A temporary News/Talk station dedicated exclusively to issues surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak has launched in Roanoke on Flinn Broadcasting’s 102.5 WBZS Shawsville.
“Covid Virginia” is being operated by a group of volunteers led by former “101.5 The Mountain” WVMP General Manager Rob Ruthenberg with Flinn donating the signal and engineering services with all the hosts working remotely from home.
Ruthenberg told WDBJ-TV, “It’s something we can do. We have the technology and we have the ability to do so, so we can’t just sit aside and do nothing.” He added to WFXR-TV that “This is the first broadcast I can’t wait to fail. We are all just trying to keep each other company, find a little humor in this whole situation and dispel any false rumors out there.”
The station notes that it currently has 16 volunteer hosts and is streaming here. WBZS had been home of AAA “The Mountain” until the end of its LMA on December 1 leading it to return to its previous home on 101.5 WVMP. It is unknown what the station has been airing until the launch of “Covid Virginia” on Monday.
