WVRN-TV
WVRN-TV (channel 63) was an independent television station in Richmond, Virginia, United States. It operated from November 24, 1984, to September 8, 1988, first as a religious station, then a general entertainment independent station.
History
The Christian Broadcasting Network received a construction permit for a television station in Richmond on June 27, 1980.[1] The station, which took the WRNX call sign,[3] was to adopt a general entertainment format with cartoons, sitcoms and westerns, as well as religious shows, similar to its other independent stations, including flagship WYAH-TV in Hampton Roads (now WGNT). It was also to run Pat Robertson's The 700 Club three times a day.
However, in 1982, CBN sold WRNX to National Capital Christian Broadcasting, owner of WTKK in Manassas, Virginia, for $34,500.[4] National Capital launched the station on November 24, 1984,[2] as WTLL,[5] airing religious programming previously shown on WRLH-TV. The format featured such Christian programming as The PTL Club, Jimmy Swaggart and many televangelists. For about seven hours a day weekdays and Saturdays, WTLL featured a mix of classic sitcoms, westerns, and some children's programs, including some recent cartoons on weekdays. The station was about 60% Christian and 40% secular. On Sundays, the station only ran Christian programming.
National Capital sold WTLL to Sudbrink Broadcasting for $3 million[6] on March 31, 1986. The station changed its call letters to WVRN-TV on April 28,[7] and took on a full-time general entertainment format, competing directly against WRLH. However, Richmond was not big enough at the time to support two independent stations. As a result, both stations became increasingly unprofitable.
In September 1988, Act III Broadcasting, which had recently taken over WRLH-TV, bought WVRN's assets and merged WVRN's stronger programming onto WRLH's schedule. WVRN was then shut down and its license was returned to the FCC and deleted.[8]
The original broadcasting tower in Midlothian, Virginia, that had been used by WVRN is now owned by Motorola and leased as a transmitter tower by two separately owned local FM radio stations: Audacy-owned urban station WBTJ and VPM Media Corporation-owned public radio station WBBT-FM.
References
- ^ a b "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 4, 1980. p. 67. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Television & Cable Factbook 1988 Edition (PDF). 1988. p. A-1097. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- ^ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 17, 1980. p. 79. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- ^ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 14, 1982. p. 69. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- ^ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 29, 1983. p. 120. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- ^ "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 20, 1986. p. 233. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- ^ "Call Sign History (DWVRN-TV)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- ^ "A TV station consolidation chronology" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. March 1, 1993. p. 39. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
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stations
- WTVR-TV (6.1 CBS, 6.2 ANT, 6.3 CBS6 Xtra, 6.4 Court, 6.5 Ion, 6.6 Scripps News)
- WRIC-TV (8.1 ABC, 8.2 REW, 8.3 Cozi, 8.4 Laff)
- WWBT (12.1 NBC, 12.2 MeTV, 12.3 H&I, 12.4 Mystery, 12.5 Crime)
- WCVE-TV (23.1 PBS/VPM, 23.2 Create, 23.4 PBS Kids, 23.5 PBS/VPM+)
- WNVT (23.3 World)
- WRLH-TV (35.1 Fox, 35.2 MNT/TBD, 35.3 Comet, 35.4 Charge!, 35.5 Dabl)
- WUPV (65.1 CW, 65.2 Bounce, 65.3 Grit, 65.4 The365, 65.5 Start)
stations
- WRID-LD (12.6 NBC, 48.1 Daystar, 48.2 Outlaw (soon), 65.6 CW)
- WWBK-LD (28.1/28.3 beIN Sports Xtra en Español, 28.2 BeIN Sports Extra, 28.4 Ads, 28.5 Classic movies, 28.6 Ads)
- WFWG-LD (30.1-30.2/30.4 Ads, 30.3 Get (TV network), 30.5 HQ, 30.6 color bars)
- WZTD-LD (45.1 TMD, 45.2 Lx, 45.3 Oxygen)
- WUDW-LD (53.1 Buzzr, 53.2 NTD America, 53.3 Novelisima, 53.4 LC, 53.5 BeIN Sports Extra, 53.6 beIN Sports Xtra en Español, 53.7 Classic movies)
stations
- WFLV-LP 15 (Unknown)
- WXOB-LP 17 (Religious Ind.)
- W18CQ (Unknown)
- WWBK-LP 39
- WERI-LP 39 (Unknown)
- WSVL-LP 48 (Unknown)
- WFMA-LP 52 (Unknown)
- W59DQ (Unknown)
- WVRN-TV 63 (Ind.)
- Virginia broadcast television areas by city
- Bristol
- Bluefield
- Charlottesville
- Harrisonburg
- Norfolk
- Richmond
- Roanoke
- Washington, D.C.