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...]
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...]
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...]
Digital TV Date Etched In Water
Posted on January 26, 2009 · Leave a Comment
It's been kicking around Washington for the past few weeks, but it looks like Congress may indeed try to stand in front of the speeding Digital TV Express Train, wave its arms wildly and shout into the train's loud whistle - "slow down!"A number of reports late last week indicate that a key Republican U.S. Senator, Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas (ranking member of the Senate's Commerce Committee), has ended her opposition to a move of the digital TV transition date from February 17th to June … [Read more...]
Sports Radio Fallout
Posted on January 22, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Some changes at a national sports radio network have created quite the fallout - at least for some stations.As part of massive changes announced by Clear Channel on Tuesday, Fox Sports Radio (run by Clear Channel's Premiere syndication arm) also announced a lineup shift.Out the door at FSR: shows including mid-morning's "Out of Bounds with Craig Shemon and James Washington", the nighttime show hosted by Andrew Siciliano and Crystal Fernandez, and Ben Maller's overnight show.Locally, "Out of … [Read more...]
The Clear Channel Cuts Item
Posted on January 20, 2009 · Leave a Comment
This item will no longer be updated tonight.Due to circumstances beyond our control, Wednesday's first update may be a little later in the day than usual, perhaps later in the afternoon. We'll revisit "what we know" about this big day of bad employment news, add any updates, and return to our usual cycle of other news (there is some of it!) as well.But it'll won't be "first thing in the morning".=========We'll continue to update this item through the day, bringing it to the top of this blog as … [Read more...]
Captains Move Flagship To WREO
Posted on January 20, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Though long-time Lake Erie Captains flagship WELW/1330 Willoughby will continue to air the Class A minor league baseball team's games, the team is getting a new flagship station in 2009.The Captains have announced that Media One AC WREO/97.1 "Star 97.1" Ashtabula will become the new primary station on the Captains Radio Network, with "selected weekday day games" heard on Media One sister sports WFUN/970 "ESPN 970".Quoting a press release the Captains sent directly to OMW: “We are very excited … [Read more...]
That Big Day Is Here
Posted on January 20, 2009 · Leave a Comment
We feel kind of short handed on this day, with major news breaking out all over, and just one person to keep track of it - your Primary Editorial Voice(tm).But we'll do our best...and please, if you hear anything, let us know...AS SCHEDULED: It's been rumored for weeks, and reported in major newspapers the past few days...and yes, it does appear radio giant Clear Channel has brought out the layoff axe.Trade websites are starting to line up the job cuts, which are expected to affect roughly 7 … [Read more...]
Closing Friday
Posted on January 16, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Many of the items below have to do with the upcoming transition to digital TV, which is currently scheduled for February 17th, 2009.But first, we've got an elephant in the middle of the room that we can't ignore...CLEAR CHANNEL RUMORS: We've touched on it before, briefly...the rumors that massive job cuts are in the works at Clear Channel clusters around the country, after an important managers' meeting in Dallas a while back.Since then, the radio rumor mill has pumped out January 20th - next … [Read more...]
