And after this, coming later today, a rundown on the digital TV transition and what local stations are doing in Northeast Ohio.Two short items, though...BERNARD'S PROBLEMS: Inside Radio reports that Bernard Radio, owners of three Youngstown market radio stations (WASN/1500, WGFT/1330 and WRBP/101.9), and two Columbus market stations (WVKO/1580 and WVKO-FM/103.1), could be on the block.After battling with former partners in the D.B. Zwirn "Special Opportunities Fund", the parent of Bernard … [Read more...]
A Rover Update
Posted on February 22, 2008 · Leave a Comment
More news this afternoon out of Camp Rover, soon to be based at Clear Channel's Oak Tree World Domination HQ in suburban Cleveland.OMW hears that while former WKRK/92.3 "K-Rock" morning chien Shane "Rover" French and his gang won't be heard on "Rover's Morning Glory's" new home, rock WMMS/100.7, until April 1st... Rover and his minions will start doing live shows again on Monday.Sources tell us that from Monday until the show's Cleveland return, "RMG" will be heard live on the syndicated … [Read more...]
And Even More Silent
Posted on February 22, 2008 · Leave a Comment
There's still no confirmation of what we reported here earlier - the move of now-former WKRK/92.3 "K-Rock" morning host Shane "Rover" French to Clear Channel rock WMMS/100.7, scheduled to start on April 1st.We haven't heard much in the past day or so, aside from rumblings from within Clear Channel's Oak Tree World Domination HQ that engineers are busy - reconfiguring the WMMS studio to Rover's specifications.But there is one more small thing.The note put up by Rover the other day on … [Read more...]
Peter Brown’s NE Ohio Radio Return – Well, Sort Of
Posted on February 21, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Local sports radio fans with long memories certainly recall the controversial days of Peter Brown, who kicked up a lot of dust when he did the afternoon drive show on then-Cablevision-owned WKNR, then "SportsRadio 1220".After leaving for network radio, Mr. Brown ended up doing afternoons on Entercom sports talk WSSP/1250 in Milwaukee - until being let go a while back.At least temporarily, Northeast Ohio sports radio listeners will get a taste of Peter Brown's voice again.AllAccess reports that … [Read more...]
Sources: WMMS Getting Rover
Posted on February 20, 2008 · Leave a Comment
OMW hears from reliable sources that Clear Channel Cleveland is trumpeting the move of former WKRK/92.3 "K-Rock" morning star Shane "Rover" French, and his "Rover's Morning Glory" show, to the company's Cleveland rock outlet - WMMS/100.7.We hear that advertising clients are being notified of the move, which is scheduled to take place on April 1st. (And no, we don't believe it's an April Fool's joke.) The notification says the WMMS deal with French and his show was finalized late Tuesday … [Read more...]
More Barking From Rover
Posted on February 19, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Now-former CBS Radio alt-rock WKRK/92.3 "K-Rock" morning host Shane "Rover" French is saying a LITTLE more about his situation with the station's owner, CBS Radio, on his website.But...not much more.In a blog post titled "Uncharacteristically Quiet", the host known to his family as Shane French says he can't talk about the ongoing situation between the show and CBS Radio for one big reason.At this time the show is still under contract to CBS. They've told us we can't talk about it, nor can we … [Read more...]
Your Rover Update
Posted on February 18, 2008 · Leave a Comment
As promised, more on what we're hearing about the apparent departure of WKRK/92.3 "K-Rock" morning doggie Shane "Rover" French from his perch at the CBS Radio Cleveland alt-rocker.We've heard unconfirmed, but strongly sourced rumblings, that Rover has accepted an offer from a competing station. We don't understand the exact situation, but apparently, Mr. French wasn't under the provisions of a non-compete - as the folks at CBS hoped to sign him to a new contract.Our "rumblings" are seemingly … [Read more...]
Rover Out At “K-Rock”?
Posted on February 18, 2008 · Leave a Comment
We know nothing about it yet, but...An OMW reader alerts us that CBS Radio Cleveland alt-rocker WKRK/92.3 "K-Rock" is playing syndicated Opie & Anthony this morning - normally in afternoon drive - in place of "Rover's Morning Glory".And "K-Rock's" website appears to have been cleansed of any mention of the station's long-time morning show, hosted by Shane "Rover" French.We don't see anything on the "Rover's Morning Glory" site that would indicate the end of the show on WKRK.More as we hear … [Read more...]
WLW Set Adrift?
Posted on February 13, 2008 · Leave a Comment
By now, most of you probably know that Clear Channel has been ordered by the U.S. Department of Justice to sell off stations in four markets - including Cincinnati - to pave the way for the approval of the private equity fund purchase of the company (Thomas H. Lee Partners/Bain Capital). Houston, Las Vegas and San Francisco are the other three markets.What we're all trying to figure out is...what's next? How many stations would CC have to sell in Cincinnati?The problem is that the Lee/Bain … [Read more...]
The End Of The Todd Kelly Story
Posted on February 11, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Posted here, because of his tenuous connection to Northeast Ohio radio...Former WDJX/Louisville KY personality and promotions guy Todd Kelly (Todd Smith) has been sentenced for defrauding listeners and donators by faking ALS, otherwise known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease".The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that Smith has been sentenced to 15 years on state charges, which will be reduced to 5 years if he pays back some 74 thousand dollars in restitution, with interest. He'd already been … [Read more...]
