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   DirecTV has launched local HD programming to its customers in Harrisonburg market: WHSV (3/ABC), WVPT (51/PBS) and FOX on channel 49... (4/30/2009)
 | Wednesday, April 29, 2009  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Monticello Media has announced the hiring of Karen S. Cote as General Sales Manager for its Charlottesville radio stations.Cote is an 18 year radio sales and sales management veteran who most recently worked for Clear Channel Radio in Williamsport, Pennsylvania as Director of Sales. (read more - Monticello Media Charlottesville)
| Wednesday, April 29, 2009American Community Newspapers (ACN) is the latest newspaper chain to seek bankruptcy court protection for reorganization (Chapter 11). ACN has several publications in Northern Virginia including Leesburg Today, Loudoun Magazine, Loudoun Business, Arlington Sun Gazette, Great Falls/McLean/Oakton/Vienna Sun Gazette, Middleburg Life (Hunt County) and Northern Virginia ParentLife.
| Wednesday, April 29, 2009 The most vulnerable were those in programming (on and off-air), engineering, I.T., and “business office” jobs such as traffic and continuity. Some familiar on-air names are missing... (read more - Radio-Info.com)Editor's note: Active Rock WROV/96.3 Martinsville/Roanoke PD Jay Prater, CHR "Q94" WRVQ/94.5 Richmond morning co-host Sid, Talk WRVA/1140 Richmond morning show Technical Director Joe Cannaday, Country WKCY/104.3 Harrisonburg PD Randy Smith, CC Richmond Public Service Coordinator Sheila Belle, Country "Q102" WUSQ/102.5 Winchester afternooner/cluster Production Director Chuck Carroll, and Rock "The Fox" WFQX/99.3 Front Royal/Winchester JohnBoy and Billy local producer/cluster news anchor Ben Gates are among the departing...
| Tuesday, April 28, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Does your child have what it takes to join Meteorologist Jon Cash and be a weather forecaster? He or she could be the next FOX43Kidcaster. (read more - FOX43 WVBT)
| Tuesday, April 28, 2009Chear Channel CHR "Q94" WRVQ/94.5 Richmond will import the "Elvis Duran and The Morning Show" show from sister CHR "Z100" WHTZ/100.3 New York beginning Monday, May 4 displacing "Melissa & Sid." Q94 will be Duran's sixth station (New York, Philadelphia, Miami, Cleveland, Dayton). The new weekday on-air line-up starting Monday: 6-10 a.m. -- Elvis Duran and The Morning Show
| Tuesday, April 28, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... The Game 102.1 FM / 1490 AM is proud to announce that starting Wednesday April 29th, The Mancow Show returns to the airwaves in Norfolk and surrounding areas weekday mornings from 6am-9am.General Manager for WXTG The Game, Buck Albritton says, "Adding The Mancow Show to The Game’s on-air line-up will serve the market’s demand... (read more - The Game WXTG)
| Monday, April 27, 2009 The FCC has granted John Schick's Piedmont Communication's WJMA/103.1 Culpeper to move the antenna of the station 15 miles to the north and increase power 10X it's current wattage to 6kW.WJMA has up to three years to do the move.
According to Mancow's website, his show will air on Red Zebra Sports "The Game" WXTG/1490 Hampton//WXTG-FM/102.1 Virginia Beach Monday thru Friday 6-9 a.m... (4/27/2009)
| Monday, April 27, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... This morning, Eric Mastel, President of Max Media, issued an apology to the Hampton Roads community regarding the format switch from Rock-based MAX-FM to Classic Chinese Hits - Kung Pao 100.5 this past Thursday. (read more - Hot 100.5 WVHT)Editor's note: Paul McCoy is the station's new PD/MD. McCoy also does middays on sister AC "92-9 The Wave" WVBW...
Max Media WXMM/100.5 Norfolk flipped to CHR "Hot 100.5" (to be WVHT) at 7 a.m. with The Black Eye Peas' "Boom, Boom, Pow" (and a very, very tight playlist). (4/27/2009)
| Saturday, April 25, 2009Inspired innovation or wacky publicity stunt? You decide. Local radio station WXMM has turned off the rock and replaced it with Chinese music, renaming itself Kung Pao 100.5 FM. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
Due to "organizational changes," the position of technical manager held by Paul Glover at Albritton Communications "ABC13" WSET Lynchburg/Roanoke, has been eliminated... (4/25/2009)
David Tate, long time journeyman at Media General WSLS/10 Roanoke, signs with Albritton Communications "ABC13" WSET Lynchburg/Roanoke as a Roanoke reporter... (4/25/2009)
| Friday, April 24, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WDBJ 7 in Roanoke was the winner of three regional Edward R. Murrow awards and the only television station in the Roanoke/Lynchburg market to receive the prestigious award in 2009. News 7 won in the investigative category for "Instant Audit," Keith Humphry's investigation of a Roanoke Commissioner of Revenue. Joy Sutton and Andrea Craig's story on Roanoke Police Officer Bryan Lawrence and his recovery from a devastating injury won in the Hard News Feature category. Our ongoing journalistic efforts surrounding the capture of Randall Lee Smith, a man accused of shooting two hikers on the Appalachian Trail, won in the Continuing Coverage category.
Nielsen delivers great news to CW27, WGNT-TV from the 2009 March ratings period | Friday, April 24, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... No evening news is good news at CW 27, WGNT-TV! According to Nielsen Media Research, the 2009 March ratings demonstrate that CW 27 continues to be a favorite among viewers of the Greater Hampton Roads area! Most especially during the evening news period viewers are choosing programming other than news. (read more - CW27 WGNT)
| Friday, April 24, 2009 WVTF is the recipient of a prestigious award from the Radio Television News Directors Association (RTNDA). WVTF has been chosen to receive a regional Edward R. Murrow award in the feature reporting category... (read more - WVTF)
Why does the RBDS (found on most car radios) on Max Media 's WXMM/100.5 Norfolk displaying "100.5 Beer FM, Classic Rock That REALLY Rocks?" Just another pharce like the current format, Classic Chinese Hits "Kung Pao100.5??" (4/23/2009)
| Thursday, April 23, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Max Media of Hampton Roads is thrilled to announced one of the most dramatic and exciting new musical directions ever under-taken by a U.S. terrestrial radio station. Following, arguably, the most arduous and focused research test ever, WXMM-FM, until today a Rock station, has flipped to Kung Pao 100.5 featuring a “Classic Chinese Hits” format. (read more - Kung Pao 100.5)
Max Media Rock "100.5 MAX FM" WXMM Norfolk is now Classic Chinese Hits "Kung Pao100.5." A new website at kungpao1005.com... (4/23/2009)
| Thursday, April 23, 2009Don London, already leading Entercom/Norfolk as VP of Operations and busy as PD/MD of AC WWDE (2WD), adds "jock" back into his resume as he slides into afternoons on 2WD starting Monday, April 27... (read more - Radio & Records)
The Times is faring better than big-city papers | Thursday, April 23, 2009With newspaper ad revenues and circulation in a tumble, much of the focus has been on large metropolitan papers, which have been hit the hardest by the economic downturn. Papers like the Rocky Mountain News and Seattle Post-Intelligencer have shut down... (read more - The Roanoke Times)
| Wednesday, April 22, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... On April 2, 2009, Steven Soldinger of Portsmouth, Virginia was inducted to the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame “for substantial achievements that have brought honor to the profession and renown to the Commonwealth of Virginia.” (read more - CW27 WGNT)
| Tuesday, April 21, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WAVY-TV received two 2009 RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Awards in two categories: Continuing News Coverage for “Suffolk Tornado” and Best News Series for “Deportation Dilemma.” (read more - WAVY)
| Tuesday, April 21, 2009 It was a big weekend for the ABC 13 Newsroom. The Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters handed out their annual awards in Richmond. We're pleased to report that WSET was named Virginia's Outstanding News Operation of the Year. (read more - WSET)
| Tuesday, April 21, 2009It appears that the nationally syndicated (Talk Radio Network) "The Mancow Show" is coming back to Hampton Roads radio on Monday, April 27. Mancow was heard mornings on Sinclair Alternative "96X" WROX/96.1 Exmore/Norfolk until late March when the station dumped him for music. In a "tweet" (www.twitter.com) sent to followers, Mancow says, "MANCOW IS RETURNING TO VIRGINIA BEACH MONDAY! BIGGER STATION! BETTER SIGNAL! BETTER MONEY! NO O&A! DETAILS SOON..." Stay tuned!
| Monday, April 20, 2009 Sinclair Broadcast Group's "MyTVZ" WTVZ-DT/Norfolk (MNT) is discontinuing transmission on channel 38 at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, April 28 and moving to its old analog frequency on channel 33. WTVZ ceased analog TV last month. Digital over-the-air receivers have been "remapping" channel 38 to channel 33. Now the station's frequency is physically moving to 33.A station official says WTVZ's over-the-air (OTA) coverage to the south and southwest will increase. The OTA change will have no affect on cable, satellite, telco or IPTV subscribers.
| Monday, April 20, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Nielsen released the official March 2009 ratings numbers on Friday confirming NewsChannel 3's continued growth in key demographics in all newscasts. (read more - NewsChannel 3 WTKR)
| Monday, April 20, 2009Washington will be the first U.S. city to get free digital TV broadcasts for mobile devices like cell phones, laptop computers and in-car entertainment systems, broadcasters were set to announce Monday. (read more - TVNEWSDAY)
| Sunday, April 19, 2009If you have been reading the paper this past year, you know that it has been a brutal time for us and for the industry. Layoffs, eliminating sections, price hikes, expense cutting, whole newspapers shutting down. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
| Saturday, April 18, 2009The Associated Press announced the winners of its 2008 news awards for Television and Radio, and WAVY-TV 10/FOX 43 “cleaned up” in the Virginia competition with 10 awards. (read more - WAVY)
| Friday, April 17, 2009Richmond-based Media General Inc. today reported a wider first-quarter loss as the economic recession continued to hurt advertising revenue. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)
| Thursday, April 16, 2009 Sinclair alternative ("96X" WROX/96.1 Exmore/Norfolk) has now filled the gaps in mornings and middays in the wake of major changes the station recently made, parting ways with Opie & Anthony and Mancow, respectively. ... (read more - Radio & Records)
| Wednesday, April 15, 2009 Music Choice is making changes to its music channel line-up effective April 15, 2009 to better serve the evolving music interests of its diverse nationwide audience. Music Choice has added several new music channels... (read more - Music Choice)
| Tuesday, April 14, 2009Jenna Kehoe is now the solo morning host at Entercom Soft AC "2WD" WWDE/101.3 Hampton/Norfolk. Her co-host (and Music Director), Mark McCarthy , was let go yesterday. Kehoe has been doing mornings on 2WD since mid-October 2008 after being heard for seven years on sister station Modern AC "94.9 The Point" WPTE. McCarthy had been with 2WD for 2½ years and was a Point talent for 3 years.
| Tuesday, April 14, 2009The Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) announced that WFLS-FM is the recipient of three Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards. That is the most won by a station this year in the small market category... (read more - WFLS)
| Tuesday, April 14, 2009Employees of WVEC-TV remembered former general manager Mario A. Hewitt, who died of cancer during the weekend in Houston, as caring, generous and boisterous. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
To concentrate on her morning co-host duties, Heather Branch, at Entercom Modern AC "94.9 The Point" WPTE Virginia Beach, relinquishes her Music Director duties to the station's PD, Barry McKay... (4/13/2009)
| Monday, April 13, 2009 Mega Media Group announced that it has signed a multi-year air lease agreement for the WDCN-LP 87.7 frequency with Signal Above, LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, revenue will be shared between the parties with certain minimum lease fees paid by Mega Media Group, Inc. Pulse87 will start broadcasting on WDCN during the 2nd quarter of 2009 to the Washington, D.C. market. (read more - Mega Media Group)
We hear that Mario Hewitt, former GM of Belo Broadcasting's WVEC (13/ABC) Hampton/Norfolk, passed away yesterday. More soon... (4/13/2009)
Last week, Perception Media Group's WWWR/910 has dropped its Southern Gospel format (3WR, Family Radio) for News/Talk as "Fox Radio 910" with a new website at FoxRadioRoanoke.com... (4/9/2009)
| Thursday, April 9, 2009The Radio-Television News Directors Association has been honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971. (read more - RTNDA)
| Thursday, April 9, 2009The Virginian-Pilot will lay off 40 people, dropping its work force below 1,000 employees, the newspaper's publisher said Thursday. It will be the third wave of job cuts at The Pilot in the past six months. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
| Thursday, April 9, 2009With the exit of "Y101" WDYL/101.1 Chester/Richmond PD/co-afternoons Mojo, Fisher assumes the programming duties in addition to Hot AC "Mix 103-7" WMXB and Sludge goes solo on-air. Buddy Van Arsdale, PD of Country "K95" WKHK/95.3, adds the PD slot of Classic Rock "96-5KLR" WKLR from Fisher. Angie Castlebury, Promotions Director for Mix, adds on similar duties for Y101.
| Thursday, April 9, 2009 Bible Broadcasting Network's WYFJ/100.1 Ashland wants to move to 99.9 and broadcast it's signal from the heart of Richmond. It'll still remain a Class A but significantly increase it's reach into the Richmond metro.At the same time, BBN gets its blessing from the FCC to move its Fredericksburg translator from 97.7 to 98.3 still doing 19 watts from the same tower location.
Joe Sanchez, formerly of "Real Classic Rock 104.9/105.5" Winchester and recently "97-7 The Rocket" WYRX (now WMDM again) in southern Maryland as "Smokin' Joe," began a new program director/morning host position at Prettyman Broadcasting's "Lite 97.5" WLTF Martinsburg, WV on Monday... (4/8/2009)
| Monday, April 6, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WAVY News 10, the station ON YOUR SIDE, continues to dominate morning and late news in the March Nielsen ratings period. March ratings confirm that in key newscasts at 6am, 6pm, and 11pm WAVY News 10 outperforms the nearest competitor by 29% with a cumulative household rating of 24.7. (read more - WAVY)
| Friday, April 3, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Telemedia Broadcasting’s Thunder 104.5 welcomes Brian Strobel to its team. Brian has a 30 year broadcast history in Fredericksburg and returns to the air after a 15 month hiatus. (read more - Thunder 104.5 WGRX)
| Friday, April 3, 2009The Richmond Times-Dispatch eliminated 31 open positions and laid off 59 employees today. Affected departments include Production, Circulation, Marketing, Business, Advertising, Editorial, News, Operations, Facilities, Prepress Design Services and Targeted Solutions, a new product development group. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)
| Friday, April 3, 2009First Media's AC satellite-fed "3WD" WWDW Alberta (50 miles down from Petersburg on I-85) moved up the dial from 103.1 to 107.7 on Tuesday, March 17. The proceedings to allot Alberta the new 107.7 frequency was nine years ago when MainQuad owned the station (WSMY). That same proceeding gave Garysburg NC the old 103.1 slot. This has since been moved to Sharpsburg NC (south of Rocky Mount). We hear this isn't the last we will hear about "3WD." Ch-ch-changes are coming...
| Thursday, April 2, 2009The TV sweeps for March 2009 ended yesterday (March 5 - April 1). For Hampton Roads, LIN TV's WAVY (10/NBC) continues to lead in the mornings especially during 6 a.m. followed by Belo Broadcasting's WVEC (13/ABC) and Local TV's "NewsChannel 3" WTKR. At noon, WTKR (3/CBS) is the news leader followed very closely by WVEC (13/ABC) and not too far behind is WAVY (10/NBC). The evening news race is very close at 5, 5:30 and 6 p.m. between WVEC (13/ABC) and WAVY (10/NBC), with WVEC having a slight lead at 5 and 5:30 and WAVY taking that slight lead at 6. WTKR showed gains during this 90-minute news block. Late night news is close between the three stations, with WAVY (10/NBC) in front and WVEC (13/ABC) in third but only by 1.8/4 from WAVY.
| Thursday, April 2, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WTKR NewsChannel 3 finishes the March sweeps period #1 at Noon and takes over second place at 11pm. This is NewsChannel 3’s first newscast win in nearly 3 years. (read more - NewsChannel 3 WTKR)
Longtime WNOR PD joins Shamrock Classic Rock “The Bay” | Thursday, April 2, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Harvey Kojan, the former longtime Program Director at heritage rock station WNOR/Norfolk, has been named PD at Shamrock Communications Classic Rocker WZBA (“The Bay”). (read more - WZBA The Bay)
| Wednesday, April 1, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... 92.9 The Wave (WVBW-FM) and EOS Solid Surfaces kick off their second annual radiothon to benefit the childhood cancer program at Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters on Thursday, April 2nd 2009. (read more - Cox Radio Richmond)
Congrats to Max Media Country "97-3 The Eagle" WGH-FM APD/MD/afternooner Mark McKay for 10 years at the station...
| Wednesday, April 1, 2009Just two weeks ago, music was nowhere to be heard on Sinclair Alternative "96X" WROX/96.1 Exmore/Norfolk during the day. Things have drasitically changed since.First was The Opie & Anthony Show being dropped from middays on delay. 96X had no choice. O&A's terrestial flagship radio station, CBS Radio's "K-Rock" WXRK/92.3, was blown up for CHR "92-3 Now." 96X ran a couple weeks of "The Best Of O&A" before doing music. On Monday, the station dropped the national syndicated (Talk Radio Network) "The Mancow Show" heard 6-10 a.m. We told that WROX was the only station Mancow was on that had a music format. We told that "local" talent will be filling mornings... Stay tuned!
| Wednesday, April 1, 2009 Fans of classic country music radio station The Bull were surprised Friday. Their music was gone.The Bull, 106.1 FM (WZBL), was now Steve FM (WSFF). Instead of George Jones, Vern Gosdin and other old-school country hitmakers, listeners were hearing the likes of Billy Joel, Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen and Fleetwood Mac. (read more - The Roanoke Times)
| Tuesday, March 31, 2009Local TV Holdings has closed on its deal with Raycom to acquire WTVR Richmond. In January, the two broadcasters agreed to a cash-and-swap deal that would see WTVR and WBRC Birmingham change hands. (read more - Broadcasting & Cable)
| Tuesday, March 31, 2009 K-Love President/CEO Mike Novak announced this morning on the group owner’s 200+ O&O stations that it’s because of “family issues” that Jon and Sherry need to attend to. (read more - Radio-Info.com)
 :// DC gets Fresh with Dunkin | Monday, March 30, 2009CBS Radio is prepping classic rock WTGB/Washington for a Fresh makeover: The station will go AC on Monday, April 6 as "94.7 Fresh FM," joining CBS Radio's other Fresh outposts in New York and Chicago. (read more - Radio & Records)
| Monday, March 30, 2009Delmarva Broadcasting has made several changes to their cluster on the Eastern Shore. First, they dropped Rock AC "Max 92.5" for Talk at noon but not a simulcast of sister WICO/1320 (though some programs will air at the same time) . The new WICO-FM/92.5 Pocomoke MD will do music on the weekends. Delmarva moves the WICO-FM call letters from sister "Cat Country" at 97.5 to the new FM Talker. 97.5 is now WKTT and it's simulcast station at 105.9/Dewes DE is WZKT (was WXJN).
| Monday, March 30, 2009 Paul Allen’s Charter Communications headed to a federal bankruptcy court Friday to file the prepackaged Chapter 11 restructuring agreed to last month by its major creditors. The company says it has filed motions to continue normal business operations... (read more - TVBR.com)
CountryFest to take place at Innsbrook | Sunday, March 29, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WKHK-FM K95 announced this week that this year’s 9th Annual K95 Pontiac GMC CountryFest will take place at the Snag-a-Job Pavilion at Innsbrook. All tickets previously purchased will be honored at the new venue. (read more - Cox Radio Richmond)
| Sunday, March 29, 2009Central Virginia's public television stations will be the latest to broadcast all in digital. At noon Monday, WCVE, WHTJ and WCVW will stop broadcasting in the analog format and will exclusively use a digital signal, said Curtis Monk, president and CEO of Community Idea Stations... (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)
| Sunday, March 29, 2009 For the longest time, public radio listeners on the Outer Banks were dependent on the dodgy signals that came from the fringes of Norfolk and New Bern.Ten years ago, North Carolina Public Radio WUNC brought its equipment to the northeast coast... (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
Clear Channel blows up Classic Country "106.1 The Bull" WZBL Vinton/Roanoke for Adult/Variety Hits "106.1 Steve FM" WSFF... (3/28/2009)
| Tuesday, March 24, 2009AllAccess.com says that Richmond radio vet Kirby Carmichael suffered a stroke last week and is off the air for now at WCLM/WHAP. We wish him well.
| Tuesday, March 24, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Chris Centore has been hired as the new host of the B101.5 morning show. Chris will join Dee Daniels on air as the “Chris & Dee in the Morning!” show starting Monday, April 6th. (read more - B101.5 WBQB)
| Monday, March 23, 2009Though Wachovia Securities analyst Marci Ryvicker quickly issues a note saying it’s “not a done deal – don’t get too excited.” (read more - Radio-Info.com)
| Friday, March 20, 2009Educational Media Foundation, known for Christian Contemporary "K-Love" and Christian Rock "Air1" formats, is buying the CP (construction permit) for WKYV/90.1 Colonial Heights/Petersburg from Greeley CO-based JKJ Educational Foundation (Kevin Youngers). The price is $125,000. The new station's antenna is to be located in Fort Lee and will do 500 watts focusing on Petersburg, Colonial Heights, Chester, Fort Lee, Hopewell.
| Friday, March 20, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Yesterday Tom Charity signed off "Dixie 105.7" WRSF for the last time. Tom is hanging up the headphones after almost 40 years in the business, 18 of which spent in northeastern North Carolina with East Carolina Radio, 16 with Dixie 105.7. Tom has many faithful listeners as well as current and past co-workers that will miss him dearly.The new on-air lineup as of today: The link to Tom Charity's final sign-off video on YouTube Joe Wade comes to Dixie from Raleigh with a strong broadcasting background including CMA Major Market DJ of the Year, Billboard Magazine DJ of the Year and Life Time Member of the Country Music Association. Along with our new addition to middays, Brook Stephens and the legend Senior Chief Rick Chamberlin who has been with Dixie 105.7 for 12 years, we are excited about the new lineup and look forward to our continued partnership with the community.
| Friday, March 20, 2009WRVQ-FM is a heritage Top 40 radio station in Richmond, VA O&O’d by Clear Channel. It is the second-oldest FM station in the city, signing on in August 1948. (read more - RBR.com)
Cox Communcations Fairfax and Fredericksburg will be adding MASN HD (channel 770) and Cox HD (771) next Tuesday, March 24... (3/18/2009)
| Wednesday, March 18, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... This Thursday and Friday, March 19th and 20th, during CBS coverage of NCAA March Madness basketball games, viewers can watch NewsChannel 3 @ 11 in high definition on WSKY 4. (read more - NewsChannel 3 WTKR)
Listen to Sky Angel Karen's final traffic report on Entercom Soft AC "2WD" WWDE/101.3 that aired just before 6 p.m. on Friday March 7, 2009... (3/18/2009)
Joe Sanchez, formerly of "Real Classic Rock 104.9/105.5" Winchester and recently "97-7 The Rocket" WYRX (now WMDM again) in southern Maryland as "Smokin' Joe," was heard on Martinsburg's Sports WEPM/1340 (Prettyman Broadcasting) this morning as a newsreader... (3/17/2009)
| Tuesday, March 17, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... 93.3 WFLS has been nominated for the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Crystal Radio Award. For the second year in a row, WFLS was named one of fifty finalists. (read more - 93.3 WFLS)
| Monday, March 16, 2009In some universe, the name “Syfy” is less geeky than the name “Sci Fi.” Dave Howe, president of the Sci Fi Channel, is betting it’s this one. (read more - TVWeek)
| Sunday, March 15, 2009Three major local TV stations have trimmed their staffs over the past year, becoming leaner operations in the face of declining advertising dollars and an evolving media landscape. (read more - The Roanoke Times)
Your local Toyota dealers and Cox Radio Richmond present “Hands On Corollathon” | Friday, March 13, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... March 13th through the 15th, Cox Radio Richmond and your local Toyota dealers present the “Hands On Corollathon” at the Virginia Motor Trend International Auto Show, happening at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. (read more - Cox Radio Richmond)
| Friday, March 13, 2009Media General Inc., the parent company of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, will close its news bureau in Washington on March 27, the company said today. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)
| Thursday, March 12, 2009WVEC (13/ABC) Hampton/Norfolk owners, Belo Broadcasting, announced just days ago that the company would cut 150 staff positions, managers would see 5% salary reductions and all 401(k) matching contributions will be suspended. We hear that today the station has let go at least three staffers including anchor/reporter Andria Borba. These losses are on top of the at least seven people fired just five weeks ago in February.
| Wednesday, March 11, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... On Saturday, February 28, 2009, The Advertising Federation of Hampton Roads (AAFHR) held their Annual ADDY Awards Gala. This special event represents the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types... (read more - CW27 WGNT)
| Tuesday, March 10, 2009Last Wednesday, my rush-hour commute lasted six seconds. Sadly, it’s not because VDOT finished construction of the pneumatic tube “reported” in WYDaily last year. (read more - Williamsburg Yorktown Daily)
| Monday, March 9, 2009Opie & Anthony, heard on tape delay on Sinclair Communications Alternative "96X" WROX/96.1 Exmore/Norfolk, aired their last show on terrestrial today. The flagship station, CBS "K-Rock" WXRK/92.3 New York, is dumping the format for CHR on Wednesday. CBS suits told O&A there's no need to report to the CBS studios tomorrow where the first three and a half hours of their show is also heard on SiriusXM. WROX aired the duo on tape delay, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
| Monday, March 9, 2009As of Sunday afternoon at 3, Metro Network's Norfolk office, affectionately referred to as "The Treehouse" is now closed. Chill remains embedded at Saga's cluster (FM99, 106.9 The Fox and WJOI AM) and Kimi Stevens hangs on at Max Media, although her wings have been clipped (no longer from the airplane). Benita Adams is now on mornings only at WVEC (13/ABC). The rest of the Metro Norfolk traffic reports will now reportedly be handled from the Metro DC office. Out are Sky Angel Karen (30 years on 2WD), Janet King, Ken Johnson, Kathy Duke, Randy Alexander and Director of Operations Steve Batton. Previous rounds of cuts last September saw the departure of Rick Jewell and long-time veteran Don DeIulio.
Please remember, in your thoughts and prayers, the family of Brian James, the BIG VOICE GUY on 97.3 The Eagle. Brian passed away of a heart attack this past Friday morning at the young age of 48. He is survived by wife, son and stepdaughter. (3/9/2009)
| Monday, March 9, 2009We hear that (at least) two Virginia TV stations are signing -off in the middle of the night. Belo Broadcasting's WVEC (13/ABC) Hampton/Norfolk is shutting down its analog transmitter approximately 12:05-4:45 a.m. every night. Over at Gray Television's WHSV (3/ABC) Harrisonburg, they are turning off the lights on both (analog and digital) signals nightly around 2 a.m. Is this to save money?
WGH-FM and WFLS pick up Radio Humanitarian awards | Friday, March 6, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. has announced the recipients in four separate awards categories at CRS-40: The Radio Promotion Awards, Artist Humanitarian Award, Radio Humanitarian Award and Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award. (read more - Country Radio Broadcasters)
| Friday, March 6, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WWVB-FM, 99.3 The Vibe recently wrapped up their “S.O.S. for Hope House,” a community effort to collect grocery supplies and money for the Fredericksburg Hope House. The Hope House helps single mothers and their children who are homeless, women who are victims of domestic violence or who have lost their jobs due to illness or lack of transportation. (read more - 99-3 The Vibe WWVB)
| Friday, March 6, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WKHK-FM K95 announces this year’s lineup for the 9th Annual K95 Pontiac GMC CountryFest, presented by your local Buick Pontiac GMC Dealers. (read more - K95 WKHK)
| Thursday, March 5, 2009Circuit City’s liquidators will close all of the chain’s remaining stores this Sunday. (read more - TWICE)
| Thursday, March 5, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WBBC/Blackstone is proud to be the home of Sweet Brenda and Him and they were just selected as the Blue Grass DJ's of the Year in Nashville Sunday, February 15, 2009.The popular duo is heard Sunday mornings 7-10 a.m. and Wednesdays 6-9 p.m. Dennis Royer Sr, President and General Manager, stated "I'm proud and honored for them to receive this award, they truly love Blue Grass and really promote the music." WBBC is the 25,000 watt Country station serving Southside and parts of Richmond from Blackstone on 93.5FM.
| Thursday, March 5, 2009 The new year has been a busy month for Centennial Broadcasting Roanoke/Lynchburg. Here is what has been going on recently:
| Thursday, March 5, 2009 Clear Channel Classic Hits "Cool 92.1" WCDG Moyock/Norfolk soft launched a new morning show on Monday.“The Wakeup Show with Bill and Shelly” is Bill Bevins and Shelly Perkins from sister station Soft AC "Lite 98" WTVR/98.1 Richmond. Though not LIVE, the show is "crafted specifically for Hampton Roads." Cool's new weekday line-up shapes up like this:
| Thursday, March 5, 2009WTKR's chief meteorologist drew pictures on a dry-erase board and the station's anchor reported news from a food bank Wednesday after a computer problem kept the station from using its Norfolk studio. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
| Thursday, March 5, 2009 The state budget outlook for WHRO has improved since last week, but the local public broadcasting company still faces a possible six-figure reduction in its allocation from Richmond. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)
| Thursday, March 5, 2009A computer crash at the WTKR Channel 3 news station in Norfolk had anchors scattered across Hampton Roads for the 5 p.m. broadcast Wednesday. (read more - Daily Press)
| Wednesday, March 4, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ... WTKR NewsChannel 3, once again, proves that a television stations true purpose is to Take Action for the community, even in the midst of a complete equipment crash. (read more - WTKR)
| Wednesday, March 4, 2009Local TV's "NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk did their entire 5-6:30 news block on location from the Portsmouth Humane Society and The Southeastern Food Bank of Virginia. There was no taped news pieces and the weather forecasts from Mike Harvey were coming off a dry erase board. The "newscast" ended with... a mini concert from a local band.
| Wednesday, March 4, 2009FOR IMMEDAITE RELEASE... 93.3 WFLS was named the 2009 Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) Small Market Humanitarian of the Year. The award was presented by Radio Ink Magazine during a morning session at the 2009 Country Radio Seminars in Nashville. (read more - WFLS)
| Wednesday, March 4, 2009FOR IMMEDAITE RELEASE... When the first storm of the year threatened Hampton Roads WAVY News 10 and WAVY.com delivered with unprecedented coverage. (read more - WAVY)
| Wednesday, March 4, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... The Planet, Central Virginia’s station for Everything That Rocks at 97.9 FM Lynchburg and 101.5 in Roanoke, is expanding our coverage to include Bedford and Smith Mountain Lake. Effective March 2nd, Tthe Planet can now also be heard on 106.9 FM Bedford and 97.3 in the Roanoke area. We are very excited to bring this highly successful format to an even larger audience. The Planet is broadcasting the largest library of rock music in the area. The Planet plays album cuts and blends artists from every decade from the roots of rock to the present.
| Tuesday, March 3, 2009Rich Minor, recently with Clear Channel CHR "Jammin'" WJJS/104.9 Roanoke//WJJX/102.7 Appomattox, has been picked up to do mornings on Berkshire Broadcasting's Adult CHR "98Q" WDAQ Danbury CT. Minor starts next Monday (3/9).
Westwood One's Metro Traffic Norfolk office was to close Friday, February 27. It gets a one week reprieve. Operations will be moving to Washington DC (Silver Spring MD) next week... (3/3/2009)
| Tuesday, March 3, 2009Joe Spencer, program manager for Grant Broadcasting's "FOX21/27" WFXR Roanoke//WWCW Lynchburg/Roanoke, was let go Friday afternoon due to budget cuts. Spencer had been at station since May 2007 after arriving from market Independent (previous UPN) WDRL/24 Danville/Roanoke. Joe has 14 years of TV and radio experience and can be reached at 540-397-6415/540-397-9940 or joey00578/dawt/yahoo.com.
WVEC/13's parent company signs up but doesn't list the station to air the diginet | Tuesday, March 3, 2009 The multicast channel .2 will hold off on launching until fall, reports the Columbus Dispatch. The entertainment network has had a few different would-be launch dates, the most recent being April..2 parent Guardian Enterprise Group looks like it’s getting a low-interest loan for new equipment... (read more - Multichannel News)
| Monday, March 2, 2009H. Lewis Compton, who was known as the “Mouth of the South” for announcing every race at Martinsville Speedway for 44 years, died Friday at Memorial Hospital in Martinsville. (read more - Martinsville Bulletin)
| Monday, March 2, 2009Dayle Taliaferro Dunn, director of community affairs and cause-based marketing at WTVR-Channel 6, died Sunday. She was 61. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)
| Monday, March 2, 2009 LIN TV's WAVY (10/NBC) tried something new this morning when "Chopper 10" pilot John Massey (grounded by the snow) broadcast a LIVE shot from inside a moving station vehicle via Skype.Though it did have some issues, it did bring instant road conditions in Portsmouth and throughout Hmapton Roads to Channel 10 viewers.
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