When was the last time you used 452-6311?
Erie-Meadville: As is the case with the Pittsburgh number, Erie will also be losing a very memorable phone number. 452-6311 has been the number to call for the time and weather forecasts for decades will no longer be available as of October 1st. The reasons stated are the same as in Eric's article below, so basically times have changed (pun intended). I can suggest another way to keep the correct time without the phone service. Purchase a battery operated atomic clock which keeps perfect time and can be something you can check when there is a power outage.WQED gets more newsy
Pittsburgh:Starting tomorrow, WQED-TV (13) will have one more news program in its early evening lineup. "BBC World News" will precede The Newshour with Jim Lehrer at 5:30. Being bounced out of place is Children's program "Wishbone". But Wishbone may return come January when the 6:00 am - 5:00 pm lineup becomes dedicated to children's programming. That's when another news program will start at 5:00 pm. It's also likely that the station will have added another subchannel which will be a "lifelong learning channel" according to Program Director Chris Fennimore. It will feature "how-to" programs as well as carry two 3-hour length news blocks each day. (Meanwhile WQEX still carries shopping networks.)
When was the last time you used 936-1212?
Pittsburgh:The number dates back to the days when phone numbers began with a prefix. In this case, WE6-1212 stood for "Weather." It has been a service of Verizon, nee Bell Atlantic, nee Bell of Pennsylvania for at least four decades. In fact, before deregulation in 1983, the FCC required phone companies to provide such a service. But come Wednesday, October 1, the service will be gone in Pittsburgh ad a few other Pennsylvania regions. Verizon has the service under review in other states.
Call it a sign of the times, or call it a shame, but people aren't calling the number like they used to. Most people have the information they need - sometimes more than what they need - right at their finger tips. The internet, cell phones, PDAs and 24-hour TV channels dedicated to traffic and weather make the old phone line a relic. Cost is an apparent factor too. Verizon uses a separate service to update the forecast a few times a day. Not only is it costly, but apparently another part of the service which has dwindled over the years is the frequency the report was updated.
Just because one number is going away, doesn't mean you won't be able to get the weather by phone. The National Weather Service in Moon Township operates a phone line where you can get a more detailed forecast. 412-262-2170. Perhaps not so easy to remember, but you'll get a weeklong forecast and you can more than likely get a live meteorologist if you hit the right button.
More on the 'TAE lineup change
Pittsburgh: Rob Owen sums it up best...660 AM prepares for a big launch
Pittsburgh:WPYT (660) will launch a new morning show on Monday called "The Kegs and Eggs Morning Show. It will feature a combination of outdoor sports, traditional sports and comedy. The program is set to fit in with the station's format which - according to a press release - is 60% outdoor sports (mountain biking, hiking, fishing, camping, skiing and hunting) and 40% traditional sports.
The station is currently owned by Boston, Massachusetts based Langer Communications, the company responsible for moving the once 1470 WFJY Portage, PA and moving it to 660 AM licensed to Wilkinsburg. Randy Tantlinger, owner of RT Media is currently leasing the airtime for the "Outdoor and Sports Talk", but is also in talks with Langer to purchase the station.
Tantlinger adds, "Our main goal is to be the antithesis of what Mark Madden was at ESPN. We respect the athletes and callers and don't need to be 'shock jocks' to be heard!"
Former Smooth Jazz PD gets promotion
National News: From DCRTV: Carl Anderson, who spent a few years in Pittsburgh as PD of Smooth Jazz-programmed WJJJ (104.7) has been promoted by ABC Radio Networks from VP of music programming to senior VP of programming and distribution. After leaving WJJJ follwing its change to Jammin' Oldies, Anderson went to Washington DC's Smooth Jazz-programmed WJZW, then owned by ABC Radio.Madden to WXDX in early October
Pittsburgh:Speculation has been brewing for much of the summer that former ESPN (WEAE-AM 1250) host Mark Madden would end up on the FM dial at WXDX (105.9). ESPN will release Madden from his contract at the end of the month to allow him to make the move to Greentree and the Clear Channel outlet. A source indicated to the Post-Gazette that ESPN could have kept Madden off the air for another year, but opted to release him in order to use the $12,000 monthly salary in other areas.
October 6 is a likely start date during the 3-7 pm shift. That will pit him up against the "Paulsen, Logan and Crow" show which replaced the former Madden show on 1250. With Madden off the air, WBGG's (970) Joe Bendel Show - a more controversial show - has picked up a lot of listeners. It is expected that former Madden listeners will flock back with new, younger listeners being attracted by the FM format. The move will mean that between 6 and 7 pm Clear Channel will have 3 sports programs - Madden on WXDX, Bendel on WBGG and Ellis Cannon on WPGB (104.7).
Madden was removed from the air back in May after making controversial statements about Senator Ted Kennedy.
Another WTAE Anchor Shakeup
Pittsburgh:Time for musical anchors at WTAE-TV (4) again. Got your scorecard? Good.
The biggest part of the story is that Senior anchor Sally Wiggin will lose her 6 pm spot only anchoring the noon broadcast. Wiggin has been a weekday evening anchor since being promoted to the position in 1986. She will continue her evening presence as a reporter with the "big interviews". News Director Bob Longo says that moving into the world of the personal people meter means newscasts will be looked at differently needing more "only on" content. "If anyone gets the 'get' interview, it's Sally Wiggin."
Anchor Andrew Stockey, who filled a split shift during Wendy Bell's maternity leave, is being promoted to the evenings at 5, 6, and 11 while Mike Clark will move to the morning and noon slots - the position he started with at Channel 4 in 1995. Michelle Wright also gets cut to one newscast a day - 6 pm.
Neither Wendy Bell or Kelly Frye are mentioned. This means Bell will remain with the 5 and 11 pm reports while Frye continues the morning shift.
In the Weather Center, look for Demetrius Ivory to remain in the morning news position but he'll be on again at 5 pm in a "split shift" format. Weekender Erin Kienzle will be on the noon shift while chief meteorologist Stephen Cropper will be on the air at 6 and 11 pm.
The new lineup begins Monday.
WQLN TV / DT update
Erie-Meadville: Here is an update on WQLN TV 54 & DT 54-1 (50). Both stations have been off the air since last Monday (September 15th) and have only been available to Erie city and county customers of Time Warner Cable. According to the press release from WQLN, it will take 4-6 weeks for the antenna manufacturer to put together the parts WQLN needs in order to get back on the air with both analog and digital. Meanwhile, WQLN will be renting a temporary antenna in order to get back on the air in the very near future. However, this antenna cannot handle both analog and digital signals. It can either handle analog (TV 54) at 40% of the station's normal operating power or digital (DT 54-1) at 100%. The station has opted to put the digital signal back on the air at 100% so that Dish Network as well as other cable companies in and out of Erie county as well as Canada can pull in a reliable signal for their customers to watch on their systems. Though we hear that most Canadian systems may not convert the digital signal because their digital deadline is a few years away. A good outdoor antenna may be needed for their viewers in order to watch WQLN DT along with a converter box. Those without cable or satellite on this side of Lake Erie who use an indoor or outdoor antenna in WQLN's viewing area will definitely need to purchase a converter box for their existing TV or a digital TV in order to watch WQLN DT. While this is not the way WQLN planned to shut off it's analog station on TV 54, recent events may now make it a real possibility. Still, it will be a good test in the Erie region with the digital deadline when all full powered analog TV stations will be shut off in the U.S. this coming February. Once repairs are made to WQLN's regular antenna, both stations may return to the airwaves around November or December at the latest. Update 2: A tower crew has been working at the WQLN tower since Monday (September 29th). Unfortunately, the crew has found more problems with the lines than previously thought and it is unclear as to when WQLN DT will return to the air. I'll update this news as more information comes in. (Disclosure: Tom Lavery is an employee of WQLN TV/DT and FM.)WLOA now simulcasting classic country with WGRP
Youngstown: There is good news for fans of Beacon's new "Classic Country 940" WGRP, the station can now be heard in the Mahoning Valley as well as the Shenango Valley. Listeners who may have had a hard time pulling in WGRP in areas like Sharon and Youngstown can now hear hear the same classic country sounds on sister station WLOA 1470 out of Farrell. The former "Sporting News Radio" affiliate dropped the network following last week's power outage cause by what was left of Hurricane Ike. This move will extend the station's reach into areas where it was tough to get 940.CBS won't sell if the price is wrong
Pittsburgh:According to Tom Taylor, CBS Prez Les Moonves isn't about to let any of the CBS stations go if the offer isn't right. "If we don't get the right pricing, we're not going to sell," said Moonves along with the admission, "We don't know what the marketplace is." The first round of bids was supposedly due yesterday - most of them were private companies. Some sources say the preliminary bids will be 7-8 times the cash flow, but that it won't be enough for CBS.
Meanwhile, what really is for sale? Taylor thinks that it will depend on the offer.
Directv adds some Youngstown HD locals
Youngstown: There were some rumors from the AVS forum Youngstown page in which I can confirm courtesy of the Directv website. The satellite provider is now carrying a couple of Youngstown area HD signals including WYTV DT 33-1 (36) and WFMJ DT 21-1 (20). So far, WKBN DT 27-1 (41) and WNEO 45-1 (46) are not listed as of yet. It also looks like WYFX-LP "Fox 17/62" may not be included on the HD tier since they do not have an HD signal unless they feed Direct via fiber lines according to Ohio Media Watch. However, New Vision has filed an application with the FCC to upgrade to a low powered digital signal (W35CP-D) which would serve a very small area near Youngstown off air. Strangely though, the WYFX call letters were not used in the application and will probably have to wait until WSEE in Erie shuts off it's analog 35 in February if the application is approved. Of course, those of you who want to upgrade to HD with HD locals will need to get an HD receiver and special satellite dish for locals in the Mahoning Valley.Catchin' up (part 2)
Youngstown: Last week, following the windstorm that hit several areas Sunday night (September 14, 2008) Ohio Media Watch reports that a few of the Beacon Broadcasting stations were off the air. I can confirm that 2 of their stations were off the air in Greenville. WEXC 107.1 "Freq 107" and "Classic Country 940" WGRP were off all week until this past Saturday afternoon. OMW also states that WLOA 1470 in Farrell was on this past week but had no programming.Catchin' up
Erie-Meadville: It appears that I took a bad week to go on vacation last week. So much has happened and we'll start at WQLN TV 54 / DT 54-1 (50). Both stations have been at very reduced power since last Monday due to a possible lightning hit the night before that may have hit either the antenna or transmission line. Engineers were at the station on Friday to take a closer look into the problem. WQLN TV is still available to Time Warner customers in Erie county. More updates as they become available. Also last week, "93.9 The Wolf" morning show host Shannon Solo has been shown the door. It appears that the station is taking a different direction after lackluster numbers in the Spring book by hiring former Country 98 jock Aimee Clemson to handle mornings. She starts today (9/22/08). Before the Wolf, Shannon was midday personality at the former "Froggy 94.7" and can still be seen on WICU TV 12 handling weekend weather duties."Eyewitness Newsman" a Pittsburgh native
National News:Pittsburghers may be familiar with the name, Al Primo. The former WDTV/KDKA-TV newsman and North Side native was the one who popularized the brand "Eyewitness News". Now 73, Primo has just written and published a book called "Eyewitness Newsman" a look at how the format and concept came to be. Primo's creation came out of a report he did for KDKA-TV in 1955 where the accompanying photographer forgot a piece of audio recording equipment. At the time, air talent were not seen on screen due to appearance fees required under union rules. Although they found a piece of equipment, they feared the audio and video wouldn't sync and therefore showed Primo on screen conducting the interview. Bill Burns approved of the piece and decided to keep Primo in the story and, as he told the PG, that made him an "eyewitness" for the station.
Primo's "Eyewitness" concept didn't catch on until sometime later due to union rules. In fact he was news director at KYW-TV in Philadelphia when he discovered a contract provision allowing union members to write, record and appear on screen without having to be paid a fee. That's when a "beat system" was created to produce exclusive stories. Stations, including KDKA-TV quickly picked up the moniker and about 80 stations across the country still use it today.
Primo is still in the business as executive producer of the syndicated "Teen Kids News" which airs locally on WTAE-TV on Sunday mornings. He was in town earlier today signing copies of his book at local bookstores.
Broadcast Communications sells off MD property
Misc. Pennsylvania:Local radio company, Broadcast Communications has sold off its Maryland FM property, WROG. But that's after the station recently went silent at 102.9 FM in Cumberland, Maryland and will soon be moved across state lines into Chambersburg, Pennsylvania where it will get a new home on 93.3 FM. The buyer is WITF, Inc. a public broadcasting station in Harrisburg. Radio-Info.com's Tom Taylor suspects that the new full-power station will be used as a WITF supplement in Chambersburg where there is currently an FM translator.
Broadcast Communications owns WKHB (620) Irwin, WKFB (770) Jeannette and WANB-AM (1580) & FM (103.1) Waynesburg.
Full Disclosure: This editor works part-time for Broadcast Communications.
WTAE - Now in HD
Pittsburgh:WTAE-TV (4) began its new HD broadcasts with the 12:00 Noon broadcast today - 50 years and 1 day after the station first signed on. New graphics are a part of the deal, but the -Hearst theme music remains and the year-old set, made specifically for HD, really shines. WTAE is the second Pittsburgh station to go HD, WPXI-TV (11) went HD a year ago after their move to the new location. This leaves KDKA-TV (2) as the only one of the "Big 3" to convert. Their conversion is expected in early 2009.
No Bills on ESPN 1260
Erie-Meadville: Fans of the much improved Buffalo Bills who could not get to a TV may have tried to find the game vs. Jacksonville on WRIE "ESPN 1260 The Score" only to find the Cleveland Indians on instead. From what I understand, the station is only allowed to drop so many Indians games and was at the maximum amount of games they could drop. OK, a contract is a contract. However, the Bills games were moved to Citadel "Brother" station Z-102.3 last year. I checked the Z and could not find the game. Fans may have to pull in SE-93 (93.3) from Jamestown, NY when the Tribe is on 1260 for a few more weeks.Erie TV Updates
Erie-Meadville: There is good news regarding two of Erie's digital stations. First is WSEE DT 16 (35-1), they are finally available in high definition on Time Warner Cable (channel 405 city 709 county). This comes a few weeks after the station made it's debut with HD for over the air viewers which does look spectacular, not to mention that most of the audio problems have been ironed out. Another digital station is now at full power, WQLN DT 50 (54-1) is now at 200kw as of this past Wednesday. The station had to take care of some interference issues with Canada which are now resolved. I can now get WQLN DT at 90% (at my residence near Cochranton) from it's previous high readings of 80 - 82% when the station was at 39kw. Finally, I hear a train a comin' / It's rollin' round the bend / I ain't seen the sunshine / since I don't know when. OK, a good train / prison song by Johnny Cash is somewhat fitting for an upcoming train stop Good Morning America will be making in Erie on Tuesday (September 16th). It's part GMA's "Whistle Stop Tour" in which a specially prepared Amtrak train will make stops in four states and Washington D.C. during the entire week. WJET's morning anchor Cassandra Garrison will join Diane Sawyer, Robin Roberts and the rest of the GMA hosts during the Erie stop on Tuesday. The train will stop at Erie's Union Station for the broadcast. You can catch the show on WJET TV 24 / DT 58 (24-1).Copper thieves take tower
Johnstown-Altoona-State College:The Daily American in Somerset County reported Wednesday that thieves took a 120-foot radio tower sometime last week. The value of the steel tower was estimated to be more than $50,000.
Paint Township police said that the thieves had to have a vehicle able to handle rugged terrain - and that they couldn't have used ATVs because the tower was hauled away. The red and white tower was last seen on Thursday (Sept. 4) and officials think it was stolen over the weekend while the town was filled with spectators for a Dog Run. Guide wires were cut to pull the tower over taking tree branches and a live transformer with them on the way down. In addition to the transformer being taken about 120 feet of copper wiring was also stolen - copper has a high scrap value these days. Scorch marks were also found on the ground suggesting that the tower was cut up using acetylene torches.
A $1000 reward is being offered by the land owner for information leading to arrest and conviction of the thieves. The owner had hoped the former WBBR tower into a cell phone tower.
Bologna back; Schwenneker does news in Chi-town
Pittsburgh:Rob Owen seems to think that Mike LaPoint will be the "odd man out" if Julie Bologna's return to WPXI-TV (11) attracts more viewers. Meanwhile, LaPoint has been training Bologna on the new weather systems at the new facility this week. The two will take a "tag-team" approach with the 5, 6, and 11 pm newscasts beginning Monday. WPXI hopes this will be a way to boost the ratings - where they have seen third place (or tied for second, at best) for some time. Bologna left WPXI in 2004 for a station in Texas but has returned to be closer to family now that she has two young children.
Schwenneker could take some notes from former co-worker at 4
Earlier this year, former WTAE-TV (4) meteorologist Don Schwenneker left for WBBM-TV in Chicago. At first he was doing the weekend weather forecasts, then weekday evening weather. Now he's going to be the Morning News anchor. Schwenneker did news early in his career and has had the opportunity to do some fill-in at WBBM. Now Andrew Stockey has someone with whom to comisserate!
Wilmington goes first
National News:Five months before the rest of the country, Wilmington, N.C. TV stations have switched over to their digital signal. Wire reports say that the FCC is hoping Wilimington's problems will help the rest of the country to overcome the problems faced this last Monday when the conversion took place. Elon University students answered complaint lines at local stations as part of a research project about the transition. Only 172 calls came in over a 10-hour period. Only a few of the calls were from people unaware of the change - an indication that the public education campaign has paid off. The number one issue was antenna problems and how to set them up. People were being told to adjust their antennas for better reception. But some had to be told that a converter box was still necessary in order to view the signal with their older-model TV.
The number of households in Wilmington that rely on over-the-air signal is about 8 percent - similar to that of Pittsburgh.
A new blogsite devoted to Erie media
Erie-Meadville: If you are one of many fans of Jack Tirak's former blogsite Erie Media Go Round, you'll be happy to know that a new blogsite is now online. Joel Natalie has created www.pressandtower.com/. It's a new site that is devoted to Erie media and will not copy what Jack did with his site. Joel is well known for his success as General Manager at Christian AC station WCTL 106.3 (Translators: 105.9 Erie, 99.1 North East, 100.7 Warren, 98.7 Jamestown, NY.) He also owns faith based "Natalie Media" in Erie. With Joel's knowledge regarding the Erie media landscape, he is the perfect person for an Erie based media blog. I was asked about doing an Erie media blog after Jack's passing but I decided not to go in that direction because I like covering both Erie and Youngstown here at PBRTV. We wish Joel all of the best with Press and Tower and thanks for adding a link to this site on P & T.Jet TV finds new co-anchor
Erie-Meadville: For several weeks WJET TV 24 anchor Sean Lafferty has been handling the newsdesk duties solo ever since Karla Mullenax left the station. WJET / WFXP news director Lou Baxter has searched far and wide for a new anchor to share the news desk with Lafferty and has announced on yourerie.com that the search for an experienced co-anchor is finally over. Selena Wiles will make her debut on Jet TV on Monday, September 15th. For the last five years, Selena has handled the anchor duties for the last five years in a higher market (#91) at WJHL TV in Johnson City, Tennesee. Before that, she was at WDTV TV in Brideport, West Virginia. Selena went to the "Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism" at West Virginia University. It helps that she is also a West Virginia native who is thrilled to be coming to Erie because it's actually closer to her home state.2 months til test date; 5 months til it happens for good
Pittsburgh: The date for digital broadcast TV is fast approaching - February 17, 2009. But a test date has been set for TV stations throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. On November 17, 2008 at 6:25 pm, all stations will turn off their analog transmitter for a minute. For that minute, o-t-a viewers will see a message about making the switch by February 17. Cable and satellite viewers should see no interruption but cable companies will have the opportunity to make sure they're bringing viewers the best signal possible, according to WQED Engineer Paul Byers.Honz back on Monday
Pittsburgh:
Fred Honsberger will return to the 50,000 watts of KDKA-AM (1020) on Monday. Honz has been sidelined by a shoulder injury and other ailments since June. While still receving physical therapy, he will host his 3-5 pm program and do his portion of the 5 o'clock Total News Hour from his home studio. Honsberger is looking forward to jumping in right in the middle of election season he tells the Post-Gazette.
820 CHAM drops country for talk
Erie-Meadville: News from across the pond via milkmanunlimited.com reports that Hamilton, Ontario station "820 CHAM" has dropped it's longtime country format for talk as "Talk 820" featuring both Canadian and American programs. The 50,000 watt station tried to keep the station country in recent years by tweaking it to add older songs to the mix. With another Hamilton area country station "Country 95.3" on FM, the station could not make inroads like it had when it was the only country station in that area which also covered Erie county with a great daytime signal. I can recall several times when my Grandfather listened to the station in his '85 Dodge pickup because it only had a digital display AM radio of all things. The flip to talk occured at 8:20 AM on September 2nd.WMNY-AM (1360) keeps an element or two of WPTT
Pittsburgh:Labor Day saw the format flip of McKeesport's 1360 from a talk station to a business/financial format and expects a daily talk show to begin September 15. That's when "Pittsburgh Renaissance Radio" will start airing weekdays from 3 - 6 pm. The program is aimed at local business issues and breaking stories surrounding local businesses. Ron Morris (host of "American Entrepreneur"), John Poister and Darryl Grandy are behind the program. The program will have a variety of hosts including former WPTT talk show host Jerry Bowyer. Morris will also host the show while Poister will anchor hourly business reports. Until the program launches, three syndicated programs will air in its place.
Meanwhile some elements of the old WPTT will remain. Morris' "American Entrepreneur" will remain on Saturday mornings. WTAE-TV's Morning News will still air live from 5-7 am each weekday. "Jane Nugent's Garden Talk" and Dr. Scott Shalaway's "Birds and Nature" will remain in a Sunday program block between 11 am and 2 pm.
Hey Beacon! There is often dead air on 940
Misc. Pennsylvania: Several times I have tuned into WGRP "Classic Country 940" from Greenville and often find the "sounds of silence" on that station. Obviously, the station is getting most of it's programming from satellite, other than a local host by the name of "Johnny Rogers" who works there middays taking requests. There have been maybe 7 or 8 times when I found the station with dead air, including today (September 2nd). The station and a few others including Christian rock/rap hybrid WEXC 107.1 "Freq 107" (Also in Greenville) is owned by Harold Glunt's "Beacon Broadcasting." Usually, a station has an alarm for such quiet periods which alerts someone that there is no programming on a station. It's like the AM station is neglected while Beacon puts more of their resources into the "Freq", which has yet to show up in the Youngstown ratings despite efforts to be a Youngstown station. If work is being done to the station, at least let the public know in the local paper and on your website. Clearly, a lot of people do not listen to AM for music anymore but there is still an audience out there that would like a country station that differs from what most of the FM country stations play. Or another option would be to replace the Freq with classic country on FM. The Youngstown market might notice 107.1 in the next book.Taylor: KDKA Radio NOT for sale; Quinn & Rose feed picks up 'DVE instead
Pittsburgh:- CBS Radio is not planning to sell KDKA-AM (1020) or St. Louis' KMOX-AM (1120) but their respective FM sisters are listed. For Pittsburgh that means WBZW-FM (93.7), WZPT-FM (100.7) and WDSY-FM (107.9) are all apparently on the block. That's according to Tom Taylor of Radio-Info.com. Speculation is that KDKA Radio is too tied into KDKA-TV (2) - although one could have said the same thing about KMOX Radio and its former TV sister, the current KMOV-TV (4) which had been sold in 1986 at another financially stressful time after Ted Turner tried to take the company over.
- Taylor also noted that Labor Day's feed of the Quinn and Rose show hit a glitch. The program, which originates at Pittsburgh's WPGB, has 17 affiliates who instead got the WDVE-FM (102.5) feed. Was it autopilot gone haywire? No word on whether the feed was screwed up on XM Channel 158 where Quinn's show also airs.