A proposal being floated by Federal Communications Commission chairman Kevin Martin could have positive impact on at least two small local TV stations.Multichannel News reports that Martin is pushing for an October 15th vote on the first phase of a plan - requesting public comment - to get low-power "Class A" stations must-carry status on cable systems:Martin's plan would allow 555 Class A TV stations to apply for full-power status from the FCC. After obtaining approval, the stations could … [Read more...]

The previously reported exit by Cumulus Toledo oldies WRQN/93.5 air personality Jim Brady has now become retirement for the veteran broadcaster.That's according to an article in today's Toledo Blade, which says the nearly 45-year radio vet is concentrating on his existing real estate sales work, and will take part in a "startup Internet radio station" focusing on the now-neglected oldies hits from the 1950's and 60's.And like most now-former DJs, Brady bemoans the current state of music radio. … [Read more...]

We'll admit that the first time we heard legendary Pittsburgh Steelers radio voice Myron Cope, we didn't understand why he was so popular over in Western Pennsylvania. Maybe our head-scratching was compounded by the fact that the Steelers broadcast in question was being aired by Clear Channel talk WTAM/1100 in Cleveland, on a Browns bye week.Anyway, no matter if we understood his appeal or not, Myron Cope was a broadcasting icon in Pittsburgh.Cope died this morning at a suburban Pittsburgh … [Read more...]

The announcement promised for today will be put up later this afternoon or tonight.In the meantime, kudos to a vital local radio effort to raise money for an area hospital.OMW hears that the annual WKDD/98.1 Akron Children's Hospital "Have a Heart, Do Your Part" Radiothon hit not only a record over the weekend, it hit a milestone.The folks on Freedom Avenue tell us that the radiothon raised $1,000,760 for the hospital - the only such million-dollar-plus effort in any market below the top 15.Here … [Read more...]

OMW hears this afternoon that Clear Channel rock WRQK/106.9 Canton "Rock 106-9" program director Keith Hamilton is dropping that title from his job description.Hamilton took over as program director when Clear Channel took over the long-time Canton rocker from Cumulus.We hear that Keith will continue with his midday air shift... … [Read more...]

The rolling wave of Clear Channel staffing/budget cuts has hit Ohio. This time, it's the folks on South Avenue in Boardman seeing reductions.AllAccess reports that Clear Channel's Youngstown cluster has released three staff members...and two of them are long-time on-air staff members.In addition to cluster engineer Mike Heim, CC Youngstown says goodbye to talk WKBN/570 afternoon co-host Casey Malone, and oldies WBBG/106.1 midday veteran Jerry Goddard.Malone's exit would presumably leave WKBN … [Read more...]

Our condolences to Media-Com Akron market talk WNIR/100.1's Bob Klaus on the passing of his wife, Karen, who has died after an 18 year fight with cancer.Quoting from the death notice which ran in the Akron Beacon Journal on Monday morning...------------Karen was a devoted mother and wife, world adventurer, free spirit, animal advocate, nature lover, swimmer, skier, horseback rider, mountain biker and hiker. She used her immense creativity to make beautiful purses, jewelry, ceramics, writings, … [Read more...]

Those who keep track of the Cleveland radio market know that former WFAN/New York-Westwood One morning host Don Imus did his time in Northeast Ohio radio, before ending up establishing a long-time beachhead in New York City.(Well, until he got bounced recently for on-air comments.)With word that Imus has settled with WFAN owner CBS Radio, the Other Shoe Dropped, and the popular New York sports radio outlet has hired a new morning team with Ohio connections."Boomer and Carton in the Morning" … [Read more...]

Just a note: This is not one of our much-ballyhooed "hiatuses", but we'll be mostly be taking the rest of the week off from the beast that has become the Mighty Blog of Fun(tm).We're recharging the batteries, as it were. Expect us back by Monday, or before if we get bored. Just don't expect multiple daily updates until early next week.To hold you over until then...some stuff we're clearing out of the "inbox" from this week, along with stuff from various sites. We won't go into much detail … [Read more...]

Good Karma sports WKNR/850 Cleveland has officially announced the latest series of lineup changes.As reported by the Cleveland Plain Dealer yesterday, WMJI/105.7-WMMS/100.7 sports director Mark "Munch" Bishop leaves Clear Channel for "ESPN 850 WKNR"'s afternoon drive post.Afternoon drive host Kenny Roda gets bumped 3 hours, and will take the 6-9 PM slot recently occupied by former mid-morning host Greg Brinda.Brinda loses a regular, daily show, but will now front the station's "10th Inning" … [Read more...]