VCU news

By Anna Collins
VCU Student Media Community Outreach

WVCW, student-run radio at Virginia Commonwealth University, has entered a cooperative venture with the University of Virginia’s WTJU radio station to broadcast live programming on weekday evenings on 102.9 FM.

After a test run, WVCW officially began broadcasting on March 2 after being an Internet-only programming source for the past decade. The FM station is licensed to Ashland and the signal is available from downtown Richmond north through Hanover County. The station is under renovation as part of the agreement and plans call for an increase in signal strength in the future.

“This is a really big deal for WVCW as we have been vying for an FM signal since our inception in the 1960s,” said Heather Hudgins, WVCW’s general manager. “We are excited to make our unique programming more accessible to the Richmond community.”

As part of the cooperative agreement with WTJU, WVCW will provide programming Monday through Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m. and Friday evenings from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. The agreement also allows WVCW to broadcast 30 additional hours of specialty programming during other times, such as coverage of the annual Dominion Christmas Parade and some VCU athletic events.

WVCW’s broadcasters have served the VCU community as the independent student voice of VCU for over 40 years and will continue to serve both the Monroe Park and MCV campuses while also engaging the surrounding community.

“I am very excited about WVCW getting an FM signal so we can spread our sound across Richmond,” said Owen Martin, WVCW music director.

WVCW will offer underwriting to support the broadcasts as well as concert tickets, backstage passes and special events to listeners.

Additional information about WVCW is available at wvcw.org or by contacting Anna Collins via email at SMC_Outreach@vcustudentmedia.com.

 

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