Yes, as a reader asked, this has indeed been one of the busiest periods of change in Northeast Ohio media...and we've been covering that particular topic for some six years and change. "You can't tell the players without a scorecard," so the saying goes, so let's update the Local Media Scorecard as we write this late on Sunday night... YES, THERE IS A RUSS: Heading off our scorecard is the debut of Gannett NBC affiliate WKYC/3's new evening anchor and managing editor Russ Mitchell, whom you … [Read more...]
A Week of Bombshells
Posted on January 11, 2012 · Leave a Comment
There are so many new media news items this week, you'd think your Primary Editorial Voice(tm) was on vacation in a far off land. (That's our standard statement and rule here at OMW - if we leave town, all heck breaks loose.) We have more big news from the local TV and radio scenes. We'll start with radio, since it's the most recent item... YOUNGING UP: It would appear that the major changes at CBS Radio AC WDOK/102.1 "New 102" are nearly complete. So, if you're an AC warhorse like WDOK, and … [Read more...]
The Other Stuff
Posted on January 10, 2012 · 5 Comments
As promised, a few hours late...let's go through the other stuff not connected (mostly) with the rebranding of CBS Radio AC (we think it still is) WDOK/102.1, now known to the world as "New 102". For now... THAT OTHER CONTRACT: The renewal of the contract of WDOK..er..."New 102"'s morning man Trapper Jack Elliot became a public item, when Elliot told the Plain Dealer's Chuck Yarborough late last week that the 2 year deal was sitting there, unsigned. When he came back to the 102.1 airwaves on … [Read more...]
WDOK Is Dead, Long Live The New 102?
Posted on January 9, 2012 · 6 Comments
CBS Radio Cleveland AC WDOK/102.1 unveiled the first part of its new formula for winning this morning: a new name, a returned morning show (mostly), and frequent mentions of Ohio Media Watch! OK, so we're kidding about that last part, but morning show hosts Trapper Jack Elliot, Terry Moir and Jim McIntyre had a lot of fun this morning with us, them on the air, us on Twitter, as they were pretty open with the changes that have taken place at One Radio Lane since last week. For one, "WDOK" only … [Read more...]
Navel Gazing At One Radio Lane
Posted on January 7, 2012 · 4 Comments
Rarely has a station's own "navel gazing" about its immediate future garnered so much public attention. But that's what's been happening the past few days at One Radio Lane in Cleveland, home of CBS Radio AC WDOK/102.1 - and sister hot AC WQAL/104.1 "Q104". Since Monday, the once-reliable station has kept all of its air personalities home, and sent one, 20-plus year vet Nancy Alden, home for good. Listeners have certainly noticed the absence of Alden, and this week, of the station's morning … [Read more...]
Bombshell At One Radio Lane – Alden Out
Posted on January 4, 2012 · 14 Comments
UPDATE 1/4/12 10:39 AM: The item has been corrected to reflect that Nancy Alden moved back to middays on WDOK in 2009. And a glitch caused by the WordPress mobile client, with much of the item becoming underlined, has been corrected. ------- CBS Radio AC WDOK/102.1 Cleveland has had one constant on its schedule over the past 20-plus years...veteran air personality Nancy Alden. Well, until today. OMW has confirmed that Alden's contract with WDOK hasn't been renewed, and she has exited One … [Read more...]
Last Call For 2011
Posted on December 19, 2011 · 4 Comments
This will be the last regular item until 2012, as we're going on Holiday Hiatus. Any major local radio/TV changes will be noted on our social media presence...and a reminder, you don't even have to be "on" either Twitter or Facebook to find those. Hit this link for our Twitter page, or look at the "OMW on Twitter" section of this very site. The updates are mirrored on both services. On behalf of the entire Ohio Media Watch staff (OK, your Primary Editorial Voice[tm] and our Secondary Voice, … [Read more...]
The Elephant In The Radio Room
Posted on December 14, 2011 · 13 Comments
Long-time readers may have noticed that we've had almost nothing on one of the biggest changes about to hit Cleveland radio...changes at AAA/adult rock WNWV/107.3 "V107.3", the Elyria-licensed station that is being sold by Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting to Akron's Rubber City Radio Group, owners of oldies/news WAKR/1590, rock WONE/97.5 and country WQMX/94.9. The application to sell the station was approved by the FCC on November 28th, and closing - and a temporary move of the station to RCRG's … [Read more...]
Technical And Non-Technical
Posted on December 6, 2011 · 6 Comments
UPDATE 12/6/11 6:23 PM: If you're just seeing this notice, we've added one more update we forgot...at the end of this item... -------- We have some "facilities" items up front, and a nice mix of non-technical stuff after that. Scroll down for the latter... THE WBNX FLY IN WJW'S OINTMENT: We breathlessly reported here recently that the Federal Communications Commission had issued an "NPRM" (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking) that would clear the way for Local TV LLC Fox affiliate WJW/8 in … [Read more...]
A Snowy Mix Piling Up
Posted on November 30, 2011 · 7 Comments
As we write this item, the first snow of the season can be seen outside the OMW World Headquarters. Meanwhile, our items are piling more than the snow in this short-lived event... THIS JUST IN, FROM THE FCC: Monday, the Federal Communications Commission officially approved the $6.5 million sale of Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting AAA WNWV/107.3 "V107.3" to Akron's Rubber City Radio Group. There's no word on a timetable for the deal to close, or on what the new owners plan to do with the … [Read more...]
