Our inbox has been peppered with anonymous tips all day out of the Clear Channel World Domination HQ at Oak Tree, and now it's been confirmed by the various radio trade sites.Long-time VP/Programming Kevin Metheny has left the building at Clear Channel Cleveland after a 10 year run in the post, and a 13 year run with the local cluster.OMW hears that the exit comes at the end of Metheny's most recent contract as the company's head Cleveland programmer... … [Read more...]
Lots Of TV Stuff
Posted on July 30, 2008 · Leave a Comment
We're mostly catching up with stuff this time, but felt it needed to be put up, at least...GAUTHIER EXITS FOR HOME: We'd heard rumblings that this was about to happen, but WKYC/3 senior director and fellow blogger Frank Macek provides the confirmation and details on his "Director's Cut" blog."Channel 3 News Today" co-anchor and "Channel 3 News Midday" anchor Barbara Gauthier is leaving the Gannett Cleveland NBC affiliate for Columbus.No, she's not going to Columbus, Ohio.She's heading for the … [Read more...]
A Follow-Up Or Three
Posted on July 29, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Followups, clarification and other stuff...THE SAVAGE FALLOUT: When we passed along word that Salem Cleveland talk outlet WHK/1420 was dumping Talk Radio Network host Michael Savage over recent remarks about autism, we didn't know what the station would do in the 9-11 PM time slot until August 4th, when it announced it would start a new lineup.Friday, WHK aired Savage's show as normal, and the station did so again on Monday night.WHK/Salem Cleveland general manager Mark Jaycox announced last … [Read more...]
Savage Flap Prompts WHK To Drop Show
Posted on July 25, 2008 · Leave a Comment
The ongoing flap over controversial remarks by Talk Radio Networks host Michael Savage has cost him his Cleveland affiliate.The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Julie Washington reports that Salem talk outlet WHK/1420 Cleveland has given Savage his walking papers, after widely reported on-air comments about autistic children that have caused both advertiser and affiliate drops nationwide.Salem Cleveland general manager Mark Jaycox is quoted by Washington on the move, with wording you don't normally hear … [Read more...]
“KY” on XM
Posted on July 24, 2008 · Leave a Comment
The big news this week is that competing satellite providers XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio are about to get the FCC go-ahead for a long-planned merger, according to the Wall Street Journal.There's a smaller piece of local-related news about one of the two services as well.XM's "Decades" channels frequently do tributes to legendary radio outlets of the past, and Cleveland is in the spotlight tomorrow.WKYC/3 senior director and "Director's Cut" blogger Frank Macek gives the heads … [Read more...]
Thursday Tidbits
Posted on July 24, 2008 · Leave a Comment
A few late week tidbits for you...UPDATE 10/27/08 5:35 PM: From Morrison's agent, Steve Swienckowski from the David Crane Agency:"All charges related to a July incident involving former WUPW Meteorologist Mike Morrison have been dismissed, and all references on his record have been expunged. That is the ruling of a court in Toledo as of today. "BAD WEATHER: OMW hears that WUPW/36 "Fox Toledo" chief meteorologist Mike Morrison is "no longer in the building".Morrison was arrested early Sunday … [Read more...]
You’re Welcome, Mr. Salyer
Posted on July 23, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Here at OMW, we don't toot our own horn very often. (For one, there's no sound on this website, so you wouldn't hear it. Yes, we're kidding.)But on one major local media news story, we've led the way both locally and nationwide.OMW was the very first place many learned about the sale of then-FOX O&O WJW/8 "FOX 8" in Cleveland, a purchase recently completed by Local TV, LLC, the operational arm of private equity giant Oak Hill Capital Partners.And here, and only here, did you learn that WJW … [Read more...]
Monday Update
Posted on July 21, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Starting a new week with these items...DRAGGED INTO THE 21ST CENTURY: It's the Nagging Rumor That Won't Go Away, Northeast Ohio radio-wise.Is Media-Com talk WNIR/100.1 "The Talk of Akron" about ready to become "The Talk of the (Internet) World", as it were?An OMW reader tipped us a month or two back to an on-air comment by WNIR midday host Howie Chizek...that the station was apparently readying a streaming audio feed, offering the local talk station's programming to Internet listeners.And then, … [Read more...]
Assorted Stuff
Posted on July 16, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Just a few non-related items, mostly as usual...FALLEN OFFICER BENEFIT: The folks at Oak Tree tell us that Clear Channel country WGAR/99.5 morning man Jim Mantel is involved in a fundraiser for the family of Twinsburg police officer Josh Miktarian, who was killed during a traffic stop in that city early Sunday morning.The benefit is a memorial motorcycle ride from South East Harley-Davidson in Bedford Heights to Twinsburg High School on Saturday, July 26th. Riders' minimum donations of $10 … [Read more...]
Other Shoe Drops On South Marginal
Posted on July 15, 2008 · Leave a Comment
It's official - Cleveland no longer has a network "owned and operated" TV station.New ownership group Local TV LLC closed on the purchase of eight FOX-owned stations Monday, including "Cleveland's Own" WJW/8 "FOX 8" right here in Northeast Ohio.OMW hears that WJW, and other new Local TV outlets, announced the sale on air Monday. And "FOX 8" also puts this item on its website:WJW wants to let you know that you will continue to see your favorite programs on Fox 8 -- including Fox 8 News, American … [Read more...]
