WVTF in Roanoke, Va., is expanding into the Richmond market with the purchase of a new signal.
WVTF’s licensee, the Virginia Tech Foundation, purchased WNVU in Charles City, Va., from religious broadcaster Educational Media Foundation for $2.15 million, according to the asset purchase agreement.
With a signal of more than 20,000 watts, WNVU covers the Richmond metropolitan area. WVTF has operated a low-power FM station in Richmond since 2009.
“Our statewide approach to reporting local and regional news has a significant audience in the Richmond market, and we are taking this opportunity to expand our footprint and to improve our quality of service to the Commonwealth,” said Roger Duvall, GM of WVTF Radio IQ, in an announcement about the purchase.
The news station will compete directly with the newly rebranded VPM News in Richmond.
WVTF airs its Radio IQ news format on frequencies throughout the state, including in Charlottesville and Fredericksburg.