So, the ol' OMW Inbox has clogged up again over the weekend, and there are still some outstanding items...WJW/FOX SALE?: Estimates are not always perfect, so we weren't 100% sure that we'd hear more by now on our story from last week - the pending sale of Cleveland FOX O&O WJW/8 and eight other FOX below-top 10 market stations, presumably to Oak Hill Capital Partners (Local TV, LLC).The announcement made by a high-level FOX executive in two meetings a week ago today at South Marginal Road … [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...]
Moving On, Moved In, Moved On
Posted on December 7, 2007 · Leave a Comment
We have mostly Cleveland TV-related items today...in fact, all of them are...BIG APPLE BOUND: OMW has learned that ABC affiliate WEWS/5 in Cleveland will be losing reporter Carolina Leid.Ms. Leid is leaving "NewsChannel 5" for the nation's largest TV market, New York City. She takes a reporting job at ABC O&O WABC/7 in the Big Apple.Carolina's last day at 3001 Euclid will be December 28th.OMW hears that WEWS is looking for her replacement...AC WITH JN: Long-running WEWS weekend show … [Read more...]
Hamilton No Longer WRQK PD
Posted on December 6, 2007 · Leave a Comment
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...]
FOX Selling WJW – Update
Posted on December 5, 2007 · Leave a Comment
We've worked the phones, er, E-Mail, and gathered information from a number of our sources, and we now have a clearer picture of the impending sale of FOX owned-and-operated station WJW/8 "FOX 8" in Cleveland and a number of sister stations.First of all, a clarification.After sweeping the building at South Marginal Road, OMW hears that FOX honcho Dennis Swanson did NOT announce the actual identity of the buyer that has been found for WJW and eight other smaller market O&Os. Staffers were … [Read more...]
EXCLUSIVE (?): WJW, FOX O&Os To Oak Hill
Posted on December 3, 2007 · Leave a Comment
UPDATE 10:37 PM 12/4/07: We are trying to nail down this story on a nationwide basis, which we reported based upon information from long-time, trusted, reliable sources in this area.The sale we were told was announced locally has not yet been reported elsewhere, but we're keeping an eye on it.We'll add a new update later.-- The Management----------This may well be a national exclusive.OMW hears that it has been announced to staffers at Cleveland FOX owned-and-operated WJW/8 "FOX 8" that the … [Read more...]
Tom Sullivan Dies
Posted on December 2, 2007 · Leave a Comment
OMW hears that long-time Northeast Ohio radio personality Tom Sullivan has passed away at the age of 53. Tom, born Tom Farrar in Canal Fulton in 1954, died Friday afternoon.From the Canton Repository's online obituary listing:Tom spent over 30 years in radio and was known by his stage name Tom Sullivan. Tom worked for WKDD, WQMX, WHBC-FM and the old M105 in Cleveland and others. "If I put a smile on your face or made you laugh at one of my stunts, then it was all worth while"Tom's last known … [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...]
Two More Columbus Items
Posted on November 30, 2007 · Leave a Comment
Just a couple of quick ones:LIBERAL TALK RADIO BACK IN COLUMBUS: It had been rumored around liberal/progressive political circles and the blogosphere for a day or two, but it's now official - liberal talk radio is making a comeback in Columbus.Columbus Dispatch radio/TV writer Tim Feran confirms that Bernard Radio's WVKO/1580, which recently returned to the air after being silent, will pick up the format on Monday. It'll feature a similar lineup to the market's former liberal talk outlet - … [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...]
