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...]
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 CC Sale And Northeast Ohio
Posted on January 28, 2008 · Leave a Comment
What's been "topic number one" in Northeast Ohio radio-land the past few days doesn't concern the debut of a new co-host this morning on CBS Radio AC WDOK/102.1 "Soft Rock 102.1".It's not Craig Karmazin's latest move in his Sports Radio Empire, sort of headquartered these days at the Galleria in downtown Cleveland - depending on where Mr. Karmazin hangs his hat most of the year.No, it's something that hasn't even happened yet.Various trade publications last week reported the official word that … [Read more...]
Friday Warmup
Posted on January 18, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Think warm as you read this item to wrap up our week.After all, the weather forecast tells us that the wind chill over the weekend in Northeast Ohio will be roughly 200 degrees below zero, give or take a hundred...DID YOU HEAR IT?: Anytime Cleveland market morning drive radio icon John Lanigan even remotely talks about his career and future, the Bat Signal appears in the sky, and OMW gets contacted by numerous readers.That's what happened earlier this week, when a caller apparently called the … [Read more...]
Clear Channel Spins Five To BAS
Posted on January 15, 2008 · Leave a Comment
AllAccess reports this afternoon that Clear Channel has spun off five stations in its Sandusky and Findlay/Tiffin clusters to local operator BAS Broadcasting. The move has been long rumored, and even hinted about here among recent news from that region.The stations listed are CC's Sandusky cluster stations - sports WLEC/1450 "Sports Radio Sandusky", AC WCPZ/102.7 "Mix 102.7", and classic rock WMJK/100.9 Clyde "The Coast", along with WTTF/1600 Tiffin and one of its clustermates, the recently … [Read more...]
Findlay And Lima Changes Monday?
Posted on January 5, 2008 · Leave a Comment
OMW is hearing that some changes on the radio dial are about to take place on Clear Channel radio stations in the Findlay and Lima areas.It starts with a brief official announcement on the website of Findlay-based classic rocker WFPX/107.7 North Baltimore OH "107.7 The Fox":"Catch us on the dial at 106.3 on Monday!"That's all it says.106.3 in the region is currently oldies WBUK/106.3 Ottawa OH "The Big Buck", which pumps out mostly satellite-fed oldies...and is headquartered at Clear Channel in … [Read more...]
Randy, Tribune And TV 8
Posted on December 20, 2007 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 3:56 PM 12/20/07: The Sam Zell takeover of Tribune is complete, and Randy Michaels has been announced as "executive vice president and chief executive officer of Interactive and Broadcasting" for Tribune under Zell's leadership...------------------This is by no means a confirmation of our earlier report that Local TV, LLC, the television operating arm of Oak Hill Capital Partners, is in line to buy the FOX sub-top 10 market owned-and-operated stations being sold - most notably, for this … [Read more...]
Your Tuesday News
Posted on December 11, 2007 · Leave a Comment
At least two items from our Rumormill, and one correction, in this batch...WEATHER OR NOT: OMW hears strong rumblings that a now-former Cleveland TV weather forecaster could be back on the air soon in the market at another station.We haven't confirmed this, though it's quite likely obvious who we're talking about from our wording.We don't know when this will be made official, or what role the new weather person would take at their new station...COLUMBUS HIT AGAIN?: Clear Channel holiday season … [Read more...]
Monday’s Return
Posted on December 10, 2007 · Leave a Comment
So, the ol' OMW Inbox has clogged up again over the weekend, and there are still some outstanding items...WJW/FOX SALE?: Estimates are not always perfect, so we weren't 100% sure that we'd hear more by now on our story from last week - the pending sale of Cleveland FOX O&O WJW/8 and eight other FOX below-top 10 market stations, presumably to Oak Hill Capital Partners (Local TV, LLC).The announcement made by a high-level FOX executive in two meetings a week ago today at South Marginal Road … [Read more...]
No, We Don’t Know About WMMS
Posted on September 5, 2007 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 9/5/07 3:37 PM: It would appear from what we've heard and seen, WMMS has excised nearly all mentions of those legendary call letters.And that means from both the airwaves and from the station's website, which carries this new "100.7"-only logo.Does this mean anything, or is 'MMS...er...100.7...hoping to get a little attention in a stunting fashion? We'll see.The station also appears to be having some fun with its website playlist.Original item below...----------------No, we don't have … [Read more...]
