Though it's pretty much a "long tradition" here that we're away when news breaks - it just happens that way - we apologize for this one.AllAccess reports that CBS Radio hot AC WQAL/104.1 Cleveland "Q104" middayer John Conner is exiting the station, as Q isn't renewing his contract when it expires on March 31st. Evening host Tim Richards moves into the daylight hours to replace him, starting April 1st.Richards joined the station last year after a stint as morning co-host at D.A. Peterson top 40 … [Read more...]
More Comings, Goings And Other Stuff
Posted on March 6, 2007 · Leave a Comment
As it turns out, Tuesday was a very busy day...JOY BENEDICT JUMPS TWO CHANNELS: And exclusive, as far as we know...OMW hears that WKYC/3 Akron Bureau reporter Joy Benedict is leaving to join ABC affiliate WEWS/5.We hear she'll take the morning reporting position on the station's "Good Morning Cleveland", presumably as a direct replacement for now-former "NewsChannel 5" reporter Michelle Relerford. Benedict starts March 16th at Channel 5.While she was at WKYC, Benedict not only reported … [Read more...]
In No Particular Order
Posted on March 5, 2007 · Leave a Comment
We're not sure what to call this one, so let's plow into it!CATCHING UP WITH JULIE: We don't get the Dead Trees edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer here at OMW World Headquarters, so we only see the PD via its online presence at Cleveland.com.While we're quite grateful for that ability, there's one thing the site doesn't do - provide an easily accesssible page with all the media-related articles written by Julie Washington. Her articles on local film industry issues have an index, for some … [Read more...]
Youngstown Radio Mainstays Retire
Posted on March 4, 2007 · Leave a Comment
Our knowledge of Youngstown radio history is sketchy, but one thing is for sure: Dick Thompson and Johnny Kay are basically right next to each other in our knowledge of the market's past.The long-time air personalities, who worked together at iconic top 40 outlet WHOT - in its original days at AM 1330 - have been paired at Cumulus standards WSOM/600 Salem for the past few years...until Friday, when both men retired after doing a final show together on Friday afternoon.Throughout their careers, … [Read more...]
OMW Policy Statement
Posted on March 4, 2007 · Leave a Comment
While we're working on other items, and for the record...OMW has an official policy regarding our oft-threatened-to-be-canned comments section, which was thisclose to being closed today. (OK, so maybe we were a bit miffed that we had to take time out of our personal, non-media related activities today to take care of this.)Comments unearthing private information not intended for public consumption, in an attempt to attack someone, will be deleted.This includes, but is not limited to, the … [Read more...]
Welcome To March
Posted on March 3, 2007 · Leave a Comment
On the heels of items mentioned before, and sometimes more so...WRQK INVADES AKRON?: Clear Channel's new rocker WRQK/106.9 Canton has surely had at least some Akron listeners over the years, even with the presence of competing Rubber City rock WONE/97.5 and the station's general focus on Canton itself in the Cumulus years - give or take throwaway Akron mentions, like in the station's legal ID.And with the WRQK signal recently juiced back up to normal with its new tower site, we've wondered if … [Read more...]
BREAKING NEWS: Channel 33 Life Boats Begin Newsroom Evacuation
Posted on February 28, 2007 · Leave a Comment
And the first one out the door at Youngstown ABC affiliate WYTV/33 is...news director Pat Livingston.OMW hears via the folks at NewsBlues that Livingston stays in the state, taking the open ND post at Barrington Broadcasting NBC affiliate WNWO/24 "NBC 24" Toledo.Our headline, of course, refers to the fact that Livingston is exiting WYTV before he, and likely the entire station newsroom staff, will be pushed out the door.Most market observers expect that a planned "shared services" agreement … [Read more...]
They Have Left The Building
Posted on February 28, 2007 · Leave a Comment
Two departures, and one return of someone who "left the building" a lot. Well, at least a return in recorded form...CHRIS MILLER'S EXIT: Today is WEWS/5 sports director Chris Miller's last day at the Cleveland ABC affiliate.And the "NewsChannel 5" sports anchor is doing a farewell tour of sorts, if you count his appearance this morning on WKNR/850 "ESPN 850"'s mid-morning talk show with competitor-until-now Tony Rizzo.Miller, who joins Washington DC-based Comcast SportsNet as its main sports … [Read more...]
WKNR Folo: No Brainer
Posted on February 27, 2007 · Leave a Comment
But first, this breaking news...a computer virus has found its way into the computers at Good Karma sports WKNR/850 in Cleveland!It has apparently infected the computer automation system at WKNR, re-populating the on-air system with items voiced by former WKNR program director Michael Luczak."W32.Luczak.KNR"'s first damage was heard Tuesday night, during the opening of WKNR's pre-game broadcast for the Cleveland State Vikings basketball contest. OMW hears that Good Karma Virus Removal … [Read more...]
Sliding Into Tuesday
Posted on February 27, 2007 · Leave a Comment
A mixed bag of items. Is Tuesday worth anything, except for the fact that it's not Monday?"ESPN 850's" FIRST DAY: There isn't much more to be said about the debut of the new lineup and on-air remodeling of Good Karma sports talk WKNR/850 as "ESPN 850". We think we've said just about everything.But yes, on-air changes at WKNR and sister WWGK/1540 "KNR2" did take place as scheduled Monday, including the debut of the 10 AM-noon show hosted by WJW FOX 8 sports anchor Tony Rizzo. (Long-time caller … [Read more...]
