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By Dave Hughes dcrtv@dcrtv.com
1/28 - The "journos" at the Daily Caller's State Of The Union party last night prove what an unattractive bunch-o-douchebags they are, via FishbowlDC. Let's all hope that most of these hack clowns land out on the street on their asses once they burn through the investment capital on yet another political news and commentary website that nobody needs or wants. And to think we actually once liked Marc "Nigel" Sterne. What a pathetic suck-up. Wow.....
1/25 - Just listened to WMAL's 8 AM hour of "Grandy And Andy" and its "new" morning show tweak of phone calls from listeners for the whole hour. Kind of tedious. I kinda liked the old hourly format with a mix of news, commentary, and calls. The new "mainly calls" hour sounds "done on the cheap" and makes me more likely to flip over to all-news WTOP for something other than a bunch of mainly idiotic, Heritage Foundation-ish callers. You know, WMAL's owner is an a heap-o-trouble here in DC. WMAL is not doing great in the ratings, paricularly in drive times, and still has no local content in afternoon drive. Re-installed later morning guy, Chris Plante, has got to be one of the dumbest talkers on the air in the Washington market - period. The guy's a complete idiot, even for a conservative. And putting an overnight trucking show on a signal that barely reaches outside the Beltway after dark is mindnumbingly stupid. WMAL's Citadel sister, WRQX, Mix 107.3 is getting slammed by the slow growing, but growing (!) WIAD, 94.7 Fresh FM, from CBS. And the new turgid classic rock 105.9 The Edge, WVRX, seems stuck in the mud at 20th or 21st place almost a half year after its launch. Rather than try to fix its DC cluster mess, it might be better for bankrupt Citadel to simply sell its three DC stations. To WTOP owner Bonneville? Hmmm.....
1/23 - Last weekend, the sports radio and TV listings in the Washington Post told us that a batch of NFL playoff games would be on WHFS, 94.7 FM. Of course, the WHFS calls have never been on 94.7, which was WTGB and is now WIAD. Now, this weekend's sports media listings in the Post tell us that the NC State-Maryand game is on WHFS via Baltimore's 105.7 FM, which, OK, was WHFS but is now WJZ-FM. Fellow Baltimore outlet 1300 AM, which is also carrying the game, is still listed by the Post as WJFK-AM, but that's now WJZ-AM. Memo to Posties: The WHFS calls still live, but only on talker 1580 AM. Got it? Hmmm.....
1/20 -
DCRTV hears that local radio veteran KT Harris is filling in this week, via the miracle of voice-tracking, in the midday slot on Citadel's turgid classic rock 105.9 The Edge. Does this mean that Suzanne Ansilio from LA classic rocker KLOS, who was doubling as music director at 105.9 WVRX, is out as midday gal? Not so, says another source. Ansilio is back to the left coast for a few days. Regarding Harris, we hear from a source: "There is a hope, amongst those of us that know her, that her personality and reputation will get her a fulltime gig. Who knows, they still need a morning host." We hear that Harris does have a fulltime job in the wine business. DCRTV has reported that WVRX is close to naming a morning show host, something it hasn't had since it launched back in August. Stay tuned.....1/19 -
"There was evil there," so said Buzz Burbank on today's podcast at MikeOMearaShow.com about last summer at WJFK, which canned his boss, Mike O'Meara, as part of a format flip to sports talk. O'Meara, Burbank, Oscar Santana, and Robb Spewak (right) talked today about the last days of "the old station," as O'Meara called it, "guy talk" WJFK. O'Meara started his daily podcast in early December, after waiting out the end of his contract with CBS Radio, which owns WJFK. "My friend Donnie Simpson (is) apparently going through the same thing right now," O'Meara added. DCRTV broke the news last week that CBS is negotiating to buy out the contract of the highly-paid morning man at urban WPGC.....1/19 - DCRTV hears that Redskins owner Dan Snyder's Red Zebra has hired a new engineer - Ed Cole, who used to work at Clear Channel. RZ owns ESPN 980, Spanish sportser WXTR, biz talker WWRC, and political talker WTNT.....
1/19 - DCRTV hears more rumblings of "complete and utter chaos" at the Washington Times, including the possibility of more cuts this month. "Just eight weeks under new management and they are terrified that they and the paper will not survive and are now trying to do anything to deflect attention from what appears to be a sinking ship," a source tells DCRTV. As DCRTV told you, there's a flurry of lawsuits between the paper's ownership and some of its now-former management. With arrival of 2010, the Times dumped most of its local coverage, including sports, in order to focus on national and political news on weekdays, with no Sunday edition. There are also rumblings that the paper may sell its New York Avenue headquarters building and relocate to much smaller space in the suburbs.....
1/17 - What a "fun" weekend. I've been treated to at least a half dozen e-mails from Washington Post reporter Paul Farhi, who's basically calling me a liar - again and again. So, what started all this? Well, on Friday evening, Farhi wrote a short piece that got posted on the Post's website reporting that WPGC's Donnie Simpson is involved in negotiations with his employer, CBS Radio, to buy out his contract and end his association with the urban station. I, and several others, noticed that the piece did not credit DCRTV for reporting the same news three days earlier, on Tuesday. On Friday evening, I e-mailed Farhi requesting credit, and, within minutes via return e-mail, he assurred me that it would be coming in the final, longer version of the story that was to be posted on the Post's website early Saturday and in the Saturday print edition. Well, that led me to assume that Farhi saw my deserving request and was simply fulfilling it. Not so, Farhi has insisted in his many e-mailings to me on Saturday and Sunday. I got it oh so wrong. He claims that he was planning to credit DCRTV all along, in the final version of the story, even before he received my Friday request, despite the fact that the credit was not featured in the first edition of the story. Still, Saturday is the first time I can remember Farhi giving DCRTV print credit for being first with a story, despite the fact that DCRTV's been here for more than a decade and has featured many hundreds of "scoops" during those years.....
1/16 -
On Tuesday, 1/12, DCRTV exclusively reported rumors that longtime WPGC morning man Donnie Simpson (left) has begun negotiations to terminate his contract with ratings slumping urban outlet WPGC, a move that could bring Simpson's 32-year career on Washington's airwaves to an end. On Friday, the washingtonpost.com also reports the news - three days later. Simpson has more than a year left on his current two-year contract with the CBS-owned station but appears likely to leave before March 11, the anniversary of his hiring by WPGC, according to the Post. DCRTV has reported that WPGC afternoon man Big Tigger would likely be moved to mornings, replacing Simpson. DCRTV also broke the news that WPGC Program Director Robert Scorpio was replaced last week by Michael Saunders, as well as the resignation last summer of Simpson's sidekick Chris Paul after 16 years on the program - which the Post reported in its latest piece.....1/16 - Holy cow. In today's Washington Post print Sports section, page D2, Saturday's two NFL playoff games are listed as being carried on "WHFS" 94.7 FM. We knew that CBS recently flipped the calls of Fresh-FM from WTGB, but we thought that they were now WIAD. Hey, maybe the Post knows something we don't know. Last we checked, those legendary progressive rock calls are still wasting away on righty talker 1580 AM. Did a CBS Radio source meet with Paul Farhi in a dark parking lot somewhere to tell him some other secrets, besides those involving Donnie Simpson at WPGC? Might we wake up some morning soon with the glorious HFS back on the regular DC radio dial, not just a ghostly digital automated echo on 94.7's HD2? If it's in the Post it MUST be right, huh?.....
1/15 - Dave Wellington, program director of DC alternative rocker DC101, WWDC, will also be program director at classic hits Jack-FM, WQSR 102.7 FM, in Baltimore. Both stations are owned by Clear Channel. DCRTV wonders: What's there to program at QSR? The station is pretty much jockless.....
1/14 - Some news from Citadel's DC radio HQ. First, we hear that 105.9 The Edge, turgid classic rock WVRX, will soon announce a morning personality. The station did fill its afternoon slot with local rock radio veteran Kirk McEwen back in November. And, we also hear that some of the contest winners at hot adult contemporary WRQX, Mix 107.3, are reporting that their checks have bounced. Citadel has announced that it's filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. More soon.....
1/13 -
Former WJFKer Mike O'Meara (right) tells DCRTV that his new one-month-old internet radio show is going gangbusters. "I'm very happy with the numbers from the podcast," which is done from O'Meara's Manassas home and is available weekdays at mikeomearashow.com. "We have had interest from former (WJFK show) affilliates and we are in talks with some of them right now to pick up the show," says O'Meara, whose WJFK show got yanked last summer when the station flipped to sports talk. He had to sit out his CBS Radio contract until December 1st. So far, only one radio station is carrying the new one-hour show, KCJJ in Iowa City, Iowa. O'Meara adds: "My new venture is in its early stages, but I can't believe how much fun doing the podcasts is, and I can see this being something my listeners and I can enjoy for a long time." He says his new website has sported more than quarter-of-a-million unique visitors in the first month, with almost half-a-million podcast downloads. A Facebook podcast app is up, with an iPhone app coming soon. Oh, regarding rumors of tension between him and other top local radio personalities, O'Meara says: "I have a very good relationship with Jack Diamond, and communicate with him regularly. I also have spoken with Don (Geronimo) recently and we both enthusiastically follow each others' careers".....1/12 -
DCRTV hears rumblings that longtime DC morning radio legend Donnie Simpson (left) could be in the process of being eased out at troubled urban contemporary WPGC. As DCRTV told you last week, CBS Radio brought in a new DC radio cluster operations manager, urban radio veteran Michael Saunders from Orlando, who'll be programming DC's 95.5, attempting to get it back on track after a year-long ratings slump. Now, we're hearing that big changes could be taking place at PGC soon, particularly in the morning slot, including the "retirement" of Simpson, via a buyout of his contract. Talks are taking place now, during Simpson's vacation, we hear. One source tells DCRTV that PGC afternoon man Big Tigger (right) would be moved to mornings. There's also a CBS corporate move to "share" with PGC some of its on-air and programming talent from the company's urban stations in Atlanta, Orlando, and Charlotte, we're told. A local radio guru tells DCRTV: "Donnie Simpson - really good guy, really huge salary. In the PPM world, very few music station jocks can justify the huge bucks that used to be fairly common... The two big ratings stars on DC urban stations are both syndicated - Steve Harvey (on WHUR) and Tom Joyner (on WMMJ)".....1/12 - DCRTV hears that Washington Times is auditioning another female to replace Melanie Morgan on its "America's Morning News" radio show, heard locally on WTNT (570 AM). She's Amy Holmes, a conservative commentator who's appeared on Fox News and CNN. Last week, as DCRTV exclusively told you, Times congressional reporter Kara Rowland was being auditioned to pair with John McCaslin, the show's surviving male host. Also, we're told that it appears that the Times' "acting" president and publisher, John Slevin, has appointed himself "permanent" president and publisher. Recent Times statements and other media articles have not used the "acting" title and no one has corrected the omission. And, yet more news. We hear that several of the Times' "higher profile writers are in late stage negotiations with a cross-town rival" and could be leaving this month. Hello Washington Examiner? Stay tuned.....
1/12 -
WTOP Capitol Hill correspondent Dave McConnell (right) celebrates 45 years at the DC all-news radioer this month, and has no plans to retire anytime soon. McConnell began his career at WTOP in 1965 when it had a full-service news, talk, and music format station. He replaced the legendary Arthur Godfrey when WTOP began a news and talk show in morning drive in 1967. McConnell was the first news anchor on the air in the morning when WTOP switched to all-news in March 1969. He often covered Congress and, in 1981, became WTOP's fulltime Capitol Hill correspondent - the position he still holds today. WTOP Vice President/News And Programming Jim Farley says, "Whenever I have gone to the Hill with Dave, senators and congressmen from both sides of the aisle make a point of telling me that Dave is incredibly fair and balanced in his reporting." As far as his plans to retire, McConnell says, "As long as I have a seat covering the greatest show on earth, and can witness history being made, I'm going to keep on reporting. I get to cover statesmen, scalawags, gentlemen - and gentlewomen - and scoundrels, issues, drama, and histrionics." Adds Joel Oxley, who heads WTOP-owner Bonneville's DC radio cluster: "Dave is an institution in this town.
From Howard Baker to Harry Reid, Dave has reported on it all and explained to listeners throughout Virginia, Maryland, and DC just how what they do up there affects all of us down here. And above all, Dave is a true gentleman. He is a treasured resource here at WTOP".....1/11 -
DCRTV hears that local radio veteran Ken Merson (right) will officially join the parttime airstaff of CBS Radio's hot adult contemporary Fresh 94.7, WIAD, starting Monday 1/18, when he'll be filling in for afternooner Nikki Landry. Merson had been doing fill-in work for the station during the holidays.....1/11 - It's baaack. The Frederick area's WDMV (700 AM) has returned to the airwaves, playing a mix of classic oldies. The daytime-only station, owned by Michigan-based Birach Broadcasting, left the airwaves in early 2009. It had been running brokered and ethnic talk, and a right-leaning talk format before that with the WGOP calls. Tom Taylor, of Radio-Info.com, reminds us of this filing Birach made with the FCC last year: "Due to a dispute with local management and in order to retain its required control of station WDMV, Birach Broadcasting Corporation was forced to take this station off the air on February 6, 2009. Birach Broadcasting Corporation is attempting to resolve the management problem and will restore the station to the air as soon as possible".....
1/8 - Yesterday, a source told DCRTV: The firings by Redskins owner Dan Snyder continue beyond the football team. Word out of Snyder's Red Zebra, which owns ESPN 980, WTEM, is that Allison Butler, promotions/marketing director, and Frank Hanrahan, Redskins reporter, were both given the boot. "Cost cutting measures" supposedly. Although there's plenty of other fat to trim, why these two lowish salaries were picked is a mystery, someone wonders. More: Today, we get confirmation from Hanrahan that he is indeed out. "It came totally out of the blue and needless to say it was extremely disapointing. At least now for a little bit I can spend more time with my 11-month-old son".....
1/8 -
DCRTV hears that Washington Times Congressional reporter Kara Rowland (left) is being auditioned today for her newspaper's radio show. As a potential co-host for "America's Morning News," heard locally on WTNT (570 AM). DCRTV has reported that Melanie Morgan, suffering from a health issue, left the Talk Radio Network-syndicated show on Monday, leaving John McCaslin to temporarily go it alone. Rowland is "young, pretty, and is in for Round 1" of the auditions, we're told. Look for an announcement for a new co-host next week.....1/8 - A source tells DCRTV: More budget cuts for Fox-owned Channel 5/WTTG. Including Mary Talley, regional vice president of human resources. She was with WTTG since the early 1990s. Her position was eliminated, we hear.....
1/7 - So, it looks like CBS Radio is committed to keeping an urban contemporary format on WPGC with the announcement today that Michael Saunders, who's programmed urban stations in other markets, will replace Robert Scorpio as the programmer of the DC heritage outlet. Still, CBS will have to make some big changes to the one-time top five ratings performer, which has now sunk to the upper teens among local radioers. Of all major corporate radio owners in DC, CBS is probably in the most trouble as 2010 starts. Clear Channel's five FMers frequently populate the top 10, Bonneville's powerhouse WTOP out-revenues everything in the market. Even bankrupt Citadel peforms well with WMAL and WRQX. But CBS, frequently, has none of its four major FMers in the top 10 here. All of its stations underperform. WPGC sounds tired and worn. WLZL is on the wrong signal for its Hispanic audience. WJFK still has problems in middays and afternoons. Woefully automated WIAD is pretty much stuck in the mud in its quest for females up against WRQX and WASH. And the heritage gem of alt rock WHFS just sits there unused, waiting to sparkle again. If CBS Radio honcho Dan Mason is pretty much signaling that it's pretty much "formats-as-usual" on his four DC FMers with Saunders' appointment, it's gonna be a long, tough slog for the firm in this market in the new year. Perhaps Mason should have sent market manager Sam Rogers packing along with PGC programmer Scorpio. Pathetic CBS doesn't need a Band-Aid here in DC, it needs major surgery to fix its cluster. Like his DC stations, Mason proved today with his move that he's also an underperformer.....
1/6 -
DCRTV is getting confirmation that the reason Melanie Morgan resigned from "America's Morning News," the Washington Times' radio show, is due to a serious health issue she is facing. There had been some talk that she was forced out because she didn't fit the format of the show, but those rumors are being discounted. Morgan is married to Jack Swanson, the program director at Citadel's San Francisco news talk KGO-AM. However, the rumblings about Morgan's poor interaction on the show won't die. A source tells us: "The chemistry was awful and it was apparent to everyone involved. Tensions were beginning to show. (Morgan) gave proper notice that she was leaving the show in mid-January. She showed up for work on Monday and was told to leave. A person who is newly associated with the show asked her to go home." More in DCRTV's 1/5 and 1/4 newsblurbs.....1/5 - DCRTV hears that Ben Gossling, formerly of the now-defunct sports department at the Washington Times, is joining the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network fulltime, where he'll do on-air Washington Nationals baseball coverage and blog via its website. He was the TWT's Nationals beat writer and had been doing occasional work with MASN in past seasons.....
1/5 - More on the news that DCRTV broke yesterday that Melanie Morgan has resigned as co-host of the Washington Times' radio show, "America's Morning News," for alleged personal reasons. DCRTV now hears that all promos for the nationally syndicated show, heard locally on WTNT (570 AM), have been recut to mention only John McCaslin. We're also told that the Washington Times' acting president, Jonathan Slevin, is consulting with newspaper owner Reverend Moon's son, Preston Moon, on what direction they should take with the show. "We should see some new direction by February 1," we hear. Show syndicator Talk Radio Network has told DCRTV that it will continue producing and distributing the show even if the troubled Washington Times pulls out of the venture. DCRTV has reported that TRN may be shopping around future partnership for show, which is now produced at the Washington Times New York Avenue HQ, to other political news organizations, a la DC's Politico. More: DCRTV hears that several female guest hosts will sit-in with McCaslin, to see if there is "better chemistry than what was lacking between him and Melanie," we're told.....
1/5 - DCRTV hears that nationally syndicated DC-based righty talker Laura Ingraham is gone from Baltimore news talker WBAL (1090 AM) during late evenings. The Hearst station is running local sports talk from 6 PM to 9 PM, and a new replay of Clarence M. Mitchell IV's afternoon show from 9 PM to midnight. Might Ingraham be moving to WBAL talk rival WCBM (680 AM)? Stay tuned.....
1/5 - DCRTV hears about some news changes at Baltimore's Channel 13/WJZ. Mary Bubala will now anchor the 4 PM and 5 PM newscasts for the CBS station. Jessica Kartalija will anchor the noon broadcast. And Gigi Barnett will anchor weekend mornings. All three will continue to do reporting duties on a daily basis for 13, as well.....
1/3 - My local radio "wish list" for 2010:
1/1 -
Another great year for DCRTV, the best source of DC and Baltimore media news and gossip. Our financial goal for 2009 was 20 percent higher than 2008, and we reached it in December, despite the recession and all the competition! Thanks to the generous donations from our wonderful visitors and contributors, and our fantastic advertisers. Our biggest traffic day of the year? That August day when we reported that WAMU's Diane Rehm fell and broke her pelvis. No, not the WJFK flip to sports talk. This year, we'll be working to expand our memory-packed DCRTV Plus section, including lots more audio and video features, and flesh out our NYC and Boston news pages. Plus an expanded classified ads section aimed at the job market. And maybe even a podcast and, finally, a big party for all our amazing DCRTVers. As I always say, even after 12+ years, I still love doing this website each and every day. And I treasure all the friendships I've made! You guys and gals are magnificent! Onward and upward for 2010. Fasten your seatbelts.....12/31 - DCRTV's top 10 local TV stories of 2009. (1) Hefty cuts at many local TV stations, especially deep at Channel 2/WMAR, Channel 4/WRC, Channel 26/WETA, Channel 7/WJLA, Channel 45/WBFF, and Maryland Public Television, (2) The digital broadcast TV conversion in June and how many viewers survived it with no problems, but others, especially those who relied on antenna reception, lost some of their favorite stations, (3) The changing cable TV landscape with the rapid expansion of Verizon's all-digital FIOS system challenging dominant provider Comcast, and Comcast's continuing push to take its systems all-digital to compete, (4) Area cable TV giant Comcast buying Channel 4/WRC owner NBC Universal, (5) The death of longtime Channel 4/WRC sports anchor George Michael, (6) The retirement of a number of local TV news greats like 13's Sally Thorner, 2's Mary Beth Marsden, and 5's Patrick McGrath, (7) Lots of turnover at low-news-rated Channel 9/WUSA, including yet another news director, (8) Fairfax's MHz Networks rounds out its lineup of foreign news network relays to 10, with the addition of Al Jazeera English, (9) How NBC's Jay Leno show nightly at 10 PM is hurting the 11 PM news ratings for dominant Baltimore TV newser Channel 11/WBAL, and (10) MASN launches its fulltime high-def network.....
12/30 - DCRTV's top 10 local radio stories of 2009. (1) CBS's WJFK drops its longtime "guy talk" format for sports talk as 106.7 The Fan and sends Mike O'Meara packing, creates a two-way battle with Dan Snyder's WTEM, ESPN 980, (2) Bonneville's all-news WTOP continues its winning ways as a top ratings getter and as a top revenue producer, (3) Once a top station, CBS's DC urban mainstay WPGC continues to flounder, (4) Four sports talkers, including CBS's new WJZ-FM, 105.7 The Fan, battle each other in Baltimore, (5) CBS yanks classic rock from 94.7 for hot adult contemporary Fresh FM, (6) Clear Channel's contemporary hit Hot 99.5 WIHT soars to new ratings heights, (7) WMAL, WRQX, WVRX owner Citadel prepares for bankruptcy filing, (8) Clear Channel kills alternative rock WCHH, Channel 104.3, in Baltimore for contemporary hit Z104.3 WZFT, (9) Citadel's WJZW dumps "True Oldies" for hard classic rock as WVRX, 105.9 The Edge, (10) Clear Channel picks up Baltimore's "Jack" oldies WQSR 102.7 from CBS.....
12/29 - DCRTV hears that Murray Schweitzer, consumer reporter Liz Crenshaw's producer since 1993, is leaving Channel 4/ WRC as of 12/31. Schweitzer helped create Crenshaw franchise stories, including "Does It Really Do That?," "Tricks Of The Trade," "Liz Quiz," "Taste Tests," and "Ask Liz." Schweitzer jokes that he's written the words "I'm Liz Crenshaw" so many times that those words should be placed on his tombstone. Also leaving DC's NBC4 on 12/31, longtime video editor Joe Hearn, longtime video editing supervisor Tommi Childs, and longtime graphic artist Lou Bargmann.....
12/29 - DCRTV hears that CBS Radio is giving serious thought to relaying its NYC (WFAN), Philadelphia (WIP), Baltimore (WJZ-FM), and/or Boston (WBZ-FM) sports talkers on the digital HD Radio subchannels of DC's WJFK, 106.7 The Fan, come early 2010. Ditto with like relays, including WJFK, via the HD Radio subchannels of Baltimore's 105.7 The Fan. Stay tuned.....
12/28 - DCRTV tipped you a few weeks ago. Local rock radio veteran Kirk McEwen returns to his old haunt of Baltimore's 98 Rock, WIYY, to do fill-in morning show hosting today and tomorrow. DCRTV told you last month that McEwen just landed a permanent gig doing afternoon drive on DC classic rocker 105.9 The Edge, WVRX. McEwen's temporary 98 Rock gig is being done with 105.9's blessing since the stations are in separate markets and not direct competitors.....
12/28 - Today's another perfect example of what's wrong with the Washington Post's dreadful Style section, which I've dubbed the Stale section. Today, like many days, it's eight pages of nothing much to read. The front page feature a huge half-page graphic featuring Tiger Woods and Jon and Kate to accompany a lengthy diatribe from Howard Kurtz about all the changes in the media biz in the past 10 years. I honestly thought Kurtz, who churns out copy like a machine and has to be the hardest working media writer in the whole world, might take a week off between Christmas and New Years. Apparently not. The page 2 jump of Howie's piece also contains a third of a page of pics. That's almost two full broadsheet pages for one Kurtz piece. I like Howie, but this is a bit ridiculous. Another huge half-page graphic takes up page 8 with another overly-long piece. The Movie Directory, now with "public service" listings of all local movie theaters every darn day, takes up most of a broadsheet page. Plus, there's two pages of comics, and a half page of TV listings, plus a half page of rewritten gossip blurbs in the "Names And Faces" column. That leaves nothing much else. It's a shame that the Post can't reduce its Style section to just two or four pages on slow news days like today and give those pages over to the deserving news section and business sub-section. Perhaps the Post should expand its "opt-out" option, which allows readers to "not get" the TV Week section, to its tepid Style section, too. Maybe give subscribers a few bucks break on their rates, or, at least, save a couple of trees. I still think the Post is a great newspaper. The "A" news, the editorials, the business news, the Metro, and Sports are all great. But Style continues to suck, big time. Maybe it's time to clear the decks and start over with that sorry section. Well, at least one bright spot today - no Salahis in Style.....
12/26 - Local radio veteran Don Geronimo, who's been off the DC airwaves since April 2008, when he gave up his afternoon shift at then-guy talker WJFK, did a holiday fill-in shift on NYC oldies outlet WCBS-FM on Saturday evening, also via wcbsfm.com. He'll be doing another fill-in shift on Friday, New Years Day, at 3 PM.....
12/24 - DCRTV broke the news in late 2006 that George Michael was planning to retire from Channel 4/WRC in early 2007. We beat everybody, even the Washington Post. Actually, the station's owner, NBC, had ordered him to make massive budget cuts in its sports department. And George told his employer of 27 years - no way, Jose. George told me that he would rather leave than have to tell many of his beloved co-workers that they'd be losing their jobs. OK, I got maybe one little thing wrong in the DCRTV piece, and I paid for it. At 6 AM on a holiday morning, there was George Michael blasting me on the phone to tell me off. "Dave, Dave, Dave," he'd say like a scolding father to his misbehaving son. Yeah, George liked DCRTV, but he was oh so quick to tell me if I made the slightest error in coverage about himself. As a kid in the Philadelphia area in the late 1960s, I listened to George spinning the Grass Roots, the Supremes, the Monkees, and the Beatles on WFIL, Famous 56. I never could have dreamed, back then, that some four decades later, George and I would cross paths. I won't get into all of George's maverickness in the TV sports media biz. But I'll always remember him as a great guy. God bless you, George. One of the best.....
12/23 -
While the Junkies are away on Christmas vacation, the programmers at new CBS sports talker WJFK, 106.7 The Fan, seem to be doing some show test pairings during the morning slot. Yesterday, it was Scott Jackson and Brian Mitchell. Today, it's Al Koken (right) with Jackson and Mitchell. We've heard that former Redskin Mitchell is in-line for a JFK show. It sure sounds like the station's suits are trying to determine a radio partner for him. Stay tuned.....12/23 - We got plenty of reaction to our story yesterday that the Washington Times morning radio show, "America's Morning News," might be moving to the Politico. Or might be discontinued if the troubled newspaper has more financial woes. Phil Boyce of syndicator Talk Radio Network says that the show, which has 70+ affiliates, including DC's WTNT (570 AM), will continue even if there "are problems at TWT." He adds: "TRN, which is the largest independent producer of syndicated talk radio shows in the nation, is not going to pull the plug on this show... The radio show is a hit." A source at the show tells us the same thing: "I can assure you that TRN would never let 'AMN' fold, regardless of whether TWT or Politico, as you hear, is interested. 'AMN' is kicking ass - we're now approaching 75 stations in only six months' time, and in numerous major markets to boot." While that source did not deny that the show could be taken over by the Politico, a Politico source tells us that there have been "no talks with Washington Times about anything." However, another source points out, the Politico could be talking to TRN and not TWT. More as we hear it.....
12/23 -
As for those changes at the Politico's Allbritton sister NewsChannel 8 that DCRTV's hinted, we're told that no tweaking of the local news channel will come before spring. Management is satisfied with the morning schedule, but the daytime lineup could get more of "wheel" format - "think WTOP with pictures." Look for "more community stories to come from the Jim Brady (Politico local news) web project." Plus, more regionally "zoned" programming from noon to midnight. "NewsChannel 8 needs to get back to basics - reporting community news, and look more like its roots." Allbritton management "think it looks too much like WJLA junior." Allbritton also owns Channel 7/WJLA. "Look for more 'community reporters' (one man bands) to dig up stuff from the suburbs." And look for more Politico reporters to be seen on NC8. More as we hear it.....12/23 - A local newspaper guru wonders what will happen to all those lucrative legal ads carried by the Washington Times when it switches to its new weekday-only, less local news format come 1/4. Since it will no longer have home delivery, will those advertisers, who are responsible for millions of dollars of revenue for the TWT, get "poached" by the Washington Post and other community newspapers? "It's a huge business and one of the only bright spots in the Times' revenue stream. They are gambling that their strategy will work. What they are not taking into consideration is that you and the other media outlets will see through this and raise holy hell when the paper is no longer general interest but a shell of a real newspaper," we're told. Update. On Wednesday afternoon, the Times issued the following statement: "This week, the Washington Times announced changes that will lead the company to a stronger position in the Washington media marketplace. Legal advertising has been, and will continue to be, of paramount importance to the newspaper and its legal advertising base of government officials, investors, bankers, auctioneers, and interested readers. The Times will retain circulation and distribution throughout the market and continue to provide relevant general news content to maintain an excellent environment for legal advertisers".....
12/22 - I am seriously sick of reading about those White House State Dinner party crashers and malignant PR seekers Tareq and Michaele Salahi in the Washington Post during the past month. Yet another looooong another piece at washingtonpost.com on Tuesday. Day after day after day. It never stops. Like a dripping faucet. Enough already! Isn't there other important news the Post can fill its Stale section with? Like maybe fashionista Robin Givhan analyzing Tiger Woods' post-scandal outfits? Sheesh.....
12/22 - President Barack Obama called into WTOP's "Ask The Governor" show in the 10 AM hour today to congratulate Virginia Governor Tim Kaine for the job he did steering the commonwealth through the past four years. He surprised the outgoing Democratic governor. Obama was first introduced as "Barry from DC" and wanted to complain about traffic in Northern Virginia. Obama went on to joke that both of their wives probably enjoy more popularity than either of them. By the time the POTUS hung up the phone, WTOP was two minutes late for "traffic and weather together on the 8s." Listen here.....
12/22 - DCRTV hears from sources at the budget cutting Washington Times that there are plans in the works to possibly transfer the paper's morning radio show, heard locally on WTNT (570 AM), to the Politico, which is owned by Allbritton. The show, "America's Morning News," is hosted by Melanie Morgan and John McCaslin and is produced at the Times' New York Avenue HQ and syndicated nationally by Talk Radio Network. It focuses heavily on political news and commentary. We also hear that there's some "tension" between the Times and TRN over contractual issues. If a deal with Allbritton, which owns Channel 7/WJLA and NewsChannel 8, can't be worked out, the plug could be pulled on the radio venture, which was launched earlier this year. The Politico is busy developing a local news/TV arm, which could result in a repurposing of NC8, DCRTV has reported.....
12/21 - One of our technical gurus tells us that Channel 9/WUSA has asked the Federal Communications Commission for an "experimental" power hike to improve its digital TV reception. More at fcc.gov.....
12/18 - DCRTV gets confirmation that Beverly Kirk is out at NewsChannel 8 and that more cuts are coming as the Allbritton-owned local news operation gets transformed in the company's efforts to launch a local news website from the sister Politico operation. Also, we hear that Kirk is doing fine after a rush to Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington this week. She was suffering from severe abdominal pain and had her gall bladder removed. Sources tell us that she's out of the hospital and feeling much better.....
12/18 - Former WMZQer Jeffrey "Jeffro" Mason has landed a new gig at CBS's country KMLE in Phoenix, Camel 108, where he'll be doing afternoon drive come 1/11. You'll recall that middayer Mason got the budget cut boot from DC's Clear Channel country 98.7 back in August.....
12/17 - Todd McDermott, who was abruptly clipped after four years as primary 6 PM and 11 PM news anchor at Gannett's Channel 9/WUSA in September 2008, has been hired as the new morning and noon news anchor at Cox's WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh. He debuts January 4.....
12/17 - CBS Radio's Mark Zinno responds to the 105.7 The Fan, WJZ-FM Scott Garceau and Anita Marks "dump button malfunction" on Tuesday in his latest blog entry at cbsradiobaltimore.com - and yes somebody got fired over it 10 days before Christmas. A caller to the Baltimore sports talker managed to get on the air with a rude question about whether Ms. Marks performs oral sex on Mr. Garceau. Update: Zinno's blog post disappeared by midday Thursday.....
12/17 - DCRTV hears that the Washington Times laid off most of its advertising sales staff this morning. And its graphics department seems to be on the way out, too. It looks like the Times will actually scale back its staff some 70 percent, and not the 40 percent it previously said publicly - in order to keep the remaining advertisers. And will try to be like Politico and focus on online political news. More: We hear that the paper's marketing department was also included in today's layoffs. "Some people were asked to go today, others were given dates that their employment would end," a source tells DCRTV. "Remember that the whole company was called to a meeting in early December and given warning that the company would downsize. This was done to comply with the WARN Act. Newsroom is supposedly next".....
12/17 - DCRTV hears that IDT has sold brokered talker WMET (1160 AM), which is licensed to Gaithersburg. We're told that the sale price was $4 million, but no word yet on the buyer. Salem? More soon.....
12/16 -
DCRTV hears that there's turmoil-a-plenty at Allbritton's NewsChannel 8. We hear that Beverly Kirk is probably out as anchor. And a complete "restructuring" is taking place. There's even a few wild rumors floating around, a la NC8 is "history," maybe replaced by Allbritton's Politico TV - which is back on - possibly even with soon-to-be-former ABC anchor Charlie Gibson. In any case, "lots of layoffs are coming. Everyone here is running scared," we're told. More: "The restructuring is tied to the launch of the Jim Brady-led 'local Politico'," another source tells us. "I hear the new site/publication/project will make use of the NC8 airwaves, and will likely mean a rethinking of the channel's focus, schedule, and personnel".....12/16 - As DCRTV tipped you. Today, CBS officially flips the calls on DC's 94.7 from WTGB to WIAD. No change in the hot adult contemporary Fresh format. Yet. The WTGB calls debuted on the station in early 2007, when it became The Globe, with an alternative rock format. Over the years, the frequency has also sported the WARW, the WLTT, and the WJMD calls.....
12/14 -
Angus Phillips (right) writes his last outdoors column for the Washington Post after more than 30 years at the paper. A local media guru tells DCRTV: "He never said why he was stopping, or what he was going to do now. The Post also did not say if the paper was going to have a new full-time outdoors writer in the Sports section - which it should. Any major sports section at any major paper should have a full-time outdoors writer like Angus Phillips, no argument".....12/11 - DCRTV hears that construction on a new high-definition control room at Channel 4/WRC will begin in January, allowing the NBC station to join DC TV news rivals 5, 7, and 9 by offering HD local newscasts by spring 2010. We're told that there's a new digital router already at 4001 Nebraska Avenue ready to be installed. It's expected to be on the air sometime in March or April.....
12/11 -
DCRTV hears that area radio veteran Albie Dee (right) is back on the local airwaves. He'll be doing weekends and fill-in work at CBS's Mix 106.5, WWMX, in Baltimore. His last local on-air gig was mornings at CBS's DC classic rocker WTGB, 94.7, but that ended in April when it flipped to the hot adult contemporary Fresh format. Mr. Dee will continue to do his national morning show on XM's POP2K channel (XM-30).....12/10 - A tricky trick by the folks at Redskins owner Dan Snyder's WTEM, ESPN 980. If you go to 1067thefan.com in hopes of going to rival CBS sports talker WJFK, 106.7 The Fan, you'll end up at WTEM's espn980.com website. WJFK's website is at 1067thefandc.com, with a "dc" at the end. The "non-dc" version used to belong to a sports talker in Nashville that has since flipped format. Update: By Thursday evening, the 106.7thefan.com address linked to a "For Sale" offer.....
12/9 - DCRTV hears that ESPN has informed DC-based Atlantic Video that it's made "a strategic financial decision" to move "Pardon The Interruption," hosted by Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, and "Around The Horn" to studios at the ABC News bureau in DC when the contract with Atlantic Video expires in early 2010. ESPN and ABC are both owned by Disney. Atlantic Video is owned by the Unification Church, which owns the Washington Times.....
12/9 - The area's AMC theaters are back in the Washington Post's Style section movie listings today. AMC dropped out last summer in a dispute with the Post over the hefty ad rates for its classified ad-type movie showtime listings. Now, Post ombudsman Andy Alexander tells us that the Post has decided to provide the listings for free, as "a public service." The result is a sizable loss of advertising revenue for the Post. Newspaper officials declined to say how much. The straw that broke the camel's back? Alexander says that theater owner Regal was planning to join AMC in cutting its paid movie listings in the Post.....
12/8 - DCRTV tipped you over the weekend that there've been more cuts at the Baltimore Sun. And now we get confirmation that six employees were laid off - three in advertising sales, two ad designers, and one classified ad telephone rep. "The Guild was unable to get assurance from management that there would ne no more layoffs," according to a Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild bulletin issued this morning. "At the same time, the Guild does not anticipate widespread staff reductions, if any." Also, the bulletin urges "anyone in any department who would like to be considered for a layoff and severance package, please let a Guild leader know AS SOON AS POSSIBLE." The caps were in the bulletin. "The company is closing out the books for the year, and anyone who volunteers and is accepted would have to be out the door and off the books by the end of this month." The buyout deal is the same as before, as spelled out in the contract - one week of pay for every six months of employment. Interestingly, a Sun source tells us, management - for the first time - is allowing the Guild to announce the possibility of voluntary layoffs. The Sun, which let go more than 60 workers last spring, is owned by the Tribune Company, which is under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.....
12/8 -
DCRTV already tipped you that Channel 50/ WDCW has hired all-news WTOP investigative reporter Mark Segraves (right) as its new weekend public affairs show host, replacing DC radio veteran Chris Core. Now, we hear that the new show will be called "News Plus With Mark Segraves" and will air at 5 PM Saturdays and 10 AM Sundays, starting 12/12. Segraves, who worked at Channel 7/WJLA for many years, will continue his WTOP duties. Core, a longtime veteran of WMAL radio, will also continue his WTOP duties, including his weeknightly "Core Values" commentaries.....12/7 -
The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, the television home of the Washington Nationals and the Baltimore Orioles, will launch a high-definition overflow channel in the spring of 2010. MASN2-HD will allow the network to televise every Orioles and Nationals game live and in high-def throughout the season. The majority of MASN's cable and satellite affiliates will be prepared to carry the channel for the 2010 MLB campaign throughout the network's seven-state television territory, MASN says. Nationals and Orioles game replays will still appear on the network's flagship high-definition channel, MASN-HD. "O's Xtra" and "Nats Xtra," the network's exclusive pregame and postgame shows, will be televised in HD live and on location from the ballpark during every home game for both teams. In 2010, MASN2-HD will carry 130 live baseball games, with another 190 on MASN-HD.....12/7 -
Steve Czaban (right) says his contract for his national sports show with Fox Sports Radio is not being renewed. He says there's new management at FSR and that he's been informally told he sounds too much like ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike. His last FSR show will be on 12/23, with Steven A. Smith replacing him. However, Czaban will continue to be heard during afternoon drive on ESPN 980, WTEM.....12/7 - Kaiser HMO is hitting your friendly webmaster with a 20 percent (!!!) rate hike for health coverage in 2010 - in the middle of a nasty recession. It's nothing personal, mind you. Everyone in my age group and plan coverage type gets hit with the same increase. You know, I just can't help but notice that Kaiser does spend an awful of money on ads for itself on a wide variety of DC area TV and radio stations and in newspapers. That "thrive" campaign, for example. Perhaps Kaiser should cut back on its public relations ad spending and give its HMO members, who are really struggling in these difficult economic times, a bit of a break on its soaring rates. Anybody on Capitol Hill or in the local statehouses listening?.....
12/4 - Yesterday, we reported a rumor that Salem's 105.1 has been quietly put on the market. A rumbling strongly denied by Salem's WAVA execs, by the way. Still, might a deal be in the works for Salem to swap 105.1 for Redskins owner Dan Snyder's 980 and maybe his 570, 730, and 1260, too? Sources confirm that something's in the works between the two radio parties. We know that Salem would like to get a DC signal for its righty political talk format. Such a swap would give Snyder's sports talk WTEM an inside the Beltway FMer to better compete with CBS's rival WJFK and provide Salem with more signals and a pile of cash.....
12/3 -
DCRTV hears that Salem is quietly shopping around its 105.1 WAVA-FM signal, which is licensed to Arlington. A reliable local radio guru tells us that the market-blanketing-signal stick could fetch $25 million or more. California-based Salem programs a Christian/conservative talk format on 105.1, ever since it picked it up from Emmis in 1992, when it was a contemporary hit outlet. DCRTV also hears that Salem's possible sale of 105.1 may be part of an overall strategy to pick up a second or third AMer in the DC market, in addition to its WAVA-AM, 780, which is also licensed to Arlington and also features Christian/conservative talk. Update: DCRTV hears from some execs at 105.1 who insist that the signal isn't for sale. "Salem has been selling some 'non strategic' stations, but not stations like WAVA. WAVA is one of Salem's most successful radio stations," we're told.....12/2 - DCRTV hears that Redskins veteran Brian Mitchell paid a visit to CBS Radio sports talker WJFK, 106.7 The Fan, today to guest with midday man Mike Wise. Could Mitchell's presence at the Fairfax station mean that he might be talking to suits there about a regular on-air presence? Mitchell, who has been working for CBS Radio sports talker WIP in Philadelphia, got canned a while back by Redskins owner Dan Snyder's sports talker, WTEM, ESPN 980, after he slammed his old team on the air. Stay tuned.....
12/1 -
A source tells us that there was a morning show in place for Citadel's classic rock 105.9 The Edge - but it fell through. A local radio guru speculates that the longtime feud between Jack Diamond, the legendary morning man at Citadel sister hot adult contemporary WRQX, Mix 107.3, and former WJFKers Don Geronimo and Mike O'Meara could have had a part to play in the decision. O'Meara was supposedly in-line for the 105.9 morning spot. If O'Meara had gotten the gig, he would have been just down the hall from 107.3's Diamond. Last week, Citadel announced that Baltimore radio veteran Kirk McEwen would be doing the afternoon shift on 105.9. Update: Via their Twitter/Facebook pages today, both Geronimo and Diamond claim that they aren't feuding. In fact, Geronimo says he and Diamond regularly communicate with each other.....12/1 - DCRTV hears that the radio personality who was supposed to do a recent weekend kids' charity on-air "remote" fundraiser for Clear Channel's country WMZQ couldn't do it at the last minute. And guess who just happened to be wandering the area mall at the same time? DC radio veteran Tom Grooms, who works at Citadel classic rocker WVRX, 105.9 The Edge. Our source tells us that Grooms, donned in his Edge jacket and t-shirt, manned the mic and even managed to get a promo or two in for his Citadel station on the Clear Channel station. We're told that Grooms told passer-bys, "It's all about the kids," on his spur of the moment decision to do it.....
11/30 - DCRTV hears that there's some stomach churning going on among the staff at CBS Radio's Baltimore sports talker WJZ-FM, 105.7 The Fan. A number of "unhappy campers," we're told, including morning man Ed Norris, the former Baltimore top cop who has been told to talk more sports and less politics. Also, "four or five" staffers are up for contract renewal soon, and they fear the worst from a budget-cutting CBS. Plus, there's some concern about the station's ratings, which have slumped a bit since the spring and summer.....
11/30 - So, WJFK's Mike Wise, who spent much of his show today talking about the Tiger Woods scandal (crashing his car and allegedly fighting with his wife over the long holiday weekend), says he doesn't like talking about the Tiger Woods scandal. You know, a private matter, blah blah blah. Hey, Mike, it beats another boring Monday droning endlessly on about those awful Redskins. Now, I must again re-assess whether the Washington market really really really needs two FM sports talkers. Maybe 106.7 would do better as a good solid oldies station or maybe a resurrected progressive rock WHFS? How about Amp 106.7? Sheesh.....
11/25 - Your friendly webmaster has conjectured that Baltimore might no longer be able to support four TV news operations - 2, 11, 13, and 45. And that the lowest-rated local news department, at Channel 2/WMAR, will see more cuts and could disappear completely. And now, Charm City TV critic David Zurawik pens this as a comment to a posting on his "Z On TV" blog at baltimoresun.com: "Markets like Baltimore (26th) can no longer afford three or four major news operations. Money is too tight, and technology creating many more outlets for local news. So outside of the top two stations or possible a third with a strong niche, they are slashing news budgets. I am sad to say that will be more leaving WMAR in coming days and weeks. Maybe a few at other stations, too".....
11/24 - Ever since Citadel flipped 105.9 from "True Oldies" to hard classic rock in August, it has shown virtually no ratings traction. Add to that a rumor that DCRTV reported a month or two ago that the station was conducting interviews for an air staff. Heck, in this recessionary environment, it's the only area station that is actively seeking talent. But, so far, no news on who 105.9's hiring. A number of area rock radio vets say that they haven't heard back from the station. Now, we hear that former WJFKer Mike O'Meara is planning to make a big announcement on Friday about a possible new radio show with fellow old show pals Buzz Burbank and Robb Spewak. What does all that add up to? Perhaps O'Meara on 105.9, doing morning or afternoon drive? The radio veteran has proved that he can attract male demos, something that Citadel desperately needs for 105.9, WVRX, even if it plans to sell the station next year as it faces a corporate credit crunch. If O'Meara's going to end up back on the DC radio dial, all signs point to 105.9, me thinks. We will know for sure on Friday! Stay tuned.....
11/23 - Radio-Info.com editor Tom Taylor's hearing more rumors about WTOP and WFED owner Bonneville picking up stations in the DC market. The latest rumbling involves a "multi-market swap involving Atlanta, Washington DC, and St. Louis.... One (that) would make Bonneville even bigger in Washington DC and St. Louis." DCRTV has reported previous rumors about Bonneville possibly picking up stations from Citadel in DC (WRQX, WMAL, WVRX) and CBS in Baltimore (WLIF). Stay tuned.....
11/22 - A second correction in the Washington Post for sports columnist Mike Wise in less than a week. First, this on 11/18 and then this on 11/22. I like Mike and I like his radio show on WJFK. But I don't know how he finds the time to pen a whole batch of columns for the Post AND do a daily four-hour radio show. Yeah, the corrections weren't for big things, but two of them in a week should be a warning to maybe rethink one's media priorities.....
11/22 - Today, Washington Post ombudsman Andy Alexander pens a puff piece on Post food critic Tom Sietsema. At washingtonpost.com. Which gets me to thinking - maybe the Post's ombudsman needs an ombudsman. A few weeks ago, Alexander did a piece on your friendly webmaster's criticism of sports columnist Mike Wise's dual role as a critic of Redskins owner Dan Snyder in the paper and on the airwaves, on WJFK, a station that competes with Snyder's WTEM. Yet, Alexander didn't have the balls to mention that criticism came from me at DCRTV, a site that directly competes with his Post in the local media news arena. The impression one gets is that Alexander someone hesitant to deliver anything too harsh about his Post employer. He knows that most Posties don't like to mention DCRTV in print or on the web - and he won't either. Alexander too often turn his "light of truth" on his fellow Posties, and then ends up defending them in a round-a-bout way. He's often more of a public relations agent for the paper than a real, impartial ombudsman.....
11/19 - Clear Channel alternative rocker DC101 fills its midday slot with Ty, who was heard on Baltimore's WCHH, Channel 104.3, the alt rocker that Clear Channel blew up for contemporary hit Z104.3 earlier this month. Ty, who will call herself Bailey on DC101, begins on 11/23. She replaces Whitney, who now does mornings on Seattle alt rocker KNDD. Ty, er, Bailey will also host a regional new music program, "Local Lix," on Sundays at 10 PM starting on 12/6.....
11/18 - We're told: "Former network radio reporter and longtime spokesman for the Baltmore County Police Department, Bill Toohey, is leaving the department. Good and fair man who elevated the position of spokesman to an art form with his style and vocabulary. Bravo, and job well done, Bill." He's married to WTOP weekend anchor Rosemary Frisino Toohey. Mr. Toohey, the public face of the BCPD since 1996, has been dismissed and will be replaced by a uniformed officer.....
11/18 - A Baltimore area resident tells DCRTV that area cable TV giant Comcast is in the process of removing some expanded basic cable channels from its analog service and replacing them with an announcement that tells subscribers to obtain a digital converter box from the firm. Comcast says that the change to all-digital will allow it to offer improved service and more channels to better compete with Verizon's FIOS system, which is already all-digital. Critics charge that Comcast customers who watch on "cable ready" analog sets will now have to pay extra for some of the digital boxes. Comcast is reportedly making the conversion on many of its Maryland systems, including those in the Baltimore area, but not Baltimore city and Howard County. So, far, no changes - yet - in DC and Northern Virginia.....
11/16 -
"Thirty-years-ago today, Bob Marbourg (right) opened a microphone at WTOP radio and hasn't stopped talking since. He talks about the topic he knows best and is most passionate about: traffic... Bob is unique. He is truly one of the rare people you meet in your life who is a master at their craft," writes Channel 9/WUSA reporter Dave Statter in his blog at statter911.com.....11/16 - Earlier today, DCRTV told you that Channel 4/WRC, which also serves at NBC's Washington news bureau, suffered power problems on Sunday. Now, we're told that the problems continue on Monday. With newsroom computers and video servers down, and a non-functioning control room. Pepco attempted to switch back to main power around 3 PM and more equipment was affected, a source tells DCRTV. An audio operator even got shocked when this switch was made, we hear. NBC's MSNBC is doing live Washington shots from the lawn at WRC's 4001 Nebraska Avenue facility, using a satellite truck, instead of from Capitol Hill or the White House, we're told. Update: Channel 4 aired Ellen DeGeneres at 4 PM and MSNBC's "Hardball" with Chris Matthews live from LA at 5 PM, instead of its local newscasts.....
11/16 - The DC suburb of Herndon, Virginia, tops the list of "Most Obscene Cities In America." Its Fairfax County neighbor (and home of the DCRTV World HQ) Reston was 5th. That's according to Business Insider. The list is based on Google Trends data for each of the "seven dirty words." The two DC area towns are joined in the "top 10" by Philadelphia, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Orlando, Tampa, Boston, Louisville, and California's Irvine. More at switched.com.....
11/16 - Channel 5/WTTG reporter and anchor Will Thomas was robbed at gunpoint as he got out of his car in Georgetown, near Wisconsin and N, on Wednesday night. Lost a wallet to the mugger - no injuries, but "as you can imagine, I'm still a bit shaken up," he told the Washington Post in a statement through a station rep. No arrests yet, he said, but "I'm very thankful to the police department for their diligence in this investigation".....
11/15 - In his Sunday Washington Post review of the remake of the British TV drama "The Prisoner," which debuts tonight on AMC, Tom Shales writes: "Strikingly photographed in starkest black and white, the '67 'Prisoner' was a curious and rather tantalizing melange of counterculture imagery, traditional paranoid fantasy and even a bit of Cold War spy thriller, with the spy stuff mostly expunged from what AMC calls its 'reinterpretation' of the story." Ah, Tom, the 1967 version was filmed in glorious "colour" (as the Brits spell it). Patrick McGoohan's previous series, "Secret Agent," aka "Danger Man," was filmed in starkest B&W.....
11/14 -
Look, there's simply no way a major daily newspaper can survive in a market of 4-to-5 million people with a paid circulation of less than 70,000. That's the basic problem facing the Washington Times. The Washington Post, even with more than 10 times (!) that circulation, is bleeding cash in this recessionary environment. Luckily, it has a parent company that's in pretty good shape. Even before the slumping economy hit, with a circ of about 100,000, there's no way the Times could have survived on its own without a constant infusion from the Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Moon and some other very rich men have come to Washington, over the years, to become publishers in the most powerful political city in the world. Look at Philip Anschutz, the Denver billionaire who runs the Washington Examiner. While that paper is a freebie that doesn't have the staff of the Times, it's still never going to make any money, having recently cut its home delivery days down to two per week. Even Robert Allbritton started the Politico to make himself a national political powerplayer, something he couldn't do by owning a local TV station. I can't imagine the Politico makes any money, despite the claims from Allbritton suits. It's clearly subsidized, in part, by WJLA's revenue. Now, it looks like Mr. Moon and his family are starting to complain about the never-ending serious sucker of cash the Times has become. John Solomon was brought on a few years ago to get the paper into the black by sprucing it up, revamping and expanding washingtontimes.com, plus starting a national radio show and a conservative website. But one small problem - the organization is certainly losing more money than ever. Now, with the ouster of Solomon and three Times suits in the past week, it looks like big changes are coming to the rag. Either it will fold, or, more likely, become primarily a website with a small, much scaled-down newspaper companion. My guess is that the Moon family will continue to subsidize the Times, but not as massively as before. Or perhaps sell it to another billionaire "wanna-be Washington publisher." Perhaps Anschutz. South Korea's Mr. Moon is probably starting to believe that owning a newspaper in Washington, and the access to Capitol Hill power players, isn't worth as much in a world where China, with its 2+ billion people, is quickly becoming the most powerful economic force.....11/12 - WTOP political investigative reporter Mark Segraves will replace DC radio veteran Chris Core on Channel 50/WDCW's weekend local politics and public affairs show. Segraves will continue his WTOP duties. Core, a longtime WMAL veteran who got budget cut in 2008 and who currently does daily "Core Values" commentary pieces for all-newser WTOP, has hinted that he's got a new gig up his sleeve, but he's being tight-lipped about it.....
11/12 - In ads this week in local newspapers, Fairfax County's Cox cable system warns that it hasn't yet completed negotiations with MTV Networks and Scripps to continue carrying a batch of channels beyond the end of 2009. Including MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, TV Land, BET, and Food Network. Cox says that it is "optimistic that agreements will be reached prior to the current expiration of midnight on December 31." But it is running the ad as formal required notification to its subscribers in case the channels get dropped.....
11/10 - The charges of trespassing, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest were dismissed on 11/5 by a Delaware court for a now-former Channel 16/WBOC sports anchor. Dewey Beach police officers arrested Yianni Korakis in mid-September after he refused to vacate a motel room when ordered to do so, according to WBAL.com. Authorities say Kourakis and another male suspect would not leave the room when asked by motel security. Kourakis announced via his Twitter account later that month that he and Salisbury's WBOC were parting ways.....
11/10 - After yanking their late morning show last month in favor of local talk radio rabble-rouser Chris Plante, news talker WMAL (630 AM) has restored half of Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski's syndicated NYC-based radio show to the 9 PM hour weeknights, tape-delayed.....
11/10 - DCRTV hears that Team Broadcasting, the contractor that provides broadcast services to the Springfield VA-based Al Hurra Arabic language network, is busy handing out pink slips. The company lost its contract with the US-backed Middle East Broadcast Network. And we're told that senior techs and production department personnel are currently taking "a big hit." Supervisors and master control ops are next, our source says. The DC Biz Journal says 96 jobs are being cut.....
11/10 - Apparently, the WMAL morning team ran out of its anti-Obama rhetoric today and decided to focus on a problem suffered by show newsman Bryan Nehman, who can't get his young son to sleep in his own bed. Several times a night, the kid wants to jump in bed with his parents. So, MAL's Grandy and Andy played the issue for humor, and, yeah, many of suggestions were kind of funny. But others were downright mean. A la knock the kid out - what, with a punch or slap? Give him booze. Slap duct tape on his mouth. Lock him in his room. Marginally humorous on one level, but kind of perverted on another. Just another sad day of crappy radio from a once-great station. Citadel, please sell old 630 - and 107.3 and 105.9 while you're at it! And get out of the DC market. Maaaaan.....
11/10 - Three days after DC radio legend Ed Walker's official induction into the national Radio Hall Of Fame in Chicago and still not one damn word about it, including his reuniting at the event with former Joy Boys radio partner Willard Scott, in the Washington Post's dreadful "Reliable Source" column. Apparently Roxanne Roberts and Amy Argetsinger feel that we needed more re-written copy today about Levi Johnston, who fathered a child with Sarah Palin's daughter, and the "breaking news" about the pregnancy of a former "Saved By The Bell" actress. Sheesh.....
11/8 - While, in an ideal universe, we wouldn't have a sports columnist employed by a major daily newspaper also doing a show on a radio station that is a direct rival to a station owned by the owner of a team he covers, I do commend Mike Wise for putting up a disclaimer, as promised to DCRTV and to the Washington Post's ombudsman. In his Sunday Post commentary piece on the Redskins, Wise does write - "Full disclosure: I host a radio show for a station that competes with Snyder's sports-talk station." Skins owner Dan Snyder owns WTEM, and Wise does his show on CBS's rival sports talk WJFK. As you know, I think it is a major conflict of interest to have a sports team owner also own the radio station, WTEM, that his team is carried on - and to have a Washington Times sports columnist, Tom Loverro, doing a show there. But, at least Wise's disclosure is one teeny-tiny step in the right direction.....
11/6 - I've been reading that CBS Radio is now relaying some of its sports talkers in other, distant markets. For example, NYC sports talker WFAN is being relayed on the digital HD subchannels of some of its FMers in Florida, where many New Yorkers spend the winter. CBS's new Boston sports talker, WBZ-FM, is being relayed on the digital subchannel of an FMer in Hartford. So, how about this? Why doesn't CBS put its Baltimore sports talker, WJZ 105.7 The Fan, on the HD2 of its DC sports talker, WJFK 106.7 The Fan? And vice versa. That way, Baltimore could listen to the Junkies and Mike Wise, and DC could listen to Scott Garceau and Anita Marks, plus Ed Norris. Good idea, huh! Wasn't it me who long long ago suggested that CBS start a Baltimore sports talker co-branded with its WJZ-TVer? Does CBS have to get all its good ideas from me?.....
11/6 - So, DCRTV has reported that former Don and Mike show regular Robb Spewak just started a show on former D&M show affiliate KCJJ in Iowa City, Iowa. And, according to station owner Steve Bridges, the Friday show, which can be heard on the internet, is doing gangbusters. So, we're also reporting that Mike O'Meara will be free of his CBS/WJFK contract come December, and there are rumors that he and Robb and another former D&Mer, Buzz Burbank, will have some big news to announce soon. Could it be that all three will be doing a show for guy talker KCJJ? When asked for comment, Bridges simply says: "All I can say is that everyone is looking forward to the future." No denial. Hmmm. Robb does his KCJJ show from the DC area. So, there's no need for Mike to move to "flyover country." With a show on KCJJ, plus a podcast and internet stream, and maybe even a radio syndication deal, we could see O'Meara's new "launching pad." The only thing missing is another former JFKer, Don Geronimo, who's still handcuffed to CBS until October 2010. Stay tuned.....
11/5 -
DCRTV hears that Cox cable of Fairfax County suffered a massive outage on Wednesday evening, during the final game of the World Series, affecting many of its addressable converter boxes. A source tells us that "a major power disruption occurred just past 5 PM, lots of equipment affected. They are now bringing things back online slowly, major channels should be back in a few hours, will take longer to restore complete service." A Cox spokesperson tells DCRTV that the system was back up and running by about 10:30 PM. With more than 200,000 subscribers, Cox Fairfax is the largest single cable system in the DC-Baltimore area.....11/5 -
We're hearing more rumblings about former WJFKer Mike O'Meara's (right) return to the media world. A source tells us that Robb Spewak and Buzz Burbank are involved, in addition to "another individual who is familiar" to the audience of the old afternoon show, which got axed in June when WJFK flipped to sports talk. And "no, it's not Don," we hear. Still no word if it's a new local radio show or something via the internet. Look for a "formal announcement" some time after Thanksgiving. We've told you that O'Meara's contract with WJFK owner CBS expires in December. More soon.....11/4 - With all the talk that area cable TV giant Comcast is buying NBC, with a deal to be announced any day now, there come rumblings that Comcast could consolidate its regional sports networks with the sports departments of local NBC-owned TV stations. And Jim Williams wonders how this could impact Bethesda-based Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic and NBC-owned Channel 4/WRC. This is "very much in the talking stages at this point, but (we're in) in a marketplace where TV stations are cutting back on sports or doing away with sports departments." More at washingtonexaminer.com.....
11/2 -
According to FishbowlDC, there was a fight in the Washington Post's newsroom on Friday. Veteran features editor Henry Allen reportedly threw a punch at features writer Manuel Roig-Franzia after Roig-Franzia allegedy said: "Henry, don't be such a cocksucker." FBDC adds that WaPo top editor Marcus Brauchli "was then forced to intervene." At washingtonian.com, Harry Jaffe adds that it should be noted that Allen is nearly 70, but he served in the Marines in Vietnam. He also won a Pulitzer prize in 2000 for criticism. Both apparently came into play when Allen jumped Roig-Franzia. Apparently, Allen didn't like Roig-Franzia's "charticle" dealing with members of Congress being investigated for ethics violations. After the brawl, Brauchli called Allen into his office and closed the door. Allen's contract is up later this month, Jaffe notes.....11/2 - So, I go to the Washington Post's website this morning. And the very first thing that happens while at the front page - an animated car airbag suddenly inflates and obscures the screen. An intrusive ad for Liberty Mutual. OK, no problem with the Post taking ad revenue from a auto insurance firm. But must the Post whore out everything about itself, including the very first few precious seconds someone spends at its website? Oh, I think I'll stick with Geico, unless they decide to put an exploding gecko on the Post's front page.....
10/31 -
DCRTV ranted on 10/21 about a potential conflict of interest at the Washington Post. And now the paper's ombudsman, Andrew Alexander, pens this for Sunday's edition: "Sports columnist Mike Wise (left), who often writes about the Washington Redskins and owner Dan Snyder, recently began co-hosting a show on WJFK (106.7 FM), which competes directly with Snyder's ESPN (980 AM). Some readers have questioned whether Wise can be fair in his writing and on-air commentary. Sports Editor Matt Vita, who said he's 'aware of the potential conflict, or perception of a conflict,' has asked Wise 'to be perfectly transparent in the columns he writes on the Redskins and their management.' Indeed, a recent column on the Redskins carried this: 'Full disclosure: I host a radio show for a station that competes with Snyder's sports-talk station'." Alexander also looks at potential conflicts with other Posties, including media columnist Howard Kurtz, who often writes about CNN, where he also does a Sunday TV program.....10/30 -
DC rock radio legend Cerphe Colwell (second from left in pic, right) is back with a new online progressive rock music show that "has a lot of the original HFS mojo." There's a new Eco Planet Radio "Cerphe's Progressive Show" every Friday at ecoplanetradio.com. This week it has a Halloween flavor. Narrated by Vincent Price, the show features music from Tom Waits, Kate Bush, Jeff Beck, Death Cab For Cutie, Jimi Hendrix, and more. "Witchcraft, magic, vampires, and rock 'n' roll," Cerphe tells us. Cerphe, who has worked at DC101, plus old rockers WHFS and WAVA, lost his latest broadcast radio gig when CBS's WTGB dropped classic rock back in April.....10/30 - DC radio veteran Steve Ray will be the producer of the Premiere-syndicated Randi Rhodes radio show, starting Monday. He'll also do fill-in engineering work for the show. "Since leaving Bonneville after six years in June, it's been a patchwork of freelance gigs at WJFK and WMAL," Rays tells DCRTV. "The irony of this new fulltime job is that I will go from producing a clearly progressive show during the day to handling one of Randi's most-hated shows in the evening, the conservative Mark Levin program at WMAL." Rhodes' show originates from Clear Channel's DC radio cluster HQ in Rockville.....
10/29 - Poor print page design in the Washington Post this morning. In the Virginia Voter's Guide tabloid, page 3, there are five columns - two for the two candidates for governor, two for the two candidates for lieutenant governor, and one for attorney general, which features Republican Ken Cuccinelli. His opponent, Democrat Stephen Shannon, is featured when you turn the page to page 4, all by himself. And, to make it seem to the casual reader of the guide that he has no opponent, there're the words "running unopposed" below Cuccinelli's piece. It sure makes it look like Cuccinelli has no opposition. Do Posties turn on their brains before doing such distorted page design? Maaaaan!.....
10/28 - DCRTV ranted about it earlier this week. And now we hear that Washington Post Ombudsman Andrew Alexander is taking a look at potential conflict of interest situations between Washington Post sports writers and local sports talk radio stations. Particularly, Mike Wise, who pens Post pieces on the Redskins and team owner Dan Snyder and who also hosts a show on CBS sports talker WJFK, which is a direct rival to like-formatted WTEM, which is owned by Snyder. Look for a piece by Alexander soon. Wise has told DCRTV that he plans to put a disclaimer on his future Redskins columns reminding readers about his WJFK employment.....
10/28 - Your friendly webmaster, DCRTV Dave, chats about local radio on this week's edition of "The DC AM" at thedcam.com.....
10/27 - Tom Taylor at Radio-Info.com tells us that Bonneville's Bruce Reese still harbors a deep desire to own many of the 23 former ABC Radio stations. There have been many rumors over the summer, and Taylor says he's hearing more rumblings of late. Bonneville, which owns DC's top-rated WTOP, was a disappointed suitor back in the final days of Disney's auction of most of its ABC Radio assets, including 23 major market stations, including DC's WMAL, WRQX, and WJZW (now WVRX). With Citadel's Farid Suleman the winner. Fast-forward three years, and Citadel's had a roller-coaster ride with the ABC stations. Everybody inside and outside the company expects - or dreads - the corporate "event." Something's gotta give by January 15, when Citadel's lenders expect it to pony up $150 million in cash. Will there be a full-out pre-packaged Chapter 11 filing? Will the lenders-turned-equity holders choose to leave Suleman in place? Or will Bonneville finally attain its goal, and then do some serious station-swapping with other operators? So wonders Taylor. DCRTV also hears that CBS Radio is also lusting after Citadel's stations in DC. Stay tuned.....
10/27 - I spent most of yesterday listening to local radio sports talk and only sports talk. And I survived. But it wasn't pleasant. The Junkies, Mike Wise, Thom Loverro, Lavar Arrington, and Tony Kornheiser. All the above hosts are just fine and entertaining - no problemo. But it was pretty much 8-ish boring hours of how much the Redskins suck. And then more about the sucky Redskins. And yet more about how horrible the Redskins are. So, what else are my talk radio options? Flip over to righty talk radio to hear 8-ish boring hours of how much Obama sucks. You know what? I really miss the old "guy talk" format that WJFK used to do. Chat that covered a whole bunch of cultural trash and personal bullshit - not just the Redskins and Obama. Yeah, I know, I can still get it on satrad with Opie, Anthony, Ron, Fez, and, of course, Howard. But there's a "hole" on the local radio dial without Mike, Don, Buzz, Robb, Big O, Dukes, El Jefe, and J-Dubbs, even Kirk and Mark. Wah!.....
10/25 - If you rely on antenna reception and wanted to watch Channel 4/WRC on Sunday from 9 AM to 3 PM, you were out of luck. The NBC station was doing "routine maintenance" on its UHF channel 48 digital TV transmitter and wasn't broadcasting during the six-hour period. However, if you were watching via cable, you didn't see an interruption in 4's signal, since they get it via landline. Update: We're told that NBC4 returned to the airwaves at about 12:30 PM. Another update: We're told that 4 was again off the air late Sunday evening.....
10/23 - On his radio show today, heard locally on WMAL, righty talker Rush Limbaugh said that the Washington Post's credibility is "on the line" if Democrat Creigh Deeds loses the race for Virginia governor. Limbaugh pointed out that the paper endorsed Deeds last Sunday and, this morning, reported that the Obama administration has already written off the behind-in-the-polls Deeds as a loser to Republican Bob McDonnell. The Post has reported that Deeds has rejected fellow Democrat Obama's help and advice in the campaign.....
10/23 - I'm a longtime Windows user and I love this ad.....
10/21 - Back when Mike Wise was "just" a reporter for the Washington Post, it was perfectly OK for him to write in the paper about the Redskins and the team's owner Dan Snyder. But now, he also does a radio show for CBS-owned sports talker WJFK, which directly competes with Snyder's sports talker, WTEM. So, Wise is officially working for and taking a paycheck from a company, CBS, that is trying to beat the pants off Snyder on the local radio dial. So, should Wise be penning stories that deal with Snyder for the Post, a la this morning's lengthy interview with previous team owner John Kent Cooke? Is that a conflict of interest? Perhaps the Post's ombudsman, Andy Alexander, should take a gander at that. Look, I like Wise and his radio rants, but I kind of think his radio gig might just create the appearance of a dilemma for his newspaper. Do journalistic ethics matter at the Post anymore? With Snyder a player on the local radio dial, perhaps Wise should make a decision - the Post or WJFK. Not both. UPDATE: We hear that the Washington Post will run a disclaimer on Wise's future articles about Snyder that Wise has a radio show on Snyder's sports talk rival.....
10/20 - A DCRTV tech guru tells us that the Federal Communciations Commission has approved a request from Redskins owner Dan Snyder's Red Zebra-owned WWXX (94.3 FM), which is licensed to Warrenton, to move its city of license a bit closer to DC, to Buckland, which is near Gainesville in Prince William County. The Virginia signal relays sports talker ESPN 980, WTEM.....
10/20 - If you're gonna go out on Thursday and spend $120-ish bucks for Windows 7, go get a Magic Marker and, right now, pen "SUCKER" on your forehead. You might want to stand in front of a mirror when doing it, so you don't write it backwards. Every time Microsoft releases a major upgrade to Windows, it's fraught with problems. Way back with Windows 3.1, and on to Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows XP, and the current Windows Vista. It takes Microsoft at least a year after each release to fix all the bugs. And yet we, the poor sap "PC" computer users, willingly pay Microsoft hefty fees again and again for each wave of this crappy software. If Microsoft honcho Bill Gates had an ounce of decency, he'd be giving this new version of Windows away for free for all the headaches he caused to folks who splurged for the error-prone Vista. I got Windows Vista when I bought a new PC back in March 2008. And after months of tweaking and downloading countless upgrade patches, it's working pretty good. Not great. But OK. You think I'm going to pay Microsoft and install what will certainly be a bugfest on top of Vista? No way, Billy boy! Yeah, I'll probably be forced to get Windows 7 some day. But I'm going to wait at least six months to a year and then buy it fresh on a new computer. I ain't no Microsoft sucker - at least not too much of one. Maaaaaaan.....
10/19 - DCRTV hears that DC radio vet Albie Dee was spied at Citadel's northwest DC radio complex this morning. Could he be signing a deal to be heard on new classic rocker WVRX, 105.9 The Edge? More as we hear it.....
10/17 -
DCRTV hears that, after launching new classic rocker 105.9 The Edge in late August to little ratings success, Citadel is actively looking for an airstaff for the currently jockless station, which plays everything from the Stone Temple Pilots and AC/DC to Alice Cooper and Foghat. "I know they've been running a lot of folks thru the station in the last week or two. Most of the big interviews are done off site so no one figures it out," a local radio guru tells us. More as we hear it.....10/14 - We now know where former Hot 99.5 night man Pat "Grooves" Cerullo is headed. He's joining CBS's new "Amp" contemporary hit outlet in Detroit, WVMV. Doing nights as well as assistant program director and music director duties. So far, no permanent replacement for him at the DC Clear Channel contemporary hit outlet.....
10/13 - TV ratings for the Baltimore Orioles pretty much held steady during the past season, when compared with 2008. A slight uptick in households watching, but a slight decline in overall ratings. The Washington Nationals were the biggest gainer, posting a 67 percent increase from last year, even though the team had the worst record in baseball. Still, the Nationals attracted only about 14,000 households per game, dead last among MLB teams, while the Orioles averaged 34,000. In fact, we're told that the Orioles attracted 16,000 households from the DC market, 14 percent better than the Nationals did in their home market. Both teams are carried by the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network.....
10/12 - DCRTV hears that former Hot 99.5 morning man Mark Kaye, who now does the morning show on Jacksonville's WAPE, headed down to Miami today to audition to replace the recently departed Billy Mays as the new ad spokesperson for Mighty Putty, the "super powered epoxy that does it all".....
10/12 - This month, DC-based Bob Edwards celebrates his 5th anniversary hosting "The Bob Edwards Show" on satellite radio's XM Public Radio. "Bob's unique, award-winning, top-quality content exemplifies the great public radio content available on Sirius XM," said Scott Greenstein, president and chief content officer of Sirius XM. "We congratulate Bob on five years of excellence here, and look forward to more for years to come." Prior to joining Sirius XM predecessor XM, Edwards hosted "Morning Edition" for nearly 25 years on National Public Radio.....
10/12 - DCRTV hears that Dennis Israel, who has been general manager of brokered talker WMET (1160 AM), is heading to Ethiopia to teach graduate communications and journalism at at the Addis Ababa University. He'll also work to start a campus radio station. In 2007, Israel helped establish the first independent, non-governmental radio station in the country, Sheger 102.1 FM, in Addis Ababa. With worldwide communcations experience, Israel has been an advisor to the Voice Of America and the US Information Agency. He's taught at New York University, and at Florida's Barry University and City College in Ft. Lauderdale.....
10/12 - Scott Struber, who used to be assistant program director and afternoon man on DC's classic hits WBIG, has been named music director and on-air host at classic hits KKSF in San Francisco. Both stations are owned by Clear Channel. Dave Pugh, who used head CC's DC radio cluster, now heads CC's SF radio cluster.....
10/12 - Former WJFKer Don Geronimo says he's quit his 9 AM to noon gig at Rehoboth Beach talker WGMD, which he's been doing since June.....
10/11 -
A local DC TV tech tells DCRTV: "Fox5 sources report that the signal problems during the first quarter of the Redskins game were caused by a faulty Nielsen encoder that affected both the HD and SD signals. This device puts out an ID signal in the video so that ratings meters know what station they are tuned to. The outage lasted approximately 45 minutes before engineers located the problem and patched around it." Between 1:30 and 2:15 PM Sunday, the Fox-owned WTTG signal repeatedly froze, pixilated, went blank, and shifted between high-def and standard-def modes.....10/9 - DCRTV hears that Metro Traffic/DC has parted ways with Byron Kerr, who did sports reports for WTOP radio. A source tells DCRTV that Kerr is too busy with his TV sports work. However, another source tells us that Kerr was axed. Kerr will still be heard on WFED radio's George Washington University basketball play-by-play, we're told. And, we hear that George Wallace is now Metro's new sports director, and will be heard on WTOP. WTOP's sports director remains Dave Johnson. Also, we hear that DC radio veteran Dave Brown is no longer with Metro. But he'll still be doing weekend news shifts for WTOP.....
10/2 - During last night's Washington Nationals game in Atlanta, MASN's production truck lost power. But quick-thinking production staff switched to the Fox Sports South feed so viewers didn't miss an inning, a MASN spokesman tells DCRTV.....
10/1 -
Katy Daley (left), host of "The Katy Daley Show" on WAMU's Bluegrass Country, has been named "Broadcaster Of The Year" by the International Bluegrass Music Association. "Katy's career in bluegrass music, which began right here at WAMU 88.5 and spans three decades, has been a true testament to the mission of Bluegrass Country - enlightening a worldwide audience about the past of bluegrass music, and supporting the future of bluegrass culture," said Caryn Mathes, WAMU's GM.....9/30 - DCRTV hears that Jay Lang is the new station manager at Hampton University's WHOV in the Norfolk area. Lang will continue to do his fill-in work at Howard University's WHUR. You'll recall that Lang was one of the jocks on the old Smooth Jazz 105.9, WJZW, before it got blown up by Citadel in February 2008.....
9/29 - Baltimore WERQ radio personality and author LaDawn Black debuts "LaDawn's Loft," a "love, sex, and relationship" show on 9/30 at 2 AM on Channel 24/WUTB. Black says: "So many of my listeners really wanted to put a visual component to the radio show. They wanted to see the show guests, view the products, have the opportunity to be guests and even experience a few of the off the air show moments and 'LaDawn's Loft' offers all of that".....
9/29 - More Baltimore TV cuts, this time at Channel 2/WMAR, where Mary Beth Marsden is now anchoring the 11 PM newscast alone, and station mangement says it has no plans to add a co-anchor. With the recent departure of Rob Carlin, the station no longer has a fulltime dedicated sports reporter, and is using freelancers for coverage. And, as DCRTV has already told you, don't look for any late news at all on Saturday nights on Channel 2 this fall. With ABC football games running late, General Manager Bill Hooper says there is not enough of an audience available to justify the newscasts.....
9/28 - When the Skins suck, the Junkies really shine. Like this morning with the loss yesterday to the lame Lions. If it's going to be "one of those seasons" with the now 1-2 Redskins losing more often than winning, I predict it'll be a very good year for the "loyal opposition" of CBS's news sports talk WJFK, 106.7 The Fan. Redskins owner Dan Snyder is, already, not the most popular man in town for his high ticket prices, penchant to sue bankrupt season ticket holders for non-payment, and questionable talent picks for the hometown team. If the Skins suck this season, WJFK will be able to channel all that fan rage to high ratings and crush Snyder's sports talker, ESPN 980, WTEM. Sure, we'd all like to see the Skins win. But in a classic case of "schadenfreude," the worse the Skins are, the better JFK's gonna do.....
9/27 - Verizon is running an ad that touts that its fiber optic FIOS TV system runs "straight to the home." OK. But, from a box on the back of your domicile, the Verizon TV signal is carried via old-fashioned coaxial cable to the box on top of your TV set. Comcast and other local cable TV firms also operate fiber optic systems. But theirs, instead, doesn't quite make it to your home. Theirs run to a box somewhere in your neighborhood, and from there via coax into your domicile and to the set-top box. But, if truth is really important, no one, not Verizon, Comcast, or anyone else locally actually runs their fiber optic cable straight to your set-top box. That last "leap" to reach you, whether it be a few dozen feet or a few hundred feet, is via old-fashioned copper-based coax. No matter who you get your cable TV service from. So there.....
9/23 -
At washingtonpost.com, Leonard Shapiro talks with DC sports TV legend George Michael (right), 70, who is largely missing these days from the local media scene. Longtime NBC4 veteran Michael said he shopped "Redskins Report" to stations all around town in an attempt to keep it on the air, and came close to striking a deal with Fox-owned Channel 5/WTTG. In the end, as always, "it came down to money, and that's just the way it goes in television these days. "The problem is, if I'm going to do it, I'm only going to do it right," Michael said. "I wanted to do it with Sonny (Jurgensen), (John) Riggins, and (Michael) Wilbon, but (Channel 5) did not want to spend the money it would have taken to do it. We took so much pride in that show, things like the Jim Zorn show, and I wasn't going to compromise the product".....9/22 - Salon takes a look at "The Making Of Glenn Beck," a book coming out next year about the controversial Fox News personality. Part 1 of 3 Salon previews of the book focuses on Beck's radio roots, "from the alleged suicide of his mom to 'Top 40' radio to the birth of the morning zoo." Including a gig at then contemporary hit WPGC in 1983, working with Joe Theismann, Bruce Kelly, Scott Shannon, and Dave Foxx. We're told that Part 3 (not up yet) will feature Beck's days at Baltimore's then contemporary hit outlet WBSB, known as B104, in the 1990s.....
9/22 -
In the age 25-54 male demo for the second week of September's Portable People Meter radio ratings, new CBS sports talker WJFK, 106.7 The Fan, makes a solid 5th place showing, one full ratings point ahead of Redskins owner Dan Snyder's rival sports talker WTEM, ESPN 980, which is in 9th place. Bonneville all-newser WTOP takes the top spot in the demo. In the more-tightly-targeted age 18-34 male demo, we're told that JFK's morning Junkies placed 1st, with the Mike Wise midday show and the Lavar Arrington afternoon show both in 4th. Also, with both JFK and TEM now ahead of righty talker WMAL, 630 AM, in the male age 18+ demo, it's "gonna make selling WMAL (to advertisers) really hard," a local radio guru tells DCRTV.....9/21 - DCRTV hears that CBS Radio's suits in NYC are pleased with their two new sports talkers in the region - Baltimore's 105.7 The Fan, WJZ-FM, which flipped to the format last year, and DC's 106.7 The Fan, WJFK, which flipped to the format in July. Both stations, we're told, are showing impressive gains in their target male 25-54 demo, along with impressive ad sales and reduced personnel costs. CBS NYCers are also smiling at JFK's recent hype of Redskins ticket scandals, and how their station bested the coverage of rival sports talker WTEM, which is owned by Redskins owner Dan Snyder.....
9/21 - DCRTV hears that "talks" between Bonneville and Citadel, for the former to pick up some of the latter's radio stations, seem to have come to a halt. Our source tells us that Bonneville definitely wants some choice Citadel properties, including DC's hot adult contemporary WRQX, 107.3 FM, to bolster its DC radio cluster, which includes all-newser WTOP, 103.5 FM, and fed-newser WFED, 1500 AM. But Bonneville does not want a lot of the "baggage," including a batch of slumping AMers, a la DC news talker WMAL, 630 AM, that debt-ridden Citadel is looking to unload in the potential deal. Look for little or no more progress until early next year, when Citadel faces another debt financing deadline, we're told. More: The WSJ reports that Citadel has made an overdue interest payment and has avoided technical default - for now. More: A local radio source tells us that no "talks" between the two firms have recently taken place.....
9/17 - Tom Taylor at Radio-Info.com writes this morning: "Ah, those Citadel-Bonneville rumors. The latest twist is from one Citadel market, where the gossip is that Bonneville folks were being asked about specific format plans for a Citadel station there. And not just hypothetically. So perhaps what's been discussed is a one-station deal, and not a wholesale package for the former ABC Radio stations? The rumors have been all over the place, and I have to say that several Citadel people (former ABC Radio folks) tell me they're praying something happens." DCRTV's been reporting that WTOP owner Bonneville wants either or both Citadel's WRQX (107.3 FM) and WJZW, er, WVRX (105.9 FM) here in DC, which a top Bonneviller made a point of shooting down yesterday. Which probably means that something's up. Stay tuned.....
9/17 - Rant. Just a crazy thought. Why did Citadel pick the WVRX calls for its new classic rocker on 105.9, to replace WJZW? They sound an awful lot like WRQX, its hot adult contemporary Mix station on 107.3. Both have an "R" and an "X" - in that order. Because, maybe, if Citadel sells the 107.3 signal to Bonneville it could move the "intellectual property" (Jack Diamond as "intellectual" - ha ha ha) of WRQX to WVRX? I know, just a crazy thought.....
9/16 -
Six months after CBS launched 94.7 Fresh FM, we hear it'll have its first live jock. Nikki Landry joins the female-oriented hot adult contemporary outlet from KBWF, a country outlet in San Francisco. Landry has done a few weekend test shifts at the station since it flipped from classic rock in April. She did brief stints in the DC area in the early 2000s at WBQB and WMZQ. She'll do nights and then transition to a "more prominent daypart." Still no word on a live and local morning show for 94.7 Fresh, WTGB. Stay tuned.....9/16 - DCRTV gets props from Baltimore City Paper and its "Best Of 2009" edition, "News And Media" category....
9/14 - September 2009 marks 60 years since Central Virginia's country and bluegrass WJMA first signed on the air on 1340 AM in Orange, halfway between Charlottesville and Fredericksburg. "Now This," a documentary on the first 35 years of WJMA, now on 103.1 FM, will have its debut public showing at the 9/28 meeting of the Orange County Historical Society.....
9/13 - CNN reports that Bob McDonnell, the Republican candidate for governor in Virginia, blurted out an "f-bomb" during a live radio interview on Friday. On Bonneville all-newser WTOP, McDonnell was sparring with political guru Mark Plotkin on the topic of transportation funding. Plotkin asked if McDonnell would consider an increase in the state gasoline tax to help fund the transportation budget. McDonnell said no, and uttered the expletive during his response. So no tax will be raised during your four-year term?," Plotkin asked. McDonnell answered: "I'm going to find other ways to be able to fund transportation. I've outlined 12 fucking funding mechanisms that are creative, that are entrepreneurial." However, Jim Farley, who programs WTOP, disputes the report. He tells DCRTV: "No, he didn't. I've listened several times. He stumbled on two words, but it was not an expletive. Not true." The "blip" on the radio waves was first flagged by the Virginia Democratic blog NotLarrySabato.....
9/11 - Tom Taylor at Radio-Info.com notes that, with yesterday's August radio ratings, public radio stations account for a rather substantial "15 shares of listening" in the DC market. Three non-comms currently reside in the DC radio "top 10" - American University news talker WAMU (88.5 FM), Columbia Union College's Christian contemporary WGTS (91.9 FM), and classical WETA (90.9 FM). And just think, Taylor writes, in 2007, Columbia Union College seriously contemplated taking a rumored $20 million offer from American Public Media in Minnesota to create a rival news talker to WAMU. That would be a bargain price for a "top 10" FM performer in a "top 10" radio market.....
9/11 -
The Coast Guard conducted a training exercise in the Potomac River near the Pentagon amid 9/11 commemorations Friday morning, sparking confusion that scrambled FBI agents and led nearby National Airport to briefly ground flights. Coast Guard Chief Keith Moore said that no shots were fired as part of the exercise in the river. Media reports, led by CNN (right) and followed by the other cable news nets, suggested that shots had been fired in the river and showed vessels circling in the water, near the bridge where President Barack Obama's motorcade passed as he traveled to a 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon. The White House has criticized CNN for its reporting about the incident, according to the Politico. Congressman Jim Moran, who represents Arlington, wondered to WMAL why the Coast Guard was holding a training exercise at the same time as a presidential motorcade was heading to a nearby 9/11 ceremony. "CNN was out of control with this story," a DC TV news guru tells DCRTV. "You never take something straight off the scanner and go with it. This was poor journalism, no ifs, ands, or buts." According to the Washington Post, live coverage of the incident on CNN, Fox News, and other media outlets cited police
radio transmissions in which officers allegedly ordered shots fired. Television anchors and analysts speculated on-air as to whether a "suspicious
vessel" confronted by the Coast Guard could be linked to the eighth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.....9/10 - DCRTV hears that McLean-based Gannett is initiating a new cost-cutting measure will bring about a big batch of firings. At least four employees at its Channel 9/WUSA have been told that "Pearl Harbor Day" (12/7) is their last day at Gannett. Each of these employees has more than a dozen years' at the DC CBS affiliate. Also, we're told that Gannett is consolidating its technical operations and will run the WUSA master control from a remote site. More: Another source tells us that WUSA will be master controlled from a Gannett CBS affiliate hub in Greensboro NC. And, we're told that three, not four, techs were laid off, one with two years seniority, the other two had 13 years each on the job. Also, the final cut numbers at WUSA could get bigger.....
9/10 - Redskins great John Riggins joins Bonneville all-newser WTOP to contribute a regular "Riggo Report" throughout the upcoming professional football season. It will air every Friday afternoon at 2:20 and 6:20, after each Sunday Redskins game, and every Monday following a Sunday game at 7:20 AM and 12:20 PM. Since retiring from football, Riggins has worked as a sports commentator on television and radio, including his last gig doing afternoons on Redskins owner Dan Snyder's Triple X ESPN Radio. He lost that when Snyder purchased WTEM in mid-2008.....
9/9 - A DCRTV source tells us that NBC recently "tested" a new locally-based show for Channel 4/WRC's 3 PM slot. "The local news honchos gathered with the news honchos from New York and shot a 'pilot' in the NBC4 news studio," we hear. For now, as we've reported, DC's NBC station will air a newscast in the 3 PM hour, starting next Monday, after "Dr. Phil" moves to Channel 5/WTTG. Another source tells DCRTV that 4's new 3 PM newscast "will not be a normal news show," but will something called "LXTV - Lifestyle Televison," which will be "mostly fluff and features." The half-hour national version of "LXTV" has been running on Saturday nights (early Sundays) after "Saturday Night Live" on WRC. "The news will only be in first block of the 3 PM newscast, then it's just anchors leading to packages," we're told. "The idea is to kind of have a lifestyle 'PM Magazine' with local hosts intro-ing national stories and some local content".....
9/9 - At washingtonpost.com, Leonard Shapiro wonders why TV sports reporters Lindsay Czarniak of NBC4 and Kelli Johnson of Comcast SportsNet were wearing Redskins polo shirts during pre-season games. Shapiro quotes an unnamed source from CSN who said that it was the Redskins decision for announcers and sideline reporters to wear the shirts with the team's emblem. Shapiro also alleges biased Redskins coverage at WTEM, and he rips WJFK's Sports Junkies. "I wonder why they're allowed on the air, or more germane, why I've even bothered to listen. And their totally inappropriate, mocking denigration of the late Senator Edward Kennedy the day after he died may have been the final straw for me." At 9:30 AM today, the Junks fired back, calling Shapiro "a gross pig." They added that the Post won't even put Shapiro's pieces in the print edition, "relegating" him to the website. "He can't control his big fat mouth".....
9/8 - OK, I've been listening to "105.9 The Sludge" for two weeks now. It's a darn shame that Citadel isn't doing on WJZW what CBS's HFS2 is doing now on 94.7's HD2. We need hardish alternative rock, instead of hardish, oh-so-over-played classic rock. You'd think alt rock would attract more younger men, which are more appealing to advertisers. Citadel should be doing on 105.9 what Clear Channel is doing in Philly on 104.5, WRFF, and in Baltimore on 104.3, WCHH. All 105.9 is gonna get is 50-plus-year-old "geezers." Boring. WJZW may "soar" from 21st place to 17th place, just where CBS's equally turgid classic rock Arrow/Globe was when it got the plug pulled on it back in April.....
9/8 - DCRTV hears that it's official. Channel 4/WRC will be running news in the 3 PM hour starting next week. To fill the space that's been occupied by "Dr. Phil," after he moves to Channel 5/WTTG next Monday. NBC4 already has an hour jump on 5, 7, and 9 with its 4 PM local newscast.....
9/4 - This morning, NewsBlues reported a rumor that former NBCer Steve Schwaid, currently news director at Meredith's WGCL-TV in Atlanta, had made a second recent visit to DC, where he has reportedly been interviewing for the news director gig at Gannett's Channel 9/WUSA, a vacancy created last month when Lane Michaelsen shuffled off to NBC-owned WTVJ-TV in Miami. However, later this morning, NewsBlues Editor Mike James told DCRTV that he received a message from Schwaid which said that, while he was in DC on other business just once in the past six months, "I have NOT met, talked to, or been in any contact with anyone from WUSA or Gannett".....
9/4 - Thanks to all who voted for me!
9/2 - Imagine if Bonneville, which already owns DC's top-rated and top-billing all-news WTOP, bought Citadel's three DC stations. Bonneville would get get control of one of the market's top female-oriented stations, WRQX, Mix 107.3, plus a great Virginia signal via new classic rocker WJZW, 105.9 The Edge, and the market's top righty talker, WMAL (630 AM). My guess is that Bonneville would keep RQX and MAL pretty much the same, but would transform JZW to a sports talker with both the Nationals and the Capitals. If a sportsy JZW was paired with 1500/820 AM, it would have superb coverage in all corners of the DC metro. By buying Citadel's DC cluster, Bonneville could go from having just the DC area's top-rated news station to also having the market's top-rated female music station, top-rated righty talker, and the top-rated sports talker (or sports rocker, whatever). Bonneville wouldn't just have the top-rated station in the DC market, it could very well dethrone Clear Channel, and its five FMers, as the top-rated radio cluster in the DC market.....
9/2 - In the DC Examiner, Jim Williams confirms what we're hearing, that WTOP-owner Bonneville is seriously interested in snatching up both WRQX (107.3 FM) and WJZW (105.9 FM) from Citadel and putting the Nationals on one of them, probably WJZW. The addition of an FM outlet that reaches Northern Virginia is a top priority for Bonneville to extend its deal with the Washington Nationals into the 2010 season and beyond. DCRTV is also hearing rumblings that Bonneville might even start its own FM sports talker, perhaps on 105.9, with the Nationals and the Washington Capitals, which recently re-signed with Bonneville. Bonneville carries both teams on WFED, which has two Maryland-based AM signals. DCRTV reported that Bonneville came close to starting a sports talker on its 104.1/103.9 signals two years ago, but, instead, sold 104.1 to Radio One.....
9/2 - Heavy rain last week damaged the studios and offices of Towson University's adult alternative rocker WTMD (89.7 FM). According to the station's newsletter, "Morning show host Erik discovered three inches of muddy water in the community room when he arrived at the station at 4 AM Friday. The water made its way into our air studio, stopping just short of our computers and transmitter equipment. The flood then seeped into our music library, and then across the hallway into our administrative offices. It's a mess. But our valiant staff is keeping the music playing amid the chaos of torn up walls, waterlogged carpeting, and roaring fans. We want to thank the Towson University Facilities Management for their quick response".....
9/2 -
A report at nbcwashington.com confirms that a man carrying a sign at Tysons Corner last week (right), and begging his wife to take him back after he cheated on her, was indeed a stunt from a local radio station. While the station isn't mentioned, we've been told that it's Clear Channel's Hot 99.5. The sign-carrying man was interviewed at length by Hot 99.5 morning man Kane. The story got picked up by a number of national and international media outlets.....9/2 - DCRTV hears that Sirius XM's Holden Kushner is at the top of the heap to be named host of WJFK, 106.7 The Fan's new 6 PM to 10 PM live and local show. He's been heard on XM's Home Plate Channel.....
9/1 - Anji Corley is the winner of WPGC (95.5 FM) morning man Donnie Simpson's "Next Top Jock Contest." Each of the five finalists had a one-day tryout with Simpson last week. Corley, former midday host at Pittsburgh's WAMO, goes on to be co-host of Simpson's show.....
9/1 - A local radio guru tells DCRTV that WTOP owner Bonneville is rumored to be talking to Citadel about purchasing 105.9 WJZW and 107.3 WRQX. If it happens, Bonneville would use one of the signals to hold on to its contract with the Washington Nationals. Bonneville's Nats deal expires after this season, and it's also rumored that the team isn't happy about being heard on Bonneville's WFED, which features two Maryland-based AM transmitters, and provides poor coverage into Northern Virginia, particularly at night. Might the Nats end up on new classic rocker 105.9, which features a Fairfax County transmitter? Stay tuned.....
8/31 - WBAL radio's move to do all-news in morning drive is a good one. Baltimore needs an all-newser like DC's WTOP. Now, old 1090 should expand the all-news to afternoon drive, too. And move Ron Smith's talk show to middays. Something like this: 5 AM to 10 AM news, 10 AM to 2 PM Ron Smith, 2 PM to 6 PM news, 6 PM to 10 PM sports talk. That would work. And that would better compete with the line-up of righty bombast, including Limbaugh and Hannity, from talk rival WCBM.....
8/30 -
I'll admit it. I often tune in Glenn Beck on Fox News at 5 PM. And I'm a big liberal! I usually watch for the first few minutes, until he settles down. But his crazy rants are quite entertaining. In the same way that Howard Stern and Rush Limbaugh's were/are. I don't watch Beck, or listen to the above radioers, because I agree with or even like him/them. I make them part of my daily life for a few moments because they're wild and crazy, and, yes, a fun "diversion." There's something rather voyeuristic about watching someone "melt down" on the air. The "problem" with Beck is that he's so far "over the line" - What next? The Martians are controlling Obama? - that he's only going to serve to reduce whatever credibility that notoriously right-leaning Fox News Channel has left. Over on Comedy Central or Spike or Bravo, Beck's show wouldn't be a problem. But on a "cable news channel," the wilder Beck's rants get, and the higher his ratings rise, the more damage he'll be doing to some of Fox's real journalists, like Bret Baier, Major Garrett, and Chris Wallace. I often pitty Baier, who follows Beck at 6 PM. He reminds me of the poor schmuck who has to push that big shovel to clean up the massive piles of poop after the elephants have performed. Fox News czar Roger Ailes is one mean carnival barker. He's put together a bizarre circus of colorful and crazy characters who know how to delight and enrage - and get ratings. Now, if Ailes could only figure out how do a "fair and balanced" news network - and get ratings with that.....8/28 - The clueless cluckheads at Mediabistro today tell us that Fox5's Will Thomas was also part of a "sea of skin-tight cocktail dresses and sky-high stilettos," including CNN's Jessica Yellin, CNN's Michelle Jaconi, and NBC4's Lindsay Czarniak at a DC event on Wednesday night. Wow. Will Thomas in stilettos? Hmmm. No mention of Thomas in drag in the DC Times coverage of "Ladies' Night Out".....
8/28 - Whoops. An "Editor's Note" in Friday's Washington Post: "A story in Thursday's Style section reported that Bob Dylan was negotiating with two automobile companies to become the voice of an in-car navigation system. The story was based on wire reports about a BBC broadcast this week of Dylan's weekly satellite radio program, 'Theme Time Radio Show.' The Post story did not report that the show originally aired December 3 (2008); the Post failed to confirm the timing of the broadcast." The Paul Farhi-bylined piece appeared in yesterday's Washington Post.....
8/27 - OK. So, the DC area's got a new rocker, Citadel's 105.9 The Edge. Sounds good, so far. A nice mix of hardish, up-tempo classic and alt rock. The station will do well if it gives us a diverse mix of "deep cuts." Not just the same three Stones or Zep tracks like we hear over and over and over again (at least it seems so) on Clear Channel's classic hits/rock WBIG, Big 100.3. To make 105.9 a success, Citadel will have to put a "local feel" on the new station. It'll need to find a way to put some DC-based talent on air without breaking the salary bank in these recessionary times. At the very least, it'll need a live and local music-based morning show. How about Cerphe Colwell or Mike O'Meara? Both will be coming to the end of their CBS Radio contracts soon. Cerphe would probably be the better choice since he's clearly the top rock radio DJ in the DC area, having done stints on WHFS, DC101, old rocker WAVA, and, most recently, the Arrow/Globe. He knows music. He knows radio. He knows DC. If 105.9 doesn't snap him up, then maybe WBIG should - it'll need to fight 105.9's challenge. O'Meara would also be a good choice for 105.9's morning show. But he'd probably bring more of a "zoo type" show to the station, which probably needs more of a music-heavy show. Let's hope that the rumors are true that Steve Allan is staying aboard as program director. He knows DC radio - period. And let's hope that maybe WHFS veteran Tom Grooms gets to stay at 105.9 and be given a more prominent on-air role. Two years ago, CBS was in a like position when it launched a cool alt rocker on 94.7, as the Globe. But after a couple of months, for whatever reasons, the momentum was gone. If Citadel plays it smart and keeps it "fresh" (sorry, bad local radio pun), it could have an Edge success on its hands.....
8/27 -
DCRTV gets confirmation that Jeffrey T. Mason, aka Jeffro (right, in happier times), is gone from Clear Channel's country WMZQ (98.7 FM), as we strongly hinted yesterday. A budget-cut-based contract non-renewal, we're told. His 9 AM to 2 PM slot was reportedly the highest-rated daypart on MZQ. "I am ready to kick ass immediately," Jeffro tells us as he joins the next-gig job-hunt. "Airchecks and contact info are at jeffreyt.com".....8/26 - DCRTV hears that CBS could be hiring its first flesh and blood human being for its female-oriented 94.7 Fresh FM soon. By early fall. The hot adult contemporary station, which launched in April, is still running jockless. Perhaps a live morning show for the station, which has seen its ratings slowly rise over the summer. In the latest ratings round-up, Fresh was 14th, the top-rated of CBS's four DC market FMers, and is chipping away at chick tune rivals Mix 107.3 and WASH in key female demos, which advertisers love. Stay tuned.....
8/24 - Record traffic day for DCRTV on Friday. Four times (!) our previous best traffic day so far this year, which came in July during the WJFK sports flip. The only "big" story Friday was WAMU's Diane Rehm cracking her pelvis. Hmmm. By the way, you could have gotten the news first from DCRTV on Friday morning about Rehm's unfortunate fall. Or you could have gotten it today third-hand on All Access, which credited a Saturday WaPo article. You know who covers DC area radio news best, and it ain't that dude in Malibu. Ha ha ha.....
8/24 - DCRTV broke the news last week. And now Tom Taylor's Radio-Info.com has more: Robb Spewak, sometimes called the "Third Man" on WJFK's old Don and Mike show, gets to headline his own show. From his home in the DC area, he'll create a four-hour weekend show for River City Radio's "Mighty 1630" KCJJ in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. KCJJ was a loyal affiliate of the Don and Mike syndication from Westwood and the Mike O'Meara Show that succeeded it. That show's now gone, with CBS Radio's conversion of WJFK (106.7 FM) to sports talk.....
8/21 - Today's Weekend section in the Washington Post features a review for an indie movie called "Cold Souls" starring Paul Giamatti, which is listed as playing at only the Landmark E Street theater in DC. Ah, it's also playing at the AMC Shirlington. Could that editorial omision be because AMC recently pulled its movie showtime listings out of the Post? Could the mighty Post be that petty? Sure!.....
8/21 - AT&T and CBS Radio's DC cluster unveil a "live studio" in the Chinatown DC flagship AT&T store. The facility features several big screens, including an outdoor jumbo, and will soon host musical performances and celebrity interviews. CBS touts: "It's like Times Square in your own backyard!" The first "big event" will be the Donnie Simpson "America's Next Top Jock" auditions next week. You can hear and see all five finalists as they audition with the WPGC morning man.....
8/21 - DC radio veteran Steve Ray debuts on new sports talker WJFK (106.7 FM) tonight doing the top-of-the-hour sports news updates from 6 to 10 PM.....
8/20 - DCRTV hears that the ad sales staff turmoil at Clear Channel's five-station DC radio cluster isn't over yet. With four administrators leaving last week and a "major hitter" said to be "getting ready to depart" the DC CC sales staff, are still more changes coming before Labor Day? Stay tuned.....
8/20 - Sportscaster Nick Charles is battling bladder cancer. Charles, the blow-by-blow announcer for Showtime's "ShoBox: The New Generation" series since its inception in 2001, who'd worked at CNN before that, has taken a leave of absence from the pay cable network. Charles was the top sports anchor on Baltimore's Channel 13/WJZ in the 1970s. He's also worked at DC's Channel 4/WRC and at WTOP.....
8/19 - I just want to know what Pepco thinks about its ad running on Citadel talker WMAL today at 12:55 PM, just after Rush Limbaugh did another one of his comparisons of President Obama to the Nazis. Again, Limbaugh went into a rant about how Democrats are more like Adolph Hitler's old party than Republicans are. Disagree with Obama's health care reform plans - that's fine. But comparisons like this are just plain nuts - and insulting to many, when considering the Nazis' unimaginable horrors of the 1930s and 1940s. If I was Pepco, and some of WMAL's other local sponsors, I'd call up my ad rep at old 630 and, at the very least, get a refund on spots aired during Rush's Nazi rants. Do I really want my ads associated with talk like that? Something to ask Pepco spokeswoman Debbie Jarvis.....
8/19 - A correction in the 8/19 Washington Post: "A July 8 Metro article credited an incorrect DC television station with first reporting that video footage apparently showed a Metrorail operator text messaging while his train sped along the tracks. WJLA-TV (Channel 7) was first with that news, not WUSA-TV (Channel 9)".....
8/19 - Lisa Farbstein, a spokeswoman for the Metro transit system, slams a Washington Examiner story claiming that ridership has fallen. WMAL is running a tape of her saying that the freebie tabloid got the number from "up their (bleep)." Farbstein says that Metro ridership, while down from a year ago, was up in July when compared to June, according to WMAL.....
8/19 - You probably know that Baltimore radio veteran Brian Wilson is program director of WSPD, a talker in Toledo, Ohio. Well, we hear that Wilson is giving a radio show to Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, better known as "Joe The Plumber," a right-leaning Ohio resident and John McCain-backer during the 2008 presidential campaign. "JTP" will be guest-hosting a one-hour daily show on Wilson's station. Wilson tells a radio pub: "There's a possibility radio and WSPD could be part of his future".....
8/18 - In its "Names And Faces" column in today's Style section, the Washington Post mentions Steve Harvey's new reporting gig with ABC's "Good Morning America." While the piece includes info about his national morning radio show, and even mentions ads for it in the Metro system, would it have hurt the Post to tell us that he's heard locally on WHUR? Sheesh.....
8/17 -
Tom Taylor at Radio-Info.com reveals that a recent rumor in which one firm would buy all 23 of Citadel's former ABC Radio stations - including DC's WMAL, WRQX, and WJZW - involves WTOP-owner Bonneville. "More than one person has said they've heard this deal was in the oven, but that it had recently been sped up," Taylor writes in his Monday morning newsletter. "I'll repeat the counter-arguments I researched for you last week - financing a deal of this magnitude would be exceedingly hard. And if Citadel sold off the 23 stations it acquired from Disney in mid-2007, it would be stripping out half of its own cash flow, money it needs to service its debt. But every now and then you get a 'Rumor That Won't Die' - and right now, this is one of 'em." DCRTV has previously reported rumors that Salt Lake City-based Bonneville is interested in buying Citadel's DC stations, particularly the FMers, Mix 107.3 and True Oldies 105.9. A local Bonneville source was tight-lipped on the rumor, which probably means that something's "up".....8/16 - A DCRTVer heard former Channel 7/WJLA reporter Elliott Francis doing a WAMU (88.5 FM) newscast yesterday. DCRTV recently told you that Francis had signed-on to teach media courses at American University, which owns WAMU.....
8/15 -
CBS's new Baltimore sports talker WJZ-FM, 105.7 The Fan, is getting great afternoon drive ratings with hot, young, and pretty Anita Marks as part of its afternoon drive team. What if a DC sports talker put, oh, let's say, 4's Lindsay Czarniak (right), who's also hot, young, and pretty, on its afternoon drive show? Good idea, huh!.....8/15 - On Saturday, a last-week recap from those douchebags at TVNewser: "We confirmed that Don Imus could be bringing his radio show to Fox Business Network by next month." They "confirmed" that he "might"? OK. And, after about a dozen other blogs and websites did so the week before.....
8/14 - DCRTV hears that a medical malady caused Maynard Edwards to go missing for a few days from the Ed Norris morning show on Baltimore sports talker WJZ-FM, 105.7 The Fan. After a whole bunch-o-tests, the docs ruled out anything serious and he'll be doing the show solo next week while Norris is on vacation.....
8/14 - Looks like new sports talker WJFK, 106.7 The Fan, could have an afternoon drive disaster on its hands. For some strange reason, JFK's audience has always been very vocal here on DCRTV. And, while there was a lot of buzz the week of the debut of the new Lavar Arrington-Chad Dukes show, it's definitely died down to dead silence. And I'm assuming that means that a lot of people are coming to the conclusion that they don't much care for what they're hearing on 106.7's afternoons and are "drifting away." We will see. I expect WJFK to show an afternoon drive surge in PPM listening for that third week of July, when the sports switch was made, due to listener curiousity. But it will be interesting to see if it continues into the August PPM weekly numbers. I bet it doesn't. Meanwhile, we've reported rumors that Redskins great Joe Theismann's jump to rival sports talker WTEM, ESPN 980, could be a "tryout" for a new morning show. I think that's a great idea. Theismann is a wonderfully compelling personality who doesn't only attract sports junkies. Like Tony Kornheiser, he'll also attract more casual or even "non-sportsies" to his show. The problem that TEM has is signal, signal, signal! All three suck. Two FM rimshots and a grunky old AMer, with crummy night coverage. Until WTEM can find an inside-the-Beltway FMer, it'll be at a disadvantage in its war with JFK.....
8/13 - A new editor at Washingtonian and the Washington Post does a front page Style section write-up this morning. But, two days ago, DCRTV broke the news about the news director at Channel 9/WUSA leaving for a new gig in Miami. Yet, nothing (so far) in the Post. Two big local media stories. One covered by the Post. One not. One was about an up-and-coming "beautiful journalist" at a very well-connected magazine, with probably a press release. The other about a "not-so-pretty" manager at a budget-cutting TV station with low-rated newscasts, with probably no press release. Whatever.....
8/13 - Examiner sports media columnist Jim Williams tells us that tonight's Redskins versus Ravens preseason game will be in high-def via Comcast SportsNet. However, the over-the-air broadcast game on Channel 4/WRC will be in standard-def. Just the opposite with tonight's Ravens versus Redskins preseason game, which will be in high-def on Channel 11/WBAL but in standard-def on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network - because of baseball on the MASN-HD channel, with football over on MASN2. MASN will air the game in high-def on its later replays. Also, Williams tells us that Lindsay Czarniak joins Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, and Keli Johnson on Redskins TV coverage. Larry Michael, Sonny Jurgensen, Sam Huff, and Rick "Doc" Walker will call the game on ESPN 980, WTEM.....
8/13 - My heart skipped a beat this morning when I saw this in my e-mail box: "Marty Bass is now following you on Twitter." I have a reached a milestone in my career to be followed at twitter.com/dcrtv by the legendary Baltimore TV weatherman. I am truly honored. I presume that it's the "real" Marty Bass at twitter.com/MondoBasso. You never know.....
8/12 - Yesterday, four sales administrators tendered their resignation at Clear Channel DC, with rumors of additional sales assistants and sales people to leave this week, we're told. Also, DCRTV hears that Inside Radio is running an ad for a sales director for CC's Washington/Baltimore radio cluster. Is CCDC's traffic/continuity department next in line for cuts? Hmmm.....
8/12 - Radio-Info.com reports more rumors that slumping Citadel may sell all of the 23 radio stations that it acquired from ABC several years ago - including DC's WMAL, WRQX, and WJZW. And a top rumor is that all 23 stations would go to just one buyer. However, RI says financial dudes shoot down the possibility of such a big deal because of the slumping economy and tight credit market. Plus, giving up the former ABC station group would mean selling off about half the cash flow for Citadel. DCRTV has reported rumors that Citadel might sell some - but not all - of those former ABC stations to a variety of buyers. We know for a fact that WTOP-owner Bonneville, which is privately financed, is interested in Citadel's FM properties in DC - Mix 107.3 and True Oldies 105.9. Stay tuned.....
8/12 - DCRTV hears that Fox-owned Channel 5/WTTG will be expanding its morning news to 10 AM, and dropping the 11 AM-to-noon newscast. Possibly as soon as next week. More as we hear it.....
8/11 - After about half a dozen broadcasting trade pubs/sites reported it last week, dumb old clueless TVNewser lumbered onto the scene Monday and chatted up a PR person somewhere only to breathlessly report that morning radioer Don Imus might, just might be moving his TV simulcast to the Fox Business Network. Golly! Then, on top of that, TVNewser's Chris Ariens claimed that some blog broke the story last Friday when big old Newsday had reported the Imus rumor at least two days earlier. And, when informed of that silly little inconsistency, he didn't even bother to correct his site's mis-info, which was regurgitated without question by TVN's silly DC blog. Ah, Mediaite is looking better every day.....
8/11 - More turmoil at Clear Channel DC's ad sales department. Last week, DCRTV broke the news about lots of unhappy campers among the sales staff. Now, we're hearing that a top sales administrator at 1801 Rockville Pike called it quits on Monday. More changes coming, we're told, as CCDC suits return from vacation to get recessionary sales up at the five-station cluster. In just-out second quarter results, CC's radio ad revenue was down 20 percent nationwide.....
8/11 - Mega Media, the firm that had planned to put a dance-oriented radio station on the DC area's 87.7, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company uses low-power TV stations on channel 6's audio frequency to attract listeners to its dance-formatted "Pulse 87," a la WNYZ in NYC. Court filings show Mega owes creditors more than $3.5 million. The DC area's 87.7 will remain Spanish music and religion.....
8/10 - DCRTV hears that the Columbia School Of Broadcasting will open new studios in Vienna VA this month. With a glass-enclosed facility facing the main thoroughfare at 301A Maple Avenue West. Students can be seen in the studio by pedestrian passer-bys and vehicle traffic.....
8/10 - Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic has penned a "multi-year agreement" with the Washington Redskins to expand their media and marketing partnership. CSN will be "the exclusive local Redskins HD provider for preseason games," including contests against the Ravens on 8/13, the Steelers on 8/22, and the Jaguars on 9/3. The Redskins' preseason game on 8/28 is being telecast nationally on CBS. Plus, CSN adds an interview with Coach Jim Zorn every Monday at 5:45 PM. Also, CSN will continue to air its "Redskins Kickoff" and "Redskins Postgame Live" shows, plus the daily "Redskins Nation." CSN's Redskins broadcast team includes Chick Hernandez, Kelli Johnson, Trevor Matich, Brian Mitchell, Antonio Freeman, Doc Walker, and Doug Gansler. For home games, CSN will broadcast from the set at Comcast SportsNet Gate at FedExField. Coverage will originate from CSN's Bethesda studios for away games.....
8/10 - Media baron Rupert Murdoch wants more of your money. Soon, you'll be paying a fee to access his website like FoxNews.com. And, if you love buying used DVDs at places like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video, Rupy may end that discount. Apparently, his Fox movie studio doesn't like video outlets renting just-out DVDs and then selling them on the cheap. Soon, rental outlets may get DVDs weeks after they're available for purchase and have destroy them when they're done with them.....
8/7 - DCRTV hears from some local radio sources who say that Joe Theismann's new weekly radio show (above blurb) on ESPN 980, WTEM, could be a "tryout" for a full-blown locally-based morning drive show hosted by Theismann on the Redskins owner Dan Snyder-owned station. Possibly in place of WTEM's airing of the nationally-syndicated "Mike And Mike" show from ESPN Radio. With a Theismann-based show in direct competition with the locally-based Sports Junkies on new CBS sports talker WJFK, 106.7 The Fan. Also, DCRTV hears that Tony Kornheiser has not yet signed a contract with Snyder to do a late morning show on WTEM, as has been rumored.....
8/7 - The Washington Post frequently hypes Mike Wise's show on WJFK, 106.7 The Fan. And the Washington Times is busy doing the same about Tom Loverro's show on WTEM, ESPN 980. But, Jim Williams, a sports media columnist for the Washington Examiner, wonders: "I really think that it would be great if The Fan and ESPN 980 showed some love to the fine sports staff of the Examiner. There has to be room on the new outlet for the fine talents of the duo of Rick Snider and John Keim both who have covered the Redskins longer than any other writers in Washington".....
8/7 - Yes, you did hear syndicated talker Phil Hendrie on two different stations in the DC market at the same time earlier this week. On Monday, Red Zebra's WTNT (570 AM) put Hendrie in late nights to replace Dennis Miller, who jumped to CBS's WHFS (1580 AM). But, due to an "automation" problem, Hendrie continued to be heard on Bonneville's WFED (1500 AM), even though he'd been officially pulled off the schedule a few months back. "Everything (is) squared-away now," we're told by a Bonneviller. Overnight, WFED, Federal News Radio, will now be re-airing the locally-produced midday block of federal news and talk programming.....
8/6 - We've been telling you about about some upcoming tweaks to CBS Radio's urban contemporary WPGC (95.5 FM). And now, we hear from a source: "WPGC is now more rhythmic like its sister station WZMX/Hartford. They are getting rid of some of the deep soul cuts. Playing more BIG hip/hop and R&B songs. A lot of watered down (not too 'black sounding') R&B stuff." WPGC, usually a top-five performer, has been languishing the 12th-to-15th ratings range of late. Some sources have predicted an "Amp" or "Now" contemporary hit makeover for the station. More soon.....
8/6 - Not a lot of happy campers over there among the ad sales staff at 1801 Rockville Pike (right). We're hearing rumblings of a mass walkout or a mass firing, as relations between staff and management deteriorate, and threats fly, at Clear Channel DC. "I do know they have major morale problems in sales," we hear from a local radio source. "Now with bad morale and people making less money it could be a perfect storm." Another local radio guru tells us that Clear Channel may expand the management reach of John Rohm, who heads its Philadelphia and Pittsburgh radio clusters, southward to DC and Baltimore, to bolster ad sales revenue. Despite the solid ratings of CCDC's five FMers, sales revenue is flat or down a bit, we're told. "The excuse of a slumping economy will only get you so far with the suits in San Antonio," we hear. Stay tuned.....
8/6 - This morning's Style section in the Washington Post: 31 paragraphs on Paula Abdul quitting "American Idol," 15 paragraphs on the Washington Post pulling the plug on its own "Mouthpiece Theater" allegedly funny political videos, but just one measly paragraph on radio legend Ed Walker getting inducted into the Radio Hall Of Fame - news DCRTV broke yesterday.....
8/5 - This is friggin' news? Gawker yesterday linked to an MSNBC clip of the Washington Post's Jonathan Capehart scarfing down a bagel in between on-air segments. A bit of which aired on the network. It actually got 6,000-ish views and even got linked to by some idiot DC area blogs hard up for "news." What next for Gawker? A camera over the urinal in the MSNBC men's room so we can watch Capehart taking a pee? Ha ha ha! Not! I know that Gawker pays its bloggers extra if they generate lots of web traffic. This time I take pride in not linking to them. Sometimes it's best to just say "no" to crap like this.....
8/5 - Casey Willett, formerly with Baltimore sports talker WNST (1570 AM), has jumped over to 105.7 The Fan, WJZ-FM, and is working as the CBS station's sideline reporter at Ravens training camp, we're told.....
8/3 - In her 50-plus (!) paragraph TV Column in this morning's Washington Post, critic Lisa de Moraes went into a lather about documentary maker Ken Burns' longwinded comments at a recent PBS press conference about the fall TV season. Hey, Lisa, it takes one to know one.....
8/2 - I don't know how many times I've seen articles in the Washington Post lately dealing with how to save money and cut one's personal budget in these recessionary times. Advice like having your "nails done" less often, not going "out to eat," buying store-brand products, cutting back on cable TV service (that's gotta make Post advertisers like Verizon and Comcast happy), unplugging appliances that use energy even when turned off, yadda yadda yadda. Again, the Post has more penny-pinching advice (filler copy) on page G3 of its Sunday edition. But, why, oh why, does the Post never suggest cutting one's newspaper subscriptions? Stopping delivery of the print Post alone will save you more than $200 a year! And you can get still get the whole paper - and more - for free via the website! I guess Posties don't give a rat's ass if the little old Korean lady down at the strip mall nail salon goes broke. Just as long as a bunch of pompous "journalists" continue collecting their fat paychecks. Sheesh.....
7/31 - Yesterday, those Washington Post gossip re-write gals, Amy Artsinger and Roxanne Roberts, penned in their Reliable Source column that Kate Gosselin, star of TLC's "Jon And Kate Plus Eight," might be buying a condo in Rockville. They quoted a report from RadarOnline.com. Turns out the report was wrong. Whoops! Well, at least Amy and Roxanne admitted the error in today's column. Come on, Posties, we readers deserve better-sourced gossip.....
7/31 -
If, back in the 1970s and 1980s, you got your jollies by watching TV preachers on UHF outlets like Channels 20 and 45 - a la Gene Scott and Jim Bakker - you might also have caught "Reverend Ike," who drew millions of followers with such proclamations as "Jesus was a capitalist." F.J. Eikerenkoetter II (left), 74, died on July 29 in a Los Angeles hospital. He had a stroke in 2007 and never fully recovered. "Reverend Ike" appeared on more than 1,700 TV and radio stations across North America. His followers not only tuned in to his message of divinely ordained consumption and "positive self-image psychology" but also responded to his incessant pleas for financial support.....7/30 - A DCRTV source tells us: "Major changes coming to Hot 99.5. Sarah Fraiser, who is on the Kane show every morning, is getting her own show from 10 AM to noon, starting Monday. I don't know what they are doing to Raven," who currently occupies the late morning slot. More soon.....
7/30 -
Creative Loafing fears a bankruptcy auction next month could break up the company. On Wednesday, representatives of Ben Eason, whose family started Creative Loafing more than 30 years ago, appealed to a judge to block its largest creditor from winning the auction. Eason borrowed about $30 million in 2007 from NYC hedge fund Atalaya Capital Management to buy the Washington City Paper and the Chicago Reader. Eason fears the deep-pocketed Atalaya could blow away other bidders, including Eason, and begin liquidating the company for cash as early as September. Eason's team asked Judge Caryl Delano to consider that Atalaya's potentially decisive bid might hurt Creative Loafing and its employees. Delano said she would rule on such matters on the auction day - 8/25. Creative Loafing filed for bankruptcy last September, a little more than a year after buying the Washington and Chicago papers.....7/30 -
So, where is the cast from the Mike O'Meara show, now that it's been off the air for almost two weeks? No word on Mike, whose contract with WJFK owner CBS runs until December, we're told. Robb Spewak is said to be still working for JFK, as he's responsible for handling the syndicated O'Meara show, which is still re-running on the Westwood One radio network until mid-August. Plus, he's reportedly working on his own radio show. Beth Ann McBride is said to be back in North Carolina doing a non-radio sales job. Buzz Burbank is writing for the Huffington Post, as we've already reported, working on a website, and doing ad voiceovers. And, Joe Ardinger is working on a podcast show, we're told. We hear that it's very likely that Mike will get back on the radio when his contract is up, maybe even doing a national show from Florida, but it's very unlikely that he'll reunite with Don Geronimo, who's now doing a late morning radio show on Rehoboth Beach talker WGMD. We talked to an O'Meara crew member, who didn't want to be named, who told us to remind folks that WJFK was a significantly important station - for almost two decades the best "guy talker" anywhere. "I don't want people to forget that".....7/30 - On Tuesday, DCRTV first told you about WBAL radio going all-news in morning drive come late August. About midday Wednesday, the Baltimore Sun's website got the story. On Thursday morning, trade pub All Access got the news by linking to the Sun's piece. Neither credited DCRTV for breaking the news. Just a reminder that you get local media news first here on DCRTV. Not sloppy "seconds" or "thirds" like the other guys dish out.....
7/29 - So, let's see. We've got Fox Newser Glenn Beck calling President Obama a "racist." But, hey, Obama's now got control of the FCC, and the FCC can "mess up" the license renewals for Fox News owner and righty media baron Rupert Murdoch's many broadcast TV stations, including Channels 5, 20, and 24 in the DC-Baltimore area. There's always someone who files a petition to deny a TV or radio station's license renewal. Maybe the FCC can now "carefully review" those petitions of license renewal denial. Or screw up Murdoch's future plans to sell or buy stations. Then Murdoch will gin-up the anti-Obama rantings on his channels, maybe even on the Fox broadcast network's football coverage. Heck, I did notice a Fox Newser yesterday referring to the Dems as "comrades." This could get fun!.....
7/28 - We reported the rumblings on Saturday. Now, Dan Steinberg at washingtonpost.com talks to Tony Kornheiser about his return to the local airwaves come 9/8 on Redskins owner Dan Snyder's ESPN 980, WTEM. It'll be a two-hour late-ish morning show, as we pretty much suspected. Plus, sidekick/producer Marc "Nigel" Sterne will be there to hold his hand. Still no exact time slot announced.....
7/28 - Fox News host Glenn Beck, heard locally on CBS Radio talker WHFS, 1580 AM, dialed up his rhetoric against President Obama Tuesday, branding the president a "racist" in an appearance on the Fox News morning show "Fox And Friends." Beck charged that the president's handling of the controversy over the arrest of Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates displayed a "deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture." According to the Politico, Beck also said, "I'm not saying he doesn't like white people, I'm saying he has a problem. This guy is, I believe, a racist".....
7/28 - KTVT in Dallas has gotten permission from the FCC to move its digital TV signal off VHF channel 11, its longtime analog signal home, due to poor coverage. KTVT will be putting its digital signal back on the UHF band, where it was during the pre-6/12 digital transition phase. No word yet if Baltimore's WBAL-TV will make a request to the FCC for the same kind of move. WBAL, which also moved its digital signal back to its longtime analog home of VHF channel 11 on 6/12 from UHF channel 59, has reported significant coverage problems, too. Stay tuned.....
7/28 - Doug Hill's Weather Now on WJLA's digital channel 7.2 has dramatically changed. Forecasts are now provided by AccuWeather with Super Doppler 7 radar only making appearances every five minutes or so. All-news WTOP's audio is gone, too. WJLA's forecast is in the cycle.....
7/28 - A while back, Citadel started relaying the signal of talker WMAL, AM 630, on the digital FM subchannel of sister WRQX, 107.3, which airs hot adult contemporary tunes on its main signal. Now, WMAL is including the WRQX HD2 availability on its legal top-of-the-hour ID. And, there are rumors that Citadel may put WMAL on the main signal of its 105.9 FMer, which currently airs the low-rated "True Oldies." (There are also rumors that Citadel may put another music format on 105.9.) Some local radio gurus say that if WMAL wants to attract younger listeners to its steady output of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity-type talk it'll need to offer an FM alternative in the heavily FM-oriented DC market. Stay tuned.....
7/27 - It looks like WJFK newsman Buzz Burbank (aka Michael Elston) has found a new gig after the demise of the Mike O'Meara show. He's now penning political commentary for the Huffington Post.....
7/27 - More changes at the Washington Post. A source tells DCRTV that the paper is planning to eliminate the stand-alone Extra regional news tabloid sections and make them part of a new Thursday section that "apparently will absorb some other special section material." The unnamed editor will report to Assistant Managing Editor Garcia-Ruiz Emilio. More soon.....
7/27 - We're hearing more rumblings that veteran sports media personality Tony Kornheiser will return to the local radio airwaves on September 8 via Redskins owner Dan Snyder's WTEM, ESPN 980. Kornheiser worked at then-Clear Channel-owned WTEM years ago before his radio show at Bonneville's now-defunct Washington Post Radio and 3WT. More soon.....
7/25 - "Get f*cked you c*nt." "Take the bitch out and shoot her." "F*CK THE B*TCH." "Get out the brass knuckles. A beating that would require an overnight stay at the hospital should work - broken jaw, broken nose, eyes swelled completely shut." Just a few of the reader comments on a story posted late Friday via Mediabistro's FishbowlDC. I don't care what the topic is, there's no place for stuff like this, including what seem like downright death threats. FBDC's comment boards were almost dead all week, as usual, until a story got posted late Friday about the alleged sexist comments a female Miami Herald reporter made to a male Pentagon employee. And then Miami-based Drudge linked to it. Even after someone reported some of the comments to a "moderator," they remained on the Mediabistro site many hours later. Now, I'm not saying that I haven't missed a tasteless thing or two that got posted in DCRTV's moderated (by me) Mailbag, allowing what seem like physical threats to remain up on an internet comment venue - even after complaints about them - is downright irresponsible and possibly even legally actionable. Someone at Mediabistro should get seriously "f*cked" over this. Man!.....
7/24 - More rumblings that Citadel is about to pull the plug on its "True Oldies 105.9" WJZW. The 1960s/1970s oldies station has had trouble cracking 20th place in the overall radio ratings, and its morning show, with NYC-based Don Imus, ranks even lower. The latest rumblings have Citadel putting a talk format on 105.9, possibly a full or part-time simulcast of AM talker WMAL. One rumor making the rounds has Mix 107.3 morning man Jack Diamond doing a talk show on the new station, however our Citadel sources are quick to shoot that down. Even though he's a pricey talent with a large on-air staff, Diamond's WRQX show ranks a very healthy 4th place in the latest morning drive numbers. "Citadel would be crazy to mess with that," we're told.....
7/23 - DCRTV hears that afternoon man Matt Anderson has gone missing from the website for gospel WPRS, Praise 104.1. Another cut from Radio One? Stay tuned.....
7/22 - The hockey Capitals will sign a "multi-year" radio deal to stay with Bonneville on WFED's 1500 AM and 820 AM signals. Steve Kolbe will continue to serve as the team's radio play-by-play voice. Williams adds that the baseball Nationals are waiting until this season's over before they made a decision on their radio home next year. Currently on WFED, they could jump to CBS's new WJFK sports talker or to Redskins owner Dan Snyder's WTEM, ESPN 980. The basketball Wizards have already announced that they'll be on WJFK, 106.7 The Fan, this fall.....
7/22 -
From Romenesko: "It's over" for DC City Paper owner if auction rules don't go in its favor. The key date for bankrupt alt-weekly chain Creative Loafing isn't when the equity auction is held, says CL CEO Ben Eason. That's August 25. He contends the date that counts is July 27, when the judge sets the rules of the auction. If they don't go in his favor, "it's over," Easton tells DCCP sister, the Chicago Reader. "It's the same thing as a foreclosure".....7/21 - WJFK rumor of the day: Is former WTEMer Brian Mitchell in-line to host an evening show on the new CBS sports talker? Since leaving Dan Snyder's station, the former Redskin/Eagle has been doing fill-in work at CBS's Philadelphia sports talk WIP.....
7/20 - A local radio vet tells DCRTV: "News from the KHZ network: Expansion is on the way. There is a totally new concept being put together by Bill Parris and others. On or about August 15th, KHZ plans to launch a multiple station network with a totally new concept in broadcasting. At this time they have lined up 4-6 stations including several FM signals. The network plans to blanket the DC, Baltimore, Ocean City, and other locations with a new and exciting multi-media format. Operations will be conducted at their new state of the art production facility in Pasadena MD... By the way legendary rocker Davy Jones (aka Paul Bicknell) returns to the airwaves soon. Stay tuned." Jones/Bicknell had been heard doing a midday classic pop show on WKHZ and Annapolis's WYRE, 810 AM, until a few weeks ago when he was yanked off the air.....
7/19 - Yesterday, DCRTV reported rumblings that Redskins owner Dan Snyder is talking to CBS Radio about buying WJFK. As we've reported, WJFK is flipping to sports talk on Monday, to be a direct rival to Snyder's sports talk WTEM, ESPN 980. And, with a better FM signal and a huge radio company behind it, the new "106.7 The Fan" will probably mean the eventual demise of WTEM, which currently ranks an anemic 20-ish place in the radio ratings. So what should Snyder do? Right! Buy JFK. He's got the dough and CBS is selling stations. Snyder could use 106.7 for WTEM, or a variation of it, or something else. But wait, if CBS is selling, maybe Bonneville, which owns all-newser and CBS news affiliate WTOP, might also be intererested in JFK? Privately-owned Bonneville is said to be one of the few radio players out there that can still muster the cash to buy a station in this recessionary, credit-crunching time. Don't forget, Bonneville and Snyder don't have a friendly relationship, after a botched deal to sell 104.1 a few years ago, which Snyder said was way overpriced. Might Bonneville try to block Snyder's purchase of JFK just for the hell of it? Or might CBS hold onto JFK to continue its dream of having a national network of FM sports talkers? And what will Snyder do? If JFK clobbers his WTEM, might he sell his six local radio properties and focus on his sports team's not-so-winning ways? Stay tuned.....
7/18 - More than one source tells us that Redskins owner Dan Snyder, who owns sports talker ESPN 980, WTEM, is talking to CBS Radio about buying WJFK, 106.7, which is flipping to sports talk on Monday. Over the past few years, Snyder's Red Zebra broadcasting arm has made rumored attempts to buy a number of local signals, including 104.1 from then-owner Bonneville, 105.1 from Salem, and 100.3 and 101.1 from Clear Channel. Snyder did succeed in buying 980 (plus 570 and 1260) from Clear Channel last year, which allowed him to merge his Triple X sports talker with WTEM. CBS has announced that it is willing to sell stations in a number of small and mid-sized markets, but DC has not been mentioned. CBS did recently trade Baltimore's WQSR, 102.7, to Clear Channel.....
7/17 -
As expected, WJFK afternooner Mike O'Meara (right) delivered his farewell message today. Taped about two weeks ago, the recording aired at 3 PM and 5 PM on the CBS guy talker. It turns out that this was the first time O'Meara's been canned in his long local radio career. O'Meara says that he's trying to get his show, which was nationally syndicated via Westwood One, resurrected. "That option is very much alive," O'Meara said. O'Meara took over what had been "The Don And Mike Show" in April 2008, after his longtime partner, Don Geronimo, left WJFK. Geronimo is now doing a late morning radio show on Rehoboth Beach's WGMD. CBS-owned WJFK is flipping to sports talk on Monday, 7/20, with the Junkies doing mornings, and Chad Dukes paired with former Redskin Levar Arrington in afternoon drive. Also bidding farewell: Buzz Burbank, Robb Spewak, Beth Ann McBride, and Joe Ardinger. For now, O'Meara will keep in touch with his fans via Facebook.....7/15 - A local radio guru tells us: "Top end of the FM dial... expect call changes at 106.7, 107.3, and 105.9... There is potential of Citadel going after WAVA's righty talk by shifting WMAL's product to 107.3 in mono. Possibly a simulcast. At least at first. So, WMAL-FM may return to 107.3... The 'Mix107.3' product could become 'Mix105.9' with the WRQX call on 105.9... Also, the WJFK call could vanish with the new format, if it becomes a 'success'... Expect a deal between (JFK owner) CBS and the Capitals and Nationals after the baseball season and before the hockey season respectively. Word is (WTEM owner Dan Snyder) is pissed. He knows that a quality local/live sports talker will eat syndie sports lunch any day of the week. He wanted to emulate the 'successful' team-owned sports broadcasters in the major markets, something which DC really isn't... He overpaid for some crap signals. Signals nobody will want".....
7/15 - DCRTV hears that during its 106.7 The Fan shindig for advertisers at the Verizon Center yesterday, CBS Radio hired the Redskins cheerleaders. As the new sports talker's line-up was announced, WJFK's on-air talent came out of the tunnel to the cheers of the cheerleaders. And, we hear from a source that Redskins owner Dan Snyder, who owns WJFK's chief sports talk rival, ESPN 980, "was pretty pissed about that".....
7/15 - I've always said that a well-programmed sports talker on FM will do well in the DC market. Clear Channel had the chance to do it by moving its then-owned AM sports talker, WTEM, to one of its five FMers, but it didn't. Bonneville had the chance to do it, but it decided to pursue the Washington Post Radio and 3WT talkers instead. Both failed. And Redskins owner Dan Snyder is giving it his shot, now owner of WTEM, but with a bunch of bad signals, including a main AMer that has trouble covering the region at night in a market where almost no one listens to AM any more, he's gained little ratings traction. So, here comes CBS. DCRTV first hinted that WJFK would be flipping to sports last December. And yesterday all the subsequent mountain of rumblings was made official. No, 106.7 is not a perfect signal, with weakness in DC's northeastern suburbs, but it is a helluva a lot better than WTEM's 980. The key to JFK's success will be its drivetime shows. The Junks have long proven that they can get pretty good, not great, ratings. Will they do better with a sports talk format? If they focus on their forte, sports, and CBS provides them with better promotion, maybe they will. As for JFK's afternoon drive, former Redskin Lavar Arrington paired with current JFK middayer Chad Dukes - who knows. That's a completely untested wild card. But, with CBS now rolling out a national network of FM sports talkers, and with the Wizards signed, and maybe soon the Nationals and Capitals, too, CBS is in a very good place to make a success of the new JFK. However, the suits at CBS's DC HQ in Lanham should not underestimate the admiration longtime JFK listeners have for Mike O'Meara. He's been paired with Don Geronimo on JFK for many years and is in every respect a "radio god" in this market. And while his afternoon show was not cheap to produce, it did attract a strong stable of advertisers and had been trending upward in the latest ratings round-ups. You'd have thought that CBS could have treated Mike and his crew - Buzz, Robb, Joe, and BA - better, like maybe moving them over to the ratings-starved and currently jockless CBS sister 94.7, WTGB, where they could have done the morning show, and perhaps anchored a new, more workable format for that troubled station. Certainly, Mike deserves better than being shown the door.....
7/14 - DCRTV hears that Scott Shannon's "True Oldies Channel" 1960s/1970s pop oldies format will not be on Citadel's WJZW (105.9 FM) for much longer. We're hearing rumblings of something else coming to low-rated WJZW, which dumped smooth jazz in February 2008. No word on piped-in 105.9 morning man Don Imus's DC fate, either. Possible new formats - 1980s/1990s oldies, adult rock, rhythmic adult contemporary, maybe a relay or expansion of sister talker WMAL (630 AM). Stay tuned.....
7/13 -
DCRTV told you several weeks ago that a Westwood One deal to put the NFL Primetime game package, which includes the playoffs and Super Bowl, on CBS's Baltimore sports talker WJZ-FM, 105.7 The Fan, was part of a package deal to put the game package on a batch of CBS sports talkers, including the upcoming WJFK in DC. Now, Tom Taylor at Radio-Info.com tells us: "Has CBS scored the Westwood slate of NFL games for its new DC sports talker, WJFK? Heard that speculation over the weekend - that WTEM owner Dan Snyder (right) isn't happy to lose so much NFL play-by-play, to put it mildly. Of course the bottom layer of this - if it's true - is that Snyder is an NFL team owner as well as a radio station owner in the DC, Richmond, and Norfolk markets. He's used to getting his own way. Everybody expects WJFK to ditch talk for sports sometime in the next week. That would put it head-to-head with Snyder's WTEM".....7/10 - The rumor that DCRTV reported yesterday that CBS Radio is talking to Dan Snyder about running his Redskins on soon-to-launch sports talker WJFK, is being denied by sources at both Snyder's Red Zebra, which owns WTEM, which currently carries the team, and at CBS. However, yesterday's rumbling came from a high-level reliable source at JFK. DCRTV wonders: It's not out of the question that CBS Radio is just trying to "stick it" to Snyder on the eve of the launch of a major rival to his low-rated station. If the Skins were to move to JFK, they'd be on a major, closer-to-DC FMer and CBS would probably be paying Snyder a fee for the rights to air the games. Right now, the Skins air on a batch of Red Zebra outlets, with the flagship, ESPN 980, an AMer with an after-sunset directional signal that misses parts of Fairfax, Loudoun, and Montgomery. And Snyder pretty much pays himself the rights fee, since he airs the team on stations he owns. Stay tuned.....
7/9 -
Today's WJFK sports flip rumors. The biggie is that the Redskins could return to WJFK. We hear that CBS is talking to Redskins owner Dan Snyder, who owns sports talker WTEM, ESPN 980, about putting his team back on 106.7, where it was from 1995 to 2005. Also, we hear that WJFK's flip to sports could come next week, instead of 7/20, as predicted. Maybe Monday 7/13. We also hear that Jim Weiskopf, general sales manager of WJFK, is gone. He'll be replaced by "a guy from JLA." And we hear that Mike O'Meara's syndicated show, which is fed to several dozen stations across the country via Westwood One, will be discontinued.....7/8 - Someone forwarded us a copy of this invite (below). Something to do with WJFK's flip to sports? Stay tuned.....
7/7 -
The latest WJFK sports flip rumors we're hearing: The CBS station could flip from guy talk as soon as this Friday or Saturday, and not the 7/20 date that we've heard. The Junkies would be doing mornings. Chad Dukes would be paired with former Redskins Lavar Arrington for afternoons. The Washington Post's Mike Wise had been mentioned in middays, but that's not a certainty. Current afternooner Mike O'Meara and his crew are out. The show's in reruns this week, but he may have taped a "farewell message" that could air on the show's last day, we're told. We're also hearing rumors about a big shake-up in management of CBS Radio's DC cluster, with at least one major exec walking the plank. DCRTV also hears that several sports reporters/producers from Westwood One's Metro Traffic are heading over to JFK to do part-time work. And we're hearing more talk about a major format tweak at urban WPGC, possibly the installation of CBS's Amp/Now contemporary hit format, now airing in LA and NYC. Currently, none of CBS's four major DC area FMers are anywhere near the top 10 in the radio ratings.....7/7 - Oh, oh, oh, Sarah Palin might land at Fox News now that she's given up the keys to the Alaska governor's igloo. Buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz. Any politically-aware dipshit with half a brain (like me) could guess that. But MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Scarborough had to officially blurt it out yesterday, leading a whole batch of those ass-kissing blogger suck-up types (you know, the pervy clowns at Mediabastard, FishbowelDC, and the new Mediaist, er, Mediaism, no wait, it's Mediaite - that's gonna be a hard one to remember) to rush up to plant huge schmooches on the low-rated (does anyone listen to him on WMAL?) Scarborough's posterior for being such a brilliant and well-connected sage. It makes me wanna hurl.....
7/6 - Longtime Channel 4/WRC news great Jim Vance was back in the anchor chair on Monday evening. DCRTV reported rumblings in late June that Vance had surgery for a medical condition. A source had told us that Vance would be off until mid-July. Vance was co-anchoring NBC4's 6 PM newscast with Wendy Rieger. He missed the 11 PM newscast Monday. Doreen Gentzler is taking off the summer to deal with family issues. She's slated to return in September.....
7/6 - DC media veteran Carol Joynt tells us that her Nathan's Of Georgetown restaurant and bar is closing on 7/12. Lost the lease for the Wisconsin and M location. "After 40 years of serving millions of happy and loyal customers, and opening its doors 365 days of every year," she says. Joynt, who started her career as a news writer for Walter Cronkite at CBS News in the late-1960s, and went on to number of DC TV gigs at places like USA Today and with CNN's Larry King and PBS's Charlie Rose, had been doing her "Q&A Cafe" local media celeb cable TV show from Nathan's. No word on the show's fate.....
7/3 -
"This is a problem that stinks at the top." So said WMAL morning co-host Fred Grandy (right), who called for a front page apology to the Washington Post's readership about the so-called "salon" controversy (above newsblurb). He said that Post Publisher Katharine Weymouth essentially passed the buck yesterday by blaming the policy to give politicos and lobbyists access to Post and government biggies for payments as high as $250,000 on an unvetted promotions flier. Added former Congressman Grandy this morning, the Post management must say: "We have compromised our journalistic integrity." Jested Grandy's radio partner Andy Parks, "They'll probably put it in the (lower circulation) Saturday edition".....7/3 - DCRTV hears that the DC area's low-power analog TV Azteca America affiliate, Channel 69/WQAW, has asked the FCC to allow it to move its Crofton area transmitter to UHF channel 20, to offer digital coverage improvements the DC and Baltimore metros. DC's MyNetworkTV affiliate, Channel 20/WDCA, now operates its digital signal on UHF channel 35.....
7/2 - The Redskins have hired Larry Weisman of USA Today to be editorial director of the team's Media Department. We hear that he will work on "new media" public relations, involving the web, print, and TV. Asks Dave McKenna of the DC City Paper: "Does this mean Skins owner Dan Snyder cares about improving his relationship with the media? Or just one more signal that every good newspaperman's now going or already gone to PR or government? Or both?" Some may remember that Weisman coined the phrase "FedUpField" in regards to Snyder passing along expenses to ticket holders. The comment was made during a USA Today chat.....
7/2 -
Will today be the swan song for Mike O'Meara (right) on guy talker WJFK? There are rumors-a-plenty that the CBS station is flipping to sports talk on Monday, 7/20. And, we're hearing that afternooner O'Meara was due to take a two-week vacation. And, with tomorrow, Friday, being the official federal July 4th "day off" since the 4th falls on a Saturday, might today be the last day live for O'Meara on JFK? Rumors have it that JFK's morning Junkies will survive the format flip, but no word about O'Meara, who was paired with Don Geronimo until April 2008, when Geronimo left the station. UPDATE: We're told that O'Meara's been instructed not to do a "farewell show" today on JFK. Look for hints. Also: New rumors that CBS might move O'Meara to sister WTGB, Fresh 94.7, to do mornings. Stay tuned.....7/2 -
Will DC rock radio legend Cerphe (left) soon be rocking out in Rockville? Haven't heard anything specific, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him land at Clear Channel's classic hits/rock WBIG when his CBS Radio contract ends. Cerphe, who does the occasional bit for CBS's resurrected alt rock WHFS on 94.7's HD2, was last heard on "regular radio" via classic rock WTGB, which flipped to chick tunes in early April. Over the years, Cerphe's worked at WHFS, WAVA (when it was rock), DC101, and WJFK (then known as WBMW).....7/1 -
Jim Williams at washingtonexaminer.com has more on the widely-rumored sports talk format flip for CBS Radio "guy talker" WJFK, 106.7 FM. "I have confirmed that a number of Washington sports personalities have had conversations with management at WJFK about doing shows. The station has also spoken to a number of local sports producers and on air update people about the possible format change. Some of the names being floated out there are LaVar Arrington, Mike Wise, and former ESPN 980AM personalities Brian Mitchell and Al Koken. A number of Washington reporters - Examiner, Post and Times - have come up as possible show hosts or as regular guests... MASN, who already has a solid relationship with CBS Radio in Baltimore and airs the Anita Marks-Scott Garceau Show, would love to have a Washington partner and WJFK might fit that bill... Presently, the station airs both University Of Maryland and University Of Virginia sports. They also are the home of Fox Sports Radio in Washington and that would give them the rights to air the Steve Czaban (right) show as well as Dan Patrick." UPDATE: DCRTV hears that Karen Peterson, who is Patrick's affiliate sales manager, denies that there has been any new talk of him going to WJFK.....7/1 - DCRTV hears that Ernie Fears, the general sales manager of of Citadel talker WMAL (630 AM), has quit. This follows the departure of Shari Gonzalez, local sales manager, who quit WMAL a month ago. Todd Freundlich, WMAL's national sales manager, was fired in the "bloodbath" of February 2008. Chris Berry quit his WMAL general manager gig last year. Assistant program director and promotions head Jerry Klein quit WMAL a few months ago. There is only one local show on the WMAL's weekday airwaves - the AM drive "Grandy And Andy" program. "Look for some big time selling of assets by Citadel very soon, including what is left of WMAL," a local radio guru tells DCRTV. "All these smart, talented people leaving tells me they know something is up".....
7/1 - The Reliable Source gossip gals in the Washington Post tell us today that Owen Wilson and his film crew are finally heading out of town. So, does that mean we won't get any more daily updates about what the actor's eating/wearing/dating/doing? Sheesh. The RS column has mentioned Wilson at least a dozen times in the past month.....
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