July 2007 to December 2007

Latest items listed first.....

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December 28, 2007
BET News Founder Deborah Tang Dies
Deborah Tang, who created DC-based Black Entertainment Television's news division and - as vice president of news, entertainment, and sports programming - hired news anchor Ed Gordon, talk show host Tavis Smiley, and others who went on to become journalists around the country, died on 12/25 of cancer at her Washington home, her sister, Marie Canada, told Journal-isms. She was 60. Tang left BET in 2000 after 14 years. "At a network long criticized for its booty-shaking videos, Tang was said to believe in presenting balanced images of black people," writes Journal-ism's Richard Prince.

December 21, 2007
Rosenbaum Family Settles Suit
The adult children of slain New York Times reporter David Rosenbaum have reached a confidential settlement with Howard University Hospital, ending a year-old lawsuit that accused the hospital and DC emergency workers of negligence and medical malpractice. Rosenbaum, 63, was killed in a street robbery near his DC home in January 2006. The lawsuit was filed the following November by Rosenbaum's son and daughter after a report by the DC inspector general's office cited an "unacceptable chain of failure" by firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and hospital personnel in treating Rosenbaum. The family said that the failures contributed to his death.

December 20, 2007
Rouse Leaving WLIF
Morning man Steve Rouse is leaving Baltimore adult contemporary outlet WLIF (101.9 FM). We heard from a CBS Radio/Baltimore insider that the offer of a new contract that cuts Rouse's pay might be the culprit for his departure. The Baltimore radio veteran became WLIF's morning man in September 2006. Rouse and his "Company" got bounced from CBS's co-owned WQSR oldies outlet when it flipped to a jockless "Jack" adult hits format in the spring of 2005.

December 20, 2007
Former MZQer Ben Campbell Back To Phoenix
Ben Campbell, formerly half of the "Ben And Brian" morning team on Clear Channel country WMZQ (98.7 FM), returns to Clear Channel country KNIX in Phoenix for mornings. Campbell had been paired with Brian Egan for three years at KNIX before the duo came to WMZQ in 2001. Campbell left WMZQ in March.

December 20, 2007
Despite Subscriber Slump, Post To Hike Newsstand Price
The Washington Post will raise its weekday and Saturday newsstand price from 35-cents to 50-cents beginning 12/31. The home delivery price and the Sunday newsstand price will not change. The Post's most recent newsstand price increase came in 2001, when it went from 25-cents to 35-cents. Over the past six years, the Post, like most US newspapers, has watched its circulation and advertising revenue decline, in part because readers and ad dollars are fleeing ink-on-paper newspapers for other media, principally the internet. Post daily circulation peaked at 832,232 in 1993. It now sells an average of 638,000 papers Monday through Saturday. Newsstand, or single-copy, sales account for 18 percent of daily sales of the Post. The bulk of its lost circulation in the past 14 years has come from a decline in single-copy sales. In comparison, USA Today charges 75-cents for a newsstand copy, the New York Times $1.25, but the Washington Times is still only 25-cents.

December 18, 2007
Castleberry To Twin Star
Tod Castleberry, who recently left Redskins owner Dan Snyder's Red Zebra broadcasting arm, where he had been head of programming for the firm's Triple X sports talker, joins Twin Star as chief operating officer. Michigan-based Twin Star is run by Sima Birach, the 30-year-old son of (another) Sima Birach, whose company, Michigan-based Birach, runs 25 AMers across the country, including Frederick area brokered talker WDMV (700 AM). Twin Star does not own any radio stations yet. Castleberry, a two-decade DC area radio vet, spent many years managing Clear Channel's DC area radio stations.

December 18, 2007
Tracey Neale Leaves 9 Anchoring Gig
Tracey Neale is giving up her evening anchor job at Channel 9/WUSA. She will remain for now with the Gannett-owned CBS affiliate, but her role has yet to be determined, said Allan Horlick, the station's president and general manager. "I am engaged in ongoing conversations with Tracey about the possibility of a different assignment that would allow her to maintain a relationship with WUSA," Horlick told the Washington Post. Horlick said the decision to replace Neale evolved last summer as she was adopting two 13-month-old twins from an orphanage in Ethiopia. Neale took an extended leave to bring the children home. "She had been having very private discussions with (WUSA news director) Mike Ward and with me about her own concerns as to whether she would be able to do everything she wanted to with the adoption... as well as the enormous duties of anchoring at 6 PM and 11 PM," Horlick said. "She came to her own very personal decision that the best thing for her and the kids right now would be for her to relinquish those anchoring duties to focus on the kids." Neale told the Post that becoming a single mom to 1-year-olds has been "pretty overwhelming."

December 18, 2007
Sun Photog David Lewis Dies
David Lewis, deputy director of photography at the Baltimore Sun, died Friday at Howard County General Hospital of medical complications after receiving kidney dialysis at another medical facility. He was 57.

December 16, 2007
Former 9er Doug Buchanan Seen On 5
Channel 9 reporter Doug Buchanan was seen on Channel 5 doing a report on Friday's 10 PM newscast. Buchanan, who got the boot from 9 back in October, is the son of Mike Buchanan, a longtime Channel 9 reporter and anchor who later moved to Channel 7 and now does commentary for WTOP radio.

December 15, 2007
Lynne Brown Becomes Blade Publisher
Window Media, owner of the Washington Blade, announced this week that a new publisher has been hired to lead the nation's oldest and largest gay newspaper. Lynne Brown, the Blade's former director of business development, started Wednesday as publisher. Brown, who first joined the Blade in 1988 working as a sales executive, left in 2006 to become director of business development at DC's gay Metro Weekly publication.

December 14, 2007
TOP Tops DC Radio Heap
Another round of those monthly "trend" radio ratings. DC, full-day, age 12+: 1) WTOP, 2) WHUR, 3) WPGC-FM, 4) WKYS, 5) WASH, 6) WMMJ, 7) WMAL, 8) WWDC, 9) WIHT, 10) WMZQ, 11) WJZW, 12) WRQX, 13) WBIG, 14) WLZL, 15) WJFK-FM, 16) WPRS, 17) WTGB, 18) WTEM, 19) WAVA and WFRE, 21) WTNT and WWWT, 23) WFLS, 24) WACA and WBQB and WWXX, 27) WYCB and WILC and WWRC and WAFY. Morning drive, same demo: 1) WTOP, 2) WHUR, 3) WMMJ, 4) WWDC and WPGC-FM, 6) WKYS, 7) WMAL, 8) WASH, 9) WIHT, 10) WRQX, 11) WJFK-FM and WMZQ, 13) WLZL, 14) WJZW, 15) WBIG, 16) WPRS, 17) WTEM and WTGB, 19) WAVA and WWWT, 21) WFRE, 22) WYCB and WACA, 24) WWXX, 25) WFLS and WILC and WBQB and WTNT, 29) WAFY and WWEG. Afternoon drive, same demo: 1) WHUR, 2) WTOP, 3) WPGC-FM, 4) WKYS, 5) WMAL and WASH, 7) WMMJ, 8) WIHT and WJFK-FM, 10) WMZQ, 11) WWDC, 12) WRQX, 13) WLZL, 14) WJZW, 15) WBIG, 16) WTEM, 17) WPRS and WTGB, 19) WWWT, 20) WFRE, 21) WFLS, 22) WTNT and WAVA and WWXX and WBQB, 26) WWRC and WAFY and WWEG, 29) WYCB and WILC. Up in Baltimore, WERQ takes a solid lead in the full-day, age 12+ radio ratings "trend" numbers. WPOC places 2nd, WWIN-FM 3rd, WLIF 4th, WBAL 5th, WIYY 6th, WWMX 7th, WCBM 8th, WSMJ 9th, WQSR 10th, WZBA 11th, WHFS 12th.

December 14, 2007
Castleberry Leaves RedZeb
Tod Castleberry has resigned from his position as VP of operations with Redskins owner Dan Snyder's Red Zebra broadcasting arm, which owns the Triple X ESPN sports talker. Castleberry used to do the same kind of thing for Clear Channel in the DC area.

December 13, 2007
ABC, Discovery Vet John Alexander Dies
John Alexander, who'd once worked for ABC's "Nightline," collapsed and died suddenly yesterday on assignment in China, while working on a Discovery Channel documentary for Ted Koppel. Alexander, 26, was Tom Bettag's "Nightline" assistant and production coordinator and later was assistant to Koppel, when he hosted the ABC program. Alexander left to become an associate producer at the Discovery Channel. No cause of death has been announced.

December 11, 2007
POC's Rehkopf Heads To Pittsburgh
Aaron "Bill" Rehkopf, currently morning news anchor and news director at Clear Channel's country WPOC (93.1 FM) in Baltimore, will take the leading news anchor gig at Pittsburgh's CBS news talker KDKA (heard nights locally on 1020 AM) come January. Rehkopf, a Pittsburgh area native, has been at WPOC since 1999. Previously, he worked across Pennsylvania, at radio stations in places like Scranton and Harrisburg. Rehkopf has also been a volunteer fire fighter, emergency medical technician, and spokesman for the Sykesville Freedom District Fire Department in Carroll County.

December 11, 2007
PD Gone From 92Q
Victor Starr is out of his program director gig at urban outlet WERQ, 92Q, in Baltimore. We're hearing rumblings that his leaving may be related to a music playlist controversy that has plagued the Radio One station for the past year or so.

December 10, 2007
98 Rock's Stash Suffers Serious Head Trauma
98 Rock WIYY personality Steve "Stash" Ash suffered serious head trauma, causing him to be missing from his afternoon show. According to 98online.com, Stash suffered "several head injuries" in a fall down the stairs at his Bel Air home on 12/4. "Although stable, he's in the hospital" in the intensive care unit" at Johns Hopkins Hospital Bayview Medical Center. Ash suffered a fractured skull, which resulted in bleeding on the brain, says Dave Hill, program director at rocker WIYY.....

December 8, 2007
Donnie Simpson's Niece To 7
Howard University grad Cynné Simpson will join Channel 7/WJLA as a weekend anchor in January. Simpson, who will co-anchor with Leslie Cook on Sunday evenings and fly solo on Saturdays, is the niece of WPGC-FM morning man Donnie Simpson. She had been working at an Atlanta TV station.

December 7, 2007
PD Out At WMAL
Citadel talker WMAL is losing its program director. Paul Duckworth is "retiring" - not "resigning," we're told. Duckworth joined WMAL in late-2005 after the departure of Randall Bloomquist, following the firing of personality Michael Graham, after what some characterized as an anti-Islamic remark. A WMALer tells DCRTV: "Paul is truly loved and respected by everybody at the station. It's a sad day for us because he has done an outstanding job. This is totally his own decision. Everybody from top-to-bottom wants him to stay, but he feels it's time for him to do other things in life".....

December 6, 2007
Phil Metlin Gets 5 News Director Gig
Channel 5/WTTG picks Phil Metlin as its new news director, replacing Katherine Green, who is jumping to CNN International. He comes from Fox's sister station in Philadelphia, WTXF, where he was news director. His career includes a stint in the 1990s as executive producer of WTTG's "Fox Morning News," plus news director stints at WTVT in Tampa and WHNT in Huntsville AL, a news producer gig for Miami's WPLG, and a managing editor job at "America's Most Wanted."

December 6, 2007
ABC News DC Cameraman Killed In Highway Accident
Cameraman Ralph Binder, a longtime fixture of ABC's Washington news bureau, was killed in a vehicle crash yesterday. He had recently relocated to Denver for ABC News, and was on his way to Omaha to cover the mall shooting when his vehicle was involved in a mishap on I-80 near Grand Island, Nebraska. Soundman Dan Johnson, who was with him, was treated and released from a hospital. Binder started at ABC News in 1974.

December 6, 2007
CBS Promotes Jeff Hedges
Jeff Hedges has been appointed vice president and director of ad sales for CBS Radio's DC cluster. He'd most recently been VP of sales for CBS's WJFK-FM, WLZL, and WTGB. In his new gig, he'll add CBS's WPGC-FM/AM. A local ad sales veteran, Hedges had worked at a variety of radio stations, including WRC/WKYS, WAVA, and DC101.

December 5, 2007
Armando Trull Joins 9
Armando Trull will leave his position as news anchor for WUVC-TV, a Univision Spanish-language station in Fayetteville NC, to join Channel 9/WUSA, where he'll be a reporter and anchor. The Fayetteville Observer tells us that Trull will become "one of a handful of Hispanic reporters to cross over to English-language media." Born in Cuba, Trull has also worked with Telemundo, TV Azteca, Caracol, the BBC, and Radio France.

December 5, 2007
2 & 4 News Editor Keith Williams Dies
Keith Williams, a former Channel 2/ WMAR news editor, died of lymphoma on 11/30 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Joppa resident was 47. Williams, a 1978 graduate of Joppatowne High School, became paralyzed from the waist down after a 1984 automobile accident. "Being a paraplegic didn't let him stop doing what he wanted to do. He always said he did what he wanted and did the same things as everybody else, except he did them in a different way," said his mother, Teresa Williams of Joppa. Williams left WMAR in 2005 and, at his death, was doing freelance work for Channel 4/ WRC.

December 4, 2007
Veteran Cameraman For 4 Dies
Martin Waters, 67, who worked at Channel 4/ WRC as a cameraman for 25 years, died of congestive heart failure on 11/13 at Washington Hospital Center. He lived in Fort Washington. Waters, a Washington native, also worked the teleprompter at Channel 4 before retiring in 1989.

December 1, 2007
Joan Friedenberg Dies
Joan Friedenberg, the founding editor of PBS's "Online NewsHour," has died. She was 53. Friedenberg was married to Bloomberg News political reporter Jonathan Salant, a past-president of the National Press Club.

November 30, 2007
PFW & HFS Veteran Tom Terrell Dies
DC radio and music veteran Tom Terrell (right) passed away on 11/29. He'd been suffering from prostate cancer. Terrell began DJing while a student at Howard University, where he created Washington's first reggae show in 1978, then moved on to host shows on WPFW and alternative rocker WHFS. There he launched the "Sunday Reggae Splashdown" and "Cafe C'est What?" When he wasn't on the air, Terrell was the house DJ at the dc space club and at the 930 Club. Also, he wrote about music for Jazz Times, the Village Voice, Vibe, and Washington City Paper.

November 30, 2007
Salem Buys WAMD
DCRTV reported rumors last year. Now, we hear that California-based religious broadcaster Salem is buying Aberdeen MD oldies outlet WAMD for $3 million from First Broadcasting. So, why would Salem buy a station in the fringes of the Baltimore market when it recently sold its city-based WITH, on 1230 AM, to Peter And John Ministries, which owns Baltimore religious FMer WRBS? And, when Salem gets decent coverage of much of the Baltimore market with its religious WAVA-FM from DC? So some wondered then, as now, that maybe Salem could tinker with the 500-watt night signal of WAMD to improve the night signal of its NYC area station, WWDJ. Both are on 970 AM.

November 30, 2007
4's News Sees Declines
The November TV ratings "sweeps" for DC find Channel 7/WJLA at the top of the heap at 11 PM - as DCRTV first reported yesterday - dethroning longtime news leader Channel 4/WRC. Still, Channel 5/WTTG's 10 PM newscast beat everyone else at 11. Although Channel 4 did manage to finish first among total viewers in all other newscasts in which it goes head-to-head with competitors, the station was down from last year in every time slot. Channel 9/WUSA, which has performed poorly in many past "sweeps" periods, had encouraging ratings increases under General Manager Allan Horlick, who is in his first year at the station, and new News Director Mike Ward. The station increased viewership in the 25-to-54 demographic in all its newscasts except at 11 PM. Baltimore's long-running tug-of-war continues, as Channel 11/WBAL and Channel 13/WJZ, once again staked competing claims for TV dominance in November. For the November sweeps period, WJZ emerged as the region's top-rated TV station for total viewers, thanks in no small part to the large number of football fans who continue watching the Ravens, in spite of the team's five-game losing streak. For local weekday newscasts, the pattern remained the same as it has for months: WJZ generally won the morning, while WBAL was top dog in the evening, when audiences are larger. WJZ won the 5 AM and 5:30 AM slots, while WBAL carried the 6 AM slot. WJZ won big at noon. WBAL won the evening news slots.

November 29, 2007
Root Leaves Discovery
Jane Root is leaving her job running the Silver Spring-based Discovery Channel and returning to the UK "to pursue other opportunities in the media industry," fuelling speculation that she is a contender for a BBC controller post. She is president and general manager of Discovery Channel and the sister Science Channel, where she has worked for more than three years since leaving the BBC. Root will be replaced by John Ford, the head of Discovery Networks' Discovery Times and Military channels.

November 27, 2007
Dennis & Hennessey Out At WSMJ
Some drivetime changes at Clear Channel's smooth jazzer in Baltimore, WSMJ (104.3 FM). Gone: Randy Dennis and Trish Hennessey. They'll be replaced with the nationally-syndicated Ramsey Lewis and Dave Koz.

November 26, 2007
WAMU's Peter Fay Becomes Colleen Fay
On 11/20, Peter Fay (right), longtime arts editor for American University news talker WAMU 88.5's "Metro Connection," transitioned to life as Colleen Fay. One of the original forces behind the launch of "Metro Connection" in 1995, Fay, who is transgender, will continue as the show's arts editor. "This has been an amazing time for me, and it's far from over. I'm both excited and terrified about what the future may bring. That being said, WAMU 88.5 and 'Metro Connection' hold special places in my heart, and I hope that our listeners can bear with me through this change," said Fay. "I want them to know that even as I change, my admiration and affection for them will not change."

November 26, 2007
Retired ABC Engineer George Hughes Dies
George Hughes, 67, a retired broadcast engineer with ABC News, died on 11/16 of respiratory failure at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington. He was a resident of South Riding. Hughes moved to the Washington area in 1978 to work for ABC News, where he was a video operator and studio cameraman. He spent most of his career there as a field soundman, covering presidential inaugurations, political campaigns, the White House, and many other Washington-based news stories and events. He retired from his broadcasting career in 2005.

November 22, 2007
Black Newspaper Pioneer Frances Murphy Dies
Frances Murphy (left), the first woman to chair the Afro-American Newspapers board of directors, the publisher emeritus of the Washington Afro-American and popular columnist at the Baltimore Afro-American, and granddaughter of the newspaper's founder, died Tuesday at Sinai Hospital. She was 85. A Baltimore native, Murphy gained a wide following with her column in the Baltimore Afro, "If You Ask Me."

November 21, 2007
James White To WTOP
James White joins all-news WTOP as a freelance anchor and reporter. He was recently a news anchor and reporter for news talk WAMU. He also worked at the old news talk WRC radio and at NBC's and Mutual's radio networks.

November 21, 2007
WTMD Starts DC Area Relay
Baltimore's adult alternative WTMD has started a DC area relay on 105.5 FM. The Towson University signal on 89.7 FM doesn't make it to most of the DC area. Apparently, it's a 32-watt relay in Great Falls that covers portions of Reston, Herndon, Sterling, Vienna, McLean, Rockville, and Potomac.....

November 20, 2007
5's News Director Joins CNN Int'l
Channel 5/WTTG News Director Katherine Green has been appointed senior vice president of CNN International programming. Green will be based at the network's world headquarters in Atlanta. Green will oversee all of the editorial production, program development, network talent, and operations of CNN International. Her last day at Fox5 will be 12/7. No word on her replacement. Before coming to DC, Green was news director at Baltimore's Channel 11/WBAL. During her nine years at WTTG, Green oversaw the development of 5's morning news shows and new newscasts at 5 PM, 6 PM, and 11 PM, as well as the continued dominance of the station's long-running 10 PM newscast.

November 20, 2007
WMAL Veteran Bob Gneiser Dies
Robert "Bob" Gneiser (left) was found dead at his home by Montgomery County police on 11/19. The death appears to be due a heart ailment. He was 76. Up until the late-1990s, Gneiser was a reporter for WMAL radio. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, he worked for the old WMAL-TV, Channel 7. He'd also worked for Channel 20/WDCA and Mutual Radio. Gneiser was profiled by the Washington Post in early 2006 because he owned and lived in the Bethesda house where CIA operative William Bradford Bishop allegedly killed his mother, wife, and three sons in the 1970s.

November 20, 2007
Eleanor Lide Dies
Eleanor Duncan "Nellie" Lide, 48, a onetime television writer and producer who had spent the past six years as senior creative director for a communications consulting firm in Arlington, died on 11/14 at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. She had heart disease. From 1982 to 1986, Lide was an associate producer for the "60 Minutes" CBS news program. She then worked on and off through the early 1990s as a writer and producer for WUSA-TV and WJLA-TV.

November 19, 2007
Cindy Pena Leaves 9
Reporter Cindy Pena is leaving Channel 9/WUSA at the end of November. She is taking a position with Maya, a minority-oriented DC communications firm specializing in public relations, brand development, advertising, and market research. Pena has been with WUSA since 2001.

November 16, 2007
Ratings: Junks, Elliot, D&M Up
From our Radio Guru: "Initial analysis of the monthly numbers... Happiest people in town are the Junks, 3WT, and WPGC, which edged out WHUR by a tenth of a point in the 'extrap' number. Saddest folks in town are WHUR, in addition to being edged out by WPGC, Steve Harvey's morning show had its lowest extrap number in a very long time, and WJZW." At WJFK-FM, Don and Mike were up from 10th to 6th, with the Junks erected from 13th to 11th. DC101's Elliot surged from 7th to 5th. The new alt rockish The Globe, WTGB, was basically flat, stuck at 17th. New FM gospel outlet WPRS dipped from 13th to 16th. New talker 3WT showed some signs of life, but still has a long way to climb out of 20th place. WTOP placed 1st in morning and afternoon drives, as usual. Here are the overall age 12+ numbers for DC. Full-week: 1) WHUR, 2) WTOP, 3) WPGC-FM, 4) WMMJ, 5) WKYS, 6) WASH, 7) WMAL, 8) WIHT, 9) WWDC, 10) WMZQ, 11) WJZW, 12) WBIG, 13) WJFK-FM and WRQX, 15) WLZL, 16) WPRS, 17) WTGB, 18) WTEM and WFRE, 20) WAVA and WWWT, 22) WTNT and WWXX, 24) WFLS, 25) WIYY, 26) WYCB and WWEG. Morning drive: 1) WTOP, 2) WHUR, 3) WWMJ, 4) WPGC-FM, 5) WWDC, 6) WKYS, 7) WMAL, 8) WASH, 9) WMZQ and WIHT, 11) WJFK-FM, 12) WRQX, 13) WJZW, 14) WLZL, 15) WBIG, 16) WPRS, 17) WTGB, 18) WAVA, 19) WWWT, 20) WTEM and WFRE, 22) WYCB, 23) WTNT and WFLS and WWXX, 26) WBQB, 27) WWEG. Afternoon drive: 1) WTOP, 2) WHUR, 3) WPGC-FM, 4) WKYS, 5) WIHT, 6) WJFK-FM and WMAL, 8) WASH, 9) WMZQ, 10) WMMJ, 11) WWDC, 12) WBIG, 13) WJZW, 14) WLZL and WRQX, 16) WTGB, 17) WPRS, 18) WTEM, 19) WWWT and WFRE, 21) WTNT and WFLS and WWXX, 24) WIYY, 25) WAVA and WBQB, 27) WYCB. The Baltimore monthly Arbitrends. Full day, age 12+: 1) WPOC, 2) WERQ, 3) WLIF, 4) WWIN-FM, 5) WBAL, 6) WIYY and WWMX, 8) WCBM, 9) WSMJ, 10) WQSR, 11) WZBA, 12) WHFS, 13) WHUR, 14) WCAO and WPGC-FM and WRBS, 17) WWDC, 18) WIHT and WTOP, 20) WKYS and WRNR, 21) WJFK-AM and WRQX.

November 16, 2007
Radio One Deal To Move Back To DC Collapses
DC will have to renegotiate a proposed deal to bring Radio One to the city after city council members rejected a plan to give the developers city-owned land worth $6 million on which to build the project. Kwame Brown and Jack Evans told the city's planning and economic development office yesterday to go back to the negotiating table with Broadcast Center One, which intends to build a $115 million development atop the Shaw-Howard University Metro station. "The problem I'm having is giving away land," Evans said. Radio One, the largest black-owned radio broadcaster in the USA, is currently located in Lanham.

November 14, 2007
Lawsuit Against MAL's Chris Core Settled
The Potomac News reports that a defamation lawsuit against WMAL's Chris Core was settled before being heard in a DC court this week. Gary Jacobsen of Woodbridge, an independent columnist who writes a weekly column for the Potomac News and Manassas Journal Messenger, filed a lawsuit against Core for comments he made about Jacobsen on the air. The case was scheduled to be heard on Tuesday. Reached by phone on Tuesday afternoon, Jacobsen said "the matter has been settled" and said he would not comment further. The case involved a column Jacobsen wrote for the Washington Post, titled "How To Hire A Day Laborer." In it, Jacobsen described hiring day laborers waiting at a 7-Eleven. On 11/8, Core discussed the article on the air, saying Jacobsen "admitted to breaking the law concerning the hiring of illegal immigrants," according to Jacobsen, who stressed that Core's claim was not true and he was not "a lawbreaker."

November 12, 2007
5's Gwen Tolbart Injured In Crash
A Metrobus driver has been charged after a dramatic crash that injured a Fox5 weather anchor Saturday night. A Metro spokeswoman confirms that a Metrobus running the H-4 route was travelling south on Wisconsin Avenue when it made a sudden left turn, struck a car that was travelling in the opposite direction and crashed through a Jersey barrier around 11:40 PM. The bus came to rest by the Mission Of Taiwan building at Van Ness Street. The driver of the car, Channel 5/WTTG weather anchor Gwen Tolbart, was taken to Georgetown University Medical Center with minor injuries and later released. The driver of the bus was also taken to Georgetown. He was complaining of back and neck injuries. Five passengers on the bus were unhurt. Metro's spokeswoman tells 9News that the bus driver was cited with failing to maintain control of a vehicle. Fox5 reports that Tolbart is resting at home and doing fine.

November 10, 2007
11's Snipes Lands Midwest Anchor Gig
Channel 11/WBAL reporter Darrielle Snipes is heading to Oklahoma City, to Hearst sister KOCO-TV, where she'll anchor the weekend 6 PM and 10 PM newscasts. Snipes came to Baltimore in 2004 from a Detroit TV station.

November 9, 2007
Derek Williams Gone From WTOP
Reporter Derek Williams has been cut loose from Bonneville all-newser WTOP. He has been erased from the station's website. There are rumblings that there's a journalistic ethics issue involved. A Philadelphia area native, Williams worked at that city's KYW, WWDB, and WDAS before coming to DC. No comment from WTOP management.

November 9, 2007
KYS PD To Atlanta
Steve Hegwood, program director of Radio One's urban contemporary WKYS (93.9 FM), has been named operations manager for Radio One's Atlanta radio cluster. Hegwood has more than 25 years of experience in radio and has programmed in markets like LA, Houston, and Detroit. He was also a station owner through his Lanham-based On Top Communications for five years.

November 8, 2007
Imus Probably Back To WTNT
The most-likely place Don Imus (right) will resurface in DC would be Clear Channel talker WTNT (570 AM), where he aired before getting canned last spring after that nasty comment about the Rutgers female basketball team. The Washington Post reports that WTNT Program Director Bill Hess strongly suggests that Imus could return to WTNT in January. No deal yet.

November 5, 2007
WTOP Starts 24/7 Traffic & Weather Service
Bonneville all-newser WTOP debuts an all-traffic/weather digital HD Radio channel. On the HD3 signal of 103.5 FM. Bonneville continues its unsigned rock artists "ichannel" relay on 103.5's HD2 signal. A WTOPer tells DCRTV that the traffic/weather service is still in a "testing" phase. "We have not yet worked out all the bugs in this."

November 5, 2007
49 Joins UFO Net
DC's Channel 49/WWTD has become the first affiliate of the new "WUFO" television network. Yes, "UFO" is what you think it is - unidentified flying objects. "We are now airing this new network 24/7 and are eager to see how the DC market responds to this exciting content," station manager Mike Gravino tells DCRTV. WUFO "soft-launched' on 11/1. Look for "alternative knowledge genre featuring programming which comes to you direct from the authors, researchers, producers, and reporters." Including stuff like coverage of the 2007 X-Conference, "which begins the UFO disclosure process." Adds Gravino: "We choose to air the programming we are most interested in and would want to watch ourselves, programming which teaches, inspires, and brings us closer to the sacred, the divine, and to understanding why we are here on this little blue ball in a vast ocean of dark energy in what seems like an infinite field of dreams." Lowish-powered WWTD is not available on any area cable TV systems.

November 1, 2007
Slump Continues For Post
More bad news for the Washington Post. Its parent publishing conglomerate and education company reported a drop in third-quarter profits. The newspaper publishing unit continued to struggle amid an industry-wide slump. Its quarterly revenue fell 7 percent, with profits dropping nearly 50 percent. Print advertising revenue at the Post fell 13 percent, with circulation down 4 percent from a year earlier. Television broadcasting revenue was down 5 percent. Revenue at its magazine publishing division, which includes Newsweek, fell 18 percent.

November 1, 2007
4's Shannon Bream Goes To Fox
Reporter and anchor Shannon Bream jumps from Channel 4/WRC to Fox News Channel to cover the Supreme Court and be a general assignment reporter. She replaces Megyn Kelly, who left for Fox's NYC HQ earlier this year. Bream came to Channel 4 in 2004 doing the weekend morning news and later moving to evenings. She was crowned Miss Virginia in 1990.

November 1, 2007
Luther Brown Dies
Luther Brown, a longtime NBC News Washington producer, died Sunday in Chicago after suffering an apparent massive stroke on 10/25, friends and colleagues told Journal-isms. He was 59. "What can you say about a talented black man who won custody of his two children and wrote a book called, 'Raising My Best Friends'?" said retired ABC news anchor Carole Simpson. They had been close friends for 30 years. In 1972, Brown joined CBS News. He moved to NBC News, where he was an editor, reporter, and producer for 14 years. Brown earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1988. He joined Internet Multicasting Service, a pioneering internet research firm in the early 1990s. In 1999, Brown moved to San Francisco to join Invisible Worlds, as director of marketing communications. In 2005, he published "Raising My Best Friends: Meeting the Challenge of Being a Single Parent," about the challenges of raising his two small children after he and their mother divorced in the 1980s.

October 31, 2007
Grease To Go On "Haitus"
DC radio veteran Doug "Greaseman" Tracht (right) is taking a "hiatus" from his morning radio show, heard on DC area talker WMET (1160 AM). "I've been thinking about exploring other options in my life and the time has come," Tracht said via a WMET release. "WMET has been a great experience but I move on with the thought of taking some time off and relaxing for a while. I am not retiring but I am taking a break from the daily pressures of doing the show." His last show will air on 11/2. Tracht, who does his show from a studio in his Montgomery County home, is also heard on a handful of stations across the country, including Fredericksburg's WGRX. He will continue his video efforts on getalife.tv. Tracht's local radio career goes back to the 1970s, when he was a DJ on "top 40" WRC. In the 1980s, he did the morning show on rocker DC101. He got fired from his morning gig at classic rocker WARW in 1999 after making a tasteless joke. WMET will replace Tracht's unique brand of humor with nostalgic tunes.

October 29, 2007
Mal Johnson Dies
Mal Johnson (right), a key figure in the birth of the National Association Of Black Journalists, died Saturday at a hospital in Fairfax County after suffering complications from diabetes. She was 85. Johnson became the first female reporter employed at Cox radio and TV news, where she worked for 27 years. As its first female White House correspondent, Johnson covered five presidents, as well as Capitol Hill, the State Department, and various federal agencies. In 1980, Johnson was promoted to senior Washington correspondent and assigned additional duties as national director of community affairs.

October 29, 2007
Kornheiser To 3WT
Washington Post superstar sports columnist Tony Kornheiser will return to his radio program live in-studio on talker 3WT beginning 1/21. The show will air weekdays from 8 AM to 10 AM, with a 2 PM to 4 PM replay. There had been some doubt as to whether Kornheiser would return to 107.7 FM and 1500 AM, which was known as Washington Post Radio until September, when it became 3WT. Kornheiser left his radio show in June because of his ESPN "Monday Night Football" gig, which will last through the end of 2007. Kornheiser's show was reportedly the only ratings bright spot on talker Washington Post Radio. Kornheiser's regular "cast of characters," such as producer Marc "Nigel" Sterne, will also be back. DCRTV hears that 3WT is planning to have Kornheiser host his radio show for the entire year, lending speculation to the possibility that he won't be returning to "MNF" in 2008. David Burd, currently "substituting" for Kornheiser, and Jessica Doyle will continue doing their pre-8 AM show on 3WT.

October 25, 2007
El Jefe & J-Dubs Back To 106.7
Former WJFK-FMers El Jefe and J-Dubs will be returning to the CBS Radio talker. They'll air on Saturday evenings, after Maryland Terps football. Eventually, the duo will wind up in the 6 PM to 9 PM slot. And, they're resurrecting "The Hideout" name. El Jefe and J-Dubs left WJFK-FM, 106.7, several years ago for a gig at a Florida radio talker. But they got bounced from that late last year.

October 24, 2007
ABC Vet Densmore Joins iBiquity
Steve Densmore joins Columbia MD's iBiquity as broadcast engineering technology manager. Densmore, who covered many presidential events during his 32 years as the manager of operations at ABC Radio's DC bureau, will interact with iBiquity's broadcasting partners and internal development teams to help ensure smooth commercial transitions of digital HD Radio broadcast products and features.

October 24, 2007
TC To Be Seen On DC's 13
DC radio personality TC has been tapped as lead on-air personality of the DC Office Of Cable Television's channel 13, where she will be hosting various productions, including one-on-one interviews with the city council, "town hall" meetings, and special presentations. "As a native Washingtonian, I look forward to working closely with the DC City Council, and their efforts to expand and improve on our communities," says TC, who used to co-host urban adult WHUR's morning show until it was replaced by Steve Harvey's syndicated show in 2006. TC will continue her parttime on-air duties on smooth jazz WJZW.

October 24, 2007
Local Listener Group Seeks To Buy WGTS
Friends of Christian contemporary WGTS (91.9 FM) are working to come up with $25 million in hopes of buying the Takoma Park outlet from Columbia Union College. The college last month yielded to community pressure and ended negotiations with American Public Media, the parent company of Minnesota Public Radio, which made a multimillion-dollar bid for WGTS earlier this year. In a highly anticipated vote, the college's trustees agreed to examine the financial challenges facing the private liberal arts school before selling off any assets.

October 23, 2007
Tyler Molnar Gets Elliot Producer Post
Clear Channel rocker DC101 promotes Tyler Molnar as the new producer of "Elliot In The Morning." Molnar, a Georgetown University grad, had been associate producer of WWDC's morning show. He also runs Elliot Segal's website.

October 19, 2007
FCC Fines Sinclair For "No Child" Show Plugs
The Federal Communications Commission issued its first fines for a station airing DC-based conservative commentator Armstrong Williams' Department Of Education-paid-for plugs for its "No Child Left Behind" initiative. Baltimore-based station-owner Sinclair doesn't plan to pay the fine and said it will take the FCC to court. The FCC Thursday fined a Pennsylvania TV station for airing five episodes of "The Right Side With Armstrong Williams" and Sinclair a total of $76,000 for airing "America's Black Forum." Both were cited for violating the FCC's sponsorship-identification rules. Sinclair said it did not air any of Williams' shows, but it did acknowledge that nine of its stations aired an episode of "America's Black Forum" during which Williams discussed "No Child Left Behind" and without any sponsorship ID. Sinclair added that it wasn't paid to air the show and that it could have had no knowledge that "anyone had received or was promised any consideration" for the views expressed. Sinclair owns Channel 45 and operates Channel 54 in Baltimore.

October 18, 2007
Normand Nudged Out Of D&M Producer Post
Don Geronimo revealed on his Thursday WJFK-FM show that the show was in "best of" mode on Wednesday because of a meeting held among the show's partipants: Geronimo, Mike O'Meara, Robb Spewak, Joe Ardinger, Buzz Burbank, and John Normand. Management was not included. And, as a result, "Don And Mike Show" producer Normand (left) is gone. He was "not right for this particular position," Geronimo said on the air. And, Normand's position won't be filled by anyone new. D&Mer Spewak will probably be handling show producer duties from now on. Although Geronimo is sworn to silence according to his contract with JFK owner CBS Radio, the word is that he'll be leaving the nationally-syndicated show in May 2008. Possibly for a satellite radio gig. Still no word about whether CBS will keep the show running without him or replace the show with something else.

October 17, 2007
WMAL Jumps In Summer Ratings
The summer Arbitron radio ratings "book" for DC and Baltimore. DCRTV hears that righty talker WMAL is up big. Hot adult Mix 107.3 took a stumble, as did Spanish El Zol. New gospel Praise 104 was up just a bit, not a big jump as some had predicted. Pretty steady sailing for the new alt-rockish The Globe, if not showing some weakness. Guy talk WJFK-FM sees solid growth for both drivetimes. Don and Mike jump from 13th to 10th in the overall age 12+ numbers and re-take first place among men age 25-54. All-news WTOP is crowing about another strong performance - as usual. Both Tom Joyner on WMMJ and Steve Harvey on WHUR are "trending back to earth after being in double digit shares for a while." While the last ratings for Washington Post Radio were not great, the September numbers "appear to give mornings on 3WT a solid foundation from which to grow," we're told. A good "book" for country WMZQ. Up in Baltimore, new talker WHFS is way up, while old talker WBAL is way down. The full-day age 12+ numbers for DC: 1) WHUR, 2) WTOP, 3) WPGC-FM, 4) WMMJ, 5) WKYS, 6) WASH, 7) WMAL, 8) WJZW, 9) WIHT, 10) WMZQ, 11) WWDC, 12) WLZL, 13) WBIG and WPRS, 15) WRQX, 16) WTGB and WJFK-FM, 18) WFRE, 19) WTEM, 20) WAVA and WTNT, 22) WTWP. Morning drive, 12+: 1) WTOP, 2) WHUR, 3) WMMJ, 4) WPGC-FM, 5) WMAL, 6) WKYS, 7) WWDC, 8) WASH, 9) WJZW, 10) WMZQ, 11) WIHT, 12) WRQX, 13) WJFK-FM, 14) WLZL, 15) WBIG and WPRS, 17) WTGB, 18) WAVA, 19) WFRE and WTWP, 21) WTEM. Afternoon drive, 12+: 1) WTOP, 2) WHUR, 3) WPGC-FM, 4) WMAL, 5) WKYS, 6) WASH, 7) WMMJ and WIHT, 9) WJZW, 10) WJFK-FM, 11) WMZQ, 12) WLZL, 13) WBIG and WWDC, 15) WRQX, 16) WPRS, 17) WTGB, 18) WTEM, 19) WFRE, 20) WWXX, 26) WTWP. The full-day age 12+ numbers for Baltimore: 1) WPOC, 2) WERQ, 3) WLIF, 4) WWIN-FM, 5) WWMX, 6) WBAL-AM and WIYY, 8) WCBM, 9) WSMJ, 10) WQSR, 11) WHFS, 12) WZBA, 13) WHUR, 14) WCAO, 15) WRBS. WFLS is tops in Fredericksburg.....

October 17, 2007
Nats Do Deal With Bonneville's 3WT
The Washington Nationals and Bonneville announced the continuation of their media partnership, signing a three-year deal that gives broadcast rights to talker 3WT, WWWT. All regular season games, plus 10 spring training games for the Nationals' fourth season and inaugural season in their new ballpark, will be heard on 107.7 FM, plus 1500 and 820 AM. The agreement calls for additional Nationals programming, including the second year of "Nationals Talk Live," and two new one-hour "special editions" of the "Nationals Weekly Insider," the first of which will be hosted by Marc Sterne and air live on 10/23 from DC's ESPN Zone. Come March, 3WT will air a "Countdown To Opening Day" series, building on arrival of the team to its new stadium just south of Capitol Hill. This season, the Nationals aired on Bonneville's Washington Post Radio, which was discontinued in September in favor of 3WT.

October 16, 2007
New Gig For Kepley
Former WTOP afternoon news anchor Diane Kepley has been hired as a news anchor for Associated Press Radio. "The amount of support I have received both publicly and privately since being laid off at WTOP has been amazing," Kepley said in a Tuesday memo to her colleagues. "It is truly a blessing to know just how many people both inside the Bonneville family and outside have cared enough to offer a kind word or a shoulder to lean on or have passed on tips about possible opportunities in the past few weeks".....

October 13, 2007
"Our Man In Washington" Dies
Jay Richter, 92, who operated a news service in Washington, died on 9/13 at his home in Alexandria. He had complications from colon cancer. Richter ran Richter News Service for more than 40 years and was known as "Our Man In Washington" by the magazines and newspapers that subscribed to his service. He covered Capitol Hill, government agencies, cooperative associations, commodity groups, and farm organizations.

October 12, 2007
TOP's Plotkin Criticized For Shouting Question At First Lady
All-news WTOP is reporting that its left-leaning political commentator Mark Plotkin was escorted out of the White House for asking an inappropriate question at an event for Laura Bush on Friday. At a ceremony honoring the Ballou High School marching band - as Mrs. Bush welcomed band members, left the stage, and headed for her seat - Plotkin shouted a question to the First Lady as to whether she supports voting rights for the District. A la whether the students graduating from DC's Ballou should be able to vote for members of the US Congress. Mrs. Bush did not respond, and Plotkin was led from the event. DC residents cannot vote for members of the US House Of Representatives and the US Senate. President Bush has opposed changing the law.

October 12, 2007
Anita Brikman Leaves Philly For Anchor Job At 9
Anita Brikman (right), a reporter and anchor for ABC's Channel 6/WPVI in Philadelphia, will become Channel 9/WUSA's 5 PM and 7 PM weeknightly co-anchor. She will join Derek McGinty on both newscasts, starting in January. Todd McDermott and Tracey Neale will continue co-anchoring the 6 PM and 11 PM newscasts. Brikman will also lead WUSA's new consumer news unit, set to launch in early 2008. Neale, who has been co-anchoring the 5 PM newscast with McGinty, will head a new health news unit at 9. Brikman has been with WPVI since 1994, where she specialized in covering health and medical news.

October 12, 2007
45's Gabirella Abiera Goes Shopping
Gabrielle Abiera leaves traffuc duties at Baltimore's Channel 45/WBFF. She has accepted a position at the QVC shopping network in West Chester PA.

October 11, 2007
Angie Goff To Do AM Traffic On 9
Angie Goff is leaving her reporting gig at Columbia SC's WIS-TV to become morning traffic reporter for Channel 9/WUSA. She's a graduate of Fairfax's George Mason University, where she studied broadcast journalism. During college, she completed four internships, including a stint with CBS in DC.

October 10, 2007
Margaret Mayer Dies
Margaret Mayer, 85, a longtime Texas journalist who was one of the first women to lead the Washington bureau of a major newspaper, died on 9/26 of a heart ailment at George Washington University Hospital. She lived in Washington.

October 9, 2007
Mancow Lands On Female Talker
Are the days of female-oriented talk at Baltimore's 1370 AM, WVIE, numbered? DCRTV hears that the sister station of righty male talker WCBM, 680 AM, has quietly added Chicago-based male shock jock Mancow's nationally syndicated morning show. Says a Charm City radio listener: "What a bizarre station with no plan. They do not and never will show in the Baltimore ratings book, with many DC stations beating them. They may make money, as I'm told, but they are an embarrassment." WVIE had gotten no ratings traction with its female talk format. It's repositioning itself as a "variety" talker, with several male voices - including Mancow and Phil Hendrie, who airs in overnights. With a new 50,000-watt day signal, WVIE flipped from oldies WWLG last year. For many years, 1370 aired nostalgic standards.

October 7, 2007
Red Shipley Dies
Robert "Red" Shipley (right), legendary area radio personality and longtime host of "Stained Glass Bluegrass" on WAMU (88.5 FM), has died of cancer. He was 70. Shipley, who retired from hosting his show after his 25th anniversary on 9/16, passed away Saturday night in Charlottesville. "Radio lost one of its own legends last night," said Caryn Mathes, WAMU's general manager. "I'm deeply saddened by the news of Red's passing, but grateful that he was able to spend 25 years on the air with us at WAMU, and heartened that he was able to continue doing what he loved for so long." Shipley's career spanned more than 50 years, with the constant being the songs that serve as the foundation for his bluegrass gospel programs. He began his career at country station WJMA in Orange VA in 1956. In Shipley's time at Alexandria country outlet WPIK/WXRA, he began a program called "Inside Bluegrass." There he met Jerry Gray, who was instrumental in bringing him to WAMU.

October 6, 2007
Doug Buchanan Gets Booted From 9
Gannett's Channel 9/WUSA has let go reporter Doug Buchanan (left). It happened on Friday afternoon. "An e-mail was sent out saying, more or less, simply he was no longer an employee and the station wished him and his family the best. His picture has been removed from the bio page on 9's website. Word on the street is contract negotiations went sour. He'd been at WUSA five years," we're told. "Doug was a huge favorite in the newsroom, a great reporter, and a great co-worker." He is the son of veteran DC TV reporter Mike Buchanan, who worked at 9 for some three decades, before jumping to Channel 7/WJLA a few years back.....

October 5, 2007
Chapman Family Settles Lawsuit
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the family of Darrian Chapman (left), the Channel 4/WRC sports anchor who left in 2000 for WMAQ, the co-owned NBC station in Chicago, has settled a lawsuit stemming from his death in 2002. He was 37. Northwestern Memorial Hospital and a Chicago doctor settled with Chapman's widow, Deborah, and their two children for almost $2 million. The suit alleged the doctor failed to ensure Chapman would have a steady heart rhythm, through proper testing and other procedures. Chapman had suffered a heart attack at age 31, while working at WRC, but recovered. He collapsed and died in October 2002 while getting ready to play hockey at a Chicago skating rink. While at DC's NBC4, the very popular Chapman had been a weekend morning sports anchor and sports reporter for four years.

October 1, 2007
Lorrin Palgai Gets Globe PD Position
Lorrin Palagi has landed the program director gig at CBS Radio's alternative rockish the Globe, WTGB, 94.7 FM. He put hot adult contemporary Mix 107.3 on the air in the early 1990s and was the architect for its success for many years. We're told that Palagi has experience building "hybrid" formats in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, and DC. On the music side, Palagi will be assisted by Norm Winer from CBS's adult alternative WXRT in Chicago and middayer Schelby Sweeney, who has been the Globe's music director since it launched in February, from the remains of classic rocker WARW. Also providing musical guidance at the Globe are Keith Cunningham at Jacobs Media and Pat Ferrise, a former WHFSer who now does air shifts on the Globe. "Do not expect a major shift in strategy," says CBS Radio DC honcho and Globe General Manager Michael Hughes. "This station is uniquely Washington. If some call it Triple A, adult alternative, or polka, I don't care. The music mix is unique to the listeners that live here."

September 28, 2007
ESPN Cuts Theismann Loose
Sports site profootballtalk.com reports that ESPN has cut ties with Redskins great Joe Theismann. "We have reached a settlement with Joe Theismann to end his association with ESPN. We thank Joe for his many years of work for us and wish him well," according to a statement from the sports network. Theisman got canned from the "Monday Night Football" booth earlier this year, leaving him little to do at ESPN, via his existing contract. DCRTV wonders: This development could open the door for Theismann to sign with another network or a DC sports outfit like Comcast SportsNet, MASN, SportsTalk 980, Triple X, or 4, 5, 7, or 9.

September 24, 2007
Spanish To Replace Sinatra On 1520
Former DC101er Buddy Rizer's Vegas Radio, WTRI (1520 AM) in Brunswick MD, will be flipped to brokered Spanish language on 10/1. However, the nostalgic music stream will continue as a web-only feature via vegasradio.net. Rizer, who does the morning show and planned to make the announcement Monday on WTRI's airwaves, tells DCRTV that it's strictly "a business decision." Vegas Radio has done well, he says, but the offer to lease the station's airtime simply makes sense financially. Rizer and his radio partner will continue to own the station, which is located about halfway between Frederick and Leesburg. Rizer says he will continue in the radio biz, consulting for a new nostalgic music, popular American standards radio station in Philadelphia.

September 21, 2007
WTOP Cans Mellman & Kepley
Bonneville has said adios to all-news WTOP reporter Ira Mellman and afternoon drive co-anchor Diane Kepley. They are to be replaced by Bob Kur and Hillary Howard, respectively, who had co-anchored afternoons on Bonneville's recently defunct Washington Post Radio talker. An "economics" decision, we're told.

September 21, 2007
CSN To Start CSN+ Overflow Channel
Comcast SportsNet is adding an overflow channel, called CSN+, starting 10/1. The channel will be activated when Comcast SportsNet carries simultaneous live games of the Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards, or area colleges. On Comcast cable systems, CSN+ will reside in MASN2's current home. On other cable carriers or satellite systems, it might be on a different channel.

September 21, 2007
WINX Veteran Bill Vickers Dies
Bill Vickers, longtime chief engineer and DJ on the old "top 40" WINX (1600 AM) in Rockville, has died. In his early days, he was "Big Bill Palmer" and hosted the "WINX All Night Pajama Party." Says a colleague: "Bill was a very nice guy and total character at the station - sometimes we'd laugh with him and other times we'd laugh at him but in either case he made the days enjoyable."

September 21, 2007
WGTS Sale Called Off
The trustees of Takoma Park's Columbia Union College voted to defer selling Christian contemporary WGTS (91.9 FM). The station was expected to be sold to Minnesota Public Radio parent American Public Media to become a news talker. WGTS will continue "as is" for the foreseeable future, we're told. WGTS made a like announcement on its airwaves on Thursday afternoon. A short statement from the college says its board of trustees voted to "rescind the action to enter into negotiations to sell the radio station license." There were several other parties interested in buying the station, all of which would have kept the station's religious format. Some wonder if one of those groups will do a fund-raising radio programming lease deal with the cash-strapped school, which would continue to own WGTS.

September 20, 2007
WWRE/WWRT Drops Classic Rock For Rock
Winchester area classic rocker WWRE/WWRT (104.9 FM/105.5 FM) has dropped the syndicated "Bob And Tom" morning show, with local man Joe Sanchez returning. And, the station has shifted gears from classic rock to regular rock. It's now know as "Rock 104-9/105-5, Everything That Rocks." The Mid-Atlantic station, along with Winchester sister WINC-FM/AM, was recently sold to Centennial.

September 20, 2007
Carpenter Sawed Off Nats' TV Team
Washington Nationals television announcer Bob Carpenter has been told by the club his contract will not be extended when it expires after the season. Carpenter, who has done play-by-play for all Nationals games on MASN the last two seasons, was informed during a meeting with team president Stan Kasten that he will not be asked back for 2008 and the club will hire a new TV announcer to partner with analyst Don Sutton.

September 20, 2007
New Calls For 3WT Stations
The former Washington Post Radio, WTWP, is now talker 3WT, WWWT-FM 107.7 and WWWT-AM 1500. The Frederick relay on 820 AM is now WWWB. The website for the Bonneville station has gone live at 3wtradio.com.

September 19, 2007
WTOP Tops Drivetimes
Some age 12+ DC drivetime rankings for those monthly Arbitrend radio ratings. Morning: 1) WTOP, 2) WHUR, 3) WMMJ, 4) WPGC-FM, 5) WMAL and WWDC, 7) WKYS, 8) WASH, 9) WJZW, 10) WMZQ, 11) WRQX, 12) WIHT, 13) WLZL, 14) WJFK-FM, 15) WPRS, 16) WBIG, 17) WAVA, 18) WTGB, 19) WTWP, 20) WFRE, 21) WWXX, 22) WTEM. Afternoon: 1) WTOP, 2) WHUR, 3) WPGC-FM, 4) WKYS and WJZW, 6) WMMJ, 7) WIHT and WASH, 9) WMZQ, 10) WMAL, 11) WLZL, 12) WWDC, 13) WBIG and WJFK-FM, 15) WRQX, 16) WPRS, 17) WTGB, 18) WTEM, 19) WWXX, 20) WFRE, 21) WAVA, 22) WFLS.

September 18, 2007
Tom Temin Gets Morning Gig At WFED
Bonneville hires Tom Temin to replace Mike Causey as co-host of its morning show on Federal News Radio, WFED (1050 AM). Temin, who'll be paired with Jane Norris, was executive vice president and editor-in-chief for Post Newsweek Tech Media, responsible for print and online editorial content for Washington Technology, Government Computer News, Government Leader, and Defense Systems. He is a frequent contributor to WFED on-air and online with his weekly column, "Eye On IT," for the station's website, FederalNewsRadio.com. Also, WFED is hiking its power to 3,500-watts thereby "solidifying its coverage area inside the Beltway," according to a Bonneville statement. Causey will continue with Federal News Radio in his senior correspondent role, his "Mike Causey's Federal Report" column, and host his weekly call-in program.....

September 17, 2007
Chuck Bullett Gets SF Engineering Gig
Chuck Bullett has landed the top engineering position for Cumulus's San Francisco radio cluster. He'll be handling KFOG/KFFG, KSAN, KTCT, and KNBR. Bullett was chief engineer for Redskins owner Dan Snyder's Red Zebra Broadcasting arm, which runs the DC area's Triple X sports talker, and he served as executive technical producer for the Redskins Football Radio Network. A corporate restructuring last December eliminated Bullett's position at RZ. Since then, Bullett has been working as senior design engineer for CEI, a DC-based TV and radio systems integrator, as well as for Fox News Radio and WETA's "News Hour."

September 17, 2007
60 Years On DC Airwaves For Fred Fiske
Fred Fiske (left) will celebrate 60 years on the Washington DC area airwaves on 9/27. Since 1995, Fiske has served as WAMU's "senior commentator," and he's heard at 1 PM Fridays on "Metro Connection." His current role is an extension of his ongoing 30-year relationship with WAMU, which began in 1977 when he brought "The Fred Fiske Show" to public radio after a run of the show on WWDC-AM (1260). Originally called "Empathy" when ran on WWDC, from 1970 to 1977, it was then the only talk radio program in the market.

September 16, 2007
Scott Broom Leaves 2
Channel 2/WMAR has said adios to reporter Scott Broom. He's been with the Scripps station 16 years. Apparently, his contract was not renewed. "We thank him for his contributions over the years, and wish him well in future endeavors," said WMAR News Director David Silverstein in a Friday memo to the Baltimore station's employees. However, a WMAR source told DCRTV that the key issue was money. A DC area native, Broom's won seven AP awards and an Emmy for his reporting work.

September 14, 2007
WHFS Founder Jake Einstein Dies
Jacob "Jake" Einstein (left), the man who founded legendary free-form progressive rocker WHFS at 102.3 FM in Bethesda in the late 1960s, passed away on 9/12 after a long illness. Einstein sold 102.3 in 1983 and moved WHFS later that year to his new 99.1 FM in Annapolis. That station, via a variety of different owners over the years, most recently CBS, ended its alternative rock run in 2005. Einstein also once owned Annapolis's WNAV, 1430 AM, which had featured a talk show hosted by corruption-plagued former Maryland Governor Marvin Mandel, a good friend of Jake. Einstein's sons, David and Damian, were both heard on WHFS over the years. And both have worked at current Annapolis adult alternative outlet WRNR, 103.1 FM. At one time, Einstein owned WRNR as well as WFQX, 99.3 FM, in the Winchester area. He was a resident of Potomac.

September 10, 2007
WAMU Bluegrasser Red Shipley To Retire
Legendary WAMU (88.5 FM) bluegrass music host Red Shipley (right) will retire as he celebrates his 25th anniversary as host of "Stained Glass Bluegrass." Shipley's final episode will air from 6 AM to 10 AM Sunday, 9/16. Bob Webster, who currently works on the program with Shipley, will take over hosting duties as the program moves to WAMU's Bluegrass Country HD Radio channel and via the internet at bluegrasscountry.org, where it has been airing since 2001. "I want to retire while I'm at the top of my game," Shipley said. "It's been a great 25 years." Shipley's career has spanned more than 50 years, with the constant being the songs that serve as the foundation for his bluegrass gospel programs. He began his career at country WJMA in Orange VA in 1956. In his time at Alexandria country outlet WPIK/WXRA, he began a program called "Inside Bluegrass," and met Jerry Gray, who was instrumental in bringing him to WAMU.

September 8, 2007
Cheryl Spector Dies
Cheryl Ann Spector, 49, who jestfully appeared as "Cheryl The Big Dyke" on WJFK-FM's Don and Mike show, died on 9/4 at George Washington University Hospital. She was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in late June. Spector worked as a DJ at the Phase and Hung Jury gay clubs in the early 1980s but discovered her true passion as an activist after her brother Stanley's AIDS diagnosis and subsequent suicide in October 1985. She channeled her grief into action by helping with the 1987 and 1993 marches on Washington, and served as grand marshal of the DC Gay Pride Parade in 1998. She also organized the first Drag King contest at the Hung Jury in the mid-1990s.

September 4, 2007
Elliker To Replace Franklin On BAL Radio
Shari Elliker has been selected to replace Chip Franklin in the 9 AM to noon slot on WBAL radio (1090 AM). Elliker has been working in TV, radio, and the theater for more than 15 years. She's appeared on "Homicide," "America's Most Wanted," and "Unsolved Mysteries." Her voice can be heard on hundreds of commercials and narrations for the Discovery Channel, TLC, and Lifetime. Elliker recently co-hosted female talk show "Broadminded" for XM Satellite Radio. From 1992 to 1996, she did traffic and bits for WJFK-FM's Don and Mike. She's also done traffic reports for Channel 9/WUSA. Franklin recently left for a gig at talker KOGO radio in San Diego.

September 1, 2007
WAMU To Move Bluegrass To HD
American University's WAMU (88.5 FM) is moving all of its weekend bluegrass programming to its HD Radio digital signal. That would leave the public radio station's main signal almost all news and talk. It looks like WAMU is preparing to do battle with a new public radio news talker, when Minnesota Public Radio buys Columbia Union College's Christian contemporary WGTS (91.9 FM). That's expected to happen this fall. WAMU already operates a 24/7 bluegrass channel on HD Radio and on the internet via bluegrasscountry.org.

August 31, 2007
Loudoun Newspaper Owner John Geddie Dies
John Jay Geddie, 70, a reporter and editor who started a newspaper in Loudoun County two years ago, died on 8/22 at Inova Fairfax Hospital of kidney failure and pneumonia related to treatment for skin cancer. He lived in Sterling. Geddie covered the assassination of President John Kennedy for the Dallas Morning News and became the paper's Washington bureau chief until 1981. He worked briefly for Congress, then owned and edited the Loudoun Easterner newspaper, before founding the Loudoun Independent newspaper in 2005.

August 30, 2007
Mike Causey To Give Up WFED Morning Gig
Federal government news columnist and reporter Mike Causey is giving up his co-hosting duties on Federal News Radio/WFED's "The Federal Drive" morning program. He will continue to write his daily column for FederalNewsRadio.com and host his weekly "Your Turn With Mike Causey" show on Bonneville's WFED, 1050 AM. A "Drive" replacement for Causey's pairing with Jane Norris is being sought.

August 28, 2007
Bonneville To Launch 3WT Talker
Bonneville announced that it will re-launch talker Washington Post Radio WTWP as 3WT, WWWT, on 9/20. The "personality-driven" talk station's new slogan will be "Left, Right, And Whatever We Want." As expected, David Burd and Jessica Doyle will continue to do their locally-based morning show. With Washington Post sports columnist Tony Kornheiser expected to return next year to do late mornings. Local car guy Pat Goss will be joined by nationally syndicated personalities like Neal Boortz, Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, and Stephanie Miller, plus play-by-play sports. DCRTV hears that Washington Post Radio afternoon personalities Bob Kur and Hillary Howard will move to Bonneville all-news sister WTOP. Bonneville and the Post have formally ended their radio alliance. The year-and-a-half old Washington Post Radio "just did not garner the Arbitron ratings we had hoped for," said Bonneville's DC radio honcho Joel Oxley. 3WT will utilize the old Washington Post Radio signals of Wheaton's 1500 AM, Warrenton's 107.7 FM, and Frederick's 820 AM.

August 28, 2007
Washington Post Radio Is Dead
The Washington Post confirms that the newspaper will end its low-rated year-and-a-half talk radio experiment, Washington Post Radio, WTWP, with all-news WTOP owner Bonneville come September. As DCRTV told you, Bonneville will continue to use the 107.7 FM and 1500 AM signals for a talk format, with David Burd in mornings and syndicated talkers like Glenn Beck and Neal Boortz during other periods. The Post says that it's unclear if its sports columnist, Tony Kornheiser, will return to the station after his "Monday Night Football" duties end early next year. However, DCRTV hears there's a good possibility that without the Washington Post's name on the station, the intensely loyal Kornheiser will end up elsewhere, perhaps at XM/Sirius satellite radio or return to Clear Channel's SportsTalk 980, WTEM. Bonneville would give Kornheiser the 10 AM to noon slot on the talk outlet if he returns.

August 23, 2007
Elizabeth Callan Dies
Elizabeth Callan, 57, an award-winning producer for PBS's "The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer" for more 20 years, died on 8/17 at Washington Hospital Center of burns from a kitchen fire in her DC home in July.

August 23, 2007
Del Walters Produces Documentaries
Del Walters (left), who anchored and reported news for two decades at Channel 7/ WJLA, and for two more years on Channel 2/WMAR, now runs a Loudoun County-based video production firm, 3PE. And, in early September, he will hold a Leesburg premiere for "NSSM", an investigative documentary regarding the Nixon Administration and the CIA's dealings with post-colonial Africa. Walters, who executive produced the documentary, tells DCRTV that he's busy working on another documentary and has been networking in places like Cannes with famous film people, including George Clooney and Angelina Jolie. Walters is also in the final stages of production on fictional book about a black man running for president, mirroring the current campaign of Barack Obama. Ashburn resident Walters says he was proud to work in "the golden years of (local) TV news" and keeps in close touch with the folks at WJLA, which didn't renew his contract in 2003, and WMAR, where he worked from 2004 through 2006.

August 23, 2007
Andy Parks Gets Pacemaker
WMAL morning show host Andy Parks (right), who was rushed to the hospital on Sunday suffering from chest pains and an irregular heartbeat, had successful surgery on 8/23 to implant a pacemaker. He's doing fine, his co-host Fred Grandy announced on-air.....

August 22, 2007
DC101 Names Roche MD
Afternoon man Greg Roche has nabbed the music director gig at Clear Channel rocker DC101. Roche had been acting MD since Donielle Flynn exited the station in April.

August 22, 2007
Mixed Numbers For Talkers In 'Trends
The August monthly Arbitrend radio ratings. Talker WJFK-FM is basically flat, with the morning Junks up a bit and afternoon's Don and Mike down a bit. Talker WMAL was up big in July after a floppish June. Talker Washington Post Radio pulled anemic numbers, with most listeners coming from their Nats baseball broadcasts. New alternative rocker The Globe is continuing its very slow build with little gain in July. The urbans - WPGC-FM, WHUR, WMMJ - are up at the top of the heap. New gospel outlet WPRS continues a steady climb upward. Up in Baltimore, urban WERQ and country WPOC take the top spots, with talker WBAL-AM continuing its slump, now dipping to sixth place.

August 22, 2007
WKCW's "Little Bitty Buddy" Dies
Leroy Self, who was known as "Little Bitty Buddy" on now defunct Warrenton country and bluegrass outlet WKCW (1420 AM), died of cancer on 8/15 at the Gilcrest Hospice Center in Baltimore. Born in Washington DC, Self worked at "Big K Radio" from the 1960s into the 1990s. He was also a musician, singer, and songwriter in the country and bluegrass music business. WKCW was sold several years ago and now features Spanish language music and talk.

August 22, 2007
New Quantico Radio For 920 AM
The Federal Communications Commission has granted Prince William Broadcasting a construction permit for a new AM radio station on 920 to be licensed to Quantico. The station will be licensed to run 2,000-watts by day 970-watts at night. The licensee consists of six media companies, including Bay Broadcasting, which runs several radio stations on the Eastern Shore.

August 22, 2007
New Producer For Rehm
Emmanuel Touhey is the new producer for public radio outlet WAMU's nationally syndicated "The Diane Rehm Show." He spent the past nine years working as a producer with DC-based C-SPAN, covering Congress and the White House. Touhey is a native of Ireland, and came to the US in 1993. He began his career as an intern at BBC Radio in Northern Ireland.

August 22, 2007
Galindo Leaves Fox 5
Lowell Galindo, a sports producer and reporter for Channel 5/ WTTG, has been hired as the primary anchor on college sports network ESPNU. He interned at ESPN in 2002.

August 20, 2007
Cameron Gray To XM
Cameron Gray, former WJFK-FM operations director and former G. Gordon Liddy show executive producer, becomes an executive producer at XM Satellite Radio's new POTUS '08 presidential election channel (XM-130). Also, Joe Matthieu comes from the MarketWatch Radio Network to program the channel, and Gary Starikoff, who's been at XM's MLB Home Plate channel, will be a producer. POTUS '08, which launches in September, is being produced in cooperation with DC-based C-SPAN and other news outlets.

August 20, 2007
Joe Robinson To 98 Rock Nights
Local comedian Joe Robinson is taking over the 7 PM to midnight slot Monday through Friday on 98 Rock, starting 9/17. As well as doing post Ravens gameday reports. He's being paired up with someone named Theo from Illinois.

August 18, 2007
WRC Veteran Dave Von Sothen Dies
Dave Von Sothen (left), 81, a WRC broadcaster who won two local Emmy Awards in 1962 for a documentary about Griffith Stadium, died on 8/12 of pneumonia at Georgetown University Hospital. He was a Washington resident. Von Sothen worked for WRC (980 AM) radio and Channel 4 television for 20 years as a news writer and host of programs such as "Four Corners News" and "Dimension Washington." His Emmys were awarded for writing and producing "The Last Out," a documentary on the life of Griffith Stadium, the home of the Washington Senators baseball team. After leaving WRC, Von Sothen worked for the CIA, collaborating on an experimental television workshop at the agency's headquarters. He was also a founder of the Washington Quarter Century Broadcasters Club and was a member of the National Press Club.

August 15, 2007
Metro Radio Buys 3rd Area VA AMer
Praise Communications is selling Warrenton religious outlet WPRZ (1250 AM) to Vienna-based Metro Radio for $1.1 million. The buyer already owns Spanish language outlets WKCW (1420 AM) in Warrenton and WKDV (1460 AM) in Manassas.

August 13, 2007
5 To Launch 6 PM Newscast
Channel 5/WTTG will extend its current 5 PM hour-long news block into the 6 PM half hour. Come 9/10, "Fox5 News Edge At 6 PM" will replace "Seinfeld" reruns. Says WTTG honcho Duffy Dyer: "This is a natural next step for our station given viewers' positive reception to our half-hour news at 11 PM, as well as our hour-long broadcast at 5 PM - one of the fastest growing news programs in the market." According to the Fox station, "News Edge" will deliver the news of the day in a "unique, fast paced format." Highlights will include weather at five minutes past the hour, as well as "in-depth reports on top-of-mind Beltway region issues" such as, transportation, housing prices, and taxes. Fox5 top dog Brian Bolter will serve as the sole anchor of the 6 PM show, joined by weathercaster Sue Palka and sportscaster Dave Feldman. The new celebrity-chasing syndicated show "TMZ On TV," based on the popular gossip website, will follow at 6:30 PM. WTTG recently replaced its half hour noon newscast with an hour-long one at 11 AM, and extended its hour-long 10 PM newscast into the 11 PM half hour. Also, NBC's Channel 4/WRC will move its 10 AM newscast to 11 AM starting 9/10, to accommodate the new additional hour of NBC's "Today," which will run in the Washington market from 7 AM to 11 AM. The newscast, to be called "News 4 Midday," will continue to be anchored by Joe Krebs and Barbara Harrison.

August 13, 2007
London & Warner Gone From MZQ
Longtimers Jim London and Seth Warner get the boot from Clear Channel's country WMZQ (98.7 FM). A new midday and afternoon lineup featuring Michael J from Clear Channel's Baltimore country WPOC (93.1 FM) will begin 9/4.

August 13, 2007
Baltimore Radio Veteran Harry Shriver Dies
From the Baltimore Sun: Harry Shriver (right), the legendary Baltimore radio executive who brought such popular radio personalties as Johnny Walker, Peter Berry - "The Flying Dutchman," Charlie Eckman, Tom Marr, and Ron Matz to the old WFBR (1300 AM) and served as a panelist of "Conference Call" for nearly 40 years, died Saturday of heart failure at Sinai Hospital. The Owings Mills resident was 74. "He had his pulse on the radio business in Baltimore during the 1970s and 1980s, and took chances in an era when broadcasters weren't taking chances," said Matz, now a Channel 13/WJZ personality. "He also created Orioles Magic after the station acquired radio broadcast rights for the team in 1979." After WFBR was sold in 1988, Shriver managed stations in Ocean City, Pittsburgh, and Beaver Falls PA, which were owned by Baltimore Radio Show, until the company sold them and went out of business in 1995. In the mid-1990s, he became part-owner and general manager of WWLG (then 1360 AM). In 1997, he became general manager of WCBM (680 AM), an all-talk station, and where he appeared on "Conference Call," a news program that began on WFBR and later moved to WCBM. Shriver retired in 2000.

August 8, 2007
More Digital TV Musical Chairs
According to the latest digital TV documents from the Federal Communications Commission, here's where the local digital TV stations will wind up come 2009, when the plug is pulled on old-fashioned analog broadcasts. Five stations will remain right where they are, with their digital broadcasts on their old analog channel, including WJLA on 7, WUSA on 9, WBAL on 11, WJZ on 13, and WDCW on 50. Several other stations will continue broadcasting their digital signals on their current digital channel allocation, including WRC on 48, WTTG on 36, WFDC on 15, WDCA on 35, WMPT on 42, WUTB on 41, WETA on 27, WHUT on 33, WBFF on 46, and WNUV on 40. And several others get a new digital allocation, including WMAR on 38 (WJZ's current digital channel), WPXW on 34 (WUSA's current digital channel), and WNVC on 24 (WUTB's current analog channel).

August 6, 2007
Former HURer TC To JZW
Citadel-ABC's WJZW, Smooth Jazz 105.9, has tapped TC as the newest addition to the station's on-air lineup. No word yet on what shift she'll be doing. TC was last heard as one of the hosts of the highly-rated "The Real DC Morning Show" on Howard University's adult urban WHUR (96.3 FM), before being replaced by the syndicated "Steve Harvey Morning Show" last year as a cost-cutting move.

August 4, 2007
WFMD Suspends Blaine Young For "Potty Mouth"
Blaine Young, a talk show host on Clear Channel news talker WFMD (930 AM) in Frederick, said he's sorry for dropping the "f-bomb" on the air in July. In an apology at wfmd.com, Young said he uttered the expletive during a request to a producer to fix a technical problem. He did not realize that his comments were being broadcast due to an "internal microphone in the new studio telephone... (that) was picking up all the dead air, background noise, and my potty mouth." Despite Young's on-air apology immediately after the 7/21 "Frederick's Forum" show incident, he was suspended for two weeks. He'll return doing "Sound Offs" and "Frederick's Forum" on 8/13.

August 3, 2007
Revenue & Circulation Continue Slumping At Post
The Washington Post Company has reported a 13 percent drop in quarterly earnings, as declining revenue from its flagship paper continued to cancel gains in the company's education unit. For the second quarter, the DC-based company reported earnings of $68.6 million compared with $78.5 million in the year-ago quarter. Quarterly revenue rose 8 percent, from $969 million a year ago to $1.05 billion. That stemmed mostly from a 23 percent increase in revenue at the company's Kaplan education division, which now accounts for about half of the company's revenues. Newspaper publishing revenue fell 7 percent to $228 million. Print advertising fell 13 percent quarter-to-quarter, mirroring a nationwide trend caused by the decline in real estate ads and the migration of ad dollars to websites. Online revenue, driven by advertising on the Post's website, increased 11 percent compared to the year-ago quarter, but at $28.2 million it still only accounts for 12 percent of the newspaper unit's overall revenue. For the first six months of the year, print circulation dropped 3 percent, to 652,200 daily and 920,000 on Sunday.

August 3, 2007
July Ratings Good News For 13
The Baltimore Sun tells us that for Channel 13/WJZ the July Baltimore "sweeps" were cause for celebration yesterday. New ratings numbers showed that its 4 PM newscast had beaten powerhouse "The Oprah Winfrey Show," aired by its chief competitor, Channel 11/WBAL, for the first time since February 2003. WJZ said the viewership of the newscast had grown last month by 14 percent over July a year ago, for a total of 55,000 households, 2,000 more than were watching "Oprah" on WBAL. WJZ said "Oprah" lost 27 percent of its ratings from the corresponding period last year. WBAL countered that the reason for the decline in Winfrey's numbers was that her show is in reruns for all of June, July, and August. The new season of "Oprah" is set to launch on 9/10.

July 31, 2007
WYPR To Buy OC's X106.9
Your Public Radio, which owns Baltimore public radio outlet WYPR (88.1 FM), is buying Ocean City contemporary music outlet X106.9, WRXS, from Atlantic Radio Broadcasting for about $1.1 million. A WYPR 106.9 FM simulcast is scheduled to begin in late September, we're told. The WRXS 4,900-watt signal covers southern Delaware and westward to the Salisbury area of Maryland. Mainly news talk WYPR already relays its signal via Frederick's WYPF, also on 88.1.

July 27, 2007
WaPo Radio Shows Pulse, WBAL Slumps
The spring '07 Arbitrons for DC and Baltimore are out today. DCRTV hears that Washington Post Radio, WTWP, placed "very strongly" against rival talker WMAL in the full-week age 25-to-54 demo, and even beating WMAL among some demos in morning drive and middays. Elsewhere on the DC talk dial, all-news WTOP continued to dominate drivetimes, while male talker WJFK-FM was basically flat, with afternooners Don and Mike declining a few notches in the all-important 25-to-54 demo, and down to 13th among 12+ers. Musically, new alternative rocker The Globe, WTGB, edged ahead of rival rockers WWDC and WBIG in a key 25-to-54 demo, with more women tuning into to the "green" station. DC, full-day, age 12+: 1) WHUR, 2) WPGC-FM, 3) WTOP, 4) WMMJ, 5) WASH, 6) WMZQ, 7) WJZW and WKYS, 9) WLZL, 10) WWDC, 11) WRQX and WIHT, 13) WMAL, 14) WPRS, 15) WBIG, 16) WTGB, 17) WJFK-FM, 18) WTEM and WTWP. Morning drive, same demo: 1) WTOP, 2) WHUR, 3) WMMJ, 4) WPGC-FM, 5) WRQX, 6) WMZQ and WKYS, 8) WWDC, 9) WLZL, 10) WASH, 11) WMAL, 12) WIHT, 13) WJZW, 14) WJFK-FM, 15) WPRS and WBIG, 17) WTWP, 18) WTGB, 19) WAVA. WBAL-AM continues its ratings slide, plunging to 6th place in the spring '07 radio ratings for Baltimore. In the full-day age 12+ demos, the news talk station is now at a 4.5 share, way down from a 6.9 share a year ago. Urban WERQ takes the 1st place position, with a 9.4 share. Country WPOC is 2nd with an 8.8. Adult contemporary WLIF, adult urban WWIN-FM, and rocker WIYY round out the top five. In Frederick, country WFRE (99.9 FM) has a big lead. Rounding out the top five: adult contemporary WAFY (103.1 FM), classic hits WWEG (106.9 FM), news talker WFMD (930 AM), and all-newser WTOP (previously 820 AM). Over in Winchester, country WUSQ (102.5 FM) has a big lead, with hot adult contemporary WINC-FM (92.5) in second place. Rocker WFQX (99.3 FM), contemporary hit WKSI (98.3 FM), and oldies WZRV (95.3 FM) make up the top five. Adult contemporary WQHQ is the top-rated radio station in the Salisbury/Ocean City market. Country combo WXJN/WICO, urban adult WSBY, country WWFG, and rhythmic contemporary WOCQ round out the top five.

July 27, 2007
Jaffe Sorry For WaPo Radio "Tanking" Comment
"I called to apologize. I didn't have the numbers," confessed media columnist Harry Jaffe Friday on David Burd's morning Washington Post Radio show. Jaffe claimed in an August Washingtonian magazine article that the Bonneville-owned station's ratings had "tanked" after Tony Kornheiser left his morning gig in late June - even though the Arbitron radio ratings for the period had not yet been released. Jaffe told Burd that he did "my own unofficial polling." Still, he reminded Burd that previous ratings for the 15-month-old news talk station are "not a pretty picture... Right now, there are more people listening to a gospel station out of Waldorf, Maryland." Washingtonian has posted a correction on its website: "While there was anecdotal evidence for a drop in the number of WTWP listeners, the actual ratings for the period in question will not be released until October. The Washingtonian regrets the error".....

July 25, 2007
Frankin & Douglas Leaving BAL Radio
Chip Franklin and Rob Douglas are leaving Baltimore news talker WBAL (1090 AM). Franklin, who hosted late mornings for more than seven years, is headed to a "more lucrative" radio job in San Diego, while Douglas is returning to his security consulting business fulltime and his home near Denver. "This is a tremendous, life-changing opportunity for me," Franklin told the Baltimore Sun by phone from his Montgomery County home, which he is selling. He leaves WBAL on 8/3. Franklin, who used to work at DC talker WMAL, will start at San Diego talker KOGO as morning drive host shortly after Labor Day. Douglas, who had an earlier stint at WBAL but who returned to its airwaves four months ago, "no longer desires to be a WBAL radio talk host," Jeffrey Beauchamp, vice president and station manager of WBAL, wrote in a staff memo. Douglas is on vacation and will not resume his show. Their departures come during a ratings slump, since the station dropped Rush Limbaugh's nationally syndicated show last year.

July 24, 2007
Hugh Panero Leaves XM
Hugh Panero, the head of DC-based XM, is saying goodbye to the satellite radio firm he founded. His departure was widely anticipated following the announcement, earlier this year, that XM planned to merge with NYC-based rival Sirius. While XM Chairman Gary Parsons will continue to be part of a merged entity, Sirius execs - including Mel Karmazin - are expected to preside over management.

July 24, 2007
DC's City Paper Sold
Washington City Paper has been acquired by Tampa-based Creative Loafing, which owns alternative weeklies in Atlanta, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Tampa. The DC freebie weekly, along with a like rag included in the purchase deal, the Chicago Reader, were both controlled by founders of the Reader. City Paper, which is published on Thursdays and underwent a redesign this year, was founded in 1982 and has a circulation of 80,000. No major changes are planned at the paper, other than a series of already underway budget cuts. City Paper Editor Erik Wemple and Publisher Amy Austin are to remain. No price was revealed, but it's said to be "an eight-figure sale."

July 24, 2007
Former 4 ND To Head Gannett's TV Ops
Former Channel 4/WRC News Director Dave Lougee has been appointed president of McLean-based Gannett's Broadcasting Division. He replaces Roger Ogden, who retired on 7/1. Lougee, who worked at NBC's WRC from 1996 to 1998, spent many years with Dallas's Belo, overseeing its TV station and local cable news operations. Also, he served as news director in the early 1990s at Gannett's Denver TV station, KUSA. Locally, Gannett owns Channel 9/WUSA, which features another former WRC exec, Allan Horlick, as its president and general manager.

July 24, 2007
Former 11 Reporter Loses Balto Cop Spokesman Job
Matt Jablow, a former reporter with Channel 11/WBAL, has been fired as director of public affairs for the Baltimore City Police Department. Jablow, who has held the top cop spokesman gig for four years, has been replaced by Sterling Clifford, a top aide at City Hall. City officials would not comment on the change, calling it a personnel matter. Jablow also declined to comment on the circumstances of his canning. But he told the Baltimore Sun: "It was truly an honor to have worked with the men and women of the Baltimore Police Department for the past four years."

July 24, 2007
CNS's David Thibault Dies
CNSNews.com Editor-In-Chief David Thibault died at Johns Hopkins Hospital on 7/20 at age 49 after two battles with cancer. Thibault came to DC as a press secretary for New Hampshire Senator Judd Greg and then worked at Channel 7/WJLA for a several years as a news writer. In 1993, he jumped to the Republican National Committee to produce its TV projects and write news. "He had a lot of friends in the DC TV world," we're told.

July 23, 2007
CC Yanks AM Talker Relays From HD
It looks like Clear Channel has discontinued its recent FM HD Radio relays of its lowish-powered AM DC talkers. A few weeks ago, Clear Channel put lefty talker WWRC (1260 AM) on the HD3 digital signal of the more powerful adult contemporary WASH (97.1 FM). Followed by the righty talk signal of WTNT (570 AM) on the HD3 digital signal of the more powerful country WMZQ (98.7 FM). However, DCRTV heard complaints from other DC area broadcasters who pointed out that the current agreement with the promotional alliance of HD Radio stations forbids commercials on stations' additional HD2 and HD3 digital signals. Both of the Clear Channel DC talker HD relays featured ads.

July 22, 2007
ABC's "This Week" To Newseum
A source tells DCRTV that ABC is planning to move its "This Week" Sunday political talk show from its DeSales Street DC news bureau to studios at the new Newseum news gathering museum, which is being built near the US Capitol. It involves a promotional deal between ABC and the Newseum, which is seeking to become a major tourist attraction. This comes at the same time as a series of cost-cutting moves at ABC, including the upcoming dismissal of an undisclosed number of staffers at the DC bureau and at other bureaus around the country, we're told.

July 19, 2007
Jeff Wyatt Leaves Red Zebra
DC radio veteran Jeff Wyatt is out as head of programming for Redskins owner Dan Snyder's Red Zebra Broadcasting arm. Wyatt, who had worked for Clear Channel's DC radio cluster before joining Red Zebra, helped Snyder launch the Triple X sports talker (730 AM, 92.7 FM, 94.3 FM) in the DC area, as well as sports talkers in Richmond and Virginia Beach.

July 16, 2007
After RBR, HFS Vet Damian Einstein Joins Joe's
The Washington Times reports that DC progressive rock radio legend Damian Einstein is partnering with Joe Lee, who owns the three-decade-old Joe's Record Paradise music shop in Rockville. The two are planning to open a 550-seat club next door. Damian's father, Jake, started free-form progressive rock WHFS on Bethesda's 102.3 FM in the early 1970s. In 1975, a nearly fatal road crash in put Damian's career on hold for two years as he relearned how to walk and talk. Lately, he'd been working at Annapolis's adult alternative WRNR, 103.1 FM, which he recently left. Says the Times: Einstein would not comment on the circumstances of his departure. Sources familiar with the situation said he was fired for a purported drop in the ratings. Photo (right) of Lee and Einstein from the Times.

July 16, 2007
Osei To PGC Late Nights
Former WKYSer Osei The Dark Secret is heading to WPGC-FM. He'll be replacing Justine Love in late nights on 95.5. Love becomes public affairs director at the CBS urban station.

July 15, 2007
Huggy Lowdown Joins Tom Joyner
Huggy Lowdown, the comedian and on-air sidekick of WPGC-FM morning man Donnie Simpson, has left the CBS station. And, we hear that Huggy is going to be part of the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner morning show, heard locally on Radio One's WMMJ (102.3 FM) and WWIN-FM (95.9).

July 14, 2007
Bonneville Denies WaPo Radio Sale Rumor
Bonneville sources have steadfastly denied a "wild rumor" from a usually reliable source that DCRTV recently printed which suggested that Redskins owner Dan Snyder may be negotiating to purchase the 107.7 FM and 1500 AM frequencies from Bonneville. Those signals relay news talk Washington Post Radio, which has been languishing in the ratings and hemorrhaging cash since its creation in early 2006. In late 2006, Snyder was talking to Bonneville about buying the 104.1 FM and 103.9 FM frequencies for his Triple X sports talker. But that deal collapsed.

July 14, 2007
13's Anne Wozniak Heads For 2
News producer Anne Wozniak is jumping from Channel 13/WJZ to Channel 2/WMAR. She'll be the senior producer on the morning newscasts during "Good Morning Maryland." Also, Mix 106.5's Maria Dennis will be doing Friday cross-promotions for 2's "Good Morning Maryland."

July 13, 2007
Labor Board Slaps Post For Not Paying Reporters For Radio Work
Associated Press reports that the National Labor Relations Board has accused the Washington Post of failing to negotiate with the newspaper's union over extra work employees were asked to perform for its radio station. In a complaint filed against the Washington Post Company, the NLRB said the company's management repeatedly violated labor laws, beginning in 2006, by failing to negotiate in good faith with the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild, which represents more than 1,200 newsroom and commercial employees. The complaint against the newspaper, which is scheduled to go before an administrative law judge in September, also charged that employees were not fairly paid for work they contributed to Washington Post Radio, a news talk venture with all-news WTOP-owner Bonneville, which was launched in early 2006. The complaint also said the newspaper this year did not properly negotiate with the union before demanding employees perform extra work for the Onion, an independent fake news publication that the Post prints.

July 10, 2007
Geronimo Sets Radio Retirement Date
DCRTV hears from a very reliable source that Don Geronimo's last day doing "The Don And Mike Show" on the DC area's WJFK-FM and dozens of syndicated stations from Sacramento to Miami will be May 30, 2008. We're told that the DC "radio god," whose real name is Michael Sorce, gave official one-year notice to his employer, CBS Radio, on May 30, 2007. We attempted to confirm this on-the-record with Geronimo but received no response. We're told that the May 2008 date is a bit of an "earlier out" than what Geronimo's current contract calls for. No word about what partner Mike O'Meara's radio plans are after May 2008. Geronimo, 48, grew up in Rockville and has been in the radio biz since his teens, having worked at WPGC as well as Chicago's WLS and LA's KIIS. He and O'Meara have been doing their afternoon "zoo" show for just over 20 years, starting out in mornings at then "top 40" WAVA in Arlington.

July 10, 2007
New Venture For Zier
Where's Bennett Zier? You remember him! The former head of Clear Channel's DC radio operations who jumped over to Redskins owner Dan Snyder's Red Zebra broadcasting arm only to leave at the end of 2006, reportedly frustrated at Snyder's failure to obtain a strong, inside-the-Beltway FM signal for his Triple X sports talker. Well, DCRTV hears that Zier is very close to announcing a new venture, probably some sort of broadcast/marketing company located in the Tyson's Corner area.

July 5, 2007
IMAS Sells Radio World & TV Tech
Falls Church-based IMAS Publishing, parent firm for broadcasting and recording biz trade pubs Radio World, TV Technology, Pro Audio Review, and Audio Media, has been sold to NYC's NewBay Media. No sales price was disclosed. NewBay's properties include Pro Sound News, Guitar Player, Bass Player, Keyboard, EQ, Videography, Government Video, Television Broadcast, Digital Cinematography, and Government Video Technology Expo, among others. Stevan Dana, founder and president of IMAS, tells Radio And Records that when he decided to sell his business after more than 30 years, he was intent on finding a buyer who could build the brands in the new media age. NewBay said it will keep IMAS's offices at Bailey's Crossroads.

July 5, 2007
Pat Ferrise Joins XM's "Broads"
Former WHFS program director Pat Ferrise has signed on to produce DC-based XM Satellite Radio's female talk show "Broadminded." The afternoon drive program with Shari Elliker, Christine Eads, and Molly Dedham has been renewed through the fall of 2008. "Broadminded" started airing on Take Five (XM-155) in 2005.

July 5, 2007
106.7 To Replace O'Reilly With Rome, Big O & Dukes To Evenings
Fox Newser Bill O'Reilly is losing his DC radio perch on CBS talker WJFK-FM (106.7 FM). The station will put nationally syndicated sports talker Jim Rome in the 1 PM to 3 PM slot. Also, WJFK-FM confirms another rumor DCRTV has reported. That former WHFS evening duo Big O and Dukes, Oscar Santana and Chad Dukes, will be returning to the market, to air on 106.7 from 7 PM to 11 PM. They replace the evening relationship show "Unzipped" with Michelle Jerson and Michael Checkoway, which was launched earlier this year. Big O and Dukes, who recently lost their Phoenix gig when their station flipped from talk to urban contemporary, had been heard in evenings on the old WHFS on 99.1 FM until it flipped to Spanish contemporary in early 2005, and for a short time in middays on the Baltimore version of WHFS on 105.7 FM, both owned by CBS. WJFK-FM officials would not comment on speculation that Big O and Dukes are being groomed to replace afternoon duo Don and Mike, regarding their previously announced plan to retire in 2008.

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