Renda rumors quelled
Pittsburgh: A reliable source tells PBRTV that the Rumors reported here last week about Renda Broadcasting's WJAS and WPTT are not true. What we do know is that WJAS recently hired a consultant to freshen up the sound. At WPTT there are no plans to change the format at this time. More as we hear it...if we hear it!WLTJ puts Christmas Music on HD Channel
Pittsburgh: I'm not 100% sure if Eric or Jason happen to have an HD Radio to check this out in their neck of the woods. I found this while tuning into WLTJ 92.9 at home last night (10/29/07). Their HD channel at 92.9-2 has flipped from Classic Rock to Christmas music. I'm not exactly sure when the change took place but if Santa stops by one of the area electronics retailers to have an HD unit installed in his sleigh, you now know why.Cresson simulcast split
Johnstown-Altoona-State College: Scott Fybush reports that the longtime simulcast of "Q94" WBXQ-FM (94.3) and WBRX-FM (94.7) has come to an end.
WBXQ, licensed to Patton, retains its classic rock format while 94.7 has become an AC station under the "Mix" banner. Fybush reports that WBRX is using a Jones satellite service.
The stations are co-owned with Altoona news-talker WRTA (1240) and "music of your life" WKMC (1370), licensed to Roaring Spring.
There's all that and more in this week's edition of Fybush's NorthEast Radio Watch.
Another Ashtabula station flips
Misc. Ohio: Citing a story in the Ashtabula Star Beacon, The Mighty Blog of Fun (tm) known as Ohio Media Watch reports that Ashtabula-licensed WFUN (970) is dropping its news-talk format and going all-sports with an ESPN Radio affiliation. The switch will happen in November.It's the second Ashtabula move following Media One's previously reported decision to flip WZOO-FM (102.5) from CHR to oldies.
Because the change comes as WFUN moves from Clear Channel ownership to Media One, OMW offers two possible reasons: First, the desire to dump some of Clear Channel's syndicated shows, and second, the fact that all-sports formats are easy to sell to local advertisers, even when the ratings are low.
Morning drive host John Broom will move to middays, while a local sports show will be hosted by Joe "Pigskin" Pete from 5 to 7 p.m.
Where were you in '42?
Monday Morning Nostalgia Fix: With memories of Ken Burns' PBS documentary "The War" still fresh in everyone's mind, MMNF thought it might be interesting to roll back the clock 65 years to the last Monday in October, 1942 ... Oct. 26, to be exact.
Your normal listening was interrupted tonight at 10:30 p.m. for a speech by former Republican presidential candidate Wendell Willkie, which was carried on all of Pittsburgh's five radio stations: KDKA (1020), KQV (1410), WCAE (1250), WJAS (1320) and WWSW (1490).
Willkie had recently returned from a fact-finding mission in Europe. He blasted the Roosevelt administration's conduct of the war, and also attacked those who said it was unpatriotic to criticize the president during a war.
"Military experts, as well as our leaders, must be constantly exposed to democracy's greatest driving power --- the whiplash of public opinion, developed from honest, free discussion," Willkie said.
Before Willkie's speech, you could listen to Hal Peary as "The Great Gildersleeve" on KDKA; "Amos 'n Andy" and "Blondie" on WJAS; or "The Lone Ranger" and "Lum and Abner" on KQV.
WCAE had news and commentary from Fulton Lewis and Gabriel Heatter, who had recently begun starting each of his broadcasts with the chipper catchphrase, "There's good news tonight!"
But the news wasn't really that good. In fact, the fall of 1942 was one of the darkest periods of World War II, from the Allies' perspective. Overseas, the British were taking a pasting from Hitler's Luftwaffe, while the Nazis were deep in Soviet territory, engaging the Red Army in a desperate struggle for Stalingrad.
U.S. forces were doing little better. Terrible battles were raging on Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands, while news had just been released of the sinking of the aircraft carrier USS Wasp.
That Monday night, Oct. 26, a surprise air-raid warning was sounded across Allegheny County, plunging the Golden Triangle into darkness. The Post-Gazette reported that more than 500 new recruits marched to their waiting trains at Pennsylvania Station unable to see their wives and mothers waving goodbye.
. . .
All of those men tramp-tramp-tramping off to war left local radio stations scrambling for qualified personnel. Down in Uniontown, Sullivan Sages, program director at CBS affiliate WMBS, reported that he was hiring using "girl operators" to work in its control room, "and has found them more efficient and accurate than men," according to the Pittsburgh Press ... and there's more after the jump ... (more)
'Burgh-set sitcom gets full season
Pittsburgh, National News: "Back to You," the Fox sitcom set in a fictional Pittsburgh TV newsroom, has been picked up for a full season, report various trade papers.
James Hibberd of Television Week writes that the show has "stabilized" in its 8 p.m. Wednesday time slot, earning a 2.4-rating among adults aged 18 to 49. Zap2It says "Back to You" is averaging 7.4 million viewers per week.
"Though the show hasn't been a time-period titan, Fox expects 'Back' will improve once the remainder of the network's cylinders fire up in January with the return of 'American Idol,'" Hibberd says, noting that "Back To You" also provides one of the best lead-ins for "'Til Death" the network has ever had.
Meanwhile, the news isn't all great for series co-star Kelsey Grammer. United Press International reports that Grammer, best known for his portrayal of Dr. Frasier Crane on "Cheers" and "Frasier," was evacuated from his Malibu home because of the wildfires sweeping California.
Grammer said his 10-year-old daughter was upset, so he turned the evacuation into a game for her.
We'll remember that the next time PBRTV is forced from its Malibu headquarters. (Or is that our headquarters in a Chevy Malibu?)
Miller broadcasts from teachers' strike
Pittsburgh:In a press release, KDKA Radio announced that talk show host Kevin Miller will be doing a live-broadcast from Noon - 3 PM today. The "town hall meeting" style broadcast will come from the battle grounds of the Seneca Valley School District Teachers Strike. The public - as well as negotiators, school board members, teachers, parent - are all invited to attend. The broadcast takes place at St. Ferdinand Church in Cranberry Township.
Renda rumor mill running
Pittsburgh: The rumor mill is grinding about possible changes at Renda Broadcasting's Pittsburgh-market AMs, including WJAS (1320) and WPTT (1360).One rumor has the Pittsburgh-based company shuffling hosts at its music station, WJAS, while another has a wholesale format change in the works at news-talker WPTT. (UPDATE: A reliable source tells PBRTV these rumors are false.)
WJAS, which has a nostalgia format, has good overall numbers, but almost no listeners under age 34, according to Arbitron. (One source tells me that roughly three-quarters of WJAS' audience is over the age of 65.)
WPTT, licensed to McKeesport (with a possible pending move to "Mt. Lebanon"), has better demographics, but it's always been ratings-challenged, in part because of its anemic nighttime signal, which is 1,000 watts directional from Lincoln Borough, 12 miles south of downtown Pittsburgh.
This could all be fiction --- rumors and a quarter won't even buy a cup of coffee --- and we'll welcome any comments from Renda folks who want to correct the record. In the meantime, we'll stay tuned.
(UPDATE: As noted above, a reliable source tells PBRTV these rumors are false.)
Duffy pleads guilty
Pittsburgh: Former sportscaster John Duffy could face more than five years in federal prison after pleading guilty yesterday to possession of child pornography.The 47-year-old former weekend sports anchor on WEAE (1250), who also worked as a local correspondent for the national ESPN Radio network, entered his plea yesterday before Senior U.S. District Judge Alan N. Bloch, according to the Post-Gazette. Duffy will be sentenced on Jan. 22. He is currently in federal custody.
Prosecutors allege that Duffy was sharing child pornography with other computer users via the Internet. When arrested in May, prosecutors said, Duffy had more than 40 video files on his computer that showed children engaged in sex acts.
Could HD be coming to Moody Radio Network?
Misc. Ohio: I was on a road trip through Akron today (10/24/07) & was scanning the dial to hear what was on in Akron & Cleveland. My scanning stopped at 103.3 WCRF which is a very powerful religious outlet from Cleveland. I stayed on the station when the hosts were talking about HD Radio during a membership drive. They will be adding HD to it's main signal in the near future, which like most HD stations can cover up to 70% of what the analog signal covers. With their fund drive, WCRF hopes to add HD as well as an HD-2 & HD-3 stream with other religious programming options. Could these HD options be eventually heard along their network of stations & translators including WVME 91.9 in Meadville and the translator at 89.9 in Cochranton? Stay Tuned.WTAJ's Goodman leaving
Johnstown-Altoona-State College: The state's first female TV sports director is leaving.
Kellie Goodman is leaving Altoona's WTAJ-TV (10) at the end of the year to become marketing director of the Allegheny Mountains Convention and Visitors Bureau, according to the Altoona Mirror. She will also manage the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association and the East-West All-Star Game.
"It's just a great new challenge and new opportunity I'm really looking forward to," Goodman told the newspaper.
A 1991 graduate of Penn State University, Goodman went to WTAJ in 1993 after three years at Johnstown-based rival WJAC-TV (6). She was named sports director in 1998.
Her work at WTAJ included coverage of the 1996 Rose Bowl and the 2006 Orange Bowl, as well as the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments and several NASCAR races. She also hosted the station's weekly roundup of high school football, "Sportsbeat."
The station has yet to name a replacement.
Moment of Marty zen
Pittsburgh: KDKA-TV's Marty Griffin in a tutu. Do we need to say any more?(PBRTV propeller-hat tip: The Burgh Blog.)
Steelers & Browns Fans in Erie Face Blackout This Week
Erie-Meadville: Here's the situation for those living in the Erie TV Market. Fans of both the Browns & Steelers will not be able to see their respective games this Sunday on WSEE. Both games begin at 1pm, however Erie is in Buffalo's market and they must show their road game at the New York Jets at 4:15. To make matters worse, Fox has the double header while CBS can only show the 4:15 Buffalo game. This will definitely be a good week for Erie area sports bars & people who have Directv's "Sunday Ticket" can watch the 1pm games. This will also be an option for fans wanting to watch the Browns / Steelers rematch on November 11th. Fortunately, I am no longer living in the restricted "Buffalo Zone" and can watch all three games with a great rooftop antenna. Then again, I'll be going between the Steelers game & the Atlanta Nextel Cup race.A fruggin' good time
Monday Morning Nostalgia Fix: Put on your poodle skirts and saddle shoes, girls! Guys, get out the Brylcreem and comb your hair into a "DA." "It's Pony Time"!OK, this clip from about 1968 is too late for saddle shoes and Brylcreem. Would you believe Nehru jackets and go-go boots?
Last month on Pittsburgh Radio Nostalgia, local broadcast historian John Mehno posted a link to a clip on YouTube from "Teen Time," a live dance-party show on Steubenville's Channel 9. Channel 9, then a CBS affiliate called WSTV-TV, is now NBC affiliate WTOV-TV ... the calls changed in 1979.
"Teen Time" was hosted by Del Curtis, who as John and Ed Salamon pointed out on PRN, later worked for legendary New York City country station WHN (1050) under his real name, Del Demontreaux . . . (more)
Autumn Ziemba now on WEWS Cleveland
Youngstown: A report from our friends at Ohio Media Watch states that former WFMJ 21 news anchor Autumn Ziemba was recently spotted in the Cleveland market. Sources say that she is doing freelance work for WEWS 5. She has also tied the knot back on October 1st. (Fitting that Autumn would have an "Autumn" wedding.) Until recently, Autumn was co anchor with Bob Black on "21 News" 6 & 11pm reports. We wish Ms. Ziemba all of the best.Welcome Valerie Abati
Pittsburgh:Rob Owen features KDKA-TV's new meteorolgist Valerie Abati (A-bay-tee) who took over the reigns of the early morning weather duties earlier this month. Abati - who is no relation to news anchor Sonni Abatta - grew up in Conneaut Lake PA and has held jobs in Cincinnati OH, Chattanooga TN, Clarksburg WV and WJET in Erie after graduating from Penn State. She holds the AMS seal and is on track to get the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal. (The CBM is held by WPXI's Mike LaPoint and WTAE's Don Schwenneker.)
Abati likes to be active and plans on exploring the city as much as possible. She tells Owen, "One of the things I really like about Pittsburgh is its mom and pop shops. In America you can get so used to chains, and this is so different. I like that."
Summer Book is out
Pittsburgh:Usually the Summer book comes out after the summer weather is long gone. Not really the case this year!
The top three stations are predictable - 1. WDVE; 2. KDKA; 3. WDSY. These stations seem to be pulling farther apart as DVE continues a steady climb upward and WDSY drops over an entire point. WSHH comes up to 4th place at it's highest point in nearly a year. 5-10th place include 5. WWSW; 6. WPGB; 7. WRRK; 8. WKST; 9. WJAS; 10. WAMO-FM. None of the top 10 stations were tied.
Going down to 21st place was station WTZN - providing a complete understanding as to why they opted to change the format back to top-40. The Zone pulled in a .9 under KQV. We'll be waiting to see what the return of "B-94" does for the fall book.
Complete numbers are HERE.
Angels' Sliwa in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh: Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa is in Pittsburgh today, tomorrow and Sunday at the invitation of KDKA (1020) midday host Kevin Miller.
KDKA News Director Marshall Adams said Sliwa will visit several Pittsburgh-area neighborhoods to meet with community leaders and discuss forming local Guardian Angel chapters to patrol neighborhood streets.
In addition, Miller will host a live "town hall meeting" during Sliwa's visit to the office of state Rep. Jake Wheatley, 2015 Centre Ave., Hill District.
No stranger to radio, Sliwa has co-hosted (with Ron Kuby) the morning drive show on New York's WABC (770) since 1996.
Founded in 1979, Guardian Angels was originally formed to ride the New York City subways, report problems to police, and make citizens' arrests for violent crimes. Chapters now exist in 60 cities internationally.
The group's work has been controversial at times. Two Angels have been killed while on "safety patrols" --- including one who was shot by a police officer in New Jersey --- and former New York Mayor Ed Koch considered the group "vigilantes." Toronto's mayor and police chief still oppose the Angels in that city.
But other New York mayors like Rudy Giuliani and current Mayor Michael Bloomberg have supported its efforts. And the Angels have extended their volunteer efforts to offer educational and self-defense training programs
Lately the group, according to Sliwa, has been trying to counteract the "no snitch" mentality among inner-city teen-agers.
Other local meetings, according to Adams, will be held tonight at 7 at the Charleroi Borough municipal building, and tomorrow at 11 a.m. at the Foodland on Ninth Street in New Kensington. Sliwa will be on the South Side and in Homewood tomorrow evening.
In addition, a meeting for potential recruits will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at PKA Karate Academy, 431 McNeilly Road, near the city's border with Baldwin Township.
Kopler retiring at the end of the year
Pittsburgh:KDKA-AM Morning newsman Bob Kopler will retire at the end of 2007 so says Adrian McCoy of the Post-Gazette. Kopler joined KDKA in 1988 as a street reporter and began anchoring two years later. He also had stints at WTAE-AM (1250 - now WEAE), WWSW-AM (970 - now WBGG) KQV-AM and KDKA-TV.
We also note that one of Kopler's KQV airchecks made it on to the first of the KQV tributes on XM Radio's "60s 0n 6" in 2004.
WKBN reviewer gets national blurb
Youngstown: Milan Paurich, who reviews films for WKBN-TV (27), understands why his name shows up in national movie ads listing him as a critic for "CBS TV.""I guess it must sound better to the studios to put a quote in the ad next to 'CBS' instead of 'WKBN in Youngstown, Ohio,' " Paurich, who writes for the Cleveland-based alt-weekly Free Times, tells the Washington Post Sunday Magazine. "'CBS' sounds better. I get it."
WaPo writer Paul Farhi says movie companies have become experts at seeking reviews from local critics like Paurich whenever nationally-known reviewers like Roger Ebert have panned a movie. Then they use a network affiliation to inflate the critic's importance. WKBN-TV is a CBS affiliate.
"This might reflect badly on me and everybody else in this business, but unless you're Roger Ebert, people don't necessarily check the name beneath the quote," Paurich says. "The quote is going to matter more to [a moviegoer] than the source of the quote."
Va. newsman to KDKA?
Pittsburgh: Virginia Radio & TV is reporting that a sports reporter from WWBT-TV, an NBC affiliate in Richmond, Va., is headed to Pittsburgh.
Citing a report on NewsBlues, VARTV says Jory Rand will become a reporter/anchor at KDKA-TV (2) next year. Rand has been at WWBT for three years, according to VARTV.
According to WWBT's website, Rand is a native of Columbia, Md., and a graduate of the University of Maryland. He previously worked for WHAG-TV (25), the NBC affiliate in Hagerstown, Md.
(Hat-tip: PBRTV reader Dayton)
Former WHOT DJ dies
Youngstown: Our friends at Ohio Media Watch report the passing of Steve Miller, former WHOT radio "Good Guy" who died Sunday at age 56.A funeral service will be held tonight at Vaschak-Kirila Funeral Home in Youngstown for Miller, whose real name was Nick E. Roman.
According to OMW, Miller held down evenings at 'HOT, then at 1330 on the dial, in the 1970s. He also was heard at WNIO and worked there in sales, as well as WASN.
A Google search also reveals a stint at KSEV (700) in Houston, Texas.
A private pilot and flight instructor, Roman also worked in the sign business and as an equipment broker. He is survived by his parents, a brother and a sister.
A moment of levity
National News:
We could all use a laugh today, right? Make sure to read the comic strip "Big Nate" this week. It runs locally in the Tribune-Review.
("Big Nate" copyright 2007 Newspaper Enterprise Association, Inc., all rights reserved.)
Commentary: Let's step back, please
Signal-to-Noise: Commentary by Jason TogyerI would like to announce that PBRTV will no longer be accepting any underwriting from WDUQ-FM (90.5)
We feel that we can no longer endorse the mission of any radio station that thinks "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" (Saturdays, 1 p.m.) is funny.
OK, I think Roy Blount Jr. is funny. But the rest of the show isn't.
Anyway, allow me a few editorial thoughts on the current tempest in a teapot that's swirling around the Duquesne University station's Blaw-Knox tower on Mount Washington. (more)
WAMO, nightclub sued over shooting
Pittsburgh: A Monroeville woman has sued WAMO-FM (106.7) and a nightclub from which the radio station was broadcasting when a shooting occurred.According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Davina Wilson is demanding damages from the Strip District's Touch nightclub and WAMO over the July 31, 2006 incident in which eight people were shot, two fatally.
Wilson was on the second-floor balcony at the time and suffered bullet wounds to her left leg and foot, according to the newspaper.
The lawsuit was filed in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.
One witness told the Post-Gazette at the time the scene inside Touch was like something from of the movie Scarface.
Touch, which markets itself as an "extremely upscale" club catering "to 20-somethings dressed to impress," opened in 2003.
During the summer of 2006, WAMO was sponsoring Sunday night dance parties at Touch where ladies drank free from 10 p.m. until midnight, according to the P-G. About 400 people were inside the club when the shooting began.
According to the Trib, Wilson's lawsuit alleges that Touch and WAMO failed to provide enough security for patrons.
'DUQ backlash builds
Pittsburgh: There's a backlash building against Duquesne University and its radio station, WDUQ-FM (90.5), over a decision last week to pull underwriting announcements from Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania, according to the Post-Gazette.
Adrian McCoy reports that donations to the public broadcaster's annual fall pledge drive, which began last week, are down.
Some listeners are backing the university's decision to defend its pro-life mission, but others, McCoy says, are "alarmed" that a public radio station with a news department would withhold something from its airwaves for political or religious reasons.
The Catholic church condemns both birth control and abortion as immoral; Duquesne University, which holds WDUQ's license, is a Catholic institution.
WDUQ General Manager Scott Hanley says the pledge drive is "much lower in response than normal" and tells McCoy he's concerned that the controversy is distracting people from the fact that the station relies on contributions to meet its annual budget. (more)
Monday morning nostalgia fix
Pittsburgh, Monday Morning Nostalgia Fix: Monday Morning Nostalgia Fix doesn't mean to be stuck in the Eisenhower Administration lately. It's just the way things have worked out.
Indulge us one more 1960 memory, please, because this is a biggie. Believe it or not, boys and girls, there was a time when the Pittsburgh Pirates didn't have 15 consecutive losing seasons as their primary "achievement." In fact, there were several times when they actually won the World Series ... including the memorable time when they defeated The Hated New York Yankees.
And you're going to hear exactly what it sounded like. Just read on.
. . .
First, anyone who says they listened to Bob Prince call the World Series on KDKA is either suffering from a memory lapse, or is a darned liar. Flagship radio stations were not permitted to originate their own coverage of World Series games until 1984.
As an NBC Radio affiliate in those days, KDKA (1020) was obligated to carry the network's broadcast team of Jack Quinlan and Chuck Thompson.
Thompson, who did the play by play, called Baltimore Orioles games from 1955 until 1987, with a brief break in the late '50s while he covered the Washington Senators.
Quinlan, the color commentator, was a Chicago broadcaster who covered the Cubs for WGN radio from 1955 until his tragic death in a car accident before the 1965 season.
. . .
"The Gunner," however, could be heard on WIIC-TV (11), which carried NBC-TV"s coverage of the World Series.
Major League Baseball's TV policy for World Series games before 1966 was to pair the top announcer from each team on the telecast --- Prince thus represented the Pirates, while another legend of the baseball broadcast booth, Mel "How 'Bout That?" Allen, represented the Yankees. ... (more)
Duquesne U. tells 'DUQ to yank spots
Pittsburgh: WDUQ-FM (90.5) has cancelled an $5,300 underwriting agreement with Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania after complaints from Duquesne University's administration that the group's mission is not compatible with Catholic teaching.According to the Post-Gazette, Planned Parenthood learned of the station's decision on Thursday.
WDUQ, which carries National Public Radio's signature talk programs along with its own jazz and public-affairs programs, is owned by the university and located in the Des Places Language Center on Duquesne's Uptown campus.
Planned Parenthood provides advice on birth control and provides abortions up to 18 weeks. Catholic doctrine holds that both contraception and abortion are sins, and Duquesne is a Catholic university, operated under the auspices of the Holy Ghost fathers.
None of the messages pulled from 'DUQ mention either birth control or abortion, according to the P-G.
The station, which began its fall pledge-drive campaign last week, is the only NPR affiliate in the mid-Atlantic states to refuse the donation from Planned Parenthood, said the president and chief executive officer of the local chapter, Kimberlee Evert.
"I don't believe that donors realize that when they support public radio, they are actually donating to Duquesne University," Evert told L.A. Johnson of the P-G. "Is WDUQ now going to screen every donor to find out whether they're in compliance with Catholic doctrine?"
March of Dimes A.I.R. Awards finalists have been named
Pittsburgh:The March of Dimes A.I.R. Awards nominees are chosen and this year's Lifetime Achievement Award Winner is Tony Renda, Sr. Renda owns Pittsburgh-based Renda Broadcasting Inc. including WSHH, WJAS, WPTT in Pittsburgh; WGSM in Greensburg; as well as stations in Punxsutawney and Indiana PA, Florida and Oklahoma.
A complete list of finalists can be read in the Post-Gazette.
This year's awards ceremony is scheduled for 11/8 at the Riverwatch in the Strip. Tickets are $55 with proceeds benefiting the March of Dimes. Call 412-391-3193 or visit www.airawardspgh.org for more information or to make reservations.
For Heaven's Sake, Leave 11 Alone...GEEZ! - A Musings Brief
Pittsburgh:A quick glance at Rob Owen's Q&A today suggests that tension is mounting among WPXI viewers this week. The glitches that viewers have seen have made the newscasts pretty difficult to watch. Sure you can blame the professionals if you must, but I have no doubt that they are just as frustrated as the viewers are. It happens - whether or not one knows it's happening! We've mentioned it here plenty of times. We've seen it mentioned elsewhere plenty of times. It's time to let it go and give the station time to get everything up and running smoothly.
Obviously moving a television station isn't an easy task - typically you're moving into a whole new place with new equipment and surroundings and leaving much of the old behind. There's so much to get used to...and yes, while practice makes perfect, there is only so much time to practice. You've got to roll with what you have when the time comes.
Think back 50+ years ago...if (unlike me) you can remember that far. Television was a new thing. Those who were in the business back then were doing everything for the first time. They made mistakes - and sometimes before the viewers' eyes. Eventually things got down to a science and flowed smoothly. Then came the new technology (or new studios) and people had to re-learn things. And that's what WPXI is dealing with now. Be patient...
This has been a Musings Brief
This ad was 50% true 20 years ago...
Pittsburgh:Talk about odd luck. As I was surfing around YouTube tonight, I came across this clip that only a true Pittsburgh radio geek could appreciate! This ad could have been used locally about 20 years ago and it would have been 50% true! I can't say that I've ever heard of The Koz Zone...but this is simply great! Click here to see the video.
"Majic" replaces "Kiss FM"
Erie-Meadville: UPDATE - It was reported yesterday (10/11/07) that Meadville & Franklin would be losing CHR / Hot AC "99.3 & 104.5 Kiss FM" to either an Oldies or Variety Hits format. Despite the name "Majic", this version features Variety Hits rather than Oldies like most stations using the "Majic" or "Magic" name. The new station is also using pre recorded liners similar to "Bob FM" or "Jack FM" type stations as well as the "We Play Anything" catch phrase. What is unusal is that the station does not have a human first name. CHR fans in Meadville and parts of Franklin can tune down the dial at 103.7 to "Star 104."WPXI Noon News - Plain and Simple
Pittsburgh:Today's Noon News Broadcast on Channel 11 was what we call "simple". The broadcast was reported by Rick Earle and meteorologist Scott Harbaugh while Noon anchors Newlin Archinal and Bob Bruce waited in the studio. Apparently some of the new equipment failed to operate. Bruce and Archinal - who later came outside with Earle and Harbaugh - said that the failure could be likened to a home computer crashing. Then they praised Cox Enterprises and the station execs for being able to make such a huge move and bringing such technology to Pittsburgh. PBRTV would like to comment that Harbaugh presented a flawless weather forecast. In fact, we wonder if he memorized it!
All this happened as Cox officials were on their way to the station for a grand opening celebration. PBRTV noted the balloons and the presence of Chopper 11 on its new landing pad upon driving by the station.
WYSU raising money for HD conversion
Youngstown: When WYSU-FM (88.5) launches its fall pledge drive on Friday, it's looking for more than a supplement to its annual $900,000 budget, reports the Youngstown Vindicator.
The classical music pubcaster, based at Youngstown State University, needs to raise money for its conversion to digital, "high-definition" broadcasting, and the station will be offering HD-equipped radios as prizes for some lucky donors.
"WYSU recently announced that it will gradually be moving to an all-news format on its primary channel at 88.5 FM," says the Vindy, but the changeover won't take effect until 2011, and when it happens, classical music will be programmed on one of the station's digital streams.
Never mind the free radios, though. One lucky donor will also win an all-expenses paid trip for two to Greece.
Flashback: 1957
Pittsburgh, Monday Morning Nostalgia Fix: A Pittsburgh radio station with negligible ratings spent several days teasing the city with a play-on-words about its upcoming change to a Top 40 format.Are we talking about B-94 last week? No, WILY radio, 50 years ago. For several days in late September 1957, Pittsburghers had been puzzled by ads in the city's three newspapers (the afternoon Press and Sun-Telegraph and morning Post-Gazette) that read only "WEEP FOR JOY."
They found out what it meant in October, when WILY, a daytimer at 1080 on the dial, changed its call-letters to "WEEP" and began the city's first experiment with the newly emerging format of "Top 40" --- rotating only the 40 most popular current records.
But WEEP, then as now, was hampered by its limited broadcast hours (the station signed off from sunset to sunrise to clear the frequency for WTIC in Hartford, Conn.), and when American Broadcasting Companies Inc. bought KQV a few months later and flipped it to Top 40, WEEP itself was weeping ... (more)
Eric's Musings - Busy week for media in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh:Wow...it's been a busy week in Pittsburgh media. A revered radio station has returned to the airwaves and for the first time in (at least 30) years a Pittsburgh TV station has moved to a brand new facility.
(more)"102 Zoo" Flips To "Magic Oldies 102.5"
Misc. Ohio: While Pittsburgh is welcoming back CHR "B-94" to the dial, Ashtabula, Ohio has lost their Top 40 outlet. "102 ZOO" (WZOO) is no more, The station is playing a weekend full of songs with "Magic" in the name for the new "Magic Oldies 102.5" with hits from the 60's & 70's. They will officially go live with the format on Monday @ 6am. There was rumors that "Media One" would flip one of their new stations in the Ashtabula market. This could create some competition for sister station "Star 97.1" WREO. Unfortunately for Erie residents without an FM Oldies station, The new station will not come in because of "Z-102.3" being right next to 102.5. Maybe the folks at Media One could look into using their Erie 96.7 Translator CP for coverage in Erie. Meanwhile, Top 40 fans can tune into "Star 104" or possibly one of the Cleveland or Youngstown stations.The lights are off at Television Hill...
Pittsburgh:The final WPXI newscast at Television Hill was the shortened 11:00 PM report on 10/5/07 with a very screwed up Skylights report following. Anchor David Johnson took viewers on a quick tour of the old studios which have been mostly empty in recent weeks except for the newscasts and a few other departments pertaining to the broadcasts. Johnson showed viewers the steep and sort of dangerous route up Suffolk Street in Fineview - a feature nobody is going to miss. He also showed the view of Pittsburgh - a feature everyone took for granted and will miss terribly.
Although originally supposed to move with the station, the tower and transmitters will remain atop Television Hill as a gesture to the new neighbors on Summer Hill. The first broadcast from the new facility will be tonight at 6:00.
Meanwhile, WPXI's website offers some wonderful memories with videos and slideshows of things which happened on TV Hill as well as a peek at the new studios.
The website is alive! B-94 is BACK!
Pittsburgh:
As of 4:41 PM, the B-94 website has returned for the first time since 2004. We were listening at 5:00 as the station just went quiet after cutting off the Christmas Music. "1981...A year of Change..." starts off the introduction to the new B-94. The intro recalls Beautiful Music WJOI switching to WBZZ on 4/1/81. A montage of classic B-94 clips, announcements and legal IDs played before a sampling of the music played on the classic B-94 from 1981 - 2004. Then it announced that June 30, 2004 the station left the airwaves. "Pittsburgh, we're proud to announce that today, October 5, 2007, the station you have wished for is back!" "THE 'B' IS BACK!"
The first song to be played on WBZZ B-94 on 4/1/81 was Billy Joel's "You May Be Right."
The first song to be played on WTZN B-94 on 10/5/07 was Justin Timberlake's "Sexy Back."
Missing B update - 3:35 PM 10/5
Pittsburgh: As of 3:35 PM, there is another hour and a half to go before the big change to B9...er uh I mean whatever is due to come next format-wise. Right now, the access to www.pitts-urgh.com has been limited to CBS staff with passwords and we're beginning to see signs of what is to come. Meanwhile, a search on the FCC website shows that if in fact B94 DOES return, it won't be returning with the well-known WBZZ callsign. That callsign has been assigned to a top-40 station in Malta, New York since late 2006. Stay tuned to PBRTV for further updates...."Star 97.1" WREO is back
Erie-Meadville: Our friends over at Ohio Media Watch have reported that the Ashtabula, Ohio cluster of WREO 97.1 (AC), WYBL 98.3 (Country), WFXJ 107.5 (Classic Rock), WZOO 102.5 (CHR) & WFUN 970 (News Talk) have recently been sold from Clear Channel to "Sweet Home Ashtabula" broadcasting. However, their various updated websites show that "Media One Group" will actually control the stations. Currently 4 of the 5 stations are on the air. However, WREO "Star 97.1" has been off the air or at reduced power for a few days. The 50,000 watt station usually covers a large area going into parts of Cleveland & Youngstown. The website still shows the station with it's current format but there are rumors that one of the stations could go through some changes according to OMW. Update - "Star 97.1" has returned to the airwaves a few hours after I wrote the article on 10/3/07.Put a fork in WTZN
Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh's "Man Station" has been neutered after less than a year.At his personal website, afternoon host John McIntire confirms that the short-lived talk format on WTZN-FM (93.7) is history as of today:
I was fired today. So was Paulsen. So was Steigy. So was Gab. So was Scott's producer Nik.
They were nice. Decision made at the top. CBS corporate has been flipping FM talk to music in New York and Philly, so perhaps it was a matter of time.
Still, naive moi figured they'd give us a year rather than six months.
I thought it was working. They wanted young men, every time we did a comedy show young men showed up claiming to listen constantly. They cited comedy bits chapter and verse. They said their friends were listening.
You don't keep a radio gig through anecdotal evidence. You need hard, cold numbers that turn into hard, cold cash.
Unfortunately, "cold, hard numbers" had eluded WTZN during its brief run. According to recent Arbitron ratings, 93.7 has lost listeners since switching to talk from the "K-Rock" mix of contemporary and classic rock hits; by many standards, K-Rock's numbers were themselves pretty lackluster.
Nationwide, CBS's FM talkers have struggled with the network's "Free FM" mix of talk and entertainment programming. Of 11 stations to experiment with the format, six have dropped it (including Philadelphia's WYSP-FM) and others that were using the "Free FM" moniker have changed their imaging.
In fact, "The Zone" is one of two CBS owned-and-operated FM stations that dropped a talk format today; WKRK-FM (97.1) in Detroit switched from "Live 97.1" to "FM Sports."
Based on the current "Pitts-urgh" liners running on 93.7, speculation is running wild that music will return to the frequency under the "B-94" image it dropped in 2003 after a long and largely successful run as a CHR/Top 40 station.
Is there a buzz in the air? Stay tuned.