Just some stuff, and some previews:
HARVE’S BACK: This item could also be titled “Northeast Ohio: Now and Again”.
NextMedia has announced that Harve Alan takes over as company VP of programming, replacing Steve Davis. Alan comes aboard from research firm Mercury Radio Research.
We read this item yesterday in the various radio trade publications, and we were having trouble remembering why Harve Alan’s name sounded familiar.
As it turns out, we’re reminded that among various larger market programming jobs and work at radio networks and national companies, Harve Alan also has Akron on his resume… as former program director at Rubber City Radio rock WONE/97.5.
And that’s where our first line comes in. In his new role, he’ll oversee programmers at NextMedia stations across the country, including Canton’s WHBC/1480 and WHBC-FM/94.1. Well, at the AM side for right now, as 94.1 is still looking for an operations manager following the departure of Terry Simmons a while back.
OMW hears there could be a replacement for Simmons already in the works at “Mix 94.1”. We also hear that the new programmer could be overseeing a format tweak on the FM side after the Christmas music goes away later this month…
HD BROWNIES: We were wondering about this, and it’s official tonight – WJW/8 “FOX 8” is broadcasting the NFL Network-produced contest between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers in HDTV.
This seems to be a new thing this year – cable TV games offered to local NFL markets with teams in the game are being made available in HD format.
Of course, with how badly the Browns are playing so far, maybe we were charitable in calling it a “contest”…but at least it looks good!
AND A TEASER: We won’t say who yet, but one of the names rumored as a possible talk show host under Good Karma Broadcasting’s new reign at WKNR/850 has found OMW, and has dropped us a note.
You’ll be surprised at his comments, which we’ll publish sometime on Friday. Let’s just say that he’s been nice to us.
We’d like to repeat, again, that though we’ve heard rumblings about new possible Good Karma employees, we have heard NOTHING about the status of current WKNR employees under the new ownership.
We tend to believe that it will continue to be status quo at least until the start of the year, and we get the idea that the new WKNR management is looking to significantly expand local programming.
We’ve heard a lot of rumblings about this transaction, and have yet to hear that “X person is gone” in the current WKNR firmament of on-air personalities (or off-air staff, or other).
So, if you hear it, you’re probably not hearing the truth. We get the idea that Those Decisions haven’t been made yet…and let these people enjoy their holidays, OK?
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