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...]
That Other Story
Posted on January 20, 2009 · Leave a Comment
With the inauguration of President Obama in the history books, the coverage and wrapup of today's events will continue into the night.Though there will be some regular entertainment programming on the broadcast TV networks - most notably the FOX powerhouse "American Idol" at 8 - there will also be network specials wrapping up the day's events.We'll also take this opportunity to note an hour-long ABC News Radio special airing on Rubber City Radio oldies WAKR/1590 Akron from 7:05 to 8 PM tonight. … [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...]
A Snowy Update
Posted on January 10, 2009 · Leave a Comment
As local TV weather forecasters predict anywhere from 4, to 10, to 250 inches of snow for Northeast Ohio this weekend, what else do you have to do but read this Snowbound Week-Ending OMW update?We've stocked up on the essentials...you'll have enough here to last you through the snowy weekend. And we're only kidding about that "250" number above. It only seems like it...WEOL EXIT: We have few details, but we hear that Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting talk WEOL/930 Elyria has parted ways with … [Read more...]
Rolling Into 2009
Posted on January 5, 2009 · Leave a Comment
And here it is...with the exception of our special "Breaking News" over the weekend - more on that later - our first regular update for 2009.Since we've been mostly gone since just before Christmas, it'll be a long one...SUNDAY NEWS: With TV groups looking to save money, the latest focus is on Sunday mornings.As we hinted earlier, Local TV Fox affiliate WJW/8 in Cleveland has indeed scrapped its Sunday morning edition of "FOX 8 News", which had been airing from 8 to 9 AM.We hear from our … [Read more...]
Heading Off
Posted on December 23, 2008 · Leave a Comment
As promised, this is our final regular news update for 2008.We'll do our best to put up any major breaking media news (station sales, major format or personality/anchor changes) during the Christmas holiday period...but we won't be updating regularly until January 5, 2009.We will put up a very brief, non-newsy personal "Year End" message from your Primary Editorial Voice(tm) somewhere around the end of 2008.So, if it's not here in this update, it'll have to wait until...next year. (No, we're … [Read more...]
Heading For The Holidays
Posted on December 15, 2008 · Leave a Comment
The coming week, local media outlets are winding down for the holiday season. You'll see and hear a lot of fill-ins starting today, but it's still early enough in December that some regulars will still be working at least part of this week.We're here, too. Due to the general flow of news, the next three weeks will likely see fewer updates, and we'll probably try to put away the keyboard in the week between Christmas and New Year's Day...but we'll try to keep in touch...TIM WHITE EXITS: Today … [Read more...]
Wrapping Up December’s First Week
Posted on December 5, 2008 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 10:29 PM 12/5/08: Umm, oops.Our apologies to Akron Beacon Journal popular culture writer and OMW reader Rich Heldenfels, for posting this item without yet reading his detailed story on the WKYC changes in Friday's paper.Rich's item even contains some of the information we listed as "not confirmed 100%" below, including the weekend anchor moves involving Jeff Maynor and Kim Wheeler. We guess "not confirmed" meant "we hadn't read the Beacon yet" in this case.Since we're pretty sure Rich … [Read more...]
