As it turns out, Clear Channel talk WLW/700 personality Bill Cunningham was on a shorter leash than we realized - when he took over the former Matt Drudge Sunday night show syndicated by Clear Channel's Premiere.But the Cincinnati Enquirer's John Kiesewetter reports that "Willie" says he's earned a full-year renewal for "Live On Sunday Night, It's Bill Cunningham". The show airs Sunday from 10 PM to 1 AM Eastern, though flagship WLW only carries the first two hours. (Think "America's Trucking … [Read more...]
Monday’s Return
Posted on December 10, 2007 · Leave a Comment
So, the ol' OMW Inbox has clogged up again over the weekend, and there are still some outstanding items...WJW/FOX SALE?: Estimates are not always perfect, so we weren't 100% sure that we'd hear more by now on our story from last week - the pending sale of Cleveland FOX O&O WJW/8 and eight other FOX below-top 10 market stations, presumably to Oak Hill Capital Partners (Local TV, LLC).The announcement made by a high-level FOX executive in two meetings a week ago today at South Marginal Road … [Read more...]
Happy Thanksgiving
Posted on November 22, 2007 · Leave a Comment
As noted in a previous item, OMW will basically "go dark" for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, though we will post any major news involving the local media if we're able to do so.But here we are, slipping one under the door at deadline...FINAL HO-HO-HO UPDATE, AND A FORMAT ADJUSTMENT: It's Salem CCM WFHM/95.5 "The Fish" in Cleveland as the latest holiday convert, with a planned switch to Christmas music...at least according to their website, at any rate...at midnight tonight/Thanksgiving … [Read more...]
Trouble In Willie Paradise
Posted on October 9, 2007 · Leave a Comment
So, long-time Clear Channel talk WLW/700 host Bill Cunningham just launched his syndicated show.The former Drudge show was moved over to the "Big One" from sister talker WKRC/550 by CC Cincinnati AM operations chief Darryl Parks, so the station could prominently feature its own local talent with his brand-new weekly national talk show.And then, the truckers got in the way.No, not literally.But it was apparently the technical commitment to deliver the syndicated "America's Trucking Network" … [Read more...]
Monday Big Update
Posted on October 1, 2007 · Leave a Comment
A lot has happened since our Friday night update, for whatever reason. So, let's try to start strong this week...FROM THE BONDS OF CLEAR CHANNEL: Two weeks ago, Tom Embrescia's Sweet Home Ashtabula, LLC took control of the now-former Clear Channel cluster in Ashtabula, a group that once only consisted of talk WFUN/970 and AC WREO/97.1.Since that era, the cluster added now-top 40 WZOO/102.5, classic rock WFXJ/107.5, and the most recent entry, country WYBL/98.3 - which means a total of five … [Read more...]
BREAKING NEWS: “Mix” Cincinnati Flips To “Radio 94.1”
Posted on September 10, 2007 · Leave a Comment
Clear Channel hot AC WVMX/94.1 "Mix 94.1" Cincinnati has flipped to a new format and presentation.RadioInsight.com's Lance Venta has the scoop on the noon change:Just as we pondered on August 29, WVMX Cincinnati has dropped the “Mix” moniker in favor of “Radio 94.1” at noon today.A quick glance of the playlist shows a shift towards Modern AC.And sure enough, the WVMX website now redirects to "radio941.net", with a message for surprised listeners:Hello...Mix 94.1 is no longer on the air in … [Read more...]
Closing Out The Week
Posted on September 7, 2007 · Leave a Comment
Assorted stuff we haven't gotten around to, and the like... and a teaser or two...THAT TEASER: OMW hears that a long-time Northeast Ohio media personality returns to the local broadcast community on Monday.Is this the same person we hinted about in an item a while ago? Or, is it something entirely new and surprising? It certainly was for us, when we heard it.Or maybe it's not "entirely" new?Keep watching for details. We may update this one before Monday...SAVING RANTS?: OMW hears that FSN … [Read more...]
Followup Stuff
Posted on September 5, 2007 · Leave a Comment
Mostly followup to stuff posted below this item, with some new items as well..."RIK AND SARAH" NOW CORE OF WHBC-FM MORNINGS: For at least some time, WHBC-FM/94.1's Madison Woods actually hosted morning drive solo at "Mix 94.1", NextMedia's Canton AC outlet.When Rik Elliot showed up, the two teamed up. And now, "Maddie" is out of mornings.A memo from the station flew out of Market Street South and somehow made the trip up I-77 to us. It says "Mix" is "building" the morning show around Rik and … [Read more...]
Something To Write About
Posted on August 22, 2007 · Leave a Comment
UPDATED! See below...--------We've been quiet here at the OMW ranch for a couple of days, but mostly because we haven't had much to write about. We've found enough...THIS JUST IN: An alert OMW reader tips below that Good Karma sports WKNR/850 "ESPN 850" in Cleveland has signed up to be the home of the American Hockey League's Lake Erie Monsters.Here's the blurb on ESPNCleveland.com:The Lake Erie Monsters and WKNR announced on Wednesday that ESPN 850 WKNR will be the exclusive radio home for … [Read more...]
A Thursday Snack
Posted on August 16, 2007 · Leave a Comment
Some items to keep your information hunger pangs from getting TOO loud...SOME ADDITIONS TO THE PLUTO FILE: We have a couple of more questions answered about the move of Akron Beacon Journal sports columnist Terry Pluto to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.Thanks to the PD's own article about their now-returning sportswriter (well, after that small 22 year break in Akron), we know that Pluto's bringing his full ABJ repetoire to the PD sometime around Labor Day.That includes not only his popular Sunday … [Read more...]
