Legendary broadcaster and executive Van Lane passed away Sunday night. Born Morris Schecter, Lane achieved his greatest success from 1955 until 1968, mostly through daily freelance Thoroughbred racing news that Lane provided to WHK/1420, KYW/1100, WERE/1300 and WJW/850. Those racing reports were so popular (as the sport enjoyed its' pinnacle at that same period) that Schiltz Beer even served as a sponsor for several years. He also was the play-by-play voice for the old AHL Cleveland Barons on … [Read more...]
Doc Thompson (kinda) returns to Ohio
Posted on October 1, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Remember Doc Thompson? He's the former production director for Clear Channel oldies/classic hits WMJI/105.7, and also was a producer and sidekick for the station's longtime top-rated "Lanigan and Malone" morning show. (Listeners to talk WTVN/610 Columbus may even remember the Saturday night talk show he co-hosted with fellow WMJI staffer Bryan Radabaugh back at the turn of the century.) Doc left WMJI in 2005 for a programming gig at short-lived Albuquerque NM startup FM talker KAGM, and later … [Read more...]
WKSU Focuses on Bullying
Posted on October 1, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Starting this Monday, Kent State University’s WKSU/89.7 will examine the tender subject of bullying, which is apropos considering recent news events. WKSU reporter/producer Vivian Goodman presides over "Mean Kids", a six-part series that will air during WKSU’s local segments on NPR’s Morning Edition. (For the uninitiated, NPR's flagship program airs on WKSU weekdays from 5:00AM to 9:00AM.) The segments will examine current statistics on bullying, the ease of creating havoc over the Internet, … [Read more...]
That Columbus Blue Jackets FM Flagship Shuffle
Posted on October 1, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Ever since Dispatch/RadiOhio sports WBNS/1460 began simulcasting on their sister 97.1 frequency back in January 2009, the longtime OSU and Columbus Blue Jackets flagship station was never able to make it a full-time simulcast. This was due to Fun With Radio Columbus market alt-rock WWCD/101.1 having been the team's FM flagship since the team's 2000 inception - and as a result, "97.1 The Fan" would have to break away from their AM counterpart to run ESPN Radio whenever the team's coverage … [Read more...]
WGAR hires Tim Leary for mornings
Posted on September 29, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Veteran Clear Channel country WGAR/99.5 announced yesterday that they have a new morning show host. It's Tim Leary, host of "The Morning Showgram" on Hall Communications WCTK/98.1 "Cat Country" in Providence, Rhode Island. Leary's last day at WCTK will be October 8; he's slated to start at WGAR on October 25. Upon the prospect of joining WGAR, Leary told AllAccess: "I’m absolutely humbled and honored with this opportunity to work at such a country heritage icon as WGAR. My jaw is still on the … [Read more...]
WKDD’s Krissy Taylor to leave the “Keith and Krissy” show
Posted on September 28, 2010 · Leave a Comment
The joys of becoming a new mother were enough to get hot AC WKDD/98.1 morning co-host Krissy Taylor to leave the morning show grind behind. Her announcement to leave the "Keith and Krissy" show was made yesterday morning (listen to it here) and with a companion post on her bio page. And as she reiterates here, it's not a total exit from WKDD, as she's agreed to stick around for weekend duty: I never thought that I would become that woman that would want to stay at home with her … [Read more...]
News, Scattered and Sown
Posted on September 26, 2010 · 1 Comment
There have been so many stories that have popped up over the past week (notwithstanding the flap between Matt Patrick and the entire Michigan State Spartans fanbase for his remarks on coach Mike D'Antonio back on Monday... so much has been said that this list of articles across the country should suffice). As OMW's Primary Editorial Voice (tm) noted late last week, a guest editor would likely be brought aboard to help out as a Secondary Editorial Voice (tm). As such, this will be my first … [Read more...]
Dismantling The Beacon Empire
Posted on September 11, 2010 · 4 Comments
Long-time readers of your Mighty Blog of Fun(tm) have probably noticed that we have a particular obsession with a small Mahoning Valley radio group. Since before we started in 2005, some form of Beacon Broadcasting has owned up to five radio stations along the Ohio/Pennsylvania border...a reign that's coming to an end. Pittsburgh-based broker Ray Rosenblum passes along word that the remaining three Beacon stations - on the PA side of the state border - are being sold to Educational Media … [Read more...]
Quick Hits
Posted on September 8, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Some items we have to get online, quickly...but as it turns out, this is a full-sized update... PREMIERES IN THE BOOKS...: We missed an update on Wednesday, so we didn't get to remind you of the very first Regina Brett Show on WKSU/89.7-and-its-million-simulcasters. (OK, so it only seems like WKSU has a million full power repeaters and simulcasters.) For the record, show #1 on Wednesday night at 7 PM, courtesy of a press release that came in more than enough time from WKSU's OMW Handler, Ann … [Read more...]
About Bill
Posted on August 31, 2010 · 1 Comment
This is a tough one to write. But there's no other way to say it...the medical prognosis for "Uncle Bill" Weisinger, local radio engineer and volunteer leader of WSTB/88.9's "Sunday Oldies Jukebox", has taken a turn for the worse. As such, the focus of those around Bill's life in the past few days has been maximizing the time he has left on this earth. This picture is from a 61st birthday visit by his "Sunday Oldies Jukebox" co-horts to the local care center where Bill is staying. Bill is … [Read more...]
