It looks like those "alternate showings" are now in the public FCC files for TV stations listed as needing to meet new conditions to sign off analog signals by the original deadline of Tuesday (February 17th).The filings we've seen support our reporting earlier about the Dayton market, where all full-power commercial stations now say they'll pull back from the February 17th analog shutoff date.And a Dayton Daily News story this afternoon by Jim DeBrosse confirms our own suspicions - that even … [Read more...]
Oh, Never Mind
Posted on February 13, 2009 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 2/13/09 5:15 PM: And there goes WBDT/26...and maybe even WPTD/16.The unraveling of the Dayton Early Digital Transition is nearly complete, as Cincinnati Enquirer TV/radio guru John Kiesewetter writes on his blog about that market to his north:4:25 p.m. update: WBDT-TV (Ch 26), the CW affiliate, also keeping analog on.4:30 p.m. update: As of now Ch 16 will drop analog after Tuesday. This just in from the station: "ThinkTV is consulting with Washington counsel and the FCC. ThinkTV 16 … [Read more...]
NextMedia Lays Down Axe In Canton
Posted on February 13, 2009 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 2/13/09 3:35 PM: OMW also hears that there are two part-time staff cuts on the FM side at Market Avenue South - "Mix 94.1" part-time air personalities Richard Nemec and Amanda Leary, bringing the total to eight - six full-time and two part-time - out the door at NextMedia Canton. The part-timers may still do holiday fill-in, but are losing regular work.We also aren't sure if Sam Bourqin's new afternoon drive show will be sports-related, or general issues talk. Via the 1480 stream, we … [Read more...]
Moving Back For Some Stations
Posted on February 13, 2009 · Leave a Comment
This was supposed to be the last week of full-power analog TV in the United States, but of course, that's not happening now.We have a Digital TV Status Update for two Ohio markets affected by the FCC's new rules about February 17th shutoffs...but stay tuned, there may be other items...we're working on one piece of big radio news that, unfortunately, continues our ongoing theme...The FCC's most recent public notice about February 17th analog TV shutoffs did indeed focus a spotlight on markets … [Read more...]
Mixing It Up
Posted on February 12, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Yes, here at your Mighty Blog of Fun(tm), we realize that we've spent a lot of time and written a lot of items on the Now Officially Delayed Digital TV Transition.As always, we're basically driven by what's going on...and that's been the most active area that we cover. We'll try to mix it up at least a little in this item, though there's at least one DTV transition item in here, too...IT'S GOOD TO BE ALIVE...WEEEEE!: An OMW reader recently wrote:I haven't listened to Tony Rizzo lately but did … [Read more...]
Not So Fast, Dayton
Posted on February 12, 2009 · Leave a Comment
It's official - the DTV Delay Bill is law, after being signed Wednesday afternoon by President Obama.Broadcasting & Cable has more, along with a presidential signing statement:--------"During these challenging economic times, the needs of American consumers are a top priority of my administration. This law, which was crafted in a bipartisan way and passed overwhelmingly in the House and Senate, ensures that our citizens will have more time to prepare for the conversion.""Millions of … [Read more...]
No Longer A Network
Posted on February 11, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Raycom Media WUAB/43 "My 43" in Cleveland won't technically be a "network affiliate" this coming fall, though it'll still be "My" and still air a slate of prime-time national programming.The "My" in "My 43", MyNetwork TV, has announced that it'll consider itself a "programming service" starting in the fall, and will reduce its programming hours by two hours, to 10 hours a week. That move frees up Saturday nights to MyNetwork affiliates like WUAB.And WOIO/WUAB VP/general manager Bill Applegate … [Read more...]
More Cumulus Youngstown Fallout
Posted on February 11, 2009 · Leave a Comment
The media layoffs these days are not only frequent, and cut deep, but you seemingly can't put them in the past after reporting them.That's what's going on at Cumulus' Youngstown cluster, where we're getting word of two more on-air personalities losing their jobs in the most recent round of budget-driven layoffs.And if you're a long-time listener to Youngstown radio, they're names you'll probably recognize.OMW hears that talk WPIC/790 Sharon PA morning co-host/station manager Bob Popa and … [Read more...]
Here’s That FCC Early Analog Shutoff List
Posted on February 10, 2009 · Leave a Comment
The Federal Communications Commission has indeed released a list of TV stations that have filed to terminate analog broadcasting on or before the original February 17th deadline.Stations which have filed for an early termination of analog are listed here (PDF file) in Appendix A. The list starts with stations which have already turned off analog broadcasting, including Northern Ohio's WNEO/45 Alliance and WMFD/68 Mansfield, then the list goes to those filing for next Tuesday's original … [Read more...]
It’s About Time, Youngstown!
Posted on February 10, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Forgive our exasperation, but the analog TV shutdown status in Youngstown is finally clear.As we reported earlier, numerous readers tell us that both New Vision CBS affiliate WKBN/27 and Parkin Broadcasting/New Vision LMA partner WYTV/33 have been telling viewers that the stations will not sign off analog 27 and 33 on February 17th as previously requested.It's now official, as someone on Sunset Blvd. in Youngstown may have seen our earlier rant about not notifying viewers via the station's … [Read more...]
