It's nearly April...and news is breaking out all over... LANIGAN'S GONE: Clear Channel classic hits WMJI/105.7 "Majic 105.7" morning icon John Lanigan has been hearing "goodbye" for weeks from thousands of people, particularly the last week. He finally said "goodbye" himself to his over 40 years in Cleveland radio this morning. Lanigan was honored during the intermission of Saturday's 2014 edition of the station's signature event, the "Moondog Coronation Ball" at Quicken Loans Arena. We … [Read more...]
L’Affaire Rizzo – The End
Posted on March 28, 2014 · Leave a Comment
Long-time Cleveland sports media personality Tony Rizzo has had his day in court. And it appears that Rizzo, who was originally charged with domestic violence, may not serve any jail time. The host of Good Karma sports WKNR/850 "ESPN Cleveland"'s midday "The Really Big Show" agreed to a plea deal Thursday in Medina Municipal Court. Northeast Ohio Media Group via Cleveland.com reports that he pled to a lesser charge: Rizzo, 52, of Medina pleaded no contest to persistent disorderly … [Read more...]
All In The Family
Posted on March 27, 2014 · Leave a Comment
No, not the iconic 1970's sitcom with Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton, which airs weeknights on Antenna TV (Tribune's WJW/8.2 locally)... FIRST FAMILY OF LOCAL TV: A shuffling at Gannett NBC affiliate WKYC/3 brings top management of the station officially into the same family. WKYC's long-time top advertising and promotions executive has been promoted, according to our friend and blogging colleague Frank Macek at his "WKYC Director's Cut" blog: “I am pleased to announce the … [Read more...]
The Lanigan Farewell Tour
Posted on March 26, 2014 · 2 Comments
As you'd expect a week before an iconic radio personality speaks his last daily words into a microphone, there's a growing amount of attention being paid to retiring Clear Channel classic hits WMJI/105.7 "Majic 105.7" morning star John Lanigan. The first feature on the radio vet, who started in Cleveland in 1970 on the old WGAR/1220 (replacing now national radio icon Don Imus), was aired in an odd place. It's no secret that Lanigan has had his, uh, moments with Raycom Media's CBS affiliate … [Read more...]
The Shamrock Update
Posted on March 17, 2014 · Leave a Comment
Yes, it's St. Patrick's Day as we write this, and we have a rather long parade of items to share... MANUEL OUT AT 5: The long tenure of Scripps ABC affiliate WEWS/5 "NewsChannel 5" news director Jill Manuel has ended rather abruptly. In what's not really a surprise to anyone who's even driven by 3001 Euclid, Manuel's departure was announced late last week. From one of those management memos that took the prevailing winds to the doorstep of the OMW World Headquarters: Jill has informed me she … [Read more...]
The Five Item Pileup
Posted on February 27, 2014 · 6 Comments
You walk away from a blog, and items start to pile up like cars on snow and ice covered roadways. Ah, but a sign of spring is here... STO OFF DISH: It's snowy and wind chills are in the negative numbers on this February day in Ohio, but it was 73 degrees in Goodyear AZ, where the Cleveland Indians played their second Spring Training warmup contest this afternoon against the Cincinnati Reds. Viewers all over the Indians TV territory could get a mental break from winter and watch that … [Read more...]
The Jasen/Jasons Have It
Posted on February 24, 2014 · 4 Comments
And as it would happen, two of our newsmakers this Monday have the same first name, albeit with slightly different spellings... JASEN RADIO: The local talk show tipped in an earlier item at Rubber City Radio talk WAKR/1590 Akron will be hosted by an existing station staffer. As we post this, "The Jasen Sokol Show" is making its debut on WAKR, with a time slot of 10 AM to 2 PM weekdays. The show bridges the news/talk/information gap on 1590 AM, airing between the morning drive news block … [Read more...]
Thawing Out
Posted on February 19, 2014 · 2 Comments
We're putting away the parka for a few days, and warming up with some news items... CANCER: The word "cancer" is a bombshell when connected to a local media personality. But sometimes it can be treated, and that's what happened to Tribune Fox affiliate WJW/8 "Fox 8 News" anchor/reporter and OMW reader Mark Zinni. A routine physical uncovered signs of what turned out to be thyroid cancer, and after talking to his doctor, Zinni opted to remove his thyroid to prevent any future problems. Yes, … [Read more...]
Robin’s Exit, Again
Posted on February 12, 2014 · 5 Comments
We had an item ready to post on Tuesday, but THIS JUST IN, as the saying goes...it's time to scrap the Digital Front Page. The other items are still here, and will follow... ROBIN LEAVING: There's been a lot of talk over the past few years in Cleveland about Robin Swoboda's career moves, exits and returns. Looks like she's exiting again. Gannett NBC affiliate WKYC/3 has announced that Swoboda, co-anchor of the station's 7 PM newscast with sports director/anchor Jim Donovan, is heading … [Read more...]
Yet Another Exits Broadcast Park
Posted on February 7, 2014 · 6 Comments
We'd been hearing the rumors Friday afternoon...that talk WNIR/100.1 "The Talk of Akron" weekend and fill-in host Bob Earley had left Broadcast Park. The rumors have been confirmed, first by Earley himself on Facebook, then by Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com pop culture writer Rich Heldenfels. Get ready...you're not gonna believe this one. (And a warning, we'll veer into musings and opinion here, as it's almost mandated.) Bill Klaus, WNIR CEO and station manager, said, “We had a … [Read more...]
