Here’s what should be our final regular update for a while. We’ll wax philosophical on it in a final entry sometime over the weekend.
During our “hiatus”, as mentioned, we’ll continue to update major “breaking media news” items, mainly in our primary coverage area of Northeast Ohio.
More details on that to come, but…for now…
CLEVELAND RADIO VET: Walt Tiburski, a name certainly familiar to anyone with a history with Cleveland radio, is retiring.
AllAccess reports he’s stepping down from his job as market manager of Renda Broadcasting’s Ft. Myers FL cluster, where he’s worked for the past two years.
But those reading this blog will remember his long-time stint in Cleveland radio…particularly as the general manager of iconic rock station WMMS/100.7.
Best wishes to you, Mr. Tiburski, from all of us at OMW…
JOHNY D OUT: We actually knew about this Thursday, but it’s now public thanks to new Toledo Blade media columnist Ron Musselman in Friday’s newspaper. (Sorry, as we prepare to dial back, we’ve been slower…)
Musselman notes that “two key players” are out at Cumulus top 40 WTWR/98.3 “Tower 98-3″‘s morning show.
Umm, yeah, maybe the including the host they named the show after?
Yep, that’s right, “Johny D” (we would love to know where the extra “N” went) is no longer doing morning drive at “Tower”. Producer Jeremy Baumhower, a former staffer at Clear Channel talk WSPD/1370, is also out.
Cumulus market manager Chris Taylor sings the familiar management refrain about such changes – they wanted to “move in a different direction”. Yes, away from the guy who’s been hosting since September 2005…that’s a move in a different direction, no?
Various combinations of music and part-time talent will fill the gap until whenever Tower figures out what’s next.
OMW hears that it’s been rather interesting behind the scenes at Cumulus Toledo and at Tower in specific…and that “Johny D and the Morning Crew” wasn’t exactly burning up the ratings.
It looks like Johny D didn’t catch on like was hoped. He joined the station after a 10-year stint with Clear Channel’s top 40 competitor to WTWR, WVKS/92.5 “Kiss 92.5”.
And AllAccess notes that midday personality Crystal Harris follows Johny D out the door at Tower….
AND WHILE WE’RE IN TOLEDO: Electronically, at least, we’ll note that former WSPD/1370 afternoon driver Denny Schaffer has landed in Atlanta, at least with a regular weekend gig.
Schaffer’s “Denny Radio” is now heard Saturday mornings on Dickey sports WCNN/680 “The Fan” under the modified title “Denny Radio: Sports and More”. The show debuted on January 6th, according to the station’s website.
The former WSPDer was bounced a while back from his mid-morning gig at Clear Channel talk WGST/640 in the Peachtree City…along with pretty much nearly everything resembling a local talk show…
EMMY STUFF: This one passed on directly from the folks at the Lower Great Lakes chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), otherwise known as the Emmy people…
The deadline for the local Emmy Awards is quickly approaching. Saturday, February 3 is the deadline, and there are a few changes to the process this year. All entries must be on DVD, with the DVD minus R format recommended. No VHS entries will be accepted, only DVD. The entry cost has been reduced to $70 for members. Plus a new category was added this year for interactive media. Entry forms and complete information are here.
The “Lower Great Lakes” chapter covers a wide territory from its base in Cleveland, from Erie PA to Bloomington IN and just about every TV market in between…
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