VARTV.comAIM: VARTVIMeditor@VARTV.comSupport VARTVContact VARTVAbout VARTVHelp/FAQsA/V GalleryVARTV Classified AdsTransmitter Location MapsVARTV News Archives
VARTV Home
VARTV Markets
Hampton Roads
Richmond
Roanoke/Lynchburg
Fredericksburg
Charlottesville
Harrisonburg
Northern Neck & Middle Peninsula
VA's Eastern Shore

Inside VARTV
News Archives
Classified Ads
Pressroom
Transmitter Maps
A/V Gallery
Guest Commentary/Reporting
Help & FAQs
Links
About VARTV
Contact VARTV
Support VARTV
DCRTV



VARTV News Archives - November & December 2012
» If you have any news, updates, additions or corrections... e-mail them to editor@VARTV.com.


Studio Center

:// Dish Network, WDBJ parent reach deal
  |  

WDBJ's parent company and Dish Network reached an agreement late Thursday night that will keep Channel 7 programming available for Dish customers in the Roanoke-Lynchburg market, WDBJ officials confirmed by email shortly before 11 p.m. (read more - The Roanoke Times)

  |  back to top  |

:// Dish gears up for retrans battle
Roanoke's WDBJ/7 could be affected

  |  

Dish Network subscribers in six cities could lose access to local programming if the satellite giant does not reach a retransmission consent agreement with Schurz Communications by midnight Friday. (read more - Multichannel News)

  |  back to top  |

:// Nielsen to acquire Arbitron
  |  

Nielsen Holdings N.V., a leading global provider of information and insights into what consumers watch and buy, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Arbitron Inc., an international media and marketing research firm. (read more - Arbitron)

  |  back to top  |

:// 12 Hours Of Christmas raises over $28,000
  |  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses were granted yesterday!

Radio stations WHTI- The New Hot 100.9 and WURV- 103.7 The River raised over $28,000 this Wednesday, December 12th during their inaugural “12 Hours of Christmas radiothon” to benefit Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia. (read more - Cox Media Group Richmond)

  |  back to top  |

:// Me-TV announces first affiliation agreement with Belo Television Group,
WVEC - Norfolk, Virginia to launch in January

  |  

Me-TV, Memorable Entertainment TelevisionFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... The Me-TV Network announces an affiliate agreement with WVEC, Norfolk, VA (DMA # 44) which introduces the Belo Television Group to the classic TV network family. The station will launch Me-TV on January 16, 2013 and be seen over the air on channel 13.3. (read more - 13NEWS, WVEC)

  |  back to top  |

:// A look around WVTF Public Radio
  |  

WVTFWVTF Public Radio and Radio IQ, with stations across central and western Virginia, is celebrating 25 years of public radio service.

Chief Engineer and Engineering Manager Paxton Durham, who has been with WVTF since 1990, shared some facility design thoughts... (read more - Radio World)

  |  back to top  |

:// Centennial Broadcasting names Director of Programming
Chris Roth assumes duties for Winchester/Loudoun area stations

  |  

WINC-FM, WINC, WZFC, Cable 15, WXBNFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Centennial Broadcasting II, LLC announced today that radio veteran Chris Roth will join the company as Director of Programming for their Northern Shenandoah Valley and Northern Virginia radio stations.

(read more - Centennial Broadcasting Winchester)

  |  back to top  |

:// Media entrepreneur Joe Allbritton dies at 87
  |  

Joe L. Allbritton, the founder of Allbritton Communications, the parent company of Washington-based ABC affiliate WJLA, News Channel 8 and Politico, died Wednesday, just 17 days shy of his 88th birthday. (read more - TVNewsCheck)

  |  back to top  |

:// Media General bonuses help make up for furloughs
  |  

Hinting at its new life as a pure-play broadcaster, Media General is giving those who lost income during a 2011 furlough program a cash payment equal to up to five days of pay. (read more - Broadcasting & Cable)

  |  back to top  |

:// Max Radio of the Carolinas announces format shift
104.9/92.3 now "pure" Classic Rock

  |  

Classic Rock 104.9/92.3FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... After no stunting at all Max Radio of the Carolinas Classic Hits 104.9 & 92.3 morphed into a pure Classic Rock format at midnight on Friday, December 7th becoming Classic Rock 104-9 & 92-3.

(read more - Classic Rock 104-9/92-3)

  |  back to top  |

:// NE Carolina station adds more Rock titles
  |  

Pirate 95.3, WOBRAfter stunting with Richard Cheese lounge music for 24 hours, East Carolina Radio tweaked its 95.3 (WOBR-FM Wanchese) signal from "The Rock" to the "Pirate, Rock Without Rules" yesterday morning at 10.

Pirate's PD Fish Miller posted on the station's new Facebook page, "Your classic rock favorites aren't going anywhere. We've simply added some additional tracks from the 80s, 90s and the 2000s to rock us up even more."

WOBR had been strictly Classic Rock for 10 years.

  |  back to top  |

:// Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Harrisonburg names Chris Carmichael PD for Mix 93.1 and 104.3 Country KCY
  |  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Harrisonburg announced today that Chris Carmichael has been named Program Director for WKCY-FM 104.3 Country KCY and WSVO-FM Mix 93.1, effective immediately. (read more - CCME Harrisonburg)

  |  back to top  |

:// Studio Center to award a $100,000 voice-over talent contract
  |  

Studio CenterFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Studio Center Total Production, headquartered in Virginia Beach, Va., is launching the first nationwide voice-over talent search. The grand prizewinner, as determined by a panel of judges, will receive a $100,000 voice-over contract from Studio Center, the largest audio and video company in the United States.

(read more - Studio Center)

  |  back to top  |

:// Portsmouth translator at full power
  |  

Educational Media Foundation (EMF) has increased the power to its translator at 93.3/W227BR Portsmouth and filed papers to "license to cover." In the application to the FCC submitted in May 2011, EMF stated that the power increase request was to rebroadcast the signal of Clear Channel Media & Entertainment's (CCME) WKSA-HD3 (92.1) Moyock/Norfolk. 92.1-HD3 is currently doing EMF's Christian Contemporary "K-Love."

CCME and EMF have "hooked up" in other markets to where CCME is rebroadcasting HD channels on EMF owned translators. In the Minneapolis market, EMF has moved/will move three translators to downtown with Clear Channel using all three (eventually buying one of them) to rebroadcast HD channels. Does the same happen for 93.3?

  |  back to top  |

:// Regan takes over Young's WRIC Richmond
Former WEWS GM succeeds Bob Peterson after his promotion

  |  

Viki Regan, former GM at WEWS Cleveland, has been named VP and GM at Young Broadcasting's WRIC Richmond. She starts Dec. 3 and reports to Deb McDermott, president of Young. (read more - Broadcasting & Cable)

  |  back to top  |

:// (WAVY-TV) Chopper 10 pilot fights for his life
  |  

Liver failure was not something WAVY-TV Chopper 10 Pilot John Massey imagined would come his way.

After all, he was an Army pilot in Korea during the early 1980s. (read more - WAVY-TV)

  |  back to top  |

:// LIN Media and Charter come to an agreement
WAVY (10/NBC) and "FOX43" WVBT included

  |  

We are pleased to inform you that an agreement has been reached and you will not lose access to your local TV stations.

We appreciate your support throughout these negotiations. (read more - LIN Media)

  |  back to top  |

:// Election (TV) advertising adds up in Hampton Roads
  |  

Hardly anyone near a TV in Hampton Roads escaped the barrage of political ads that took over the airwaves in the months before the Nov. 6 elections. But just how intense did the bombardment get? (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)

  |  back to top  |

:// Studio Center named one of the best places to work in Virginia
  |  

Studio CenterFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Studio Center Total Production, headquartered in Virginia Beach, Va., has recently been named as one of the 2013 Best Places to Work in Virginia by Virginia Business Magazine. (read more - Studio Center)

  |  back to top  |

:// Conan O’Brien takes aim at local anchors again
WVEC's Joe Flanagan, WAVY's David Culver and NBC12's Karla Redditte included

  |  

First it was election scripts. Next it was copy on the Hostess bankruptcy. Now, for the third time this month, Conan O’Brien is taking aim at local anchors for using identical language to describe Cyber Monday sales. (from mediabistro.com)

  |  back to top  |

:// “A Joyful Christmas” continues giving back
  |  

A Joyful ChristmasFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... In its second broadcast year, “A Joyful Christmas” keeps on giving back. Host and executive producer, Jay Daniels, started “A Joyful Christmas” last year with its inaugural broadcast on WTTX-FM (Joy FM) in Lynchburg, Virginia. “We wanted to create a special program that not only brought back Christmas memories but also gave back to our community,” said Daniels.” (read more - A Joyful Christmas)

  |  back to top  |

Over a half dozen new classified ads placed on VARTV this month including a new listing for a Business Manager with Max Media of Hampton Roads! 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..... (11/26/2012)

  |  back to top  |

:// Political ads brought region's (Roanoke) TV stations $27 million
  |  

The unprecedented deluge of campaign commercials on local television left a massive cash windfall in its wake. Political groups spent more than $27 million this year in the Roanoke-Lynchburg television market... (read more - The Roanoke Times)

  |  back to top  |

:// It's On! WGNT27 in November
  |  

WGNTFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... There’s never been a better time to tune in to WGNT27! Hampton Roads CW network is growing strong and continues to create excitement in its viewers. (read more - WGNT27)

  |  back to top  |

:// WRC sets plans for Northern Virginia Bureau
WAVY's David Culver to exit for Channel 4 DC

  |  

Last month, WRC announced plans to open more bureaus in the Washington, DC area. Now, the NBC O&O is releasing more details on the station’s plans for a Northern Virginia bureau, which is set to be fully operational before the end of the year. (read more - TVSpy)

  |  back to top  |

:// WTKR NewsChannel 3 - #1 at noon, 4pm & 11pm… again
  |  

NewsChannel 3, WTKRFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WTKR NewsChannel 3 keeps its’ quest for complete local news dominance going with big wins this November at Noon, 4pm and 11pm. NewsChannel 3’s commitment to the Hampton Roads community continues to resonate with viewers and deliver results. (read more - NewsChannel 3, WTKR)

  |  back to top  |

:// 106.9 The Fox and FM99 collected 482,589 meals at the 16th Annual Mayflower Marathon
  |  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Classic Rock 106.9 The Fox (WAFX) and FM99 (WNOR) collected a record-setting 482,589 meals during the 16th Annual Mayflower Marathon Food Drive November 16, 17, and 18. (read more - Saga Communications Norfolk)

  |  back to top  |

:// LIN TV threatens to pull... NBC, Fox stations from Charter Communications
  |  

LIN TV said it will pull its CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, My NetworkTV and The CW affiliates from Charter Communications (Nasdaq: CHTR) subscribers in Alabama, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Oregon and New England unless the cable MSO agrees to pay increased retransmission-consent fees by Nov. 29. (read more - FierceCable)

Editor's note: Though not mentioned in the article, LIN's Hampton Roads stations WAVY (10/NBC) Portsmouth and "FOX43" WVBT Virginia Beach are included the fee dispute...

  |  back to top  |

:// Va. site (Charlottesville Tomorrow) proves there’s money in nonprofits
  |  

Charlottesville Tomorrow, a nonprofit news site operating in the hometown of the University of Virginia, has turned its partnership with the city's daily and the generosity of its well-heeled local donors into an annual revenue of $370,000. (read more - NetNewsCheck)

  |  back to top  |

:// Steve Ray joins The John Fredericks Morning Show
  |  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... The John Fredericks Morning Show - Common Sense For The Commonwealth is proud to announce the addition of Steve Ray as Executive Producer & News Anchor to our morning show. (read more - The John Fredericks Morning Show)

  |  back to top  |

:// 19 year old gets middays
  |  

Sinclair Communications Alternative "96X" WROX/96.1 Exmore/Norfolk PD James Steele ups weekender and imaging assistant Lee Foster to middays. He fills the time-slot left vacant by Kristi Michael’s move to country sister station "US106-1" WUSH Poquoson/Norfolk.

Steele said, "Nineteen year old Foster is not only the quickest learner I've ever encountered, but he has more passion for the business than the entire radio industry combined. I am sure he will soon be taking all of our jobs simultaneously in the not to distant future."

Kristi Michael can still be heard weekdays from 2 to 4 p.m. on 96X.

  |  back to top  |

:// WAVY/WVBT gets new Executive Producer
  |  

LIN Media, WAVY (10/NBC) Portsmouth and "FOX43" WVBT Virginia Beach, announced earlier this month that Bob Bennett is the cluster's new Executive Producer. He was the 6 p.m. newscast producer at Allbritton Comminucations' WJLA (7/ABC) Washington DC.

Bennett is no stranger to Hampton Roads TV. From 2004 to April 2011, he worked at crosstown Belo WVEC (13/ABC) Hampton as supervising producer. He starts his new "gig" Monday, November 26.

  |  back to top  |

:// Q94's first GM has passed away
  |  

From MyDamnChannel's RAMP... Many in our industry were surprised and saddened to learn of the passing of broadcaster Phil Goldman, who is probably best known as the first GM of WRVQ (Q94)/Richmond. Goldman died Tuesday night, November 13, shortly after he was diagnosed with Stage 4 liver cancer. Goldman was one of the partners in Edens Broadcasting, and it was he who launched Q94 on June 30, 1972, making it the oldest, continuously operating FM Top 40 in the country. Many well-known radio pros worked for Phil during his 21 years as the big guy at Q94, helping to cement its legendary status throughout the '70s and '80s. In recent years, Goldman was involved in station ownership.

Phil's obituary can be found at Richmond Times-Dispatch...

  |  back to top  |

:// (Richmond-based) Lockwood acquires second Knoxville station
  |  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Lockwood Broadcast Group announced today that it has signed an agreement with Daystar Television to acquire WMAK-TV of Knoxville, Tennessee (DMA #61). Lockwood has applied to change the call letters to WKNX-TV. (read more - Lockwood Broadcast Group)

  |  back to top  |

:// Johnny Wood, fixture at WCYB for decades, will retire at year's end
  |  

News 5 WCYB morning anchor Johnny Wood announced Monday he will retire at the end of this year. (read more - Kingsport Times-News)

  |  back to top  |

Clear Channel Media & Entertainment AC "Lite 98" WTVR/98.1 Richmond went all-Christmas music today at 7 p.m... (11/12/2012)

  |  back to top  |

:// Holiday music channels launch on SiriusXM
  |  

Sirius XM Radio today announced its wide-ranging holiday music lineup featuring seven commercial-free specialty channels celebrating the holiday season. (read more - SiriusXM)

  |  back to top  |

Clear Channel Media & Entertainment AC "Mix 93-1" WSVO Staunton/Harrisonburg went all-Christmas music today at 3 p.m... (11/9/2012)

  |  back to top  |

:// New General Manager for the Charlottesville Newsplex
  |  
Jay Barton
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Gray Television names Jay Barton VP, General Manager of the Newsplex in Charlottesville, Virginia, beginning on December 3, 2012. Since January 2010 he has served as Local Sales Manager and New Media Manager for WBNG-TV in Binghamton, New York.

(read more - Charlottesville Newsplex)

  |  back to top  |

:// Liberty jock exits
  |  

It has been confirmed that Main Line Broadcasting Variety Hits "98-9 Liberty" WWLB Midlothain/Richmond morning host Jen Towner (towner.jen@gmail.com) has exitted the station. She had been with the station since January 2011.

Main Line is actively seeking Towner's replacement.

  |  back to top  |

:// Big Oldies 107.3 becomes RICHMOND'S HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
  |  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Main Line Broadcasting is proud to announce that starting today, (WBBT-FM/WARV-FM) Big Oldies 107.3 is now “Richmond’s Home for the Holidays! (read more - Big Oldies 107.3, WBBT)

  |  back to top  |

:// Jamey Singleton to return to Roanoke
  |  

Almost six years to the day, former Media General WSLS (10/NBC) Roanoke meteorologist Jamey Singleton is returning to the market in a new capacity -- web producer for Allbritton "ABC13" WSET Lynchburg/Roanoke website WSET.com, according to a posting on his Facebook page.

Singleton was let go at WSLS after an inappropriate picture of himself circulated around the Internet from a MySpace prank. He has been with Cable 12 in Franklin County for the past five years. He starts his new position at ABC13 on Wednesday, November 21.

  |  back to top  |

:// Lynchburg Radio Group announces the launch of 100.9 Rocks - THE Classic Rock Station
  |  

100.9 Rocks, WIQOFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WIQO-FM Forest/Lynchburg, VA was the last station in the Lynchburg cluster to split the simulcast with sister station Hot AC WKHF at 5pm Thursday.

100.9 Rocks plays very recognizable, chart topping Classic Rock tracks from the late 60’s to the early 80’s. (read more - 100.9 Rocks, WIQO)

  |  back to top  |

:// WCNR gets ‘political’
  |  

Corner 106-1, WCNRSaga Triple A WCNR (106.1 The Corner)/Charlottesville, VA has a mantra that "It’s About The Music," but the station is also very locally focused and civicly engaged. (read more - AllAccess)

  |  back to top  |

:// Lynchburg Radio Group announces the launch of HOT 103.9
  |  

Hot 103.9, WXCFFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Todd Robinson and Mike McKendree’s Lynchburg Radio Group announces the launch of the all new WXCF-FM Big Island/Lynchburg, VA; as HOT 103.9 R&B and Hip Hop. (read more - Hot 103.9, WXCF)

  |  back to top  |

We have Virginia's first all-holiday music station, "Hampton Roads' Christmas Station, Christmas 107.7," Clear Channel Media & Entertainment's Rhythmic AC "Movin 107-7" WMOV/Norfolk... (11/2/2012)

  |  back to top  |

:// Feed Richmond kicks off today
Annual Food Drive to benefit the Central Virginia Food Bank

  |  

CMG RichmondFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Cox Media Group-Richmond (WKHK K95, WKLR Rock 96.5, WHTI Hot 100.9, WURV 103.7 The River) will be holding its annual food drive from November 1-17, 2012. The radio stations are asking listeners to make food and monetary donations... (read more - CMG Richmond)

  |  back to top  |

Over a half dozen new classified ads placed on VARTV the past several weeks! 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..... (11/1/2012)

  |  back to top  |

:// Local (Hampton Roads) Latin radio station is honored as 2012 SunTrust Bank Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Award winner
  |  

Selecta 1050, WVXXFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... The region’s widely celebrated Spanish radio station, La Selecta 1050 AM WVXX, is a recipient of this years Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award from SunTrust Bank. (read more - Selecta 1050, WVXX)

  |  back to top  |

:// Chief Photographer exits Hampton Roads
  |  

Veteran award winning Local TV, LLC "NewsChannel 3" WTKR (3/CBS) Norfolk Chief Photographer Wayne Pellenberg has left the station. Pellenberg heads north to Allbritton Communications' WJLA (7/ABC) Washington DC. Pellenberg, married to former Channel 3 Anchor/reporter Priscilla Monti, was with the station since 1995.

News Archives.....


»   copyright © 1999– VARTV.com All Rights Reserved.
Home   Privacy   Terms Of Use   Copyright   Contact Us