Yet another "ABC Radio is about to sell its stations" report, though this one seems closer to actually happening.The New York Times business section reports that Disney may be near a nearly $3 billion deal to sell off its owned and operated radio stations to Citadel, the nation's 5th largest group owner. (Free NYTimes.com registration is required to access the full story.)Despite wording in the article, it's never really been clear if ABC intends on selling its other radio assets, including its … [Read more...]

Clearing up some loose ends and random thoughts:* While we're on the topic of always-topical WTAM/1100, OMW heard a familiar voice back on his old show...WOIO/19-WUAB/43 sports anchor Chuck Galeti, on the air Sunday morning doing 'TAM's "Sunday Morning Sports Page". There was no indication if it's a permanent slot, though Galeti certainly has more time on his TV schedule now that the Browns are in their winter-through-summer hibernation mode. (Don't get us started about that other [bleeping] … [Read more...]

Two thoughts this late night:* WTAM/1100 afternoon motormouth Mike Trivisonno is in the midst of his all-night remote, which lasts on the Clear Channel Cleveland talk station until Bill Wills and company show up in the early morning hours.And the program managed to get some attention for Triv and company, thanks to a blockbuster interview with former Browns owner Art "Pariah in Cleveland" Modell, who moved the team to Baltimore after the 1995 season...an event Cleveland sports fans usually have … [Read more...]

In our "If Mike Snyder can stay up and do a talk show until 1 AM, why can't we be productive at this hour?" department:* It was indeed WTAM/1100 sports director Mike Snyder we just heard wrap up the "Alltel Post-Game Show" after a tough Cleveland Cavaliers loss to...umm...who was it this time, Denver? With the 8 PM Mountain Time start, the game probably didn't end until about midnight our time...thus, the late show. We're reminded that Snyder must be a radio ironman during Cavaliers season, … [Read more...]

It's been hinted at before, but we now have a day for that all-night marathon that'll be hosted by WTAM/1100 Cleveland afternoon drive motormouth Mike Trivisonno.The show announced on-air that Thursday will be the day when Triv and company don't slide out of the studio at 6:45 or so, to make way for "Triv Flashbacks" for the last 15 minutes of the show. No, they'll start at their usual 3:10 PM, after news and Paul Harvey's "Rest of the Story", and won't relinquish their perch at the Oak Tree … [Read more...]

As a Northeast Ohio-based operation, OMW generally doesn't cover each and every move in the Toledo market, but we'll mention it if it's "big enough". One would think this news would be considered "big enough".From an ad posted on AllAccess:"After 36 years, CLEAR CHANNEL AC WRVF (THE RIVER)/TOLEDO morning show host JACK "MITCH" MITCHELL of the MITCH & MARY BETH morning show will hang up his head phones to retire from the business. This leaves PD TOM COOK searching for a talented morning show … [Read more...]

There's an update to OMW's earlier report...of the impending move of Canton market CHR WZKL/92.5 Alliance ("Q92") night jock Pat DeLuca to the station's now vacant morning drive slot.Q92 program director/afternoon driver John Stewart has officially posted DeLuca's soon-to-be-old job as an opening at the station...in an ad which confirms our report of DeLuca's move to AM drive:-------------------CHR NOISE MAKERCan you stir the pot? Is your show full of personality? Do you make noise in your … [Read more...]

UPDATE (5:55 PM 1/17/06): AllAccess confirms this item - first reported here on OMW - this afternoon. They also mention Popovich's other Cleveland radio background, at stations like oldies WMJI/105.7 and even at Q104's CBS Radio sister WDOK/102.1.We remind OMW readers that Clear Channel hot AC competitor WMVX/106.5 recently got its own overhaul in the programming department, with the ascension of former Columbus programmer Don Hallett to the PD post there.Original item below...and remember, you … [Read more...]

Clear Channel liberal talker WARF/1350 "Radio Free Ohio" becomes the latest of the company's stations to undergo a website overhaul. The move follows sister talker WHLO/640's website changes...but unlike WHLO, WARF didn't have a fully functioning website until now, as the sole content was a single page with the station's weekday lineup.Could there be other, more interesting news be coming out of "Radio Free Ohio"? Stay tuned... … [Read more...]

A couple of items on today's AllAccess Net News with some local interest:* AllAccess notes the registration of "1021freefm.com" by CBS Radio. (This was brought up on the Radio-Info Cleveland board, and others, yesterday.) In addition to the company's WDOK in Cleveland, 102.1 is also the frequency of their AC station in Kansas City ("Star 102.1"). AllAccess notes that the Kansas City station's ratings make it a "much more likely candidate" for a format flip than WDOK...which is a perennial … [Read more...]