Kent State University NPR/classical WKSU/89.7 Kent has unveiled two HD Radio subchannels.The WKSU-originated "Folk Alley" programming takes the HD2 subchannel, and the station's all-classical feed is occupying WKSU-HD3. The station's main broadcast signal continues its digital presence at WKSU-HD1.Both programming streams have long been available over the station's website.WKSU general manager Al Bartholet writes in his "Al Things Considered" blog that the subchannels have been up since … [Read more...]
On The Fringes
Posted on July 10, 2008 · Leave a Comment
A trio of recent items that are on the fringes of our coverage area, have some links to Ohio or are otherwise used to fill this next update:ABC FOR THE OHIO VALLEY: The Wheeling/Steubenville market is about to get what it has never, ever had - a full-time, in-market ABC affiliate station.The folks at TVNewsday report that West Virginia Media CBS affiliate WTRF/7 Wheeling will launch a new ABC affiliate for the Ohio Valley on August 1, with a digital subchannel on WTRF-DT. That'd have to be, as … [Read more...]
Midweek Drop In
Posted on July 9, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Just checking in...and some of these items have been sitting around for a while...THREE EXIT, ONE RETURNS: We've gotten some inquiries about some of these recent local radio departures, and a former local radio mainstay is coming back to this area to take one of the openings.AllAccess reports that NextMedia AC WHBC-FM 94.1 "Mix 94.1" Canton program director and afternoon driver Hunter Scott is out, confirming rumblings we've heard the past week.And the trade site reports today that his … [Read more...]
After The Holiday
Posted on July 7, 2008 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 11:20 PM 7/7/08: AllAccess confirms, as do our own sources within WNCX, that the below moves on the WNCX Morning Show are permanent. It's indeed "Miller, Mihalik and Mike" now, and yes, that is former WDOK programmer Scott Miller aboard at 98.5...he's been in the chair since last week.The artist known solely as "Mud" on the show is no longer with WNCX.And we don't feel as bad now for mangling the spelling of Kim Mihalik's last name in previous items. At least we didn't use a "C" like … [Read more...]
Other BAS Shoes Drop
Posted on July 2, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Thanks to the folks at AllAccess, we can "clear the books" on the Findlay/Tiffin side of the BAS Broadcasting purchases from Clear Channel.The trade site reports that BAS is flipping both WPFX/107.7 North Baltimore/Findlay and WTTF/1600 Tiffin to different owners.A company called Toledo Radio, headed by someone AllAccess identifies as Daniel Dudley, picks up the station that has been known as AC "My 107.7" for a cool million bucks. The company name is interesting, though we'd have to run it … [Read more...]
Radio News Website, Other Local Connections In Murrow Awards
Posted on July 2, 2008 · Leave a Comment
A hearty congratulations to Akron's Rubber City Radio for a much-deserved award.The local radio company's extensive local news website, AkronNewsNow.com, has received an Edward R. Murrow Award.Quoting the local site's own article on the award, written by Rubber City VP/Information Media Ed Esposito:AkronNewsNow.com was judged best news website for the category covering radio stations in markets 51+ for the Murrow Award. The Murrow Awards program is administered by the Radio Television News … [Read more...]
WOIO/WUAB Cuts Off-Air Staffers
Posted on July 1, 2008 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 7:47 PM 7/1/08: We've gotten some new, very credible information on this, and it appears the total number of layoffs between the two areas mentioned is 6, with another couple of employees moving to part-time status.We wanted to clarify this quickly, to make sure those who are still employed are not concerned that additional layoffs (beyond the 6) are coming. As far as we know, this is it for now.The original item below did say "as many as 13", due to a little uncertainty to the exact … [Read more...]
BREAKING NEWS: WQMX Looking For New AM Drive Co-Host
Posted on July 1, 2008 · Leave a Comment
OMW has confirmed that Rubber City Radio Akron market country station WQMX/94.9 is looking for a new morning co-host, after the voluntary departure of Shannon Alexander.Well, the initial word came from WQMX's own Morning Show website page:Special Announcement: It's is with mixed emotions we announce that Shannon Alexander has left her position on the WQMX Morning Show. We are happy that Shannon will get to be at home full time with her boys, but we will miss her presence on the air daily. In … [Read more...]
BAS Takes Over Findlay’s WPFX
Posted on July 1, 2008 · Leave a Comment
An OMW reader in the region tells us that BAS Broadcasting has taken over one of the stations it acquired from Clear Channel earlier this year - WPFX/107.7 North Baltimore, the Findlay-area station that flipped from rock "The Fox" shortly before the sale to AC "My 107.7".The "Fox" rock format then scooted over to WBUK/106.3 Ottawa OH, near Lima, formerly oldies outlet "The Big Buck".The reader in the Findlay area mentions that WPFX has been off the air "since yesterday".When it returns, is WPFX … [Read more...]
WNWV Names New PD
Posted on June 30, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Various trade websites report that Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting has picked its replacement for long-time smooth jazz WNWV/107.3 program director Bernie Kimble.She's Angie Handa, who comes to "The Wave" from a stint as assistant program director/music director of Clear Channel's Phoenix smooth jazz outlet, KYOT. Her resume includes a gig at a another smooth jazz station in Phoenix, and other earlier experience at AC and Hot AC outlets.Phoenix is a good market for smooth jazz (or "smooth AC", or … [Read more...]
