Ohio Media Watch

Here at the OMW World Headquarters, we actually went through the recently released Cleveland and Akron market ratings late last week, and had already outlined the highlights of what we wanted to touch on. But trying to divine anything from "vanity" 12-plus numbers often leads to disaster and blanket statements that are not held up by in-demo numbers, so we've held off, until now. The below covers some of the "highlights", and not all stations are mentioned. We'll focus mainly on stations with … [Read more...]

A small item at AllAccess.com:"Religion WCER-A/CANTON completes its transition to secular News-Talk on MONDAY (8/1) with a new local talk show with JASON BURNETTE 6-7p weekdays. OM/ND JOHN AMRHEIN tells ALL ACCESS he's also adding new imaging and more local news."Amrhein has actually posted about the station adding more secular talk on the Radio-Info Cleveland board.The name Jason Burnette doesn't ring any bells in the OMW World Empire, and a quick Google search on the name doesn't reveal any … [Read more...]

It's been open for a while now, since Lee Ann Sommers scooted off to Denver, but Clear Channel Cleveland Hot AC WMVX/106.5's new PD has posted a job listing for the afternoon drive slot at "Mix 106.5".Here it is, courtesy of the jobs section of a website anyone looking for radio work should have on their favorites list, AllAccess.com:"Cleveland’s MIX 106.5 is looking for our next star to make PM drive sparkle. Three to five years on-air experience with contemporary formats, strong show prep … [Read more...]

OMW hears that Rubber City Radio standards WAKR/1590 Akron may be expanding its locally-hosted music programming, and is looking for someone that could fill a new position.Right now, the station has a local news/information show with Ray Horner in morning drive, and mostly uses Westwood One's Adult Standards format the rest of the day. WAKR vet Bob Allen holds down afternoon drive.The new hire would be WAKR's music director, so the station is looking for someone with Selector experience. … [Read more...]

We hinted at this earlier in OMW, when someone found a help wanted ad for a co-host of Salem Cleveland CCM WFHM/95.5 "The Fish"'s morning show. And though we have NOT confirmed this, it now appears that co-host Robin Swoboda is leaving the station.Swoboda is exiting the "The Fish"'s morning show for - from what we hear - family reasons. This could be related to her husband's recent pursuit of a high school football coaching gig, and the need to take care of their kids. A personal note from OMW - … [Read more...]

OMW has been busy off in the world of Real Life(tm), so we've been away from the blog for a while. But no...we haven't disappeared.Coming sometime in the next 24 hours or so, we'll pick apart those pesky 12-plus ratings numbers for Cleveland and Akron. But we won't go line by line. For one, the 12-plus numbers are rightly called "vanity numbers", and those figures and 50 cents may get you a can of Coke in the lunchroom of your favorite radio station. (A tip of the hat to our most recent … [Read more...]

A helpful tipster has reopened the "Case of the Bull" in Ashtabula.Clear Channel recently signed on WYBL/98.3 in that city, which is currently running uninterrupted oldies music.OMW has noted, in the past, that the new station was rumored to be considering a country format...though we wrote off some of that speculation due to the fact that a former Clear Channel country station in the Louisville market once held the WYBL calls, and that those calls ended up moving north to the current Ashtabula … [Read more...]

A couple of items picked up off the R-I Cleveland board, and more:* "Johnny Morgan" picks up an ad by Salem CCM WFHM/95.5 Cleveland ("95.5 The Fish") for a morning show co-host. There's no indication if the advertised position replaces a current host, or if it's for an additional talent on the show. The line "Previous on-air experience a plus" would tend to indicate, in OMW's humble opinion, that it's a third personality to join established co-hosts Len Houser and Robin Swoboda.* "bigwoody" … [Read more...]

Syndicated liberal morning talker Bill Press, who aired solely on Akron's WARF/1350 "Radio Free Ohio" for the first few weeks of his new radio program, is picking up another over-air station.Radio & Records Online reports that Press' show will be in the lineup at new liberal talk station KRXA/540 in the Monterey/Salinas/Santa Cruz market on the Central California coast, when that new station debuts July 21st. There's no word as to when KRXA will air Press, who is live 6-9 AM Eastern Time. A … [Read more...]

Thanks to our friends at AllAccess for the tip:The various companies associated with Stop 26-Riverbend Productions, which owns three Youngstown/Warren market stations, have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to the site TheDeal.com.The move comes after a lender filed to appoint a court-ordered trustee in the case, which covers tens of millions of dollars in reported liabilities.In addition to urban WRBP/101.9 Hubbard, religious WGFT/1330 Campbell and Spanish language WASN/1500 … [Read more...]