When Cincinnati Public Radio picked up WVXU/91.7 to add to its classical WGUC/90.9, the pubcaster also inherited a bunch of far-flung simulcast outlets...as close as Chillicothe OH, and as far off as northern lower Michigan...known as the "XStar Radio Network".The Cincinnati station is now selling off the final three simulcasters still under its control.In a $1 million deal (FCC PDF), Christian Voice of Central Ohio gets WVXC/89.3 Chillicothe, WVXW/89.5 West Union OH and WVXR/89.3 Richmond IN. … [Read more...]

Just up on the FCC's Daily Digest today: the sale of Cleveland gospel daytimer WABQ/1540 to Good Karma Broadcasting has been officially approved by the FCC.OMW sources wearing large cheesehead foam hats tell us that the transfer from D&E Communications to the company owned by Craig Karmazin could take place as soon as September 15th, but is expected to happen no later than October 1st.If you're looking at the calendar for timing, our first report on Salem sports talk WKNR/850 losing ESPN … [Read more...]

Tonight is the official launch of MyNetworkTV, otherwise known as WeLostOurNetworkTV. (OK, so maybe it's otherwise known as that only to us.)Some of the MyNetwork stations aired previews of the upcoming lineup of daily serials, including "Desire" and "Fashion House", last night. Local MNT outlet WUAB/43 in Cleveland, according to the station's schedule, stuck with whatever UPN aired on Monday.What should you expect when the two "prime time daily soaps" show up on "My 43"? Not much, from what … [Read more...]

Just a couple of items this time around:ROVER'S CLEVELAND GLORY: We weren't sure of the timing, but it sounds like WXRK/92.3 "K-Rock" morning doggie Shane "Rover" French has returned to his home kennel at the CBS Radio Cleveland alt-rocker.We haven't done a lot of solid listening to "Rover's Morning Glory", but we stumbled upon the show the other morning...hearing Rover ride herd over a "Dieter" stunt in downtown Cleveland, and then mentioning that they took time recently for moving.In addition … [Read more...]

OMW hears that Clear Channel Ashtabula hot AC WZOO/102.5 "102 ZOO" has flipped to a top 40 format.We don't know exactly when it happened, but we believe it was within the past week or so. The 102 ZOO website is now headed "Your Hit Music Station", and WZOO keeps its name and call letters.The station put up an online "survey", and that page now reads:We have received tons of e-mails from you about changing the sound of 102 ZOO. So after begging and crying to management, paying off our creditors, … [Read more...]

This is the second in our series of navel-gazing "policy change" messages. Hopefully, it'll be the last.In our first missive on this subject, we warned ourselves that the rumor and speculation component of this report had gotten out of hand, particularly concerning major either coming or rumored changes at two locations in one Northeast Ohio radio market.We dedicated ourselves to pull back from a lot of the din, which we did.However, like tasty candy sitting there, luring us to eat what we … [Read more...]

Just when it seemed pretty bad between the folks at Time Warner Cable and the NFL Network, some daylight may be breaking.Multichannel News reports that TWC is delaying the "deadline" to drop the NFL Network until at least September 15th.Time Warner had been expected - as recently as earlier this week - to start taking the NFL Network off of the systems it got from Adelphia and Comcast, including its Northeast Ohio systems outside the original TWC footprint in Akron/Canton/Youngstown and such.But … [Read more...]

We're quite honored to be named as the inspiration for a new local voice making its way onto what's called "The Blogosphere".A gentleman from Rittman named Cliff Feightner, better known to local radio message board regulars as "74WIXYGrad", has started his own blog called "WIXY's Gone Bananas".It's more of a general look into Cliff's thoughts and life, but we appreciate the fact that he names your Mighty Blog of Fun(tm) as the inspiration for the blog. Though Cliff is not "in the business" - … [Read more...]

Two changes, and only one involving an actual transmitter:NORWALK SPORTS: OMW actually got a tip about this last night, and it's now been confirmed by a reader in the region. Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting oldies WLKR/1510 Norwalk has flipped from that format to sports, using ESPN Radio.The daytime sister of AC WLKR/95.3 and country WKFM/96.1 Huron had been using the Dial-Global (ex-Westwood One) oldies format, making it the second loss in Northern Ohio for one of the company's satellite formats … [Read more...]

Just a warning ahead...as soon as we figure out how to word it, we feel another policy change note happening sometime this weekend. Consider it another bout of conscience by your ever vigilant Primary Editorial Voice(tm)...In other stuff:1590 WAKR-LOCAL: We've noticed that Rubber City Radio's newly-localized standards/news WAKR/1590 Akron has apparently completely severed itself from the Dial-Global (ex-Westwood One) Adult Standards bird.At this early morning hour Friday night into Saturday, … [Read more...]