As we hinted in our last Twitter update, there's not really much going on media-wise around these parts. Or, if there is, it hasn't made it to our attention.(Yes, that's a hint that you can E-mail us if you're seeing something we aren't! Consider it the OMW version of those radio "traffic tip lines", though we have no money for the best tip of the month...heck, we have no money, period!)For the moment, what we have is mostly sports related, along with some television...SPORTS DANCING: It's … [Read more...]
WCLV’s Performance Tax Fight
Posted on March 12, 2009 · Leave a Comment
WCLV Foundation classical WCLV/104.9 president Robert Conrad has certainly been outspoken on other topics before...so it's no surprise to see him making noise on an issue that could cause serious problems for music radio stations.In case you haven't heard, the music performance industry is lobbying Congress for radio stations to be charged performance royalties when they play songs...in addition to the music publishing fees stations already pay to BMI, ASCAP and other such organizations. And … [Read more...]
Folding It Together
Posted on March 12, 2009 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 11:56 AM 3/12/09: Something we forgot to put in here has been updated at the bottom of this item...---------A diverse group of items makes up our Thursday morning update, and as it turns out, it's all about radio. We have a couple of TV items percolating for later...JERRY, JERRY, RADIO: Someone batten down the radio hatches - former Air America Radio host Jerry Springer has cracked open a microphone again.And though he's doing it in Chicago, there are a host of Cleveland … [Read more...]
THIS JUST IN: News Sharing Virus Hits Columbus
Posted on March 11, 2009 · Leave a Comment
First Cleveland, now Columbus.The TVNewsday and TVB/Television Broadcast trade websites report that Columbus is now the second Ohio TV market where two different newsrooms will "pool" news footage of events such as press conferences or other planned events.The players in Central Ohio dipping into the News Sharing Pool? Media General NBC affiliate WCMH/4, and Sinclair ABC affiliate WSYX/6-Fox affiliate WTTE/28.Quoting TVNewsday's report:The stations' assignment desks have built a back channel to … [Read more...]
From Satellite To Print
Posted on March 10, 2009 · Leave a Comment
NOTE: If you already read this item shortly after it came out this morning, scroll down for some updates, which are appropriately marked...We put our items into the OMW Blender this Tuesday, and come up with a decent mix...THE BIG ONE MINUS XM: Now, you can only hear Clear Channel talk WLW/700 Cincinnati in your car if you're in its 50,000 watt AM signal range.The larger-than-life original "Big One" lost its claim to once again being "The Nation's Station" (give or take the Internet) Friday … [Read more...]
THIS JUST IN: Jennings Exits WGAR, New WGAR/WMVX PD
Posted on March 9, 2009 · Leave a Comment
As earlier reported on the radio trade sites, Clear Channel country WGAR/99.5 Cleveland program director Brian Jennings has exited Oak Tree due to "budget cuts".Jennings took over as WGAR's program director two years ago, and tells AllAccess that he "is actively looking for his next programming gig".Back at Oak Tree, OMW hears that a new program director has been hired that will not only oversee programming the country powerhouse, but also handle the same duties at hot AC WMVX/106.5 "Mix 106.5". … [Read more...]
Week’s Beginning
Posted on March 9, 2009 · Leave a Comment
There hasn't been much going on in the world of media in Northeast Ohio lately, but we felt the need to cobble together what we have. And as it turns out, we do have some items on this Monday morning...WTAM VOICE SILENCED: A voice long associated with Clear Channel talk WTAM/1100 Cleveland has been silenced.No, he's not a WTAM talk show host or news person. But to an imaging-conscious station like WTAM, Brian James was just as important.Unless you're in the business, you don't know his name. … [Read more...]
Thursday’s Here
Posted on March 5, 2009 · Leave a Comment
We've been in one of those writing moods...where we put everything in one daily bag. And it continues...PAUL HARVEY'S NON-REPLACEMENTS: ABC Radio Network has announced the names of the two men who will not replace Paul Harvey.We say that because conventional wisdom would tell us that the late commentator, who passed away Saturday in Arizona at the age of 90, won't actually be replaced permanently.But ABC Radio says the network's Gil Gross and Doug Limerick will provide feeds in the former Paul … [Read more...]
Around The Corner And Around The State
Posted on March 4, 2009 · Leave a Comment
It's yet another mixed bag for midweek...SOMEONE CALL THE MEDIA!: This time, he didn't use any profanity, so we got the note without it falling into the OMW "Spam" folder first.Media-Com talk WNIR/100.1 "The Talk of Akron" morning sports voice/co-host Steve French felt the need to let us know:Your favorite whipping boy, WNIR, is still the runaway #1 in the latest monthly ratings (see Radio and Records).Also, WNIR today announces no layoffs.Some other breaking items into the OMW newsroom: Water … [Read more...]
Some Mixed News
Posted on March 3, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Let's see where the Tuesday morning item mix takes us...unfortunately, it's mostly not good news...CUTBACKS: The sour economy has resulted in some economic-related cutbacks on Campus Center Drive in Kent.That's the home of Western Reserve PBS, the local public TV outlet which operates WNEO/45 Alliance and WEAO/49 Akron, which is making some financial moves to try to ensure economic stability in an economy that's forced pretty much every media outlet to make some hard choices.Quoting a news … [Read more...]
