It seems that all three new TV stations — WCAV (CBS, 19), WVAW (ABC, 16) and WCVL (9) are on schedule for their launch dates, WCAV in six days, WVAW in September, and WCVL in November. WCAV and WVAW, both owned by Gray Communications, have set up offices at the Ix Building, running out of a trailer until their offices there have been built. WCVL have rented the old Charlottesville Broadcasting space in the Market Street parking garage, but are still seeking the funding to get set up. WCAV, the first to launch, won’t have any local news until they get some reporters in September. Elizabeth Nelson had the story in Friday’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
four six 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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This is weird. The domain name wcvltv.com has been registered, but not to either of the two guys who own the station. Instead, it appears to have been registered to this address:
50 North Main Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
Which is funny, because that’s the address of WHSV, Grey Communications’ station in the valley. Now, that could have been forged by somebody, except that the domain actually resolves. And the IP that it resolves to is 208.184.224.88, which is the exact same host that WHSV uses.
There seems to be little question in the matter: Grey Communications has sniped the domain name of their competition, in blatant violation of both U.S. and international law.
That’s really lame.
when i google WCVL, i get a page for WCVL AM 1550, an ESPN radio affiliate out of crawfordville, IN. WVAW turns up a radio station at virginia wesleyan college.
now, i don’t claim to know a lot about radio and TV call letters, but i thought all of them had to be distinctive (i.e. two broadcasters couldn’t have the same call letters).
is there some kind of deal going on by each station to buy the rights to those handles, or are they just poor planners?
I must admit that I don’t know a great deal about this, either, but I believe that there are altogether different assignment systems for the call letters of television vs. radio, which would explain the overlap.
That’s really lame.
I’d put it in the sleazy category, actually. Great way to start doing business in Charlottesville!
TV and radio stations can indeed share the same call letters. while the VA Wesleyan radio station is WVAW, the new c’ville TV station will be WVAW-TV. according to what i’ve read, back in the day, many TV and radio stations were owned by the same company, and thus, shared the same call letters, with the "-TV" suffix differentiating the new TV station. that makes sense, as i recall growing up, the CBS affiliate in norfolk was WTAR-TV, as was their radio subsidiary WTAR. later, channel 3 became WTKR, i guess to avoid confusion, or due to the sale of the radio segment of the company.
Paul Fain, from C-Ville Weekly, just e-mailed me to point out that (our) WCVL actually purchased the rights to the call letters from (the other) WCVL. Given what you turned up googling, it’s not clear to me that this was a necessary step, but what do I know? :)
hey Wals,
how about adding the link of WCAV in the Local News links
just an idea :)
So, where’s WCAV? I didn’t find it on Adelphia’s lineup yet. My understanding is that they are planning to replace WUSA with WCAV, boo! They’ve always had the best Redskins coverage in town, and Gordon Peterson is the best anchor on the East Coast! Why don’t they replace Channel 6 in Richmond – who watches that anyway?