Like the upcoming Memorial Day weekend usually signals the start of the mythical Summer Driving Season, today apparently signals the start of the Official DTV Transition - We're Serious About This, We're Really Going To Do This Now - Season...with the June 12th transition date just weeks away.Local TV stations in Northeast Ohio are indeed joining along with a nationwide DTV "soft test", interrupting their analog signals three times today to urge viewers to, well, make their own transition.More … [Read more...]
Rover Loses A Kennel
Posted on May 21, 2009 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 5/21/09 11:40 AM: Our friends at AllAccess confirm the flip of Rover's now former Memphis affiliate from alt-rock to sports as "ESPN 92.9", now simulcasting Entercom sister station WSMB/680.The station's former website now takes visitors to a splash screen for the new format, then to the existing "ESPN 680" website.Our original item is below...-----When Shane "Rover" French brought his doghouse over to Clear Channel rock WMMS/100.7 in Cleveland, he also kept his ties to two … [Read more...]
Our Apologies To Leon Bibb
Posted on May 20, 2009 · Leave a Comment
In one of our earlier items surrounding the retirement of Scripps ABC affiliate WEWS/5 "NewsChannel 5" anchor Ted Henry, which starts after tonight's 11 PM newscast, we said Henry was one of the last iconic Cleveland TV news names left.We mentioned his former co-anchor at WEWS, Wilma Smith, who is now doing a single nightly newscast over at Local TV Fox affiliate WJW/8 "Fox 8", and long-time WJW meteorologist Dick Goddard.We mentioned, as an aside, "Fox 8"'s Robin Swoboda, back on the airwaves … [Read more...]
WMJI Dumps Majic – For A Reason
Posted on May 20, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Not yet having listened to, or visited the website of, Clear Channel classic hits WMJI/105.7 in Cleveland, our first word came from a press release from the station, with the E-mail subject:"WMJI Is No Longer Majic"Hmm?The station had long since dumped "oldies" from "Majic Oldies", as the "o word" became less relevant due to younger music positioning. What would the station call itself? "WMJi 105.7"? Something else? Would it lead to on-air changes?Nope, just a temporary name change.Try "Cavs … [Read more...]
WKYC/WVIZ Tower Nearly Done
Posted on May 19, 2009 · Leave a Comment
It's now three weeks from what appears to be the final digital TV transition date, June 12th, when all full-power analog signals in the United States will sign off for good.And work on one new local digital TV transmission tower appears to be up to speed.Check out the pictures, and more, here on our Ohio Digital TV sister site... … [Read more...]
Speaking Of Sports Radio
Posted on May 19, 2009 · Leave a Comment
With apologies to the estate of the late Howard Cosell...FOXY MOVE: As OMW reported earlier, Clear Channel sports WARF/1350 Akron is readying to make its network switch.On June 8th, "SportsRadio 1350" will leave Sporting News Radio behind, and become the Akron market's affiliate of Fox Sports Radio...taking the affiliation from Media-Com rimshot daytime lightbulb signal outlet WJMP/1520 Kent/Akron/Ravenna/Streetsboro/Chicago. (OK, so maybe they don't claim Chicago.)OMW had heard earlier that … [Read more...]
Changing World Of TV News
Posted on May 19, 2009 · Leave a Comment
A day before Scripps ABC affiliate WEWS/5's "NewsChannel 5" says goodbye to its most visible face, this is a good time to talk about the changing environment in local TV news "after Ted Henry".By our reckoning, after Mr. Henry says his final words on Wednesday night's 11 PM newscast, there will be just two of his generation of Cleveland TV news left: his former co-anchor Wilma Smith, now down to a single nightly newscast at Local TV Fox affiliate WJW/8 "Fox 8", and Wilma's WJW co-hort Dick … [Read more...]
Hey, Is Someone Retiring This Week
Posted on May 18, 2009 · Leave a Comment
In case you're reading OMW from underneath a rock, a reminder...Scripps ABC affiliate WEWS/5 is saying goodbye this week to one of the few remaining news anchor icons in the Cleveland market.You can be forgiven if you get a sense of "deja vu" this week while watching the station pay tribute to long-time "NewsChannel 5" anchor Ted Henry...who exits the anchor chair after the 11 PM newscast on Tuesday.After all, the station celebrated his 35th anniversary a few years ago with various clips and … [Read more...]
Canton Digital TV Help This Weekend
Posted on May 15, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Passing this along from WKYC/3 senior director Frank Macek's "Director's Cut" blog:Do you still need help with the DTV transition?A mobile assistance center will be in Northeast Ohio this weekend to help consumers. The switch to digital television takes place June 12.The mobile assistance centers will be in Canton this weekend. The staff can demonstrate how to hook up a converter box to an analog TV and to help you apply for a $40 converter box coupon.Saturday May 16 & Sunday May 179 a.m. to … [Read more...]
Radio News Changes, Part 2
Posted on May 15, 2009 · Leave a Comment
And now, your second news item related to radio news changes.This time, it's a veteran reporter who is leaving his Toledo station to pursue...politics.OMW hears that Clear Channel talk WSPD/1370 morning anchor/reporter Kevin Milliken leaves the station today, and is announcing a run for a seat on Toledo City Council.Aaron Brilbeck will move into the WSPD morning drive news shift. He joins Nik Rajkovic in the station's newsroom, along with recorded newscasts shipped up the Clear Channel computer … [Read more...]
