We promise...we've got some other items in the hopper, which will show up later today.But the about-to-be-changed national digital TV transition date still dominates the headlines, and we're still tracking fallout from it locally and regionally. The date change bill is expected to be signed by President Obama sometime in the next day or two, then the FCC will be tasked with quickly writing rules to put it into place.Though Local TV-owned WJW/8 "FOX 8" in Cleveland is still the only TV station … [Read more...]
June Transition Date Approved
Posted on February 5, 2009 · Leave a Comment
As widely expected, the U.S. House of Representatives approved moving the long-ago-set date for the TV digital transition, from February 17th to June 12th, by a 264 to 158 vote. (We'd have put this up earlier, but you'd pretty much had to have been under a rock not to hear about it on Wednesday afternoon.)The bill has already been approved by the U.S. Senate, and unlike an earlier House attempt, did not require a 2/3rds vote to pass...so it heads directly for the desk of President Barack … [Read more...]
THIS JUST IN: WJW Files For Early Analog Shutoff
Posted on February 4, 2009 · Leave a Comment
One Cleveland market TV station has now filed with the FCC to shut off its analog transmitter, and move to its post-transition digital operation, on the original digital transition date of February 17th.Local TV-owned Fox affiliate WJW/8 "FOX 8"'s filing with the FCC hit the agency's online database early this morning. (Thanks to RabbitEars.info's Trip Ericson for first word, and for keeping track of all the applications!)The filing references the current uncertainty over the digital transition … [Read more...]
Three Items Or More
Posted on February 3, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Now, some items we've missed, or smaller items that have just come to our attention...CAROLE GONE?: Though this appeared on Gannett NBC affiliate WKYC/3 senior director Frank Macek's "Director's Cut" blog, we missed it in our recent trip out of Northeast Ohio.A job change by newly installed "Channel 3 News at 7" co-anchor Carole Sullivan's husband appears likely to send her packing to San Diego.That's where Mike Sullivan has been named offensive line coach for the NFL's San Diego Chargers. He … [Read more...]
Northeast Ohio’s Digital TV Picture
Posted on February 3, 2009 · Leave a Comment
We don't have all the information yet, but we think we can take a look at the "picture" of the upcoming digital TV transition in Northeast Ohio...just two weeks before the originally scheduled mandated date for full-power TV stations to take their old analog signals dark.And yes, that phrase "originally scheduled" is becoming quite important.After fits and starts in Washington, it looks like the U.S. House of Representatives is about ready to approve a shift of the national digital transition … [Read more...]
Columbus Classic Hits Flip Confirmed
Posted on February 2, 2009 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 2:21 PM 2/2/09: An OMW reader in the market tells us that "Big Hits" did indeed debut on WJZK/104.3 Richwood at 12 noon, with smooth jazz WJZA/103.5 Pickerington now as a solo act.Our original item is below...---------We mentioned it in our item earlier this morning, and we've now confirmed that Saga's "Big Hits" classic hits format in Columbus - bumped off of WODB/107.9 when that station grabbed the hot AC format and "Mix" moniker left behind by Dispatch/RadiOhio's WBNS-FM 97.1 in its … [Read more...]
The Shortest Month
Posted on February 2, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Your Mighty Blog of Fun(tm) is Northeast Ohio-based again, as we're back at the OMW World Headquarters after being in other states.With our departure seeming to trigger major media changes in Ohio each time, this time was no exception...with no fewer than three Central Ohio stations changing format while we were outside the Buckeye State.Notice, we said "no fewer"...FALLOUT: As we headed back home, we got word from two OMW readers that the Columbus Radio Format Shuffle may not be done yet.When … [Read more...]
WCMH Dumps 11
Posted on January 30, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Briefly: The Columbus Dispatch reports about the latest round of Ohio TV news job cuts.The Dispatch's Molly Willow reports that Media General NBC affiliate WCMH/4 has laid off veteran news director Stan Sanders and ten other employees - there's no word who else was let go.The TV trade site TV Newsday indicates that the Columbus cuts are among others nationwide by the company which bought "NBC 4" from the NBC network itself in 2006... … [Read more...]
More Details
Posted on January 30, 2009 · Leave a Comment
As we wrap up our out of town excursion, we'll wrap up some loose ends from a newsy week, particularly for our friends in Central Ohio...SPORTSY: As it turns out, there's a good reason two Columbus radio stations flipped to a sports format within hours of each other this week.The Columbus Dispatch's Tim Feran quotes RadiOhio president/GM Dave Van Stone, who says research helped lead the move of the "Fan" sports format from its long-time home on WBNS/1460 to displace hot AC "Mix 97.1" at … [Read more...]
Keeping In Touch
Posted on January 28, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Your Primary Editorial Voice(tm) will be heading back to Northeast Ohio by late Saturday, it appears.And those working in media will breathe a sigh of relief...no, not because they're glad to have us back in town.If you've followed the Mighty Blog of Fun(tm) since we started in mid-2005, there's one particular truism. When we leave Ohio for any lengthy period of time, major changes happen in the media world. At one point, then-Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage actually lost his job … [Read more...]
