We apologize for being less active lately. We've kind of been preoccupied lately (which is a very, very good thing), so here's our catchup item for Saturday:WEWS CHANGES?: We have a tip on some changes in the works at Cleveland ABC affiliate WEWS/5 "NewsChannel 5".After recent changes involving former anchor Stephanie Schaefer - now NBC "iVillage Live"'s Sissy Schaefer (we hear it's a long-time nickname for her, dating back to childhood) - WEWS seems to be settling on an anchor pattern.OMW … [Read more...]

It's kind of tough not to notice that Clear Channel Columbus talker WTVN/610, and liberal talk sister WTPG/1230, are signaling "Changes are coming" on both stations' web pages.The banners are identical, except for color and logo/name changes.Hmm.Clear Channel Cincinnati's WSAI/1360 just dumped its moved-from-WCKY/1530 liberal talk format in favor of "1360TheSource.com", a radio station named after its Internet site, which features various advice and consumer-oriented shows.Clearly, the liberal … [Read more...]

It's almost an advertisement, it would seem, but we'd like to direct you to Rubber City Radio's WAKR/1590 Akron on Friday morning - for an on-air tribute to legendary local broadcaster Jaybird Drennan, who passed away last Sunday.To go along with the tribute during the station's Ray Horner Show, WAKR's "AkronNewsNow" has put up a new tribute page. This one has audio and video, including from a WKYC/3 "Del's Folks" profile of Jaybird that would appear to have originally aired shortly after he … [Read more...]

As hinted here on OMW, a former WMMS voice has taken over as program director of NextMedia Canton AC outlet WHBC-FM/94.1 "Mix 94.1".And the voice is a recent former employee of the Cleveland FM rock station.Hunter Scott takes the programming reins at 'HBC-FM, and OMW hears that unlike former "Mix" operations manager Terry Simmons, Scott won't have a regular on-air shift at 94.1.In case you're searching your brain trying to figure out who he is - no, he's not former 'MMS voice "Spaceman Scott" - … [Read more...]

In our "not like it was any surprise" department:Radio and Records Online reports that long-time Salem sports WKNR/850 Cleveland program director Michael Luczak has left the building...in the wake of the station's recent takeover by Craig Karmazin's Good Karma Broadcasting.Luczak says he's a "free agent" again, and looking for his "next broadcast challenge"... … [Read more...]

A few mostly unrelated items:'HBC PD?: OMW hears that staffers at NextMedia AC WHBC-FM/94.1 Canton "Mix 94.1" were being introduced to a new program director on Tuesday.Who is that programmer?We only hear that he may have a "Buzzard" past. But that's about all we know. We'll let you know when we hear more.JAYBIRD TRIBUTE: Rubber City Radio news/standards WAKR/1590 Akron is planning a full-fledged tribute to late local country radio icon Jaybird Drennan on Friday's "Ray Horner … [Read more...]

If new sports talk WKNR/850 owner Good Karma Broadcasting was thinking of putting together some package to pick up the radio rights to the NFL Cleveland Browns, they're gonna have to wait.The team and Clear Channel have announced a multi-year extension of the agreement between the football team and the local radio cluster. The new pact runs through the 2008 season, with a club option to extend it another year through the 2009 season.Quoting a Clear Channel press release:“We are thrilled to … [Read more...]

It turns out that December 12th is a pretty eventful day surrounding Northeast Ohio's 101.7 FM frequency, as two separate events are happening even as we post this item.First, OMW readers tell us that steel has finally arrived this morning at the World Famous Future Transmitter Site location at 22nd and Whipple NW in Canton, and that said steel is being erected starting today.Second, OMW ears in the Dover/New Philadelphia area report that today is the last "solo" morning show for the WJER … [Read more...]

Services for long-time WSLR/1350 Akron "Whistler" voice Jaybird Drennan have been set.A public viewing will be held Thursday from 1 to 8 PM at Riverwood Community Chapel, which is at 1407 Fairchild Avenue in Kent. Services, being called a "celebration of Jaybird's life", will be held Friday at 7 PM at a place that may well be necessary for its size and class - the Akron Civic Theater.Other links we haven't shared, or information we have yet to share:The Akron Beacon Journal had a story on … [Read more...]

We've been a bit delayed on posting this one, so bear with us...OMW hears from numerous sources that long-time WJW/8 "FOX 8" news director Greg Easterly is leaving the FOX owned-and-operated outlet in Cleveland for a big job - news director of CBS-owned KTVT/11 in the Dallas-Ft. Worth market.But it's not just a big market jump that prompted the move. OMW hears that one reason for Easterly taking the job in Texas could be its proximity to his family.We don't have any inside word on who might … [Read more...]