...and waiting for others.First, a reminder: OMW will be sporadically updated between now and January 2nd, 2008. We will continue to provide "major" breaking news - i.e. format changes, sales, and major personality moves - throughout the holidays, into 2008.And by our count, we've got at least a couple or three of those waiting to happen...NOT YET, BUT...: We haven't heard an official announcement, even within the building, of a potential new hire by a Cleveland TV station. We hinted at it … [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...]
Moving On, Moved In, Moved On
Posted on December 7, 2007 · Leave a Comment
We have mostly Cleveland TV-related items today...in fact, all of them are...BIG APPLE BOUND: OMW has learned that ABC affiliate WEWS/5 in Cleveland will be losing reporter Carolina Leid.Ms. Leid is leaving "NewsChannel 5" for the nation's largest TV market, New York City. She takes a reporting job at ABC O&O WABC/7 in the Big Apple.Carolina's last day at 3001 Euclid will be December 28th.OMW hears that WEWS is looking for her replacement...AC WITH JN: Long-running WEWS weekend show … [Read more...]
FOX Selling WJW – Update
Posted on December 5, 2007 · Leave a Comment
We've worked the phones, er, E-Mail, and gathered information from a number of our sources, and we now have a clearer picture of the impending sale of FOX owned-and-operated station WJW/8 "FOX 8" in Cleveland and a number of sister stations.First of all, a clarification.After sweeping the building at South Marginal Road, OMW hears that FOX honcho Dennis Swanson did NOT announce the actual identity of the buyer that has been found for WJW and eight other smaller market O&Os. Staffers were … [Read more...]
EXCLUSIVE (?): WJW, FOX O&Os To Oak Hill
Posted on December 3, 2007 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 10:37 PM 12/4/07: We are trying to nail down this story on a nationwide basis, which we reported based upon information from long-time, trusted, reliable sources in this area.The sale we were told was announced locally has not yet been reported elsewhere, but we're keeping an eye on it.We'll add a new update later.-- The Management----------This may well be a national exclusive.OMW hears that it has been announced to staffers at Cleveland FOX owned-and-operated WJW/8 "FOX 8" that the … [Read more...]
Tom Sullivan Dies
Posted on December 2, 2007 · Leave a Comment
OMW hears that long-time Northeast Ohio radio personality Tom Sullivan has passed away at the age of 53. Tom, born Tom Farrar in Canal Fulton in 1954, died Friday afternoon.From the Canton Repository's online obituary listing:Tom spent over 30 years in radio and was known by his stage name Tom Sullivan. Tom worked for WKDD, WQMX, WHBC-FM and the old M105 in Cleveland and others. "If I put a smile on your face or made you laugh at one of my stunts, then it was all worth while"Tom's last known … [Read more...]
Mutual Decision
Posted on November 27, 2007 · Leave a Comment
OK, so we're a bit out of the saddle, but yes, we did actually manage to find the story written by Plain Dealer media columnist Julie Washington over the weekend.(Though, as always, we appreciate the help...especially when Ms. Washington's efforts usually require a search party to find if you don't get the Dead Trees edition of the PD.)This is hardly news to anyone who has worked in radio or TV, but stations and employees frequently have different takes on what happens when someone no longer … [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...]
Another One Rides The Sleigh
Posted on November 19, 2007 · Leave a Comment
To almost no one's surprise, CBS Radio AC WDOK/102.1 "SoftRock 102.1" has become the first Cleveland market station to flip to holiday music.OMW hears that it was WDOK program director and OMW reader Scott Miller who launched the Christmas tunes parade at 9 AM today.We didn't hear it directly from Scott, but really, it was not a surprise that today was the day for the flip. WDOK has usually been the first Cleveland market station to adopt the usually popular and profitable Christmas music run - … [Read more...]
Turkey Week Starts
Posted on November 19, 2007 · Leave a Comment
And more housekeeping: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, OMW will likely be very thin this week. At the moment, we plan to not publish at all from Wednesday through next Monday.Part of this is because there generally isn't any major radio/TV (or indeed, other) news over the holiday weekend...but part is because we're "resetting" and taking some personal time to spend with friends and family.We may be able to post *major* breaking media news, including such things as radio station format … [Read more...]
