Just some stuff to refresh the Mighty Blog for a Monday...and as it turns out, another sports-related theme has emerged, without us even trying...ONE QUESTION ANSWERED: It didn't take long for Youngstown TV Supergroup New Vision Television to name a replacement for veteran WYTV/33 sports director Bob Hannon, who left the station to head up the Youngstown branch of the United Way.He's the station's assistant sports director, Bill Castrovince, who's been in that role and doing the ABC affiliate's … [Read more...]
Opening September
Posted on September 2, 2008 · Leave a Comment
We do have a pretty decent selection of items from across Ohio for our first update in September. Some of this we missed, some is new, and some of the items are updates of previous news items.This is a long one, so get that scroll bar ready...ANOTHER 33'ER EXITS: Just as we were marveling that Parkin Broadcasting ABC affiliate WYTV/33 Youngstown has kept much of its "look and feel" despite being swallowed into the New Vision/WKBN/WYFX universe, another key staffer has left.And it's a big … [Read more...]
A Follow-Up Or Three
Posted on July 29, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Followups, clarification and other stuff...THE SAVAGE FALLOUT: When we passed along word that Salem Cleveland talk outlet WHK/1420 was dumping Talk Radio Network host Michael Savage over recent remarks about autism, we didn't know what the station would do in the 9-11 PM time slot until August 4th, when it announced it would start a new lineup.Friday, WHK aired Savage's show as normal, and the station did so again on Monday night.WHK/Salem Cleveland general manager Mark Jaycox announced last … [Read more...]
WYTV Files For Full DTV Signal
Posted on July 17, 2008 · Leave a Comment
We've often wondered here why Youngstown ABC affiliate WYTV/33 seemed happy with its anemic, 50 KW licensed digital TV signal - which we believed would become the station's primary signal on February 17th of next year.They apparently weren't happy, after all.WYTV owner Parkin Broadcasting has filed to maximize the WYTV-DT (RF 36) signal after the digital transition to 1000 KW, which would move it from the outhouse to the penthouse signal wise.The increase, if granted, would give WYTV the most … [Read more...]
Random Leftovers
Posted on March 18, 2008 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 8:21 PM 3/18/08: A name fix and another update below:-----------------In media news not involving canines in front of microphones, some stuff we need to revisit and update:REVAMPING TWC: As it turns out, the vast empire that is the Time Warner Cable firmament in Northeast Ohio isn't all "fixed" in a day.The highly-touted and advertised digital channel realignment at the local cable operator is being done area-by-area over the rest of this month, at least. OMW hears that folks in places … [Read more...]
Two Quick Items
Posted on February 25, 2008 · Leave a Comment
And after this, coming later today, a rundown on the digital TV transition and what local stations are doing in Northeast Ohio.Two short items, though...BERNARD'S PROBLEMS: Inside Radio reports that Bernard Radio, owners of three Youngstown market radio stations (WASN/1500, WGFT/1330 and WRBP/101.9), and two Columbus market stations (WVKO/1580 and WVKO-FM/103.1), could be on the block.After battling with former partners in the D.B. Zwirn "Special Opportunities Fund", the parent of Bernard … [Read more...]
Where’d We Go?
Posted on January 4, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Thank you for hanging in there while we took an extended hiatus. And, welcome to 2008!Here are some random items to carry you along for a while. And watch this space for a possible announcement sometime in the next few days...FREEMAN EXITS 45/49: Kent-based PBS outlet WNEO/45-WEAO/49 "PBS 45 & 49" is saying goodbye later this year to a key, long-time employee.The station says chief operating officer Don Freeman will retire on March 28 of this year.Freeman has been with the … [Read more...]
The Other Youngstown TV Shoe Drops
Posted on December 8, 2007 · Leave a Comment
The job carnage at the OTHER Youngstown TV news operation, the one absorbing Parkin ABC affiliate WYTV/33's news production starting Monday, wasn't quite as severe as the list of cuts at the station being merged into it.But the Youngstown Vindicator reports that "about a half-dozen" workers at New Vision's WKBN/27-WYFX/17-62 were told that their services were no longer needed - mostly off-air/engineering/production types.The two on-air staffers gone from "27 First News" include veteran reporter … [Read more...]
Two More Outer Area Items
Posted on December 2, 2007 · Leave a Comment
Our apologies if OMW is looking like Columbus And Youngstown Media Watch lately, but that's the bulk of what's been going on in Ohio the past two to three days.Just as a teaser, though...early next week, we'll have a little more from a long-time Cleveland radio personality now "on the beach" - and no, we don't mean literally "on the beach" these days...WIPING OUT A TRANSLATOR: Everyone knew that the move of Clear Channel country WMRN-FM/106.9 to the Columbus market, and the station's frequency … [Read more...]
Employee Bomb About To Drop In Youngstown
Posted on November 29, 2007 · Leave a Comment
In what's no surprise to anyone not in denial, the coming days will bring news of employment status to workers at two Youngstown TV stations.The Youngstown Business Journal reports that employees of Parkin Broadcasting ABC affiliate WYTV/33 will find out - in their pay envelopes - Friday whether they'll still have jobs after December 9th. And workers at New Vision Television CBS/FOX combo WKBN/27-WYFX/17-62 will get similar notices December 7th.As expected, WYTV's news and on-air operations … [Read more...]
