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


Studio Center

Nearly a dozen new classified ads placed this month on VARTV. 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..... (6/29/2012)

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:// WHOV joins iHeartRadio
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WHOVHampton University's Smooth Jazz/Gospel/Variety WHOV 88.1 was added to the iHeartRadio platform on Thursday, June 14.

“How strong your radio station's signal is no longer of major importance. We now live in a global society where you can now access programming content from computers, cell phones and other mobile devices worldwide in seconds. Today (6/14) proudly 88.1 WHOV takes another leap forward as we continue our quest to establish a global presence. Complimenting out website streaming, we've partnered with Clear Channel Media & Entertainment and are now a part of the iHeartRadio family.” said 88.1 WHOV Station Manager Jay Lang.

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:// B101.5 and AM1230 WFVA win 7 Virginia Association of Broadcasters Awards
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Centennial Broadcasting II, LLC Fredericksburg, Virginia stations, Hot AC WBQB (B101.5) and Adult Standards AM 1230 WFVA, won 7 awards at the 75th Annual Virginia Association of Broadcasters Awards Banquet... (read more - B101.5 and AM1230 WFVA)

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:// ESPN Radio 94.1 welcomes Nick Cattles to afternoons
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ESPN Radio 94.1FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... ESPN Radio 94.1 (WVSP-FM) proudly announces the addition of Nick Cattles to its on-air lineup of local sports broadcasting. Cattles will be on-air weekday afternoons from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM beginning Monday, July 16, 2012. (read more - ESPN Radio 94.1, WVSP)

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:// Newport News TV launches new and improved website...
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Newport News TVFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... The dedicated cable channel for Newport News on Cox Cable Ch. 48/Verizon FiOS Ch. 19, debuts a new website today with easy to find links to current and archived programs. (read more - Newport News TV)

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:// Studio Center honored with 18 prestigious Telly Awards
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Studio CenterFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Studio Center Total Production, headquartered in Virginia Beach, Va., won 18 National 2012 Telly Awards. Each year, The Telly Awards honor and showcase the highest standards of excellence in Television Commercials, Video, Film, and work created for the web. (read more - Studio Center)

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:// Radio station makes Virginia broadcasting history
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La Selecta 1050, WVXXFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... For the first time in the Virginia Broadcasting Awards’ 75-year history, a Spanish-language station has captured honors. La Selecta 1050 WVXX radio, based in Norfolk, won second place in the “Best Public Service” category in the large-market division of the competition... (read more - La Selecta 1050, WVXX)

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:// FM99 picks up two Awards
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... FM99 WNOR won two major awards at the Virginia Association of Broadcasters annual awards dinner in Virginia Beach on Friday night, June 22nd. (read more - FM99, WNOR)

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:// In spring ratings, WDBJ is still tops
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The spring ratings book from The Nielsen Co. told the same story in the Roanoke-Lynchburg market. For the third straight ratings period, all three stations' newscasts ranked in the same order, with WDBJ-TV (Channel 7) on top. (read more - The Roanoke Times)

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:// Richmond radio legends, Jeff and Jeff, reunite for the very first time.
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96.9 The RockFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Arguably the most popular contemporary morning show in Richmond radio history, JEFF and JEFF, (Jeff Beck and Jeff McKee) will reunite for the first time since their show left the airwaves in 2001. (read more - 96.9 The Rock, WWUZ)

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:// WTVR-TV CBS 6 News: Most honored at Regional Emmy Awards ceremony
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Continuing excellence in broadcast journalism, WTVR TV CBS 6, The South’s First Television Station, was recently awarded with twelve regional Emmy Awards in Washington, DC. (read more - CBS 6, WTVR-TV)

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:// WVEC 13News honored with Emmy Awards
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WVEC was recognized with 2 Emmy Awards for News and Creative Services at the 54th annual Emmy Awards gala held Saturday June 16 in Washington DC. (read more - WVEC)

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:// WAVY-TV 10 receives top honors at the 54th Annual Emmy Awards
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... It was an award-winning weekend for the Station On Your Side in Hampton Roads! WAVY-TV 10 won five Emmy awards at the 54th Annual National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter Emmy Awards. (read more - WAVY-TV 10)

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:// CBS 6 honored with 12 Emmy awards
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The South’s First Television Station, WTVR-TV, was honored with 12 Emmy awards at the Newseum in Washington D.C. this Saturday. (read more - CBS 6, WTVR-TV)

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:// Studio Center welcomes new Marketing Director
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Studio CenterStudio Center Total Production, headquartered in Virginia Beach, Va., announces the appointment of Chris Wilson as the company’s new Marketing Director. In this role, Wilson will oversee the planning and execution of Studio Center’s public relations efforts... (read more - Studio Center)

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:// Verizon combines insane Internet speeds with sensible value in new FiOS bundles
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FiOS QuantumVerizon residential consumers can now order the company's fastest-ever FiOS Internet service, which features heightened flexibility for consumers to order personalized bundles to match their lifestyles.

The new speeds, available in a range of double- and triple-play bundles, plus stand-alone service, offer significant choices... (read more - Verizon FiOS)

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:// WeatherNation adds WSET Roanoke, VA
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WSETAllbritton-owned ABC affiliate WSET Roanoke, Va. (DMA 66), is now delivering WeatherNation’s national, regional and local weather news in conjunction with WSET weather experts to track around-the-clock coverage of breaking weather and forecasts. The WeatherNation service can be seen on WSET’s 13.3 subchannel. (read more - TVNewsCheck)

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From VARTV's Twitter page: "Hearing Tod Smith, Pres & GM of WVEC-TV Norfolk, is headed to sister WWL-TV New Orleans... #hrva #VARTV" (6/12/2012)

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:// Verizon Wireless unveils new Share Everything plans...
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VerizonVerizon Wireless today announced Share Everything Plans that will forever change the way customers purchase wireless services. Share Everything Plans include unlimited voice minutes, unlimited text, video and picture messaging and a single data allowance for up to 10 Verizon Wireless devices. (read more - Verizon)

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:// Hampton Roads AMer donated away
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Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting (C-PBC) is donating WRJR/670 Claremont to Hispanic Iglesia Nueva Vida (New Life Church) of High Point (NC). WRJR is currently in a LMA with Bishop E J Lillard's Paradise Broadcasting Network doing Gospel -- "Paradise 670."

C-PBC picked up the station back in 2010 as a packaged deal with then ABC-owned WHKT/1650 Portsmouth. Last fall, they had the station listed for sale, asking $500,000.

WRJR has been thru a handful of formats over the past decade including Gospel, Conservative Talk, Spanish, Christian Contemporary and Contemporary Inspirational. It does 20kW during the day but only 3 watts at night. It's been using an experimental license (WR2XJR) to Portsmouth for night coverage on 670AM at 700 watts. There's no mention of the experimental license also going to Iglesia Nueva Vida.

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:// The Robin Reed effect: Weatherman celebrates 30 years at WDBJ
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If the regular weathercaster at a Harrisonburg television station had not skipped work more than three decades ago, Robin Reed might never have been a weatherman. (read more - The Roanoke Times)

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:// At Work With: Neal Murray, WHRV radio personality
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I was born in Red Bank, N.J., where Count Basie was born, and spent most of my early life in suburban New York and Connecticut. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)

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:// Vonneva Carter new Market Manager in Richmond
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We hear that Main Line Broadcasting Richmond held an all-hands meeting this past Wednesday morning to shuffle top management. Market Manager Russ DeVries and Station Manager Dave Dillon are out. The new Market Manager is Vonneva Carter and the new Station Manager is Bill West.

Carter is no stranger to Richmon radio. She had held several management positions in radio from the late 70s to late 90s. Carter came to Hampton Roads in 1998 as Director of Sales for the Entercom cluster, jumped to Max Media and then back to Entercom before recently exiting there.

New Station Manager Bill West's primary focus is Variety Hits "98-9 Liberty" WWLB but will also oversee programming on "Big Oldies 107.3" WBBT and Country "93.1 The Wolf" WLFV.

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:// JAMZ Fest returns featuring Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Travis Porter and Ca$h Out
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103 JAMZ FestFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WOWI 103 JAMZ today announced the return of JAMZ Fest, the urban concert event, on Saturday, July 28, 2012. JAMZ Fest 2012 will feature Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Wale, Travis Porter and Ca$h Out live at the Norfolk Scope, with more artists to be announced soon. (read more - 103JAMZ, WOWI)

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:// This week's e-QB (FMQB): Brad Savage, PD, WCNR/Charlottesville
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Triple A WCNR/Charlottesville PD Brad Savage loves radio and understands the business goals he needs to reach. But what Savage loves about radio is the forum for creativity and the one-on-one connection with each listener. Savage takes the time here to explain how listening to radio stations around the world has reinvigorated his passion for creating radio that is “fun, engaging, local and innovative.” (read more - FMQB)

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Check out the classified ads section on VARTV which includes a significant AE position at Max Media 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..... (6/4/2012)

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:// Verizon FiOS to add 10 (HD) Spanish language networks
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Verizon  FiOSVerizon FiOS TV will add 10 new high-definition, Spanish-language channels, including nine from independent distributor Olympusat Inc., the company announced Monday.

(read more - Multichannel News)

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:// Channel 10 (WSLS), Cox reach last-minute agreement
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WSLSWSLS-TV (Channel 10) is still on the air for thousands of Cox Communications cable customers.

Media General Inc., Channel 10's Richmond-based corporate parent, reached a last-minute agreement with Cox... (read more - The Roanoke Times)

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:// Richmond mornings are about to ignite on the new Hot 100.9
Dana & Jeffrey In The Morning start the party on Monday, June 4

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Hot 100.9, WHTIFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Dana & Jeffrey in the Morning is turning rush hour into happy hour starting Monday, June 4! Each show takes the listener on an extraordinary ride through glossy pop culture, candid conversations and scandalous surprises. (read more - Hot 100.9, WHTI)

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:// Houser, Staunton's radio personality, dies at 85
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He was the man who couldn't say no — not, at least, to anyone with a good cause in Staunton.

Ray Houser, 85, died at home Wednesday. (read more - Staunton The News Leader)

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:// WTKR reporter to Left Coast
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Local TV LLC "NewsChannel 3" WTKR (3/CBS) Norfolk reporter Anjali Hemphill is set to exit the station. She will leave for CBS O&O "CBS13" KOVR Stockton/Sacramento (and "CW31" KMAX Sacromento). Hemphill joined WTKR in March 2010.

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:// WAVY-TV 10 remains the most watched news and weather source in Hampton Roads
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WAVY-TV 10FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WAVY-TV 10, LIN Media’s NBC affiliate, remains the number one choice for morning and evening news in Hampton Roads, Virginia. According to Nielsen Media Research for the May sweeps ratings period... (read more - WAVY-TV 10)

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We understand that Adam Bush, Local Sales Manager at Local TV LLC's "NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk, recently left the station for Rentrak, a "industry-advancing media measurement and research company..." (5/25/2012)

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:// Jury: Virginian-Pilot newspaper committed libel
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The Virginian PilotA Chesapeake jury has found that The Virginian-Pilot committed libel against an assistant principal at a local high school.

The newspaper reports the jury awarded Phillip Webb $3 million in damages on Thursday. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)

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:// New buzz…It’s on WGNT 27
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CW27, WGNTFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Fresh programming and smart moves on WGNT 27 create great results. WGNT 27 added local news Powered by WTKR NewsChannel 3 in the Fall of 2011 and the buzz is, ratings have increased. This May, WGNT News grew its’ audience share by 43% at 7am and 14% at 8am.
(read more - CW27, WGNT)

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:// Oprah who?
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Since the new television season began in September 2011, NewsChannel 3 (WTKR/Norfolk) has dominated the #1 slot at 4pm. NewsChannel 3 At 4 has maintained a 3.6 rating, 8 share. (read more - NewsChannel 3, WTKR)

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:// WTKR NewsChannel 3 - A powerhouse in Hampton Roads
#1 @ Noon! #1 @ 4pm! #1 @ 11pm!

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... WTKR NewsChannel 3 is the only station in Hampton Roads to grow its audience in every newscast. That’s right, every newscast. (read more - NewsChannel 3, WTKR)

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:// Cox, WSLS at impasse over new contract
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WSLSA contract dispute between Cox Communications and WSLS-TV (Channel 10) means subscribers to the cable company could lose the ability to watch the local NBC affiliate after May 31. (read more - The Roanoke Times) (read more - WSLS)

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:// The legend of Dick Lamb
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The Legend. That's how they introduce Dick Lamb when he's a guest on Tony Mercurio's ESPN Radio talkfest. Legend, indeed. Lamb started in early-morning radio 34 years ago. He's been a broadcaster for more than 50 years. And the beat goes on. (read more - VEER Magazine)

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:// Nearing the end, Tony lets 'Blastman' go
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Tony Mercurio says he won't lose any sleep when his sports-talk show, a fixture in Hampton Roads for the past 26 years, goes off the air Thursday, but then he has never been a big sleeper. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)

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:// Verizon Wireless brings its 4G LTE network to western Virginia...
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Verizon Wireless will bring its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network to 28 new markets, including the towns of Staunton, Waynesboro and Harrisonburg, Virginia, starting Thursday, May 17, enabling customers to take advantage of the nation’s largest 4G LTE network. (read more - Verizon Wireless)

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Clear Channel Media & Entertainment's CHR "The New 105-3" WVMA Windsor/Norfolk has ended its 15,000 song commercial-free marathon. Commercials were introduced to the programming this morning... (5/21/2012)

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:// At work with | Joe Flanagan, WVEC-TV
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I had done a couple of commercials with my dad when I was in grade school. My family had a meatpacking business in Dayton, Ohio. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)

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:// Exclusive: In wake of Fox-Sinclair pact, Fox stations fear affiliation switches
FOX33 for Hampton Roads again?

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The unique pact between Sinclair and Fox, announced May 15 and revealing a series of options to buy specific stations in each other's group, may lead to Fox acquiring as many as three of Sinclair's CW or MyNetworkTV affiliates -- and perhaps turning them into Fox O&Os, as some affiliates fear. (read more - Broadcasting & Cable)

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:// Comcast to shift from broadband caps to usage-based pricing
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Comcast XfinityComcast will eliminate the 250-Gigabyte monthly broadband-usage limit on Xfinity Internet, moving over time instead to a usage-based pricing model that will provide at least 300 GB of data usage...

(read more - Multichannel News)

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:// Media General announces agreements with Berkshire Hathaway for purchase of newspapers and new financing
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Media GeneralMedia General, Inc. today announced that it has signed agreements with Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., for the purchase of newspapers and new financing. A subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, BH Media Group, will purchase all of the newspapers owned by Media General... (read more - Media General)

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:// Best of the (Lynch)Burg contest: The results are in!
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The Burg readers vote for their "Best Of..." in and around Lynchburg. United States CP's Hot AC "93.7 KHF" WKHF Lynchburg won for the best radio station...

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:// NewsChannel 3 picks up third met
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Dominic Brown
Last month, Local TV LLC's "NewsChannel 3" WTKR (CBS) Norfolk hired a third meteorologist. The station has picked up weekend meteorologist/reporter Dominic Brown from Bonten Media's "NewsChannel 12" WCTI (ABC) New Bern/Greenville NC.

Channel 3 has been using just two statf meteorologists, Patrick Rockey and Myles Henderson, ever since Vanessa Murdock left for WCBS New York last fall. No word yet when Brown starts.

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:// Sinclair (Broadcasting Corp) reups wih FOX
Could MyNetworkTV affiliate WTVZ/33 become a FOX O&O?

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The new affiliation deal runs through 2017 and includes an option for Sinclair to buy Fox's Baltimore MNT affiliate WUTB, while giving Fox the option to buy three MNT stations (including Channel 33 Norfolk) from Sinclair... (read more - TVNewsCheck)

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:// Longtime sports host Mercurio out at ESPN Radio (94.1)
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Tony Mercurio, the always-opinionated, sometimes-controversial sports radio host, announced Monday that his ESPN 94.1 talk show will air for the final time May 24. (read more - The Virginian-Pilot)

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:// Short-term license renewals plus $10K fines for public file problems in VA & MD
Includes WESM/91.3 heard on Virginia's Eastern Shore

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Two licensees are punished by the FCC for falling "far short of the standard of compliance that would warrant routine license renewal." (read more - Radio-Info)

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:// Cox falls, FiOS rises on ACSI's TV customer-satisfaction survey
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Cox Communications, which historically has beaten cable peers in customer satisfaction, saw its rating drop 6% in the past year on the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey.

Meanwhile, Verizon Communications' FiOS TV gained 3% to an all-time pay-TV industry high... (read more - Multichannel News)

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:// Sun, sea, sand and speed: Verizon Wireless makes it easy for vacationers to have it all this summer, as company expands super-fast 4G LTE network to popular mid-Atlantic beach destinations
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VerizonBeach vacations have always been a top pick for summer travelers, and this year, those planning trips to popular destinations in the Mid-Atlantic region have another benefit to look forward to – access to reliable, high-speed mobile broadband service now that Verizon Wireless has expanded its 4G LTE network... (read more - Verizon Wireless)

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:// Tony Mercurio to exit ESPN Radio 94.1
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ESPN Radio 94.1, WVSPFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... ESPN Radio 94.1 announces the departure of long time Hampton Roads Sports Talk announcer; Tony Mercurio.

“While a two week "goodbye" is a bit unusual in radio these days, there's no one who deserves it more than Tony. (read more - ESPN Radio 94.1, WVSP)

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:// 92.5 WINC-FM welcomes back Dave Gunning
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92.5 WINC-FMFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... Listeners heard a familiar voice on WINC-FM Friday afternoon, when Dave Gunning returned to the airwaves, his first appearance on 92.5 FM since 2007. “Dave was a very popular host on WINC-FM when he left to pursue other opportunities in radio,” says Brian Beddow Director of Programming WINC-FM. (read more - 92.5 WINC-FM)

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:// Fox News host Bill O’Reilly takes on Norfolk’s WAVY
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Fox News Channel’s Bill O’Reilly is taking on WAVY, the NBC-affiliate in Norfolk.

At issue is the local coverage of an attack on Dave Forster and Marjon Rostami, two reporters at the Virginian-Pilot. (read more - TVSpy)

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:// Amadeus signs with WSIG
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Cousin Amadeus is tapped to do mornings at Vox Communications' "Real Country 96.9" WSIG Harrisonburg. He displaces OM/PD JR to afternoons. Amadeus was most recently with Renda Broadcasting's "99.9 Gator Country" WGNE Middleburg/Jacksonville.

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:// Newsbytes around the state
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Delmarva Educational Association's 250-watt translator W249CI/97.7 Bellwood, which relays Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting Corp's Christian Talk "The Truth" WLES/590 Bon Air, requests to move its antenna to Richmond. This will give the translator metro Richmond coverage...

Positive Alternative Radio's Bright AC "Virginia's Positive Hits" WJYJ/90.5 Fredericksburg has requested to increase its power from 26kW to 47kW (with slight directional to the ENE). This increase in power will push the signal farther north past Falmouth and a bit deeper into Richmond metro...

Clear Channel Media & Entertainment's (CCM&E) Rock WROV/96.3 Martinsville/Roanoke recently launched Alternative Rock on the 240-watt translator W244AV Blacksburg as "96.7 The Alt Project." The translator is being fed via WROV's HD2 channel and covers Blacksburg, Radford and immediate surrounding areas...

Hampton Roads Educational Telecommunications Association, Incorporated (let's just say WHRO) launched its AltRadio channel on their 250-watt translator W257BV/99.3 Virginia Beach. The format is Adult Alternative; it's commercial-free BUT listener supported. AltRadio originates from WHRV/89.5-HD3 Norfolk...

CCM&E has dropped Classic Country "Foggy Mountain" on WKSA/92.1-HD2 Moyock/Norfolk for Contemporary Inspirational "Hallelujah." Could Hallelujah end up on translator W227BR/93.3 Portsmouth when it goes 250 watts? CCM&E will be leasing the signal from Educational Media Foundation (EMF, K-Love)...

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:// WOWI changes logo
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Clear Channel Media & Entertainment's Urban "103JAMZ" WOWI/102.9 Norfolk just recently ditched the station's logo for a new one. It's our understanding that the old logo was used at least over 20 years...

Old WOWI logo New WOWI logo

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:// Daily Press to print in Hanover County, lay off more than 80
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The Daily Press Media Group announced plans Tuesday to subcontract its printing operation to a Media General plant in Hanover County, resulting in the loss of around 85 jobs.. (read more - Daily Press)

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:// WJLA Washington to add Live Well Network
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ABC7, WJLAThe Live Well Network , the multicast lifestyle TV service owned by the ABC Owned Television Stations Group, today announced an affiliation agreement with Allbritton Communications’ ABC affiliate WJLA Washington (DMA 8).
(read more - TVNewsCheck)

News Archives.....


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