Media in Richmond, Virginia

Overview of mass media in Richmond, Virginia, United States

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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

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### Daily

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The local daily newspaper in Richmond is the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

### Weekly

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* Style Weekly [1] (alternative weekly)
* Chesterfield Observer [2]

### Monthly / bi-monthly / quarterly

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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

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See also: List of newspapers in Virginia

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 Planet on Saturday May 31, 1902.

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

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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

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Richmond is served by several television stations.

### Broadcast

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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

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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

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The metropolitan area is served by a variety of radio stations, serving a wide variety of musical and other interests.

### AM

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Several AM stations serve a variety of music, talk, and sports topics, including the following:

Frequency  | Callsign | Licensed To  | Nickname  | Format  | Owner  | Web site

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|
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|

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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* Virginia media
* List of newspapers in Virginia
* List of radio stations in Virginia
* List of television stations in Virginia
* Media of cities in Virginia: Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Roanoke, Virginia Beach

## External links

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* 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)

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