OMW hears that long-time Clear Channel Akron/Canton market manager Dan Lankford has left the building at Freedom Avenue, bound for a new job in Pennsylvania.Lankford is heading for a new job as market manager of Clear Channel's Harrisburg/Allentown PA stations. And by heading, we mean he's expected to start today.At Freedom Avenue, Lankford has been in charge of five stations - hot AC WKDD/98.1, rock WRQK/106.9, AC WHOF/101.7, talk WHLO/640 and sports WARF/1350.In addition to those stations, … [Read more...]
THIS JUST IN: Browns/Lions Set (Yawn) For Local TV
Posted on August 18, 2009 · Leave a Comment
The sure-to-be-thrilling, breathtakingly exciting Cleveland Browns preseason tilt with the Detroit Lions will not be blacked out.The Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi reports that the team has reached a deal with Gannett NBC affiliate WKYC/3 to ensure local TV carriage of the Saturday night contest, despite some 4,800 unsold tickets just over a day before the NFL's blackout deadline.The financial details, and disposition of the unsold tickets, is apparently undisclosed.Our blogging colleague at WKYC, … [Read more...]
Mostly Sports Stuff
Posted on August 18, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Our item this afternoon is full of mostly sports-related stuff, and starts with something that could turn into something bigger...WITHER CHUCK?: When Clear Channel talk WTAM/1100 Cleveland afternoon drive host Mike Trivisonno took a few days off after the tragic death of his long-time wife Linda, regular Triv sub Chuck Galeti dropped in to cover for the WTAM host.Galeti has been the weekend sports anchor for a certain Cleveland market CBS affiliate, known legally to the FCC as WOIO(TV) Shaker … [Read more...]
Seeing The Browns – Or Not
Posted on August 16, 2009 · Leave a Comment
All of Northeast Ohio's television viewers got to see (endure, be tortured by) the Cleveland Browns preseason opener on Saturday, a quickly-forgettable tilt with the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, the local broadcast via Gannett NBC affiliate WKYC/3 and its regional network of stations.This coming weekend, Browns fans may not be able to see their team play the Detroit Lions - unless they're sitting in Cleveland Browns Stadium.Yes, there is still the possibility that the local NFL franchise … [Read more...]
The Cleveland/Akron/Canton/Toledo/Detroit/Windsor Market
Posted on August 15, 2009 · Leave a Comment
The markets ringing Lake Erie seemingly merged for a day, at least.Northeast Ohio commuters heading home in the afternoon on Friday were hearing traffic reports talking about tieups on "the Fisher", "the Lodge" and accidents on 8 Mile Road.No, their cars weren't magically transported to Detroit. Cleveland's Metro Traffic affiliates weren't accidentally getting Detroit-centric feeds from the company's new hub in suburban Detroit.And no, Canada's CBC Radio generally does not target listeners in … [Read more...]
The Coveted Third Hour
Posted on August 14, 2009 · Leave a Comment
It had become a running joke on Good Karma sports WKNR/850 "ESPN 850"'s mid-morning show, hosted by WJW/8 "Fox 8" sportscaster Tony Rizzo.Whenever a new "announcement" was being touted, Rizz and the gang joked around that it didn't involve adding a "coveted third hour" to the two hour program, which has aired weekdays from 10 AM to noon.Well, this time, it apparently does involve that "coveted third hour".We'd heard from readers that such an announcement was made at the end of Friday's "Really … [Read more...]
BREAKING NEWS: Kristy Steeves Exits WJW
Posted on August 12, 2009 · Leave a Comment
OMW hears that veteran Local TV WJW/8 Cleveland "Fox 8 News" reporter Kristy Steeves is leaving South Marginal (and the Summit Mall food court - AKA the location of WJW's Akron bureau) to concentrate on her photography business.We hear her last day was today in Akron, and she'll exit South Marginal tomorrow...and that the departure from "Fox 8 News" was her own decision.More later... … [Read more...]
Site Issues: Comment Moderation
Posted on August 11, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Effective immediately, all comments will be subject to moderation by your Primary Editorial Voice(tm). They will not be posted until they are specifically approved.No, it's nothing you said.You can blame "Vince", or "Julie", or whatever name our resident comment spammer has been going by this week. He/she/they/it have/has been leaving roughly a half-dozen to a dozen comment spams each morning, pushing some sort of scam linked in the signature file of the messages.And it's now added "spam … [Read more...]
Monday Lunch
Posted on August 10, 2009 · Leave a Comment
OK, so we're thinking of food as we get this late morning Monday update underway. Expect us to stop this from time to time as we raid our own kitchen...SHE'S HERE: Imagine our surprise when OMW received a press release - directly - from Scripps ABC affiliate WEWS/5 on its latest addition at "NewsChannel 5", assistant news director Roberta Petterson.We got the full press treatment from WEWS, including a photo of Ms. Petterson.Since we have the release, let's quote it:WEWS NewsChannel 5 has … [Read more...]
WOIO Gets Clearance For Power Boost
Posted on August 7, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Trip Ericson, creator of the RabbitEars.info website, passes along word that the alleged Cleveland market CBS affiliate has been a construction permit by the FCC for a power increase.It's the 10.3 kW facility Raycom Media's WOIO/19 Shaker Heights (RF channel 10) applied for in mid-2008, which would be a slight bump up from the current 3.5 kW facility being used by the station. It'd also be slightly higher up on the station's tower - 361 meters height above average terrain, vs. 304 for the … [Read more...]
