Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 11, 1995 TAG: 9503130020
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"It's a tighter format," said Program Director Alex Parocai, but you can call him Ax. He and Alicia Steele (evening DJ Amy, under the old format) are the station's new morning team, 6-11 weekdays. The rest of the time, the station's programming is beamed from an ABC satellite, and the air personalities are in Dallas.
The Z-Rock format debuted this week.
Stevie had been with Rock 105 almost four years, Steele said. Two other Rock 105 announcers, Erica and Ty, have been reassigned to production duties.
Rumors about the pending programming switch had been flying since New River Media bought Rock 105 and sister station WJJJ (1260 AM) last year. New River Media also owns Eagle Country 107 WPSK (107.1 FM). Last summer, Virginia Tech English instructor Sean Kotz mounted a petition drive asking the station not to abandon its format.
Parocai said Rock 105 will target 18 - to 34-year-olds and pledged the station "will still be ahead of everyone else in the area" in terms of playing new rock.
Right now, the station signs off at 1 a.m. and doesn't resume broadcasting until 6 a.m., but that should change within the next month or two, when the station installs equipment to permit around-the-clock operation, Parocai said.
He said daytimer WJJJ - which recently switched its on-air logo from 1260-J to J-1260 - also now gets its oldies music via satellite from ABC.
Studios for both stations as well as for WPSK are to move later this year to the Eleven West Professional Building on U.S. 11 near Fairlawn. New transmitter sites also are in the works. Plans are under way for Rock 105 to switch dial position to 105.3 FM and boost power to 25,000 watts.
Live Appearances:
14-K WKEX (1430 AM) is on the air live today, 9 a.m.-noon, from the annual antiques and uniques sale and flea market, Christiansburg National Guard Armory, College and Depot streets. Bob Smith and the WKEX Wacky Bird will have free candy and prizes.
Levi Garrett of KOOL Country WBNK (100.7 FM) broadcasts live today, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., from the New River Valley Home Show, Blacksburg Community Center, 725 Patrick Henry Drive. Visitors can register to win tickets to see Reba McEntire on March 24 in Roanoke.
Radio Sports:
"Armchair Quarterback:" Live from the New River Valley Home Show at the Blacksburg Community Center, today, 9-10 a.m., on WFNR (710 AM). Host Levi Garrett moderates a panel of pundits that tackles listeners' questions and comments on regional collegiate and professional sports. Listeners can call 382-1887 or *WFNR toll-free from their Blue Ridge Cellular phones.
Virginia Tech Basketball: Metro Conference Tournament from Louisville, Ky. Bill Roth calls the games on the Virginia Tech Sports Network. Virginia Tech Sports Network stations include WNRV (990 AM), WJJJ (1260 AM), WKEX (1430 AM), WRAD (1460 AM), WRIQ (101.7 FM) and WVVV (104.9 FM).
"Virginia Tech Today:" Weekdays, 7:10 a.m., on WJJJ (1260 AM) and WVVV (104.9 FM).
Big South Conference Women's Basketball Tournament: If the Lady Highlanders make it to the championship game, Radford University's WVRU (89.9 FM) carries it tonight at 6:50. 831-5180.
"Let's Talk NASCAR:" Sundays, 11 a.m.-noon, on WFNR (710 AM).
NCAA Basketball: Sunday, 12:45 p.m., Big Eight championship; 3:45 p.m., Atlantic Coast Conference championship, on WFNR (710 AM).
"Winston Cup Today:" Weekdays, 7:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on WFNR (710 AM) and 6 p.m. on WPSK (107.1 FM). "Winston Cup This Week" is heard Saturdays, 7:30-8 a.m. on WFNR.
"Ned Jarrett's World of Racing:" Weekdays, 9:55 a.m. on WJJJ (1260 AM) and 6:05 p.m., right after "Winston Cup Today" on WPSK (107.1 FM). "NASCAR Live," with host Eli Gold, gives listeners a chance to talk to the stars of Winston Cup, Busch Grand National and Supertruck Racing, Tuesdays, 7-8 p.m. on WPSK (107.1 FM) and WJJJ (1260 AM).
"NASCAR Today:" Weekdays, 5:55 p.m., on J-1260 WJJJ (1260 AM), with host Allen Bestwick.
Radio Shorts:
It's a "signature weekend" on KOOL Country, WBNK (100.7 FM) and WNRV (990 AM), with free cassettes and CDs autographed by some of the biggest names in country music.
"Nashville Record Review" - the top 40 country songs of the week with Lorianne Crooke and Charlie Chase - airs today, 2:05-6 p.m. on WKEX (1430 AM).
"American Indigenous" - the New River Valley's only regular evening jazz program - airs Monday through Thursday, 7 p.m., on Radford University's WVRU (89.9 FM). 831-5180.
Schedule change on J-1260 WJJJ (1260 AM): "Paul Harvey News and Comment" airs weekdays at 8:55 a.m. and weekdays and Saturdays at 12:45 p.m. "Paul Harvey's Rest of the Story" is on at 7:55 a.m. and 4:55 p.m. weekdays and 8:55 a.m. Saturdays. 633-5330.
Cablecasts:
"Spotlight on Blacksburg" airs Tuesday, 7 p.m. on WTOB (channel 2), Blacksburg public-government access television. This month's edition features an interview with Susan Lewis of Big Brothers-Big Sisters of the New River Valley and a look at Blacksburg's new weather station.
"Community Speaking" tackles regional tourism this month. Charlie Whitescarver, president of New River Valley HOSTS, and Jill Barr, Radford's economic development director, are Bill Yerrick's guests. The program airs Sundays, 6 p.m.; Tuesdays, 5 p.m.; Wednesday, noon; and Thursday, 7 p.m. on American Cable Entertainment channel 9.
by CNB