching Local TV LLC's "NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk, you'll notice new faces fronting the station's newscasts. WTKR has mixed it up to where an evening anchor is now strictly reporting, morning and noon anchors doing the evening news, the weekday morning meteorologist is also now anchoring. Permanent? Stay tuned... (9/13/2008)
| Friday, September 12, 2008FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Hindlin Broadcasting's "Selecta 1050" WVXX Norfolk will host the first Celebration of Heritage to honor Hispanic Heritage Month on October 4th 2008 from 12 noon to 8 p.m. at The nTelos Pavilion in downtown Portsmouth. There will be live music all day with award winning Doble Filo playing at 6:30 that evening. There will be plenty of food arts crafts and a wonderful time for the whole family. The Honduras Consultants from Washington DC will be on hand to help with citizenship questions and paperwork.Tickets are $15.00 with children 12 and under free. For more information contact Dave Bowling at 757-627-9899.
| Friday, September 12, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Westwood One today announced plans to restructure the traffic operations of its subsidiary, Metro Networks. Westwood One’s streamlined traffic business will fully leverage new digital technologies, provide enhanced 24/7 traffic coverage and more efficiently align resources. (read more - Westwood One)
| Friday, September 12, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... The Tony Mercurio Show starts it's 23rd year on Max Media's ESPN RADIO 1310 WGH this Monday, September 15, 2008.Tony Mercurio will be broadcasting his anniversary show live Monday, September 15 from 3-6 p.m. at McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon, on Power Plant Parkway in Hampton. (read more - VARTV Press Room)
| Thursday, September 11, 2008 NBC has sold 85% of its advertising inventory for the NFL's Super Bowl XLIII to be played in Tampa Bay on February 1, 2009.NBC already has sold “over a dozen” 30-second spots at a record high rate of $3 million, an increase of 11% over what FOX was charging for Super Bowl XLII.
| Thursday, September 11, 2008The Popular Assembly Of New Horizons 3000 And His Successors' Adult Album Alternative/Public Radio "Revolutionary Radio Williamsburg" WRRW-LP/100.9 Williamsburg wants to move to an abandoned LPFM frequency granted to the city.New Horizons 3000 has requested to move from 100.9 to 102.5 FM, previously licensed to Christian Life Center of Williamsburg as WJRX-LP. CFC ran the station with a Christian Variety format known as "The Rain" but eventually they took the station dark and surrendered their license in April of this year. With Cox Radio moving its Alternative "Y101" WDYL/101.1 Chester to 100.9/Lakeside soon, the WRRW signal would be greatly compromised, also on 100.9.
New approach at WSLS, Comcast not budging on adding MASN, New job for Bell | Thursday, September 11, 2008The new weekend sports anchor at WDBJ-7 predicts Ohio State will lose to Southern Cal this weekend. He likely knows what he's talking about. His last job was in Columbus, Ohio, home of the Buckeyes. (read more - The Roanoke Times)
| Wednesday, September 10, 2008... but only to recently "EON" upgraded areas. The new HD additions: Local MyNetworkTV affiliate WTVZ/33 on channel 702, Planet Green HD on channel 813, Lifetime Movie Network HD (channel 809) and Hallmark Movie Channel HD (channel 859). Beginning September 25, Cox Hampton Roads will offer 42 HD channels (33 in non-upgraded areas).
| Tuesday, September 9, 2008The merged Sirius XM Radio provided new guidance for the company's fiscal future, along with a breakdown of future synergies and more. Under the new guidance, the satcaster expects to end the year with a combined 19.5 million subscribers... (read more - FMQB)
SHOCKER! Senior TV and radio GM Dave Paulus has called it quits at Saga Communications' Hampton Roads cluster (WNOR/98.7, WAFX/106.9, WJOI/1230). His last day at the cluster is September 19. Saga is on the search for its next Market Manager. (9/9/2008)
Saga Communications Active Rock "FM99" WNOR/98.7 Norfolk debuts a brand, spanking, new website at FM99.com... (9/9/2008)
| Monday, September 8, 2008Tropical Storm Hanna may not have amounted to much, but WHRO's emergency operations center was ready to go Saturday morning. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
Low-rated broadcast network is revamping | Monday, September 8, 2008 Among the broadcast networks, the top five trip off the tongue, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and the CW, then come the Spanish-language networks Univision and Telemundo.There's another out there, now called ION Television... (read more - Media Life)
| Monday, September 8, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... NewsTalk 1260 AM WCHV has improved it’s signal to reach more of the greater Charlottesville market with a quality signal around the clock by broadcasting on 94.1 FM in addition to it’s signal at 1260 AM. (read more - WCHV)
| Friday, September 5, 2008FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... 96.5 KLR hosted the first annual “Rock & Race” concert series in Richmond on Thursday, September 4th. John Boy and Billy from “The John Boy and Billy Big Show” greeted listeners... (read more - WKLR)
| Friday, September 5, 2008Raycom Media's "CBS6" WTVR Richmond recently picked up new reporter Kelli O'Hara. She hails from sister station WECT (6/NBC) Wilmington, NC... Former Channel 6 reporter Tim Trudell resurfaces in Orlando, FL at Hearst-Argyle's "WESH 2" WESH-TV/DT(NBC)...
| Friday, September 5, 2008Specifics are still being worked out, but Westwood One CEO Tom Beusse tells staff in a memo that they will be "realigning resources" and making “significant changes” at the operational level. (read more - Inside Radio)
| Thursday, September 4, 2008Lloyd Wayne Shockley, 66, of Richmond, passed away Saturday, August 30, 2008 at MCV. Born April 28 in Wytheville, Va., he was raised in both Wytheville and Salem, Va. (read more - Roanoke Radio)
Congrats to Jay Stevens who has hit the 10-year milestone at Clear Channel CHR "Q94" WRVQ/94.5 Richmond... (9/4/2008)
Google has released a beta version of its Internet browser called Chrome. On two slower machines here, Chrome ran noticably faster than Microsoft's Internet Explorer and open-sourced Firefox... (9/3/2008)
| Tuesday, September 2, 2008FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WAVY-TV announces the 2008 Friday Night Flights season will kick-off on this Friday, September 5th. Once again, the station brings the excitement of local high school football games to Hampton Roads... (read more - WAVY)
| Tuesday, September 2, 2008Saga Communications "106.9 The Fox" WAFX Suffolk is now calling itself a Classic Hits station after an all-Beatles weekend. The station also has a new VO (voice-over) talent, "that guy," a new on-air line-up debuts today, and a new website at 1069thefox.com.
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