We've focused so much on the digital TV transition recently, that we wouldn't be surprised if some of our newer readers wondered if we forgot about radio.Of course not. We just can't control all the crazy activity surrounding the change in the digital TV transition date.But here are some radio items hitting our radar, along with one that also touches TV. Unfortunately, not all the news is good...MORE LAYOFFS: OMW hears that the already devastated Cumulus cluster in Toledo is undergoing … [Read more...]
Northeast Ohio’s Digital TV Picture
Posted on February 3, 2009 · Leave a Comment
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...]
Columbus Classic Hits Flip Confirmed
Posted on February 2, 2009 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 2:21 PM 2/2/09: An OMW reader in the market tells us that "Big Hits" did indeed debut on WJZK/104.3 Richwood at 12 noon, with smooth jazz WJZA/103.5 Pickerington now as a solo act.Our original item is below...---------We mentioned it in our item earlier this morning, and we've now confirmed that Saga's "Big Hits" classic hits format in Columbus - bumped off of WODB/107.9 when that station grabbed the hot AC format and "Mix" moniker left behind by Dispatch/RadiOhio's WBNS-FM 97.1 in its … [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...]
WCMH Dumps 11
Posted on January 30, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Briefly: The Columbus Dispatch reports about the latest round of Ohio TV news job cuts.The Dispatch's Molly Willow reports that Media General NBC affiliate WCMH/4 has laid off veteran news director Stan Sanders and ten other employees - there's no word who else was let go.The TV trade site TV Newsday indicates that the Columbus cuts are among others nationwide by the company which bought "NBC 4" from the NBC network itself in 2006... … [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...]
Sports And Digital
Posted on January 27, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Your Primary Editorial Voice(tm) is "on the road" for much of this week, and our updates will be a little more sporadic than usual.But, we did manage to put some "breaking news" up here before it happened on Monday, didn't we? And as usual, our physical exit from Ohio prompted a major change...sorry, Columbus, we should have warned you!THE SPORTS HIT THE FM FAN: And as reported here Monday, Dispatch hot AC WBNS-FM/97.1 Columbus "Mix 97.1" faded into oblivion as scheduled at 4 PM on … [Read more...]
FM Sports Tackles Columbus’ Mix
Posted on January 26, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Rumors are about to turn to reality in Columbus.AllAccess confirms that Dispatch hot AC WBNS-FM/97.1 "Mix 97.1" will flip in about an hour to a simulcast of sports sister station WBNS/1460...the new station to be known as "97.1 The Fan".OMW hears unconfirmed rumors that the move has already resulted in the dismissal of the entire (we're told) "Mix" FM staff.More later... … [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...]
