And as usual when we start a new year, or return from a hiatus, there's stuff waiting to land like so many airplanes. We are probably missing a topic or three, so don't be surprised if there's a crash...we'll pick up where we left off in a future update... UPDATE 1:35 AM 1/5/13: Cox and Raycom have reached an agreement, and OMW social media followers tell us that the local stations, WOIO/19 and WUAB/43, are back in the Cox lineup. Here's part of what we originally wrote before Friday … [Read more...]
The Fox-STO Shoe Drops
Posted on December 28, 2012 · 9 Comments
We've discussed the rumors. We've discussed the reports from every outlet this side of "Shopper's Weekly" that a sale of Cleveland-based regional sports network SportsTime Ohio was imminent. It's now official, slipped just under the Tax Impact Door of 2012. As expected everywhere (including here), Fox Sports Media Group has signed on the dotted line, with a reported, estimated $230 million purchase of the network owned by the Dolan family, who also happen to own the Cleveland Indians of Major … [Read more...]
Press Release Theatre (Vol. 9), The Time Warner Cable SportsChannel Edition
Posted on December 20, 2012 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 12/20/12 10:07 PM: We're told that the network actually launched in August...we haven't had Time Warner Cable's digital service since before then. But TWC's own release talks about the network in terms of "will be" and "will bring", so they must see this as a post-soft launch statewide. Some wording fixed... ----- Having apparently lost or abandoned its reported bid to buy SportsTime Ohio, Time Warner Cable is going ahead full steam with its own statewide sports network...called "Time … [Read more...]
Early December
Posted on December 3, 2012 · 5 Comments
Here's another update as we round into early December...as items seem to have accumulated in enough quantity to release them into the wild... STO'S FUTURE: The occasional rumbling we've heard about SportsTime Ohio's impending sale has turned into a loud roar. Now, from just about everyone not named "Dolan", we hear that the regional sports network owned by the family which owns the Cleveland Indians is thisclose to being sold. Early on, there were rumors that Time Warner Cable and Fox Sports … [Read more...]
You Need This Calendar
Posted on November 20, 2012 · 1 Comment
You ask, "why do I need a calendar in 2013 at all, when there's one right on my smartphone?" Does your smartphone, even your tablet, include in its calendar full color, full size glossy pictures of some of the most interesting radio and television tower and transmitter sites, and broadcast facilities in North America and beyond? Does it note famous dates in broadcast history, anniversaries and other dates of interest? And you just try putting a nail through your smartphone or tablet's screen … [Read more...]
Press Release Theatre (Vol. 8), The Ghoulardi Edition
Posted on October 22, 2012 · 1 Comment
The intersection of this blog's readers, and those interested in the following event, is probably pretty large. Not only that, it features several OMW readers. Here we go with details on the annual "Ghoulardifest" event, coming up early next month in Parma... ----- GHOULARDIFEST 2012 RETURNS TO PARMA BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER! (For Immediate Release) Cleveland's giant pop culture celebration, Ghoulardifest returns with a star studded weekend November 2, 3 &4 honoring the greats of … [Read more...]
A Wide Variety Of Items
Posted on October 20, 2012 · 2 Comments
No clever theme, just a Wide Variety of Items this time around. As usual, some have already been seen on Twitter, and others are brand new...or at least, running first in this post... ALLIE'S DEPARTURE: We learned at the end of last week that Local TV LLC Fox affiliate WJW/8 "Fox 8 News" was losing another popular personality. This time, it was sports reporter/anchor Allie LaForce heading "to California", to a TV destination that was not revealed last Friday when she said her on-air goodbyes … [Read more...]
All Over The Map
Posted on October 10, 2012 · 4 Comments
UPDATE 12:10 AM 10/11/12: Jim Davison tells OMW that he will continue as operations manager of WHTX/1570 Warren, which will continue in its current standards format as "The Fabulous 1570" and retain its current staff and features. Jim also confirms that WYCL/1540 Niles has changed from classic country to a Spanish-language format as of Tuesday afternoon... ----- We're catching up again with a wide variety of media items, both in kind and location... DISH DEAL: Viewers to Gannett NBC … [Read more...]
From Sports To TV To New Radio
Posted on October 3, 2012 · 3 Comments
The title says it all. And as usual as of late, some of these are brand new, and some are catching up over the past few days... INDIANS STAYING ON WTAM: So, we hinted about this both on our social media presence and earlier this week right here on the blog, on an item we posted last week: "Before we dive into this item, one note: Don’t print those “92.3 The Fan/Indians” bumper stickers just yet..." We got a little "back patting" flack pointing back to this on Twitter, but really, we were far … [Read more...]
Press Release Theatre, Vol. 7
Posted on October 1, 2012 · 3 Comments
The releases are piling up. But we'll start, as always, with Ann's Corner, from long-time Friend of OMW Ann VerWiebe...promotions and marketing guru for Kent State University's WKSU/89.7-and-its-many-simulcasters. There's even a picture as a bonus! ----- WKSU LAUNCHES STREET-SIDE STUDIO IN ITS AKRON NEWS BUREAU WKSU is pulling back the curtain and putting its news production on view in downtown Akron. The street-side studio in the United Building fronts South Main Street with a view of the … [Read more...]
