For whatever reason, everything at the top of our pile this Monday morning is a followup to earlier items...except our first, and even that's the "next step" of an earlier report...THIS JUST IN: An OMW reader passes word via Trip Ericson's RabbitEars.info - TBN O&O WDLI/17-1-2-3-4-5 will get their RF channel change.This FCC decision (PDF file) means that the Canton-licensed station can move from RF channel 39 to RF channel 49.We just noticed that the decision's release date was late this … [Read more...]
We’re Back, Again
Posted on July 8, 2009 · Leave a Comment
We didn't intend on this being something of a lengthy hiatus, even with the July 4th holiday...but there hasn't been that much to write about.It's still not all that busy in the world of Media News here in the Buckeye State, but we'll do what we can...WEWS HIRES AND: That's "AND" as in "assistant news director", and the recent appointment of a second-in-command to news director Jill Manuel has some questions coming from some occupants of 3001 Euclid.The questions aren't about the new hire … [Read more...]
We Know And We Don’t Know
Posted on June 25, 2009 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 6/25/09 2:21 PM: Our report of the buyouts accepted by WJW/8 "Fox 8" veterans Belinda Prinz and Dan Coughlin has been confirmed/separately reported by Cleveland Plain Dealer media columnist Julie Washington...---------There is a lot of information floating around, most of it related to broadcast television in Northeast Ohio.And we "know" most of it, though some of it is still speculation based on information that's out there...WE KNOW - TV: OMW hears that two veteran local TV names are … [Read more...]
BREAKING NEWS: Toledo’s “Zone” Flips To Sports Monday
Posted on June 17, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Yes, this is the item we hinted about last week, and now, it's official.The Toledo Blade reports that Cumulus Toledo is changing format on WRWK/106.5, which has been alt-rock "The Zone" until now.Starting Monday, it'll become a simulcaster of Cumulus' sports talk station, WLQR/1470 "The Ticket".The Blade's Rod Lockwood reports that "The Zone" will shift its modern rock music to the Internet, and that the two frequencies will allow Cumulus Toledo to solve sports play-by-play conflicts - with one … [Read more...]
Metro Heads North, Well, Sort Of
Posted on June 15, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Last year, Westwood One announced that it was shuttering about 50 of Metro Networks nationwide offices and bureaus, including its Cleveland office.The idea, according to the company, was to better utilize technology to gather information about area traffic (as well as sports and news)...and the result, we were told, is that markets like Cleveland would still receive reports - just from people based in Detroit. The same scenario would play out in the other 12 remaining market … [Read more...]
Non-DTV Stuff
Posted on June 10, 2009 · Leave a Comment
There are actually some items in our hopper that aren't linked to the DTV switch on, umm, let us check the calendar, FRIDAY..SPORTS ON FM: The continued march of sports radio format to the FM band shows no signs of abating.The phenomenon has become so prevalent, Chicago radio wags are speculating that CBS Radio will simulcast its big Chicago sports talk station on WJMK/104.3, currently the home of the company's "Jack FM" format (and historically, the market's oldies/classic hits station).That … [Read more...]
From The Rest Of The Broadcast World
Posted on June 9, 2009 · Leave a Comment
We're slowly getting more information on this week's Digital TV transition, and we'll have a separate update on that a little later today.But, in matters not involving the transition...METRO'S EXIT: To make this clear...the information we're passing along comes from a message board, and we don't know who wrote it.But we were tipped to it by Tom Taylor's excellent daily E-mail newsletter "Taylor on Radio-Info" this morning, and the information meshes with what we've already reported.Quoting a … [Read more...]
Condolences to Matt Underwood
Posted on June 8, 2009 · Leave a Comment
There's a reason SportsTime Ohio Cleveland Indians play-by-play voice Matt Underwood has been off the air recently...and it's nothing he said.OMW readers have been peppering our inbox with questions every time they see STO's Al Pawlowski filling in on the sports network's Indians game coverage.The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Paul Hoynes noted Friday that Underwood's mother has passed away.The Ashland Times-Gazette has more on the death of 65 year-old Sophie Callas Underwood, who was - among other … [Read more...]
Friday Quick Follow
Posted on June 5, 2009 · Leave a Comment
It's Friday, follow quick!WE'LL MISS IT, BUT...: We may well miss all the activity, but OMW hears that if you're interested in watching activity involving a new digital TV antenna...Broadview Road in Parma is the place to be this Friday afternoon. (Any regular OMW/ODTV reader needs no help finding the location.)It is, of course, one week out from the official end of full-power analog TV, and both stations camped out on that new tower hope to start up brand new full-power digital … [Read more...]
One TV, One Radio
Posted on June 3, 2009 · Leave a Comment
One quick hit for TV, one for radio...WKYC DIGITAL: From the ODTV side of OMW, a bit about Gannett NBC affiliate WKYC/3 Cleveland's new facility.As if drawn by a giant magnet to Broadview Road in Parma, the OMW/ODTV Mobile took another trip up to the tower that will soon hold antennas for WKYC-DT (RF 17) and ideastream PBS affiliate WVIZ-DT (RF 26).Why, this time, again?Our inbox was peppered Tuesday with questions from folks who were having trouble picking up the current WKYC-DT (RF 2) … [Read more...]
