The two Cleveland TV stations with the biggest over-air digital TV problems may - or may not - see those problems resolved before the February 17 digital transition date.Gannett NBC affiliate WKYC/3 and ideastream PBS affiliate WVIZ/25 will transmit their post-transition signals from a new tower at the WKYC facility, but it's an open question if the construction - which was reportedly set to begin this week - will now be complete in time for the transition date.In an FCC filing, WKYC says that … [Read more...]
A Couple From Julie, And One More
Posted on December 18, 2008 · Leave a Comment
After checking our TV sets, we're sure we're ready for the digital TV conversion in February. (Well, we were actually sure of that long ago.) More on that, later.We're still not ready for the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Cleveland.com, though we did happen to find a couple of local TV-related stories from PD media writer Julie Washington under - oddly enough! - the "Entertainment > TV" tab.We're not sure if either of these stories has made print, yet, since that's become virtually impossible to … [Read more...]
DTV Test Day
Posted on December 17, 2008 · Leave a Comment
As we reported earlier, Ohio TV stations will take part in a statewide "analog shutoff soft test" tonight for five minutes, tonight starting at 7:31 PM.During the five minutes, the stations' analog signals will display a message telling viewers that their TV set is not ready for the coming national digital TV transition, which officially takes place just two months from now...late at night on February 17, 2009.Full-power analog stations are required to shut off those signals at 11:59:59 PM on … [Read more...]
Liverani Moves On
Posted on December 16, 2008 · Leave a Comment
This isn't quite breaking news...it was announced earlier this month, but we just found out now courtesy of an Alert OMW Reader.Long-time FOX Sports Ohio senior vice president/general manager Steve Liverani is leaving the Northeast Ohio regional sports network, and will take the same post running FOX Sports Florida and sister network Sun Sports.Quoting an FS Ohio press release:Under Liverani’s leadership, FOX Sports Ohio has enjoyed tremendous success, expanding its local and regional … [Read more...]
BREAKING NEWS: Metheny Lands In Chicago
Posted on December 15, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Thanks to an AllAccess bulletin tonight, we now know where former Clear Channel Cleveland programming chief Kevin Metheny ended up:TRIBUNE Talk WGN-A/CHICAGO PD BOB SHOMPER is exiting to join crosstown CITADEL Talk WLS-A as PD, and veteran programmer KEVIN METHENY, most recently at CLEAR CHANNEL/CLEVELAND as VP/Programming, is taking his place at WGN. The dots are probably pretty clearly connected - WGN is Tribune's only radio property, and former Clear Channel/Jacor radio head Randy Michaels is … [Read more...]
Gladiators, Arena League Suspend 2009 Season
Posted on December 15, 2008 · Leave a Comment
It's been rumored for a while, but the Arena Football League has made it official... the indoor football circuit will not play in 2009.The league voted late Sunday to suspend operations for the coming year, with an eye on restructuring - the AFL reportedly hopes to resume play in 2010, but that's not a certainty.Since this isn't Ohio Sports Watch, we only note this because it means Good Karma sports WKNR/850 "ESPN 850" will lose one of its play-by-play properties through no fault of its own.The … [Read more...]
CBS Radio Starts Smaller Market Exit
Posted on December 15, 2008 · Leave a Comment
CBS Radio has made its first major move in the effort to vacate its clusters in sub-top-10 markets...by swapping.The company has started what apparently will be a slow exit from non-major markets by entering a multi-market swap with Clear Channel.In a deal made public today, Clear Channel picks up five CBS Radio outlets in four markets: Baltimore, Seattle, Portland (two stations) and Sacramento. In exchange, CBS gets two popular stations in top 10 market Houston. All of the outlets involved … [Read more...]
Tim White’s Farewell, And Our Take
Posted on December 15, 2008 · Leave a Comment
As promised, here's our transcript of now-former WKYC/3 anchor Tim White's farewell message, which aired on the 11 PM newscast on his last day at the Gannett NBC affiliate in Cleveland.And also as promised, we'll have some of our own comments...after the transcript:----------ROMONA: Well, throughout the day, we've been saying goodbye to Tim White, my co-anchor and friend. It was his last day here at Channel 3. Now, Tim did have some final thoughts he wanted to share with all of you, and he … [Read more...]
Heading For The Holidays
Posted on December 15, 2008 · Leave a Comment
The coming week, local media outlets are winding down for the holiday season. You'll see and hear a lot of fill-ins starting today, but it's still early enough in December that some regulars will still be working at least part of this week.We're here, too. Due to the general flow of news, the next three weeks will likely see fewer updates, and we'll probably try to put away the keyboard in the week between Christmas and New Year's Day...but we'll try to keep in touch...TIM WHITE EXITS: Today … [Read more...]
Friday’s Week Ender
Posted on December 12, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Barring any breaking news, this one should wrap up our week...CLEVELAND CHRISTMAS SWEATER: As mentioned earlier, way back when Premiere syndicated midday host Glenn Beck had not yet returned to Clear Channel talk WTAM/1100, Beck's "The Christmas Sweater" stage tour has a Cleveland stop...and it's this weekend.And though the performance Saturday night at Playhouse Square's Allen Theater is sold out, you can still have a chance of meeting the popular talk radio personality.Beck will be signing … [Read more...]
