Media in Richmond, Virginia explained

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

Monthly / bi-monthly / quarterly

NORTH of the JAMES Magazine (monthly)

News and newsmagazines

See also: List of newspapers in Virginia. The Richmond Free Presshttp://www.richmondfreepress.com/ and the Richmond Voice http://www.voicenewspaper.com 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 http://www.lavozhispana.us 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. http://www.thecommunityweekly.com/. 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. http://www.myvmagazine.com Richmond Guide http://www.richmondguide.com is a quarterly that is targeted toward visitors. The Virginia Defender http://defendersfje.org/id3.html 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:

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:

!style="background:#ffcccc;"
DigitalRepackPSIPCallsignLicensed ToPrimary
Network(s)
[on HD1 Channel]
Digital
Subchannel(s)
OwnershipWebsite
25 23 6 RichmondCBSE. W. Scripps Companyhttp://www.wtvr.com
22 28 8 WRICPetersburg http://www.wric.com
12 10 12 WWBTRichmond http://www.nbc12.com
15 15 15 WUDW-LD Richmond HC2 Holdings none
42 22 23 Richmond http://www.vpm.org/tv
28 25 28 Richmond 28.2 - 24/7 infomercials
28.3 - 24/7 infomercials
28.4 - unused
HC2 Holdings none
30 30 30 Richmond HC2 Holdings none
26 24 35 Richmond http://www.foxrichmond.com
http://www.mytvrichmond.com
45 34 45 Richmond NBCUniversal
(Telemundo Stations Group)
48** 36 48 Richmond n/a Word of God Fellowship (Daystar) http://www.daystar.com
44 29 57 Richmond n/a http://www.vpm.org/tv
8 n/a 65 Ashland 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:

!style="background:#ffcccc;"
FrequencyCallsignLicensed ToNicknameFormatOwnerWeb site
590 WLESBon Air The Truth Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting Truth Richmond website
800 WSVSCrewe Virginia's Country Legend Classic Country Gee Communications WSVS website
820 WJFNChester 820 The Answer Conservative TalkDisruptor Radio LLC
910 WRNLRichmond 910 the Fan and 105.1 FMSports radioAudacy, Inc.WRNL website
950
1240
WXGI
WTPS
Richmond
Petersburg
ESPN RichmondESPN RadioUrban OneWXGI website
990 Richmond Rejoice RadioGospelRadio Richmond LLCWREJ website
1140 WRVARichmond Newsradio 1140 WRVA and 96.1 FMNews/Talk (50,000 watts)Audacy, Inc.WRVA website
1290 WDZYColonial Heights AM1290 The Word Religious Wilkins Radio Network Wilkins Radio Richmond website
1320
1450
WBTL
WVNZ
Richmond
Sandston
Boomtown RichmondOldies Mobile Radio PartnersBoomtown Richmond website
1340 Hopewell Fox Sports Radio 1340 and 96.9Sports/Variety/TalkBruce Gee WHAP website
1380 Richmond Radio PoderHispanic ReligionMt. Rich MediaWBTK website
1430 Ashland The 'Mater Adult Alternative / Community Radio Fifth Estate WHAN website
1480
1540
Glen Allen
Highland Springs
Ultra Richmond Spanish musicMobile Radio PartnersUltra website
1590 WNRNRichmond Modern Rock, No Commercials Modern RockStu-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:

!style="background:#ffcccc;"
FrequencyCallsignLicensed ToNicknameFormatOwnerWeb site
88.1 WRIH-FMRichmond American Family RadioReligiousAmerican FamilyAFR Network website
88.5 Midlothian Modern Rock, No Commercials Modern RockStu-Comm
(Translator for WFTH-AM/Richmond,
relaying WNRN-FM/Charlottesville)
WNRN-FM website
88.9RichmondVPM News & Talk Public Radio Commonwealth Public Broadcasting CorporationVirginia Public Media website
89.7 Charles City Radio IQ Public Radio Virginia Tech Foundation, Inc. Radio IQ website
90.1 Colonial Heights Air1 Contemporary Christian Air1 website
Richmond 90.1 FM Student-run Alternative Music University Of Richmond WDCE-FM website
90.5
102.5
Fredericksburg
Richmond
Virginia's Positive Hits Christian and gospelPositive Alternative RadioPAR Network website
91.1 Highland Springs Mix 91Henrico County
Student-run Contemporary Music
County Of Henricon/a
91.3 WVST-FMPetersburg The Source R&B/Urban/Jazz/Public affairs/SportsVirginia State UniversityWVST-FM website
91.7 Lakeside CSN International Christian Calvary Chapel of Twin Falls
(Translator for KAWZ-FM/Twin Falls, ID)
CSN Network website
92.1
104.1
Mechanicsville
Petersburg
iPower 92-1 and 104-1 Mainstream UrbanUrban One WCDX-FM website
92.5 Richmond Radio IQ NPR/BBC TalkVirginia Tech Foundation
(Translator for WVTF/Roanoke)
Radio IQ website
92.9
101.7
Highland Springs
Richmond
Boomtown RichmondOldies Mobile Radio Partners
(Translators for WVNZ/Highland Springs and WBTL/Richmond)
Boomtown Richmond website
93.1
107.3
Ettrick
Powhatan
VPM Music Public Radio Commonwealth Public Broadcasting CorporationVirginia Public Media website
93.5 Blackstone Bobcat Country Country / Sports Denbar Communications WBBC-FM website
93.7 Richmond Christian Crusade for Christ Temple Church of God in Christ CFC Network website
93.9 Blackstone Oldies 93.9 Oldies Denbar Communications
(Simulcast of WKLV-AM/Blackstone)
WKLV website
Midlothian The Work FM Community-Interest Synergy Project, Inc The Work FM website
94.1 Highland Springs Ultra Richmond 94.1 FM/1540 AMSpanish music Mobile Radio Partners
(Translator for WULT/Highland Springs)
Ultra website
94.5 WRVQ-FMRichmond Q94Top 40/CHRAudacy, Inc.WRVQ-FM Website
94.9 Richmond The Journey Christian Liberty University
(Translator for WRVL-FM/Lynchburg)
WRVL-FM website
95.3 Colonial Heights K95Country musicSummitMedia LLCWKHK-FM website
96.1 WRVARichmond Newsradio 1140 WRVA and 96.1 FMNews/Talk Audacy, Inc.WRVA website
96.5 WKLR-FMFort Lee Classic Rock 96.5Rock WKLR-FM website
96.9 WWUZ-FMBowling Green 96-9 The RockClassic rockAlpha MediaWWUZ-FM website
Hopewell Fox Sports Radio 1340 and 96.9Sports/Variety/TalkBruce Gee
(Translator for WHAP/Hopewell)
WHAP website
97.1 Crewe Virginia's Country Legend Christian Gee Communications
(Translator for WSVS-AM/Crewe)
WSVS website
97.3 WRIR-LPRichmond Richmond Indie RadioSpecialty Music Programs
Community focused programming
Virginia Center For The Public PressWRIR-LP website
98.1 Richmond Mix 98.1Adult ContemporaryAudacy, Inc.WTVR-FM website
98.5 W253BIRichmond Big 98.5Country Audacy, Inc.W253BI website
98.9
100.3
Midlothian
Petersburg
K-LOVE Contemporary Christian K-LOVE Network website
99.3
105.7
WKJM-FM
WKJS-FM
Petersburg
Richmond
105.7 & 99.3 Kiss FMUrban Adult ContemporaryUrban OneKiss FM website
99.5
102.7
WXGIRichmond
Petersburg
ESPN RichmondESPN RadioUrban One
Translator for WXGI/Richmond
WXGI website
99.9 AshlandFM 100Christian and gospelBBNBBN Network website
100.5 Goochland Newstalk WJFN Conservative Talk MAGA Radio Network WJFN website
100.9 WJSRLakeside100.9 Jack FMAdult Hits SummitMedia LLCWJSR-FM website
101.3 Richmond Rejoice RadioGospelRadio Richmond LLC
(Translator for WREJ/Richmond)
WREJ website
102.1 WRXL-FMRichmondXL102Modern RockWRXL-FM website
102.9 AshlandThe 'Mater Adult Alternative / Community Radio Fifth Estate
(Translator for WHAN-AM/Ashland)
WHAN website
103.3 WDZYColonial Heights AM1290 The Word Religious Wilkins Radio Network
(Translator for WDZY/Colonial Heights)
Wilkins Radio Richmond website
103.7 WURV-FMRichmond103.7 PLAYHot Adult ContemporarySummitMedia LLCWURV-FM website
104.3 Richmond G104.3 Classic Hip-Hop W282CA website
104.7 CrewePraise 104.7 Urban GospelUrban OneWPZZ-FM website
105.1 WRNLRichmond 910 the Fan and 105.1 FMSports radioAudacy, Inc.
(Translator for WRNL-AM/Richmond)
WRNL website
105.3 Richmond The Choice Gospel Faith & Love Fellowship Church WQCN-LP Facebook
106.1 W291CLRichmondSports 106.1CBS Sports RadioSummitMedia LLCW291CL website
106.5 WBTJ-FMRichmond106.5 The BeatMainstream UrbanAudacy, Inc.WBTJ-FM website
106.9 Suffolk 106.9 The Fox Classic Rock Saga WAFX-FM website
107.9 WLESRichmondThe Truth ReligiousDelmarva Educational Association
(Translator for WLES/Bon Air)
WLES website

HD Radio

!style="background:#ffcccc;"
FrequencyCallsignHD1HD2HD3
88.9WCVE News & Talk (WCVE-FM) WCVE Music (WWLB/WBBT-FM) not used
92.1 iPower 92-1 and 104-1 (WCDX-FM) ESPN Richmond (WXGI) not used
94.5 Q94 (WRVQ-FM) 910 the Fan (WRNL) not used
95.3 K95 (WKHK-FM) G104.3 (W282CA) not used
96.5 Classic Rock 96.5 (WKLR-FM) not used not used
98.1 Mix 98.1 (WTVR-FM) Newsradio 1140 WRVA and 96.1 FM (WRVA) not used
100.9 100.9 Jack FM (WJSR) not used not used
102.1 XL102 (WRXL-FM) Big 98.5 (W253BI) The Journey (relay of WRVL/Lynchburg)
103.7 103.7 Play (WURV-FM) Sports 106.5 (W291CL) Radio IQ (W233AZ)
106.5 106.5 the Beat (WBTJ-FM) Smooth Jazz 24/7 Positive Hits Radio (WPIR)

Media corporations

Commercial radio ownership in Richmond is dominated by three companies:

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