Joining WVIR and the summer-slated CBS affiliate is yet another television station, Channel 9, a broadcast station. This one is billed as all C’ville, all the time — city news, city music, segments based on print media features, and a rebroadcast of WINA’s morning show. They hope to sign a lease on the old WINA space, in the Market Street parking garage, but still have the small issue of raising $3M to get things going. September 1 is the slated launch date. Liz Nelson has the story in today’s Progress.
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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Somehow I’m skeptical of this. TV stations are expensive to run, and to get 24 hours a day of local programming that’s halfway decent seems to me to be a huge proposition. Not to mention the fact that Cville is a small market and advertisers are few. When it comes down to it, most people would rather watch Friends than the CHS lacrosse team. Nice thought, though.
I’m inclined to agree. If this happens, I suspect it’ll be a cross between WADA (Pax) and public access.
I believe the volume of news on this site (no offense, Waldo) may be indicative of the lack of news in Charlottesville. Best wishes to them though.
I believe the volume of news on this site (no offense, Waldo)
None taken. :) Scandals come and go. Nobody really wants to talk about the more routine news items, like new city budgets and the like. But a meaty Council election (which this one is not), a multi-day city-wide manhunt for a multiple murderer, or a series of race-based attacks are the sort of things that lead people to want to debate and vent about. When something warranting lots of debate pops up, people know where to find the site. :)
we need some developer wanting to put up a mega box store to stir up debate. Those usually get everyone wild up.
The transmitter for the Ch. 9 is going to be way north of town, somewhere between Ruckersville and Standardsville, and low powered, so it will have a tough time being received in Charlottesville if it does not get on cable. The FCC website lists the owner as John Powley. Last time I saw John was when I visited his little ABC-affiliated station in Johnstown, PA, in 1979. It was a tiny, shoestring operation running on old, worn out equipment. Sorry, John, you’re a survivor in the business, but I wouldn’t be putting any money into this operation; looks like a financial black hole to me.