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VARTV News Archives - March & April
» If you have any news, updates, additions or corrections... e-mail them to editor@VARTV.com.


The Spot Factory

Studio Center

:// 92.9 The Wave counts down the Top 1,000 songs
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92-9 The Wave, WVBWFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... 92.9 The Wave (WVBW-FM) kicked off a countdown of the top one-thousand songs from the 1960’s, 1970’s, and 1980’s on Wednesday, April 27th at 9:00 AM. The countdown begins daily at 7:00 AM and replays in the evening for those fans that may have missed one of their favorites. (read more - 92-9 The Wave, WVBW)

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Radio ratings for Hampton Roads and Richmond were released by Arbitron... (4/28/2011)

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:// Gene Cox to change roles at NBC12
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NBC12 News announces that Gene Cox will be changing roles at NBC12, stepping down from the anchor desk on June 16. (read more - NBC12)

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:// FOX43’s The Hampton Roads Show welcomes new co-host
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Ariane Aramburo
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... FOX43 welcomes Ariane Aramburo as the new co-host on The Hampton Roads Show. Ariane joins the team from KQTV in St. Joseph, MO where she anchored the 10 pm news. Before taking on the evening anchor role, Ariane co-anchored KQTV's morning show, "Hometown This Morning." (read more - FOX43, WVBT)

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:// WAVY-TV 10 teams up with 97-3 The Eagle for Eagle Walk 2011
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Join WAVY-TV 10 Anchor Kerri Furey and 97-3 The Eagle’s Jimmy Ray for the 20th Anniversary of Eagle Walk, all in support of the March of Dimes. Eagle Walk begins the morning of Wednesday, April 27th at the Williamsburg Country Club... (read more - WAVY-TV 10)

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:// Hot 100.5 celebrates two years
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Hot 100.5, WVHTFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Hot 100.5 (WVHT-FM) celebrates two-years as being the only Mainstream Top 40/CHR Radio Station in the Hampton Roads market on Wednesday. The station evolved from Kung Pao 100.5 playing Classic Chinese Hits at 7:00 AM on Monday, April 27, 2009. (read more - Hot 100.5, WVHT)

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:// New station WKHF rocks the airwaves in Lynchburg
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93-7, K-H-FIt’s 6:10 a.m. and Mike McKendree is ready to rock. Overlooking downtown Lynchburg from the 16th floor of the Bank of the James building, he starts broadcasting on 93.7 FM.

“Good morning everybody, it’s the morning show in your radio,” he rattles off with playful rhythm. (read more - WSLS)

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:// President hosts new round of local interviews (including WTKR/3 CBS Norfolk)
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President Obama is again sitting down with local stations for one-on-one interviews, as big-name reporters from Atlanta’s WSB, Cleveland’s WKYC, Detroit’s WXYZ, and WTKR in Hamptons Roads, VA... (read more - TVSpy)

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Mike Anthony, fill-ins/weekends for Saga Communications Hampton Roads' Rock "FM99" WNOR/98.7 and Classic Rock "106.9 The Fox" WAFX, is now the cluster's Production Director which also includes Standards WJOI/1230... (4/26/2011)

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:// Roanoker hired by television station in New York
The former WDBJ news director will be executive producer for the market's No. 1 station

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Less than a month after being let go as news director at WDBJ-TV (Channel 7), Morris has found a job at another Channel 7 -- except this one is in New York City. (read more - The Roanoke Times)

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:// Ch-ch-changes coming to SiriusXM
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SiriusXM RadioOn Wednesday, May 4th, we're reordering our channels to make it easier for you to quickly find what you want to hear. As a result, some channels you listen to will have a new number beginning that day. (read more - SiriusXM Radio)

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:// Adams joins West Virginia Radio Corporation
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Longtime Centennial Broadcasting Winchester (WINC FM, WINC AM, WXBN FM, WXNB FM) OM Jeff Adams, who exited the cluster on April 8th, joins West Virginia Radio Corporation in Charleston as PD of adult contemporary WVAF FM (V100) and classic top 40 WKAZ FM. (read more - West Virginia Radio Corp)

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:// Charlottesville morning radio host to exit
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Jay Lopez, mornings on Saga Communications' "Lite Rock 95.1" WQMZ Charlottesville, announced he is exiting the station. He has been with the station for over 10 years. More about Lopez and his exit from WQMZ at Z95.net (link removed).

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:// Local (Hampton Roads) marketing legend announces retirement
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Thurman Worthington
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Max Media of Hampton Roads Senior Marketing Consultant, ThurmanWorthington, announced today that he will be retiring from his long-running, successful marketing career. He has been a local marketing professional for more than fifty years. (read more - Max Media Hampton Roads)

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:// Sunny 93.5/Roanoke to carry Virginia Tech Sports
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Sunny 93.5IMG Sports' Virginia Tech IMG Sports Network has changed affiliates in Roanoke but stays within the Clear Channel cluster, moving from Adult Hits WSFF (106.1 Steve FM) to AC WSNV (Sunny 93.5) for the 2011-12 season. Sunny will carry all football and men's basketball games plus ACC Tournament games... (read more - AllAccess)

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:// Star Radio Group welcomes new DOS
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Star Radio Group Fredericksburg (Country WFLS/93.3, "Classic Rock 96.9" WWUZ, Rhythmic CHR "99-3 The Vibe" WVBX, Sports "The Game" WYSK) names Michael Klezaras as its Director of Sales. Klezaras was a Senior AE for Citadel Broadcasting's 3-station Worcester cluster for the past 3˝+ years.

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Tornado relief volunteer in NE NC gets crushed, LIVE on TV, during the beginning of noon newscast on WVEC (13/ABC) Hampton/Norfolk. He's OK... (4/20/2011)

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:// AM stations on FM
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ANTENNAIt's happening across country and Virginia is no exception where AM stations are finding new life on the FM band. Market size doesn't matter either. Lakes Media in Danville is using two low-power translators to put its two AM stations on FM, Star Radio Group in Fredericksburg has it AM Sports station on a translator.

In Richmond, Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting Corp's WLES/590 Bon Air can be found on 97.7 and now a new recent FCC filing has the owners of WHAN/1430 Ashland buying a translator from Liberty University. WHAN is paying $14,000 for W273BU (102.5)/Ashland which is doing just 14 watts. In a concurrent FCC filing, it shows an application to move the signal to 102.9 and increase its power to the translator max of 250 watts.

And now, Mel Wheeler Broadcasting is purchasing W249AG (97.7)/Roanoke from BBN (Bible Broadcasting Network) for $95,000. Wheeler says they want to use the new signal for its Urban AC "Vibe 100" WVBE/610 Roanoke. The station can be heard on FM but only in Lynchburg on 100.1. There is an application to move the translator from 97.7 (directional) to 107.3 (non-directional).

The big one we're watching is in Hampton Roads -- Liberty University's W249BK (97.7)/Virginia Beach. Recently, Liberty filed papers with the FCC to move the signal to 98.3 and increase its current power of 2 watts to the maximum 250 watts. The new signal will cover all of Norfolk, Portsmouth, densely populated portions of Chesapeake and most of the northern half of Virginia Beach. 98.3 will cover hundreds of thousands of people and could easily fetch six figures. Anyone interested???

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:// WAVY-TV 10 and partners On Your Side team up with The Red Cross to help tornado victims
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WAVY-TV 10 and Partners On Your Side, Langley Federal Credit Union, Priority Automotive and Harrison’s Moving and Storage proudly team up with The American Red Cross Disaster Relief to help tornado victims in Virginia and North Carolina. (read more - WAVY-TV10)

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:// Tommy Griffiths to host Charlie Sheen's "Violent Torpedo of Truth" in DC
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The Charlie Sheen folks have asked Clear Channel Classic Hits WBIG/100.3 Washington, "Magic 105.3" WVMA Windsor/Norfolk morning host Tommy Griffiths to cohost/moderate Sheen's show tonight at DAR Constitution Hall in DC. Griffiths will be on stage the entire show asking Sheen questions; hosting the entire "deal."

In return, Sheen is giving Griffiths $5,000 which he will donate the money to a local charity.

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:// PD Fisher exiting Hot 100.9 in Richmond
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Cox Media Group Top 40/Rhythmic WHTI (Hot 100.9)/Richmond and PD/air personality Fisher part ways. (read more - AllAccess)

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:// Xtra 99.1 Walk to Richmond postponed
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Xtra 99.1, WXGMFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... The end of the Walk to Richmond by XTRA 99.1's morning personality Neal Steele has been postponed until Tuesday April 26th because of the station's ongoing tornado relief coverage.

April 11-15 Neal walked the first 52 miles on the route to Richmond. On Monday the 25th Neal and others will walk 8.5 miles with the last 2.5 on Tuesday the 26th.

To date, over $10,000 has been raised for the Richmond Hospital Education Program.

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:// The Songs You Remember are back on AM1230 WFVA
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1230 WFVAFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Centennial Broadcasting launched AM1230 WFVA an Adult Standards formatted station today at midnight. AM1230 WFVA will feature The Songs You Remember from the world’s most popular artists from the 50's thru the 70's, including Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, Nat King Cole and Andy Williams. (read more - 1230 WFVA)

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:// WAVY releases reporter
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We hear that LIN Media WAVY (10/NBC) Portsmouth, WVBT (43/FOX) Virginia Beach reporter Mary Kay Mallonee was fired (let go) from the cluster. All mentions of her are gone from their websites. She was with WAVY for nearly 12 years.

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Cox Radio Rhythmic "Hot 100.9" WHTI Lakeside/Richmond parts way with DJ 2MUCH at nights after just seven months. The station is on the prowl for a new night jock... (4/14/2011)

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:// Country stars of tomorrow to compete in Edenton
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Dixie 105.7, Northeastern North Carolina's top rated radio station playing Today's Hottest Country; Classic Country 1240 WCNC and 1260 WZBO and Edenton Motors, Your Chevrolet Buick and GMC Dealer in Edenton are proud to bring The Texaco Country Countdown, Country music's largest talent contest... (read more - East Carolina Radio)

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:// 96X sked now set
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Sinclair Communications' new Alternative/Modern AC "96X" WROX/96.1 Exmore/Norfolk announces its finished weekday on air line-up:
6-10 a.m. -- Nick Chappell
10 a.m.-3 p.m. -- Kristi Michael
3-7 p.m. -- James Steele
7 p.m.-midnight -- Bubba
Michael will continue to do her "Musick With a K" show (modern/indie Christian music) every Friday evening on Virginia Beach Educational Broadcasting Foundation's Christian CHR "The Current" WJLZ/88.5 Virginia Beach (and W279AD/103.7 Chesapeake, W280CX/103.9 Norfolk, W250AE/97.9 South Norfolk/Portsmouth). She was previously with 96X until being let go for budget reasons at the end of October 2008.

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The complete list of winners from the 2011 Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters awards held this past Saturday... (4/12/2011)

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:// Associated Press honors WTVR-TV CBS 6 News
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Continuing excellence in broadcast journalism, The Associated Press has awarded WTVR TV CBS 6, The South’s First Television Station, with fourteen distinctions of merit. (read more - CBS6, WTVR)

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:// New leader for Centennial Winchester
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Even before Centennial Winchester (WINC/92.5, "The Bone" WXBN/104.9//WXNB Berryville, WINC/1400) OM Jeff Adams is set to exit the cluster next Wednesday, The Bone's PD/afternooner Brian Beddow has been named as his replacement as Director of Programming.

Adams is headed to program West Virginia Radio's AC "V100" WVAF/99.9 Charleston and Classic Top 40 "107-3, K-A-Z" WKAZ Miami/Charleston.

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Bill Mantos Jr, well known in the Hampton Roads media community, passed away this past weekend leaving behind a wife, three week-old son and many loving and caring family and friends... (4/11/2011)

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:// 96X changes format; Mike and Bob show gone
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96X, WROXThey couldn’t deny what the ratings revealed: People wanted more music and less talk.

So on Friday, programmers at 96 X (WROX-FM) made changes. Chief among them: the cancellation of the all-talk, testosterone-driven “Mike & Bob Show,” a station mainstay for 10 years.

(read more - The Virginian-Pilot)

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:// After 2 hours of breaking news coverage, WAVY misses money shot of black bear
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WAVY, an NBC-affiliate serving southeastern Virginia, went into breathless breaking news mode on Friday evening after a black bear was spotted roaming a neighborhood in Virginia Beach. WAVY provided nearly two hours of live coverage on Friday, even preempting NBC’s “Nightly News... (read more - TVSpy)

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:// WHRO skirts knives of Richmond's budget-cutters
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WHRO Public MediaThe past week was one of unwanted drama for WHRO, but it didn’t turn into a tragedy for the nonprofit public broadcasting company.

On Wednesday, the General Assembly overturned Gov. Bob McDonnell’s budget amendment to chop state funding for public broadcasting. WHRO will end up losing $70,000, much less than the roughly $350,000... (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)

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:// Public radio switch gets turned on in Mathews
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Public radio got a boost on the Middle Peninsula on Friday (4/1), when executives from WHRO Public Television and Radio turned on a new radio station located on the tower at Thomas Hunter Middle School in Mathews. (read more - Gloucester-Mathews Gazetter-Journal)

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Sinclair Communications' Modern Rock "96X" WROX/96.1 Exmore/Norfolk has played tunes today from P!ink, Adele, Cee Lo, Sara Bareilles. Doesn't sound like Modern Rock to us? What's up... Format adjustment?? Plus station mainstays, Mike & Bob, are gone -- wiped clean from their website. Stay tuned... (4/8/2011)

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:// Cox Media Group host the Richmond Employment and Education Fair
Over 400 attend the event with over 40 vendors.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Cox Media Group – Richmond (WKHK K95, WKLR 96.5, WHTI Hot 100.9, WURV 103.7 The River) and over 40 area employers and educational institutions came together yesterday for the Richmond Employment & Education Fair. (read more - Cox Media Group Richmond)

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Big Bird:// Senate rejects McDonnell bid to cut PBS funds
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Sesame Street has survived another attempt by Gov. Bob McDonnell to whack state funding for public broadcasting.

The Virginia Senate on Wednesday night rejected McDonnell's proposal to cut nearly $1.7 million in state support for educational programs provided the Public Broadcasting Service. (read more - Richmond Times-Dispatch)

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More new activity in the classified ads section on VARTV this month! Click "Classified Ads" on the left navigation panel for complete details.

If your station/organization has any positions available (media oriented), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who's reading..... (4/5/2011)

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:// WAVY TV10 and FOX43 announce new Sports Reporter
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Ali Lucia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WAVY TV10 and FOX43 welcome Ali Lucia as the newest member to the most experienced sports team in Hampton Roads. Lucia joins the team from FOX47 in Rochester, Minnesota where she was the 9PM news anchor. She also worked for Big Ten Network, Fox Sports North, and KSTC-TV.

(read more - WAVY-TV 10, FOX43 WVBT)

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:// Centennial OM Jeff Adams to exit
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Centennial Winchester (WINC/92.5, WXBN/104.9//WXNB Berryville, WINC/1400) OM Jeff Adams is set to exit the cluster on Wednesday, April 20 after 11 years. He's headed for West Virginia Radio to program AC "V100" WVAF/99.9 Charleston and Classic Top 40 "107-3, K-A-Z" WKAZ Miami/Charleston.

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:// WBIG (and WVMA) morning host Tommy Griffiths to guest on The Jerry Springer Show
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Tommy Griffiths
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... The producers of "The Jerry Springer Show" have tapped WBIG 100.3/Washington, DC- WVMA- Magic 105.3/Norfolk-Virginia Beach morning host Tommy Griffiths as a "guest Security Guard" on an upcoming episode of the Springer show. The show will be taped in NYC on April 11 and air "sometime in May" (during Sweeps) according to Springer's producers.

Griffiths will share his experiences "behind the scenes" at the Springer show on his morning radio programs, and Jerry Springer will guest on Griffiths' morning shows over the next few weeks.

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:// New station on Middle Peninsula
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Hampton Roads Educational Telecommunications Inc will sign-on their new station, WHRG/88.5 Gloucester Point, tomorrow. The station will simulicast sister NPR station WHRV/89.5 Norfolk. To broadcast from Matthews, WHRG will serve the Middle Peninsula and parts of the Peninsula and Northern Neck areas. Expected sign-on time is 2:30 p.m.

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:// 102.1FM/1490AM is now all sports
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102.1/1490 The Game, WXTGFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... The Game 102.1 FM / 1490 AM is proud to announce that starting Monday April 4, 2011, 102.1FM and 1490AM will now be ALL SPORTS.

The Steve Czaban Show will air weekday mornings from 6am-9am and The Robert Wuhl Show will air weekday afternoons from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. (read more - 102.1/1490 The Game, WXTG)

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:// MOVIN’ 107.7 – Music That Makes You Move – comes to Norfolk
New sound joins 92.1 KISS FM in Hampton Roads market

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Clear Channel Norfolk announced today that Movin’ 107.7 FM – Music that Makes You Move -- will become an exciting new part of its lineup in the Hampton Roads market on a recently upgraded signal. Movin’ 107.7, soon to become WMOV-FM, will feature a unique variety of rhythmic hit music that appeals to the area’s large Gen X audience. Beginning today at 3pm, Movin’ 107 will begin showcasing the best in retro, hip hop, R&B, classic dance hits and more from the 1990s... (read more - Movin 107.7, WMOV)

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:// Hampton Roads could be "Movin" very, VERY soon
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Movin 107.7, WMOV Clear Channel Norfolk could be very close to breaking up the Urban AC "KISS FM" (WKSA/92.1 Moyock, WKUS/107.7 Norfolk) simulcast as early as this afternoon.

CC has taken out several domain names around "Movin 107.7," with the new call letters -- WMOV-FM (requested today) -- and new logo already uploaded to movin1077fm.com.

According to the Facebook posting, the station is branding itself "Music that Makes You Move" with a description "Movin 107.7 will offer a fantastic mix of music, all the most popular and chart-topping hits from the 90s showcasing the best in retro, hip hop, R&B, classic dance hits!"

Many thanks to RadioInsight. Stay tuned for more...

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:// WCYB searches for replacement for ‘Old School’ News Director
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WCYBWCYB is currently searching for a replacement for longtime news director and anchor Steve Hawkins, who one veteran of the market recently described as “the Cronkite of the Tri-Cities.” (read more - TVSpy)

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:// WAVY TV10 & WVBT FOX43 reach new agreement with COX Communications
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WAVY/WVBT President and General Manager Doug Davis is pleased to announce that WAVY TV10 and WVBT FOX43 have reached a new retransmission consent agreement with COX Communications. (read more - WAVY-TV10, FOX43 WVBT)

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:// WDBJ, WSLS make key management changes
WDBJ's news director will be leaving, and WSLS is slated to get a new general manager

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WDBJRoanoke's two television stations confirmed key management changes Wednesday. WDBJ's news director will be leaving, and WSLS will be getting a new general manager.
WSLS
Amy Morris, a Roanoke native who has been news director at WDBJ (Channel 7) since 2007, will be leaving the station on an unspecified date... (read more - The Roanoke Times)

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:// NBC and FOX to stay on Cox
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LIN Media and Cox Communications have "reached an agreement in principle, subject to execution of a definitive contract, for continued carriage of WAVY (10/NBC) Portsmouth and "FOX43" WVBT Virginia Beach on Cox Hampton Roads channel line-up.

"The agreement contemplates that customers will continue to have access to the stations without disruption. Terms of the agreement are confidential" said the press release.

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A new format "movin'" to Hampton Roads on Clear Channel's 107.7??? (3/30/2011)

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Clear Channel Norfolk has let go DJ Big Dose, KISS FM's (WKSA/92.1 Moyock, WKUS/107.7 Norfolk) midday host/APD and Public Affairs Director, due to "changes" at the station. He had been with the cluster for 10 years. KISS FM is now 100% voice-tracked.. (3/30/2011)

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:// PopCrunch names 50 Hottest Women Of Radio
List includes "103-7 The River" WURV Richmond morning host Melissa Chase

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PopCrunch Hottest Women Of Radio 2011Welcome to the Hottest Women of Radio 2011. This is, by far, our most time intensive project every year, but it’s worth every minute because we here at PopCrunch LOVE local radio. Local radio has been instrumental in highlighting PopCrunch over the years... (read more - PopCrunch)

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:// Cox Media Group hosts the Richmond Employment & Education Fair
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Cox Media Group RichmondFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Cox Media Group – Richmond (WKHK K95, WKLR 96.5, WHTI The New Hot 100.9 and WURV The New 103.7 The River) and over 40 area employers and educational development outlets have joined forces for the Richmond Employment & Education Fair taking place Tuesday, April 5. (read more - Cox Media Group Richmond)

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:// (Former TV3's) Ryan O'Connor sentenced to 4 years behind bars
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Former TV3 Winchester reporter Ryan O'Connor is on his way to prison for four years and, after that, he'll spend 10 years under supervised probation. (read more - TV3)

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:// WRIC news van mobbed at VCU celebration
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A WRIC news van became an impromptu stage for VCU fans in Richmond as residents crowded the streets, celebrating the hometown team’s unlikely trip to the Final Four. (read more - TVSpy)

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:// Virginia group doubles down in Danville
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Lakes Media, a license company that is part of Birch Broadcasting Corporation, will now be able to reach the citizens of Danville VA when the sun goes down. (read more - RBR)

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:// New Lynchburg station officially launches
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93-7 KHF, Your MusicAfter several days of testing, "93-7 KHF, Your Music" WKHF Lynchburg officially launched, what the station calls a new Hot AC format, at 7 p.m. Friday March 25.

The station buildout was completed this week. Studios are located in the Bank of the James Building, downtown Lynchburg.

We're told a "local" airstaff is currently being interviewed and a new website is coming soon. WKHF is operated by Radiowerks Broadcasting of Central Virginia under an LMA and Purchase Agreement with United States CP, LLC.

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:// 101.7 Lynchburg drops a simulcast for a new one
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106-1, 101-7 Steve FMClear Channel has dropped the Soft AC "Sunny FM" simulcast in the Roanoke/Lynchburg area as of 5 p.m.

Sunny is now heard exclusively on 93.5 (WSNV Salem/Roanoke). The 101.7 (WSNZ/Lynchburg) frequency is now in a new simulcast with "Steve FM" (WSFF Vinton/Roanoke). Both 101.7 and 106.1 are owned by Aloha Station Trust and run by Clear Channel.

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Earlier this month, Local TV LLC's "CBS6" WTVR Richmond launched AntennaTV over-the-air on channel 6-2. CBS6 Weather Xtra has been moved to 6-3... (3/25/2011)

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:// New FMs on in Lynchburg and South Central VA
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United States CP, LLC's new Class A-licensed WKHF/93.7 Lynchburg is on the air, doing transmitter testing. The station is doing an automated Variety Hits format...

God's Final Call & Warning's Class A-licensed WGFW/88.7 Drakes Branch (actually in Abilene halfway between Drakes Branch and Farmville) went on the air earlier this month with religious programming. The station's owners are based in Chatham (between Martinsville and South Boston)...

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New activity in the classified ads section on VARTV this month! Click "Classified Ads" on the left navigation panel for complete details.

If your station/organization has any positions available (media oriented), get them on VARTV! You would be surprised who's reading..... (3/23/2011)

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:// Radio station changes format after listeners revolt
WBRF (98.1) drops Contemporary Country Hits in lieu of classics

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Executives at country radio station WBRF in Galax, Va., took heed when their listeners began complaining about the songs that were being played. (read more - WXII)

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:// COX Communications’ contract to carry WAVY TV10/WVBT FOX43 expires on March 31, 2011
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WAVY TV10 and WVBT FOX43 announced today that on March 31, 2011 at Midnight (ET), COX Communications’ contract to carry its local television stations will expire. By law, COX Communications cannot carry WAVY TV10 and WVBT FOX43 on its cable system without a contract. (read more - WAVY-TV 10, FOX43 WVBT)

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:// WAVY TV10 wins NPPA Station of the Year Award
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WAVY TV10 was once again awarded the Medium Market Station of the Year Award in the National Press Photographers Association's 2011 Best Of Photojournalism Television competition. (read more - WAVY-TV 10)

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:// In a renaissance for radio, more listeners are tuning in
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Radio stations are receiving a surprisingly strong signal from audiences and the financial markets this year, even as they face intensifying competition from satellite and Web-based audio services including Sirius XM Satellite Radio XM and Pandora. (read more - USA Today)

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:// AT&T to buy T-Mobile USA for $39 billion
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AT&T, T-MobileAT&T stunned the telecom world on Sunday by announcing that it has agreed to pay $39 billion in cash and stock for T-Mobile USA — potentially making AT&T the No. 1 wireless provider with 39% of the market. (read more - USA Today)


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:// NewsChannel 3 reporter to DC
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Jummy Olabanji
TVSpy says that Local TV, LLC "NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk reporter Jummy Olabanji will leave the station for Allbritton Communications' "ABC7" WJLA Washington DC. She's from Fairfax.

Olabanji came to WTKR in 2008 from Gray Television's "CBS19" WCAV Charlottesville. She hasn't had to travel too far from "home" -- being brought up in Northern Virginia, going to school at Virginia Tech and starting her career with stops as a News Assistant at CNN's Washington DC bureau and working at WRC, and WSLS Roanoke.

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:// Raycom Media announces the promotion of senior managers, Don Richards and Kym Grinnage
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NBC12, WWBTFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... The Raycom Media family of stations, announce the promotion of two of its Senior Management Team in Richmond. Regional Vice President and General Manager, Don Richards has been promoted to Group Vice President, Raycom Media. (read more - NBC12, WWBT)

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:// Cox brings more ease and convenience to customers with new mobile app
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Cox CommunicationsIn today's busy world, Cox Communications is making it even easier to access entertainment and communication services from any location with new, easy-to-use features available to customers. Cox has launched Cox Mobile Connect, the company's new iPad®, iPhone® and Android™ app, giving Cox Advanced TV and Telephone customers the ability to control and manage Cox DVR and Telephone services... (read more - Cox.com)

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:// House votes 228-192 against NPR funding, as new sting video surfaces
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Colorado Republican House member Doug Lamborn won a mostly party-line vote today following an hour of debate, on a bill that would prohibit local public radio stations from using taxpayer money to buy programming from NPR. (read more - Radio-Info.com)

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:// WCVE Public Radio mourns passing of Page Wilson
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WCVE Public Radio received word that our friend and colleague, Page Wilson, has passed away. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to his family, friends and fans at this time.

For more than 10 years, Out O’ the Blue Radio Revue has been a valuable part of our Saturday evening line up on WCVE Public Radio... (read more - WCVE)

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:// Bennett Zier to manage the Norfolk cluster for Entercom
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Zier succeeds Jeff Brown, who is now managing stations for Entercom in Portland, Oregon. Zier's bio includes being EVP of the Clear Channel stations in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, the founding CEO of Dan Snyder-led Red Zebra Broadcasting in the D.C. area... (read more - Radio-Info.com)

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:// Format change again for 97.7/WMDM
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Somar Communications has again changed the format on its 97.7 (WMDM) signal from Lexington Park MD. Last Friday, the station went from "Easy 97.7" to Classic Rock "97-7 The Rocket." This is the seventh format in seven years for WMDM. The station can be heard on the Northern Neck and parts of the Middle Peninsula.

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:// LIN Media enters into retransmission consent agreement with DISH Network
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... LIN Media, a local multimedia company, today announced that it has entered into a retransmission consent agreement with DISH Network, L.L.C (“DISH”). As a result, DISH has resumed carriage of the local television stations that LIN Media owns, operates or services. (read more - WAVY-TV10, FOX43 WVBT)

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:// The Outer Banks Voice and Max Media announce new venture
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... The Outer Banks Voice and Max Radio of the Carolinas have signed an agreement launching a new joint venture.

North Carolina E Paper, LLC (NCEP) is a new company owned 50 percent by The Outer Banks Voice, LLC and 50 percent by Max Radio of the Carolinas, LLC. The officers are Russell Lay, president, Rob Morris, editor, and John A. Trinder, publisher. (read more - North Carolina E Paper)

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:// Exclusive: Richards promoted to Group VP at Raycom
Raycom's regional VP getting more stations to oversee

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Raycom MediaDon Richards, WWBT Richmond's general manager and Raycom's regional v.p., has been promoted to a group vice president role at Raycom. He starts in the expanded role March 14. (read more - Broadcasting & Cable)

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:// Magic 105-3 fills out on-air lineup
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Clear Channel 60s-70s Hits "Magic 105-3" WVMA Windsor/Norfolk debuted its weekday on-air lineup last week:
5:30-10 -- Tommy Griffiths
10-3 -- Delana
3-8 -- Mark McCarthy
8-midnight -- Travis Dylan

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:// (WDBJ) News7's Keith Humphry to retire
Keith's final scheduled newscast will be May 27

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Keith Humphry
Southwest and central Virginia’s preeminent broadcast journalist will retire in May.

Keith Humphry joined WDBJ7 in 1980 and has anchored “News7 at Six” for 31 years. Whether he’s investigating corruption, telling the story of a D-Day veteran, or getting the door slammed in his face by an angry subject of an investigation, Humphry’s storytelling takes viewers right along with him. (read more - WDBJ)

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:// February success for WTKR NewsChannel 3 & WGNT CW27
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WTKR NewsChannel 3 and WGNT CW27 both experienced tremendous success in the 2011 February Nielsen sweeps period. (read more - NewsChannel 3 WTKR, CW27 WGNT)

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:// WAVY News 10 is the true number one leader across Hampton Roads in morning and evening news
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WAVY-TV10FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WAVY News 10, the Station On Your Side, is once again the number one choice for morning and evening news in Hampton Roads during the February 2011 sweeps ratings period according to Nielsen Media Research. (read more - WAVY-TV 10)

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:// The Vibe fills middays with Blue
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Christal Blue is now doing middays at Star Rado Group's Rhythmic "99-3 The Vibe" WVBX Spotsylvania/Fredericksburg. Blue replaces PD/MD Justin Bryant who now focuses on his off-air duties including Sports "The Game" WYSK/1350 Fredericksburg//W243BS/96.5 Fredericksburg.

Speaking of The Game, the station is now the thrid affiliate of the NHL's Washington Capitals beginning tonight with the team's contest with the St Louis Blues.

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:// Magenhofer back at WSVA
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News Director Karl Magenhofer has returned to VerStandig's News/Talk WSVA/550 Harrisonburg after a brief stint (10 months) at Sajak Broadcasting's News/Talk WNAV/1430 Annapolis MD in a similar position. Magenhofer was with VerStanding for 11 years before heading to WNAV.

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:// 2WD tumbles in latest radio ratings
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2WDE, WWDEArbitron's "January Book" was released last week and it showed a big tumble from the all-holiday music to regular format of Entercom Soft Rock "2WD" WWDE/101.3 -- losing 60+% of its audience in the 6+ demo (#1 to #11). The ratings period covered January 6 - February 2.

Back on top and all by itself was Entercom Urban AC “95.7R&B” WVKL then sister Rhythmic "Z104" WNVZ/104.5 and Clear Channel Urban "103JAMZ" WOWI/102.9 tied for second with Max Media AC "92.9 The Wave" WVBW and Sinclair Variety Hits "93-7 BOB FM" WNOB rounding out the Top 5.

Editor's note: Though getting decent numbers, Max Media Inspirational Gospel "Star 1310" WGH let go its entire air last week including PD Dale Murray...

Check out Radio-Info.com for the entire 6+ radio ratings.

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:// Eric Harryman leaves FOX43
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Anchor/Reporter Eric Harryman with LIN Media "FOX43" WVBT Virginia Beach has exited the station.

Harryman told friends and colleagues earlier this month that he's "taken a job (anchor/reporter with Tribune "FOX40" KTXL) in the closest TV market to my hometown, Sacramento CA." He's from Sonoma CA.

Harryman had been with WVBT for just over three years co-anchoring the week night "FOX43 News at 10pm" newscasts with Nicole Livas. Before arriving at WVBT, Harryman made stops in Boise ID, Colorado Springs and Los Angeles.

No word on who will replace Harryman on the 10PM news on Channel 43.

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