There's a change at the Whiplash Radio operation in the Youngstown market, that reunites programming on the cluster's two stations. Whiplash's WYCL/1540 Niles had been LMAed by Philip Cato with a talk format. Well, it had a talk format most of the time, anyway, give or take syndicated smooth jazz and other musical programming. Whiplash owner and OMW reader Chris Lash has taken over programming WYCL again, and has flipped it to a simulcast of co-owned standards outlet WHTX/1570 Warren "Fabulous … [Read more...]
The Crowded Christmas Music Parade
Posted on November 17, 2011 · 5 Comments
Just one day after we noted Northeast Ohio's first Christmas music station of the season (Canton market Clear Channel otherwise AC WHOF/101.7 "My 101.7"), and hours after Local TV LLC Fox affiliate WJW/8's "Fox 8 News in the Morning" picked up on our speculation...the Christmas Music Parade has become a mini-stampede. Well, almost. As widely expected, CBS Radio AC WDOK/102.1 Cleveland has officially jumped onto Santa's Musical Sleigh...complete with an on-air name change to "Christmas … [Read more...]
Clear Channel Layoffs Post
Posted on October 26, 2011 · 7 Comments
Those watching the trade sites aren't surprised: An estimated 150 to "many hundreds" of Clear Channel employees nationwide are being told today that their services aren't necessary. This post, affecting Northeast Ohio's Clear Channel stations, will be a running list as we update it. All Access and other sites have been tracking those laid off in some other Ohio markets, like Dayton. The so-called "Reduction in Force" is affecting mainly Clear Channel's medium and smaller … [Read more...]
The Monday Followup
Posted on October 17, 2011 · 5 Comments
As usual when big news comes out, there's a followup that comes a little later... BIG SHOES: To say that the next afternoon driver at Clear Channel Cleveland country WGAR/99.5 has "big shoes to fill" is probably our understatement of the year. But the station has begun the daunting process of filling the afternoon drive time slot left open by one of the biggest tragedies in local radio history - the passing of Chuck Collier. All Access reports that Clear Channel Cleveland OM Keith Abrams (Hi, … [Read more...]
Early Week Pileup
Posted on October 10, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Some items have been piling up here at OMW World Headquarters, so it's time to clear the traffic lanes... QUICK EXIT: Scripps ABC affiliate WEWS/5 "NewsChannel 5" has parted ways with reporter/anchor Justin Michaels, rather suddenly. From a brief station memo about his exit from news director Jill Manuel: I want to share the news that Justin Michaels is no longer with NewsChannel 5. Please join me in wishing Justin luck in his future endeavors. From what we're hearing out of 3001 Euclid, … [Read more...]
Changes Afoot
Posted on September 28, 2011 · 8 Comments
There are lots of changes coming in local radio and TV, and it's time to bring them to light. We'll start on the TV side, first...but sports radio is in the on-deck circle... NEW ANCHOR: Scripps ABC affiliate WEWS/5 has been taking its time and shuffling around its schedule after the departure of market icon Ted Henry. But it appears it's filled at least one of Ted's roles - 11 PM co-anchor. MediaBistro's TVSpy, the entity once known as "ShopTalk", has confirmed earlier rumors about … [Read more...]
Air Traffic Control
Posted on September 8, 2011 · 4 Comments
The comings and goings in Northeast Ohio media are starting to stack up like planes waiting to land or take off at Hopkins Airport, so let's clear some of these jets now... JIM'S BACK, NO, REALLY: Stop us if you're heard this before - Cleveland Browns Radio Network play-by-play voice Jim Donovan will be back in the booth on Sunday, after undergoing successful bone marrow transplant surgery in his 10 year battle with leukemia. No, really, he'll be back...and not just on radio. OMW passed along … [Read more...]
Some Other Stuff
Posted on August 22, 2011 · 1 Comment
We're just a week away from the debut of a new station that's held much of our attention lately...CBS Radio's incoming Cleveland sports talk outlet, the transformation of alt-rock WKRK/92.3 "Radio 92.3" to "92.3 The Fan" next Monday. We'll have plenty more to update about that story later today. But for now, some other stuff... JIM'S COMING BACK: With health problems sidelining him from calling Cleveland Browns preseason games on Gannett NBC affiliate WKYC/3, a lot of viewers are … [Read more...]
Entering July
Posted on July 1, 2011 · 2 Comments
And we start the month with a long list of topics, some that have been sitting here a while, and others brand new... MATT'S LANDING: Like, for example, the word of the Houston landing place of Northeast Ohio-born-and-bred talker Matt Patrick. The former Clear Channel Akron market hot AC WKDD/98.1 and talk WHLO/640 host, who holds the 1-4 PM Saturday slot at Clear Channel talk WTAM/1100 Cleveland, is making a big splash at a huge Clear Channel station in Houston. Starting Tuesday, July 5th, … [Read more...]
The Friday Mix
Posted on June 24, 2011 · 3 Comments
UPDATE 6/26/11 1:30 AM: In sorting through the various awards recently handed out for Kent State University public radio outlet WKSU/89.7-and-its-simulcasters, we missed this individual award from the Ohio Professional Writers, Inc. (OPW), the state affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW). And we feel bad about missing it, as it mentions "one of our own", the woman who is the conduit of all information about WKSU, who happens to have a more important title than just the one … [Read more...]
