We know nothing about it, yet, but our Columbus readers tell us that North American rock WBZX/99.7 "The Blitz" is stunting this afternoon.We're told by numerous listeners/OMW readers in the market that they're interspersing computer "beeps" with a message that "your radio station is rebooting", promising "completion" by Friday at 5 PM.A similar message shows up - after a couple of seconds or so - when visiting the station's website... … [Read more...]
Another Passing
Posted on March 25, 2008 · Leave a Comment
We hate putting up two pieces of very bad news in a row, but...OMW hears that long-time former WTVN/610 Columbus production director Scott Kahler has died.His name has appeared once here before. Kahler was let go from Clear Channel Columbus in late 2006 in a round of budget cuts. In addition to his tenure in that building, we're told Kahler also spent time at WBNS and WLVQ.An obituary for Kahler can be found here, with information on memorial services this weekend.We're told his voice is … [Read more...]
Two Quick Items
Posted on February 25, 2008 · Leave a Comment
And after this, coming later today, a rundown on the digital TV transition and what local stations are doing in Northeast Ohio.Two short items, though...BERNARD'S PROBLEMS: Inside Radio reports that Bernard Radio, owners of three Youngstown market radio stations (WASN/1500, WGFT/1330 and WRBP/101.9), and two Columbus market stations (WVKO/1580 and WVKO-FM/103.1), could be on the block.After battling with former partners in the D.B. Zwirn "Special Opportunities Fund", the parent of Bernard … [Read more...]
Monday And New Stuff
Posted on January 21, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Some actual news has happened this weekend. Or, sometime in the last week, but we just got a Round Tuit(tm) now...STO INDIANS ROAD GAMES IN HD, CONFIRMED: It's been rumored around the Internet for a while that SportsTime Ohio would "drop the other shoe" as far as HDTV coverage of Cleveland Indians games. But now, we have it confirmed.WKYC/3 senior director Frank Macek gets the scoop in his "Director's Cut" blog from STO itself:Regarding STO - yes, all Indians games (home & away) this … [Read more...]
Friday Warmup
Posted on January 18, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Think warm as you read this item to wrap up our week.After all, the weather forecast tells us that the wind chill over the weekend in Northeast Ohio will be roughly 200 degrees below zero, give or take a hundred...DID YOU HEAR IT?: Anytime Cleveland market morning drive radio icon John Lanigan even remotely talks about his career and future, the Bat Signal appears in the sky, and OMW gets contacted by numerous readers.That's what happened earlier this week, when a caller apparently called the … [Read more...]
Columbus’ 3200 Watt Internet Transmitter
Posted on January 12, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Some people make use of personal FM modulators or transmitters to play their iPods, or send Internet radio streaming all around the house.One Columbus radio station is using it the Internet to, well, provide actual programming content for the station...full-time.It's been over one month since the liberal talk format returned to the Columbus airwaves, via the facilities of Bernard Radio's WVKO/1580 - which now being LMAed by a group called "Cowtown Communications". That group is headed up by … [Read more...]
Where’d We Go?
Posted on January 4, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Thank you for hanging in there while we took an extended hiatus. And, welcome to 2008!Here are some random items to carry you along for a while. And watch this space for a possible announcement sometime in the next few days...FREEMAN EXITS 45/49: Kent-based PBS outlet WNEO/45-WEAO/49 "PBS 45 & 49" is saying goodbye later this year to a key, long-time employee.The station says chief operating officer Don Freeman will retire on March 28 of this year.Freeman has been with the … [Read more...]
Wrapping Up Some Loose Ends
Posted on December 17, 2007 · Leave a Comment
...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...]
BREAKING NEWS: Radio 106.7 Columbus Debuts Today
Posted on December 13, 2007 · Leave a Comment
We could pat ourselves on the back, but it's not like it took a team of world-class scientists to figure this one out.OMW hears that at noon today, as expected and rumored, Clear Channel Columbus will flip stunting WMRN-FM/106.7 Dublin "Television 106.7" to a modern/adult rock format as "Radio 106.7".The station's new website, listed as "Under Construction", bears the logo shown here.We hear from multiple sources - basically, everyone in Columbus short of Jim Tressel - that "Radio 106.7" will be … [Read more...]
Clearing Up Columbus
Posted on December 12, 2007 · Leave a Comment
As it turns out, the rumors (clearly marked as such in an item below) about layoffs at the Clear Channel Columbus compound were a bit overstated.In this day where large numbers of employees are let go for financial/budget reasons at clusters all over America, we're "happy" (cough) to report that only three workers have actually been let go from the hallways at Clear Channel's Columbus operations.OMW has confirmed that talk WTVN/610 newsman Stuart Osborne is indeed gone from the building for a … [Read more...]
