While not an online-only radio station, WRVA in Richmond, Virginia offers a 24-hours per day, 7-days per week Internet audio stream that enables people to access some of the best talk radio broadcasts available anywhere. WRVA does a terrific job of mixing local and national radio personalities in a program schedule that entertains and informs throughout the day. I won’t spend a lot of time on the nationally syndicated talk show hosts, because most people are familiar with them already. Besides, it’s the local guys that make WRVA as popular as it is. I access the audio stream from work, which is what most listeners of WRVA’s programs do. Since their best offerings occur during the business day, almost every listener is at their place of employment where radios are probably not regular fixtures. Now, the format definitely has a conservative slant, but the variety of programs is what makes WRVA so popular. And that popularity makes the Internet audio stream absolutely invaluable to listeners. For most folks who access the audio stream, the day begins with local radio personality Jimmy Barrett, who provides Richmond’s morning news each weekday from 5AM to 9AM. What’s great about Barrett’s show is that it doesn’t just consist of a recitation of the day’s news highlight. He asks questions, invites audience participation, and provides insightful analysis that is refreshing and informative. Following Barrett’s show is nationally syndicated conservative talk show host Glenn Beck. Beck’s show, which is called the “fusion between entertainment and enlightenment,” runs from 9AM until about quarter to noon, and is followed by radio legend Paul Harvey. After Mr. Harvey’s news and commentary, there is a brief recap of the day’s news at the top of the hour, followed by the most listened to radio talk show program in the country: the Rush Limbaugh show. Rush Limbaugh is a huge audience draw for WRVA, with his three-hour show attracting nearly 20 million listeners from across the country each week day. As an added bonus for conservative audiences, WRVA offers Limbaugh’s morning update each weekday at four minutes before 7AM. Following Rush is perhaps my favorite WRVA personality: Mac Watson. Typically, Mac is the last program working folks here before they get home. His show airs from 3PM to 6PM each weekday and is generally very entertaining in its handling of news stories that affect Richmond residents. Watson does talk about some national issues, but most of his energies are focused the capital city and its surrounding areas. Watson can come off as a bit abrasive, probably because he yells a lot, and that can turn some listeners off. I must admit that it took some time for me to get past the screaming, but once I gave the show a chance I became an avid listener. If you’re concerned about the good, the bad, and the ugly in Richmond, Watson is your guy. Watson is followed by nationally syndicated personalities Sean Hannity and Michael Savage, who provide the evening conservative entertainment. Both have large followings and are traditional talk show radio audience favorites. WRVA is a great station that can be accessed from anywhere that has an Internet connection. The streaming audio is very reliable and the station offers pod casts who listeners who want to go that route for their conservative entertainment. For pure conservative radio, with a mix of local and national personalities, WRVA is hard to beat.
