Media in Richmond, Virginia

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:

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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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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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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:

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.

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

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:

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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  • 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)