VPM Media Corporation
The VPM Media Corporation, formerly known as the Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation and Central Virginia Educational Television Corporation, is a
The stations were originally branded under the blanket name Community Idea Stations.[1] As of May 2018, organizational funding was primarily private with only 9% from The Corporation for Public Broadcasting with the private split evenly between individuals and corporations and no state funding.[1]
History
Central Virginia Educational Television Corp.[1] was founded in 1961. The corporation was first led by Bill Spiller, who was general manager of WCVE-TV in 1964.[2]
The broadcaster gained two stations in Northern Virginia in the 1970s, WNVT and WNVC, which were programmed with PBS and K-12 educational programming. In the mid-1990s, the programming was switched to international programming (eventually programmed by a third party) due to PBS duplication and federal funding reductions.[3]
Central Virginia Educational TV in 1988 received from Union Theological Seminary its WRFK radio station, which was given new call sign, WCVE-FM. No longer just in TV, the nonprofit renamed itself to the Central Virginia Educational Telecommunications Corp.[1] In 1991, Charles Sydnor replaced Spiller as president.[2]
In 2006, A. Curtis Monk became president and chief executive officer replacing Syndor.[2] Central Virginia built in 2007 two radio stations in outlying areas, the Northern Neck (WCNV) and Chase City (WMVE). Virginia State stopped sending funding to the nonprofit.[1]
The corporation sold some of its Northern Virginia broadcast spectrum in 2017 for $181.9 million. Plans for the additional money, including sale of the two stations property, were to form a foundation to assist with programing and community mission.[3] By August 2018, Commonwealth used the bulk of the proceeds to form the Virginia Foundation for Public Media. In August, a reorganization took place making the foundation the parent company of Commonwealth Public Broadcasting. Since the station managers would report to the foundation's CEO, the Commonwealth's CEO position was eliminated.[2]
Alpha Media sold the nonprofit on February 15, 2018, WBBT-FM (1980s hits) and WWLB (classic country) radio stations in the Richmond market. In May 2019, WCVE-FM programming was split with WCVE retaining news and music migrating to the two new stations under the WCVE Music branding.[1]
In July 2019, it was announced that all of the broadcaster's stations would adopt the new name VPM (Virginia Public Media) on August 5, 2019.[4]
On February 24, 2022, VPM launched its first news program: VPM News Focal Point.
TV
PBS
- WCVE-TV channel 23 and WCVW channel 57, Richmond
- WHTJ channel 41, Charlottesville (satellite of WCVE-TV)
- WVPT channel 11, Staunton/Harrisonburg (satellite of WCVE-TV) and WVPY channel 11, New Market/Harrisonburg (satellite of WCVW)
Radio
- WCVE-FM 88.9, Richmond, Virginia
- WCNV 89.1, Heathsville, Virginia
- WMVE 90.1, Chase City, Virginia
- WBBT-FM 107.3, Powhatan, Virginia
- WWLB 93.1, Ettrick, Virginia
See also
- MHz Networks (former multicultural subsidiary of Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation)
References
- ^ a b c d e f "WCVE marks 30 years with new stations, gala". Chesterfield Observer. May 30, 2018. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- ^ a b c d GILLIGAN, GREGORY J. (August 14, 2018). "Curtis Monk leaving top job at Commonwealth Public Broadcasting as part of restructuring". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- ^ a b JOHN REID, BLACKWELL (March 31, 2017). "WCVE's owner to get nearly $182 million from broadcast spectrum auction". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- ^ Curran, Colleen. "Community Idea Stations changing its name to VPM". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved July 31, 2019.