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...]
Jerry Healey Passes Away
Posted on February 5, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Except perhaps for very young listeners in the Rubber City, the name Jerry Healey invokes many memories of Akron's WAKR/1590.Word is coming in that the former WAKR mainstay has passed away "peacefully" near his Southern California home.Quoting his obituary, which an OMW reader passed along to us this morning:The dominant areas of Healey's career were as a sports broadcaster and as a radio morning show host. A product of Syracuse University, he was the voice of football for the University of … [Read more...]
Three Items Or More
Posted on February 3, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Now, some items we've missed, or smaller items that have just come to our attention...CAROLE GONE?: Though this appeared on Gannett NBC affiliate WKYC/3 senior director Frank Macek's "Director's Cut" blog, we missed it in our recent trip out of Northeast Ohio.A job change by newly installed "Channel 3 News at 7" co-anchor Carole Sullivan's husband appears likely to send her packing to San Diego.That's where Mike Sullivan has been named offensive line coach for the NFL's San Diego Chargers. He … [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...]
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...]
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...]
Format Changes We Missed
Posted on January 23, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Shortly after the start of every new year, some radio stations feel it's a great time for a fresh start...with a format change.Since they're not in our regular listening area, OMW missed two of them - but we've caught up with them a full week before the end of January, so we can say "this month"...W-WOW BACK TO TALK: The format wheel has been spun so often at one small Northeast Ohio station, WWOW/1360 Conneaut, we wouldn't be surprised to see TV's Vanna White around.Its most recent format was … [Read more...]
An Ohio Public Radio Merger
Posted on January 23, 2009 · Leave a Comment
As in commercial radio, the Incredibly Awful Economy is starting to affect public radio as well.That's what ultimately prompted a big move at Oxford's Miami University, where the university's NPR affiliate - WMUB/88.5 - will lose its original programming on March 1st.Cincinnati Public Radio will operate it starting that date, and will program it as a repeater for its own NPR station, WVXU/91.7.The Middletown Journal and the Dayton Business Journal have more, as does the university itself.You … [Read more...]
