The early flip to Christmas music has happened twice in Cleveland.As expected, CBS Radio AC WDOK/102.1 "Soft Rock 102.1" and Salem CCM WFHM/95.5 "The Fish" have become the next Northeast Ohio stations - and the first Cleveland market stations - to flip to all Christmas music.The moves comes after Clear Channel Canton market AC WHOF/101.7 "My 101.7" and Youngstown market classic hits WBBG/106.1 "Big 106.1" flipped to holiday music in the past week.WDOK had been promoting a Christmas music flip … [Read more...]
Just Some Monday Stuff
Posted on November 24, 2008 · Leave a Comment
There's nothing particularly pressing, right now...we just wanted to clear the Friday deck:WNEO: We have yet to check in with the folks at Western Reserve PBS, so we're just putting this item up as a placeholder until we're able to get with them for an update on the newly-returned WNEO-DT/45 Alliance signal.But our own observations - far afield from the WNEO transmitter in Salem - saw the WNEO digital signal lighting up on and off over the weekend, but not quite locking a signal from OMW World … [Read more...]
Friday Cleanup
Posted on November 21, 2008 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 3:15 PM 11/21/08: We added a new item below, about the debut of a new Toledo weekend radio show produced by one of our regular readers. Scroll down for the update...-------Cleaning up some items as we intend to head out the door for the weekend...WNEO'S DIGITAL: OMW hears from Western Reserve PBS that the station is still technically in testing mode today with its new digital signal for Youngstown market WNEO/45 Alliance, which lit up for the first time on Thursday evening.For now, WNEO … [Read more...]
Add 30 Days?
Posted on November 21, 2008 · Leave a Comment
It looks like America's full-power TV broadcasters may get an extra 30 days to help assure a smoother digital TV transition.Broadcasting & Cable Magazine reports that Thursday, the U.S. Senate passed "by unanimous consent" a so-called TV "nightlight bill", which would "would allow broadcasters to continue an analog signal for 30 days past the Feb. 17, 2009 cut-off date".Though the bill reportedly has support of FCC commissioner Kevin Martin, and the support of the White House, B&C … [Read more...]
THIS JUST IN: WKDD Turns To Billy Bush For Nights
Posted on November 20, 2008 · Leave a Comment
With Clear Channel Akron/Canton hot AC WKDD/98.1's former local evening voice now being heard alongside morning host Matt Patrick, the station has turned to a big syndicated name to take the vacated evening slot.The 7-11 PM weeknight slot once occupied by Krissy Taylor's voicetracked shift will be occupied starting Monday by Westwood One's "Billy Bush Show". Bush hosts TV's "Access Hollywood", and does his syndicated radio show from the TV show's studio.Quoting 'KDD:Billy is able to have the … [Read more...]
THIS JUST IN: WKNR, OSU Re-Up Through 2012
Posted on November 20, 2008 · Leave a Comment
As Buckeye Nation concentrates on this weekend's big football game with the Michigan Wolverines, the Ohio State Radio Network's Cleveland affiliate is crowing about the future.Good Karma sports WKNR/850 "ESPN 850 WKNR" has announced a renewal of the station's contract to carry Buckeyes football and basketball in the Cleveland market. The new deal lasts through the year 2012.Quoting a WKNR release:"Given the enthusiasm that exists in Cleveland and the surrounding area for Ohio State football and … [Read more...]
WNEO Digital Coming Back – Step One
Posted on November 20, 2008 · Leave a Comment
OMW hears that Western Reserve PBS' WNEO-DT/45 Alliance (the operation's Youngstown market facility) is indeed on course to return to the airwaves on Friday.After the Kent-based PBS affiliate shut off the analog channel 45 signal for good on Wednesday morning, station engineers have been busy installing the new digital channel 45 transmitter, and have been testing it off-air into a dummy load.The digital transmitter is being switched today into the now-formerly analog transmission line, and … [Read more...]
Another Radio Move – Sort Of
Posted on November 20, 2008 · Leave a Comment
When it wasn't even looking, the Toledo market got another country music station recently - sort of.It's a station that's been there, and been in the format, for some time.But the recent FCC approval of a new city of license for Tiffin's WCKY-FM/103.7 "103-7 CKY" has apparently emboldened the Clear Channel station to start basically shouting "Toledo!!!" on the air.Late last month, the FCC approved a new construction permit reallocating 103.7 from Tiffin to Pemberville. We've never heard of … [Read more...]
The New Way To Cover News
Posted on November 20, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Rest assured, given the current economic conditions and the flagging fortunes of media outlets, this'll be here soon enough.But right now, a joint "news coverage sharing" venture between NBC and FOX is being implemented in markets where the two entities actually own stations. This USA Today story from last week has details.Basically, the NBC and FOX-owned stations in those markets will create a shared assignment desk, with some camera crews from each station devoted to staffing it. The goal, … [Read more...]
I Love Ya, Cleveland (Magazine)
Posted on November 19, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Since we don't usually buy Cleveland Magazine, we didn't know that a prominent local sports media personality is featured this month until we saw Bruce Drennan on the magazine's cover at a local newsstand.Sure enough, the very interesting tale of the sportscaster's recent fall - and rise - is featured in a story titled "The Reconstruction of Bruce Drennan", which can be read online here.The magazine also offers a podcast featuring the Drennan story.The basics of the story are well known to OMW … [Read more...]
