Media in Richmond, Virginia
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According to Nielsen Media statistics for 2019–2020, the Richmond, Virginia market area is the 54th largest Designated Market Area in the United States, with 555,630 TV households. Richmond is served by a variety of communication media:
Print media
Daily
The local daily newspaper in Richmond is the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Weekly
- Style Weekly [1] (alternative weekly)
- Chesterfield Observer [2]
Monthly / bi-monthly / quarterly
NORTH of the JAMES Magazine (monthly)
- Boomer Magazine (bi-monthly)
- Chesterfield Living, West Ends Best, Hanover Lifestyle (bi-monthly)
- Greater Richmond Grid Magazine (bi-monthly)
- OurHealth Richmond Magazine (bi-monthly)
- Richmond Magazine [3] (monthly)
- RVA Magazine[4] (quarterly)
- Virginia Business[5] (monthly)
- Whurk (monthly)
News and newsmagazines
The Richmond Free Press[6] and the Richmond Voice [7] are weekly newspapers that cover the news from a predominantly African American perspective. The only Hispanic magazine in the state, La Voz Hispana de Virginia [8] provides significant cultural and news content in both English and Spanish. There are also two major publications from the Jewish community of Richmond, published in English; The Reflector is the semi-weekly newspaper of the Jewish Federation of Richmond and Virginia Jewish Life (formerly Virginia Jewish News) is an independent monthly magazine published by the Chabad community of Richmond, but highlighting stories of general Jewish interest in Virginia. City Edition was a civic-minded newspaper that listed municipal and council related events, issues, and results, which stopped publication in October 2007. [9]. Richmond.com is an online newsmagazine with a wide readership. Other local topical publications include Richmond Parents Magazine and V Magazine for Women. the voice of women in Richmond. [10] Richmond Guide [11] is a quarterly that is targeted toward visitors. The Virginia Defender [12] is a quarterly statewide community newspaper with a press run of 16,000 distributed through nearly 300 distribution sites in Richmond, plus 16 other Virginia cities and five counties.
Richmond's leading African American newspaper at the turn of the century was the Richmond Planet which ran from 1883 to 1996 and was edited by John Mitchel, Jr. from 1884 until his death in 1929.
Regional and county newspapers include the following:
- The Amelia Bulletin Monitor for Amelia County, Virginia [13]
- Capital News Service at VCU for regional and national news [14]
- The Chesterfield Observer for Chesterfield County, Virginia [15]
- The Goochland Courier for Goochland County, Virginia
- The Goochland Gazette for Goochland County, Virginia [16]
- The Henrico Citizen for Henrico County, Virginia [17]
- The Hopewell News (defunct) for Hopewell, Virginia [18]
- Petersburg Progress-Index for Petersburg, Virginia[19]
- RVA Magazine [20]
- Virginia Living [21] is a glossy magazine published bi-monthly that covers Virginia events.
Student Operated
Many colleges and universities in Richmond have student operated new services including The Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture at Virginia Commonwealth University, VCU Student Media, VUU, and University of Richmond. Examples of student operated media include VCU's Commonwealth Times, VCU Capital News Service and VCU InSight ','Ink, Amendment, Emanata, and Poictesme.
Television
Richmond is served by several television stations.
Broadcast
Richmond's over-the-air television stations:
| Digital | Repack | PSIP | Callsign | Licensed To | Primary Network(s) [on HD1 Channel] |
Digital Subchannel(s) |
Ownership | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 23 | 6 | WTVR | Richmond | CBS | 6.2 - Antenna TV 6.3 - Xtra News 6.4 - Court TV 6.5 - Ion Television 6.6 - Newsy |
E. W. Scripps Company | http://www.wtvr.com |
| 22 | 28 | 8 | WRIC | Petersburg | ABC | 8.2 - Ion Television 8.3 - GetTV 8.4 - Laff |
Nexstar | http://www.wric.com |
| 12 | 10 | 12 | WWBT | Richmond | NBC | 12.2 - Me-TV 12.3 - Circle 12.4 - Court TV Mystery 12.5 - Justice Network |
Gray Television | http://www.nbc12.com |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | WUDW-LD | Richmond | BUZZR | 15.2 - 24/7 infomercials 15.3 - 24/7 infomercials 15.4 - Shop LC 15.5 - Soul of the South |
HC2 Holdings | none |
| 42 | 22 | 23 | WCVE | Richmond | PBS | 23.2 - VPM Create 23.3 - WNVT MHz Worldview 23.4 - PBS Kids |
Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation | http://www.vpm.org/tv |
| 28 | 25 | 28 | WWBK-LD | Richmond | 3ABN | 28.2 - 24/7 infomercials 28.3 - 24/7 infomercials 28.4 - unused |
HC2 Holdings | none |
| 30 | 30 | 30 | WFWG-LD | Richmond | Azteca America | 30.2 - Cozi TV 30.3 - 24/7 infomercials 30.4 - 24/7 infomercials 30.5 - Cheddar |
HC2 Holdings | none |
| 26 | 24 | 35 | WRLH | Richmond | Fox | 35.2 - MyNetworkTV/TBD 35.3 - Comet 35.4 - Charge! 35.5 - dabl |
Sinclair Broadcast Group | http://www.foxrichmond.com http://www.mytvrichmond.com |
| 45 | 34 | 45 | WZTD-LD | Richmond | Telemundo | 45.2 - NBC Lx | NBCUniversal (Telemundo Stations Group) |
|
| 48** | 36 | 48 | WRID-LD | Richmond | Daystar | n/a | Word of God Fellowship (Daystar) | http://www.daystar.com |
| 44 | 29 | 57 | WCVW | Richmond | PBS | n/a | Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation | http://www.vpm.org/tv |
| 8 | n/a | 65 | WUPV | Ashland | CW | 65.2 - Bounce TV 65.3 - GritTV 65.4 - Laff |
Gray Television | http://www.cwrichmond.tv |
** As of August, 2019, this station is indicated as Silent on the FCC's broadcast database.
Repack refers to the impending reallocation of channel assignments following FCC Auctions 1001/1002, which is designed to sell unused TV spectrum to wireless service operators. Richmond-area stations will begin testing in January 2020, and will have to move to their new channels by March 13, 2020.
Primary station signals air on 2-3 channels per cable system (usually one in standard definition and 1–2 in high definition). Subchannels are cleared on cable systems through contractual agreements, and are generally in standard definition.
Cable
Comcast is the primary cable television provider for the Richmond area (Richmond city proper, Chesterfield, Henrico County) and the Tri-Cities (area includes Petersburg, Colonial Heights, Hopewell and the counties of Dinwiddie and Prince George). In the city and Henrico County, it is the successor to the franchise originally held by Continental Cablevision, then MediaOne, then AT&T Broadband, before Comcast acquired AT&T Broadband. In Chesterfield, it is the successor to the franchise originally held by Storer Cable. In the nearby Tri-Cities area, it is the successor to the franchise originally held by Sammons Communications, then Marcus Cable, then Tele-Media, then Adelphia, before Comcast acquired Adelphia.
Verizon now offers television through its fiber-optic system, FiOS TV, in Richmond City and Henrico and Chesterfield Counties, and is currently expanding its services farther into the outlying Richmond area.
Radio
The metropolitan area is served by a variety of radio stations, serving a wide variety of musical and other interests.
AM
Several AM stations serve a variety of music, talk, and sports topics, including the following:
| Frequency | Callsign | Licensed To | Nickname | Format | Owner | Web site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 590 | WLES | Bon Air | The Truth | Religious | Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting | Truth Richmond website |
| 800 | WSVS | Crewe | Virginia's Country Legend | Classic Country | Gee Communications | WSVS website |
| 820 | WJFN | Chester | 820 The Answer | Conservative Talk | Disruptor Radio LLC | |
| 910 | WRNL | Richmond | 910 the Fan and 105.1 FM | Sports radio | Audacy, Inc. | WRNL website |
| 950 1240 |
WXGI WTPS |
Richmond Petersburg |
ESPN Richmond | ESPN Radio | Urban One | WXGI website |
| 990 | WREJ | Richmond | Rejoice Radio | Gospel | Radio Richmond LLC | WREJ website |
| 1140 | WRVA | Richmond | Newsradio 1140 WRVA and 96.1 FM | News/Talk (50,000 watts) | Audacy, Inc. | WRVA website |
| 1290 | WDZY | Colonial Heights | AM1290 The Word | Religious | Wilkins Radio Network | Wilkins Radio Richmond website |
| 1320 1450 |
WBTL WVNZ |
Richmond Sandston |
Boomtown Richmond | Oldies | Mobile Radio Partners | Boomtown Richmond website |
| 1340 | WHAP | Hopewell | Fox Sports Radio 1340 and 96.9 | Sports/Variety/Talk | Bruce Gee | WHAP website |
| 1380 | WBTK | Richmond | Radio Poder | Hispanic Religion | Mt. Rich Media | WBTK website |
| 1430 | WHAN | Ashland | The 'Mater | Adult Alternative / Community Radio | Fifth Estate | WHAN website |
| 1480 1540 |
WTOX WULT |
Glen Allen Highland Springs |
Ultra Richmond | Spanish music | Mobile Radio Partners | Ultra website |
| 1590 | WNRN | Richmond | Modern Rock, No Commercials | Modern Rock | Stu-Comm (Relay of WNRN-FM/Charlottesville) |
WNRN-FM website |
| 1620 | WPQE514 | n/a | Highway Advisory | Road Condition Reports VDOT may be closing this system in early 2019. |
Commonwealth Of Virginia | none |
FM
On the FM dial, popular music stations include the following:
| Frequency | Callsign | Licensed To | Nickname | Format | Owner | Web site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88.1 | WRIH-FM | Richmond | American Family Radio | Religious | American Family | AFR Network website |
| 88.5 | WNRN-FM | Midlothian | Modern Rock, No Commercials | Modern Rock | Stu-Comm (Translator for WFTH-AM/Richmond, relaying WNRN-FM/Charlottesville) |
WNRN-FM website |
| 88.9 | WCVE-FM | Richmond | VPM News & Talk | Public Radio | Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation | Virginia Public Media website |
| 89.7 | WRIQ | Charles City | Radio IQ | Public Radio | Virginia Tech Foundation, Inc. | Radio IQ website |
| 90.1 | WARV-FM | Colonial Heights | Air1 | Contemporary Christian | Educational Media Foundation | Air1 website |
| WDCE-FM | Richmond | 90.1 FM | Student-run Alternative Music | University Of Richmond | WDCE-FM website | |
| 90.5 102.5 |
WPER | Fredericksburg Richmond |
Virginia's Positive Hits | Christian and gospel | Positive Alternative Radio | PAR Network website |
| 91.1 | WHCE-FM | Highland Springs | Mix 91 | Henrico County Student-run Contemporary Music |
County Of Henrico | n/a |
| 91.3 | WVST-FM | Petersburg | The Source | R&B/Urban/Jazz/Public affairs/Sports | Virginia State University | WVST-FM website |
| 91.7 | KAWZ | Lakeside | CSN International | Christian | Calvary Chapel of Twin Falls (Translator for KAWZ-FM/Twin Falls, ID) |
CSN Network website |
| 92.1 104.1 |
WCDX-FM | Mechanicsville Petersburg |
iPower 92-1 and 104-1 | Mainstream Urban | Urban One | WCDX-FM website |
| 92.5 | WVTF | Richmond | Radio IQ | NPR/BBC Talk | Virginia Tech Foundation (Translator for WVTF/Roanoke) |
Radio IQ website |
| 92.9 101.7 |
WVNZ WBTL |
Highland Springs Richmond |
Boomtown Richmond | Oldies | Mobile Radio Partners (Translators for WVNZ/Highland Springs and WBTL/Richmond) |
Boomtown Richmond website |
| 93.1 107.3 |
WWLB WBBT-FM |
Ettrick Powhatan |
VPM Music | Public Radio | Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation | Virginia Public Media website |
| 93.5 | WBBC-FM | Blackstone | Bobcat Country | Country / Sports | Denbar Communications | WBBC-FM website |
| 93.7 | WCFC-LP | Richmond | Christian | Crusade for Christ Temple Church of God in Christ | CFC Network website | |
| 93.9 | WKLV | Blackstone | Oldies 93.9 | Oldies | Denbar Communications (Simulcast of WKLV-AM/Blackstone) |
WKLV website |
| WRWK-LP | Midlothian | The Work FM | Community-Interest | Synergy Project, Inc | The Work FM website | |
| 94.1 | WULT | Highland Springs | Ultra Richmond 94.1 FM/1540 AM | Spanish music | Mobile Radio Partners (Translator for WULT/Highland Springs) |
Ultra website |
| 94.5 | WRVQ-FM | Richmond | Q94 | Top 40/CHR | Audacy, Inc. | WRVQ-FM Website |
| 94.9 | WRVL | Richmond | The Journey | Christian | Liberty University (Translator for WRVL-FM/Lynchburg) |
WRVL-FM website |
| 95.3 | WKHK-FM | Colonial Heights | K95 | Country music | SummitMedia LLC | WKHK-FM website |
| 96.1 | WRVA | Richmond | Newsradio 1140 WRVA and 96.1 FM | News/Talk | Audacy, Inc. | WRVA website |
| 96.5 | WKLR-FM | Fort Lee | Classic Rock 96.5 | Rock | SummitMedia LLC | WKLR-FM website |
| 96.9 | WWUZ-FM | Bowling Green | 96-9 The Rock | Classic rock | Alpha Media | WWUZ-FM website |
| WHAP | Hopewell | Fox Sports Radio 1340 and 96.9 | Sports/Variety/Talk | Bruce Gee (Translator for WHAP/Hopewell) |
WHAP website | |
| 97.1 | WSVS | Crewe | Virginia's Country Legend | Christian | Gee Communications (Translator for WSVS-AM/Crewe) |
WSVS website |
| 97.3 | WRIR-LP | Richmond | Richmond Indie Radio | Specialty Music Programs Community focused programming |
Virginia Center For The Public Press | WRIR-LP website |
| 98.1 | WTVR-FM | Richmond | Mix 98.1 | Adult Contemporary | Audacy, Inc. | WTVR-FM website |
| 98.5 | W253BI | Richmond | Big 98.5 | Country | Audacy, Inc. | W253BI website |
| 98.9 100.3 |
WLFV WKYV |
Midlothian Petersburg |
K-LOVE | Contemporary Christian | Educational Media Foundation | K-LOVE Network website |
| 99.3 105.7 |
WKJM-FM WKJS-FM |
Petersburg Richmond |
105.7 & 99.3 Kiss FM | Urban Adult Contemporary | Urban One | Kiss FM website |
| 99.5 102.7 |
WXGI | Richmond Petersburg |
ESPN Richmond | ESPN Radio | Urban One Translator for WXGI/Richmond |
WXGI website |
| 99.9 | WYFJ-FM | Ashland | FM 100 | Christian and gospel | BBN | BBN Network website |
| 100.5 | WJFN-FM | Goochland | Newstalk WJFN | Conservative Talk | MAGA Radio Network | WJFN website |
| 100.9 | WJSR | Lakeside | 100.9 Jack FM | Adult Hits | SummitMedia LLC | WJSR-FM website |
| 101.3 | WREJ | Richmond | Rejoice Radio | Gospel | Radio Richmond LLC (Translator for WREJ/Richmond) |
WREJ website |
| 102.1 | WRXL-FM | Richmond | XL102 | Modern Rock | Audacy, Inc. | WRXL-FM website |
| 102.9 | WHAN | Ashland | The 'Mater | Adult Alternative / Community Radio | Fifth Estate (Translator for WHAN-AM/Ashland) |
WHAN website |
| 103.3 | WDZY | Colonial Heights | AM1290 The Word | Religious | Wilkins Radio Network (Translator for WDZY/Colonial Heights) |
Wilkins Radio Richmond website |
| 103.7 | WURV-FM | Richmond | 103.7 PLAY | Hot Adult Contemporary | SummitMedia LLC | WURV-FM website |
| 104.3 | W282CA | Richmond | G104.3 | Classic Hip-Hop | SummitMedia LLC | W282CA website |
| 104.7 | WPZZ-FM | Crewe | Praise 104.7 | Urban Gospel | Urban One | WPZZ-FM website |
| 105.1 | WRNL | Richmond | 910 the Fan and 105.1 FM | Sports radio | Audacy, Inc. (Translator for WRNL-AM/Richmond) |
WRNL website |
| 105.3 | WQCN-LP | Richmond | The Choice | Gospel | Faith & Love Fellowship Church | WQCN-LP Facebook |
| 106.1 | W291CL | Richmond | Sports 106.1 | CBS Sports Radio | SummitMedia LLC | W291CL website |
| 106.5 | WBTJ-FM | Richmond | 106.5 The Beat | Mainstream Urban | Audacy, Inc. | WBTJ-FM website |
| 106.9 | WAFX-FM | Suffolk | 106.9 The Fox | Classic Rock | Saga | WAFX-FM website |
| 107.9 | WLES | Richmond | The Truth | Religious | Delmarva Educational Association (Translator for WLES/Bon Air) |
WLES website |
HD Radio
| Frequency | Callsign | HD1 | HD2 | HD3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88.9 | WCVE-FM | WCVE News & Talk (WCVE-FM) | WCVE Music (WWLB/WBBT-FM) | not used |
| 92.1 | WCDX-FM | iPower 92-1 and 104-1 (WCDX-FM) | ESPN Richmond (WXGI) | not used |
| 94.5 | WRVQ-FM | Q94 (WRVQ-FM) | 910 the Fan (WRNL) | not used |
| 95.3 | WKHK-FM | K95 (WKHK-FM) | G104.3 (W282CA) | not used |
| 96.5 | WKLR-FM | Classic Rock 96.5 (WKLR-FM) | not used | not used |
| 98.1 | WTVR-FM | Mix 98.1 (WTVR-FM) | Newsradio 1140 WRVA and 96.1 FM (WRVA) | not used |
| 100.9 | WJSR | 100.9 Jack FM (WJSR) | not used | not used |
| 102.1 | WRXL-FM | XL102 (WRXL-FM) | Big 98.5 (W253BI) | The Journey (relay of WRVL/Lynchburg) |
| 103.7 | WURV-FM | 103.7 Play (WURV-FM) | Sports 106.5 (W291CL) | Radio IQ (W233AZ) |
| 106.5 | WBTJ-FM | 106.5 the Beat (WBTJ-FM) | Smooth Jazz 24/7 | Positive Hits Radio (WPIR) |
Media corporations
Commercial radio ownership in Richmond is dominated by three companies:
- Entercom (WRVA-AM, WRVQ, WTVR-FM, WBTJ, WRXL, WRNL-AM)
- SummitMedia LLC (WKLR, WMXB, WJSR, WKHK)
- Urban One (WCDX, WKJS, WKJX, WPZZ, WTPS-AM)
Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation is the owner of several stations in Richmond (WCVE-TV, WCVE-FM, WWLB-FM, WBBT-FM, WCVW-TV), along with translators in Charlottesville, and another station in Northern Virginia, and is headquartered in Richmond.
Communication schools
Richmond is home to the VCU School of Mass Communications, which was founded in 1978 and offers bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism, advertising and public relations. It is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). The school houses Capital News Service, VCU InSight, and the VCU Create-A-thon.
See also
External links
- 2005 Mediaweek review of Richmond-Petersburg Media
- www.nielsenmedia.com DMA rankings
- "United States: Virginia: Richmond: News and Media". DMOZ. AOL. (Directory ceased in 2017)
Richmond, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area | |
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| See also | |
