The fictional Lake Wobegon will be in Northeast Ohio this afternoon, as the iconic American Public Media public radio program "A Prairie Home Companion" broadcasts live from Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls today. Garrison Keillor and company will be joined by bluegrass musician Ricky Skaggs, says an official release from the show: The cast, crew, and fans of A Prairie Home Companion always look forward to a visit from Ricky Skaggs and his top-flight band, Kentucky Thunder. At just 17 … [Read more...]
Very Odd Stuff
Posted on June 18, 2010 · 3 Comments
Just clearing out the inbox, mostly, as we end the week... AND OPRAH'S REPLACEMENT IS...: Scripps ABC affiliate WEWS/5 in Cleveland is one of many stations that have been grappling with a big question...when talk titan Oprah Winfrey leaves broadcast TV for her own cable network in 2011, what will replace her in the lineup? Now, we know...and WEWS has stayed in the "Oprah" family in a choice with local ties. Cleveland-born Dr. Mehmet Oz's "Dr. Oz" show will slide from 10 AM to the … [Read more...]
Radio And TV Closure
Posted on June 15, 2010 · 1 Comment
UPDATE 6/15/10 2:48 PM: And it's done...Bill Cunningham is back on the air on WLW, and the station has officially announced that he's signed a new deal: 700WLW Cincinnati – “The Big One” – today announced that legendary, two-time Marconi Award winning personality Bill “Willie” Cunningham has signed a long term agreement to remain on the station – and reaffirmed his commitment to the Queen City and its radio listeners. “We are extremely pleased that Willie will remain part of the 700WLW team … [Read more...]
The Big Turmoil
Posted on June 14, 2010 · 1 Comment
Happenings at a Cincinnati radio station have taken over talk radio news in the entire Midwest, and Northeast Ohio is even involved... FROM CINCY TO CHICAGO: The story of Clear Channel talk WLW/700's schedule turmoil continues to grow in Cincinnati. There's word from Chicago that two hosts could be out at Tribune talk WGN/720 in the next month, as at least one now-former WLW host is headed in that direction. Now-former WLW "Midday" host Mike McConnell told the Cincinnati Enquirer that … [Read more...]
On And Off
Posted on June 13, 2010 · 1 Comment
In 2010, most radio stations stay on the air full-time, or hold to the terms of their license (daytime stations only). Some exceptions are below...and there's one more item related to a new "on" coming soon for one local personality... BACK UP WITH PEOPLE: No, not the musical group. We're talking about Streetsboro's WSTB/88.9, the school district station which had to go off the air after a recent fire at the gymnasium of Streetsboro High School - very near to the station's … [Read more...]
Wholly Unrelated Items
Posted on June 7, 2010 · 7 Comments
UPDATE 6/8/10 8:55 AM: Radio-Info.com's Tom Taylor confirms that McConnell is heading to WGN, starting August 9th...thanks to TSMW for the heads up! --- Here are two three items that are entirely unrelated, except they both all have to do with radio... FIRST OF TWO?: This is right in the middle of the Tri-State Media Watch coverage area, but we've always kept an eye on this station, anyway...and it, as we've long said, is much bigger than Cincinnati. And it could have effects up here, … [Read more...]
New And Followup
Posted on June 7, 2010 · 1 Comment
We start the week with some follow-up items, a rumor or two, and at least one new actual news item... NEW VOICE: A few OMW readers have asked about this, and now the announcement has officially been made. Radio One urban WENZ/107.9 "Z107.9" Cleveland has replaced its previous syndicated morning show with another syndicated program. It's "The Rickey Smiley Morning Show" replacing syndication vet Russ Parr in the Z morning slot. AllAccess quotes Radio One Cleveland OM Colby Colb: “He’s going … [Read more...]
HD Radio Changes
Posted on June 6, 2010 · 3 Comments
UPDATE 12:08 PM 6/7/10: WKSU has added HD4 to its primary 89.7 signal, and it is indeed the "News Channel" feed available via online streaming... --- Despite the availability of relatively modestly priced HD Radios - we hear the Insignia portable we've used is now $39 at Best Buy - there probably still aren't a lot of HD Radio listeners in Northeast Ohio. But it isn't like it was in the early days of the technology, where your Primary Editorial Voice(tm) was one of probably about a dozen … [Read more...]
Live From Northeast Ohio
Posted on June 3, 2010 · Leave a Comment
We just wanted to dispel the rumor that we've moved to another state, and are doing this blog remotely, while you thought we were still in Ohio. Heh! We couldn't resist... BATH TOWNSHIP, OHIO...HELLO!: Read that in the voice of CNN's Larry King, as the veteran talk show host dropped in at the Bath Township mansion of Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James this week - to conduct an interview with the soon-to-be free agent to air on Friday's edition of "Larry King Live" (9 PM Eastern, last … [Read more...]
Assorted June Items
Posted on June 2, 2010 · 2 Comments
Here are some assorted items as we head into June. It must be June, because Scripps ABC affiliate WEWS/5 "NewsChannel 5" forecaster Mark Johnson is taking up a lot of airtime talking about a tornado warning on the edge of the station's coverage area. At least he's not preempting a series finale... FIRE KNOCKS OFF WSTB: Streetsboro school-owned radio station WSTB/88.9 has gone through a lot recently. Are locusts next? The station was forced off the air late Tuesday afternoon due to fire at … [Read more...]
