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January 2013 to Present
By Dave HughesMay 8, 2013
Bob Ryan To Retire
Longtime DC TV weatherman Bob Ryan (right) will retire after the May "sweeps" TV ratings period. He currently does weather reports for Allbritton-owned Channel 7/WJLA's late newscasts. Ryan, 70, joined NBC-owned Channel 4/WRC in 1980, where he spent three decades before jumping to WJLA in 2010. He began his TV weather career at Boston's WCVB-TV. In 1978, Ryan became the first meteorologist to regularly appear on NBC's "Today" show. "I made the decision [to retire] before the new owner gets here," he tells the Washington Post. Last week, Allbritton announced that it will sell WJLA by the end of 2013.May 8, 2013
WTNT To Get 97.5 Booster In Bethesda
Vienna-based Metro Radio has acquired a low-power FM translator on 97.7 in Alexandria from Positive Alternative Radio for $130,000. Currently licensed with just 2-watts, the translator has a pending application with the FCC to relocate to Bethesda where it will move to 97.5 with 250-watts. Metro Radio is expected to use the new signal to simulcast talker WTNT, which is also on AM 730 and another low-power FMer in Chantilly, on 102.9. Positive Alternative Radio programs a Christian contemporary format on the Warrenton area's WPER, 89.9 FM, and Fredericksburg's WJYJ, 90.5 FM. Metro Radio recently started a low-power FM simulcast of its Spanish contemporary "La Ley" WKDV, 1460 AM, in Manassas on 106.3.
May 7, 2013
Glenn Sauter Dies
Glenn Sauter, 53, a Washington area-based radio veteran who hosted the nationally syndicated "Hits Of Yesteryear" 1950s and 1960s oldies radio show, died May 5th. He did WBIG weekend overnights in the 1990s, when he played some "wickedly obscure records," a colleague tells us. Sauter was at the Voice Of America for 27 years.
May 7, 2013
Danny Reese Dies
Baltimore radio veteran Danny Reese, 61, recently died in Florida. From the 1970s until the mid-1990s, he worked at WPOC, WCAO, and WITH, we're told.
May 5, 2013
Bill Evenson Dies
Bill Evenson, 91, has died in California of complications from pneumonia. The former Mutual Broadcasting White House correspondent and news anchor began his radio career in the 1930s as a child actor in radio soap operas. After on-air radio news stints in Baltimore, he became a correspondent for Mutual in Washington, covering the Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon administrations. In the 1990s, he moved to California and taught acting and directing, and produced an independent film.
May 3, 2013
Oliver Leaves WEAA
LaFontaine Oliver, general manager at Morgan State's WEAA since 2007, is leaving the Baltimore market jazz and talk station to run another public radio station, WMFE in Orlando. Before WEAA, 88.9 FM, Oliver worked at XM Satellite Radio and Radio One.
May 3, 2013
Steiner Moves To WEAA Mornings
Morgan State's WEAA announces that Marc Steiner will move his two hour show from 5 PM to 9 AM starting May 13th. The station's new morning line-up also includes "The Baltimore Blend" at 6 AM, Amy Goodman's "Democracy Now!" at 8 AM, and Michel Martin's "Tell Me More" at 11 AM.
May 2, 2013
Dianna Russini Joins 4
Dianna Russini joins Channel 4/WRC as a sports anchor and reporter. She comes from NBC's co-owned WVIT-TV in Hartford. Russini played soccer for and graduated from Fairfax's George Mason University. She's also worked at NY stations in NYC and Long Island.
May 1, 2013
Allbritton To Sell TVers, Including 7
Robert Allbritton, head of DC-based Allbritton Communications, is planning to sell his television stations, including DC ABC affiliate Channel 7/WJLA. No word of any potential buyers. Might ABC be interested in buying WJLA? Pens Robert in a staff memo, "This spring, after
careful deliberations, I have decided to explore a number of strategic options for the television
stations group including a possible sale... This has not been an easy decision for me and my family. It is without exaggeration that I can
say I grew up in television, with these stations, learning the business from my father and
sharing many memories and adventures with all of you." Allbritton Communications also owns a batch of TV stations throughout the Mid-Atlantic and South, including markets like Harrisburg, Roanoke-Lynchburg, and Little Rock. It doesn't appear that he's planning to sell his non-TV assets, like Politico. No word about NewsChannel 8. Robert's father and company founder, Joseph, died late last year. Robert confirms that he won't sell Politico.April 30, 2013
Circ Slump Continues For WaPo
The Washington Post Company reported an 85% drop in earnings, although after subtracting one-time items, profits from continuing operations fell by 55% while revenue inched up slightly. The company reported strong operating profits for its television broadcasting and cable divisions. But its Kaplan education unit lost money and its flagship newspaper continued to suffer steady and substantial declines in its circulation and print advertising. Daily circulation at the Post slipped 7.2% to 457,100 copies and Sunday circulation slid 7.7% to 659,500 copies in the first quarter of 2013, during which the Post implemented circulation price increases. Overall, the newspaper division reported an operating loss of $34.5 million in the quarter, but on a cash flow basis it lost only $5.4 million.
April 29, 2013
WTOP To Produce Morning Traffic Reports For 7
Hubbard all-newser WTOP and Allbritton ABC affiliate Channel 7/WJLA entered a new joint traffic partnership under which ABC7's morning traffic reports will be broadcast from WTOP's "glass-enclosed nerve center" studios, starting tomorrow, April 30th. WJLA's Amanda Meadows will report live six times an hour from 5 AM to 7 AM and twice an hour from 7 AM to 9 AM, with Rob Woodfork producing. "This new traffic partnership will provide ABC7 viewers with up-to-the-minute traffic information before they get behind the wheel, while reinforcing WTOP's image as the traffic authority in the region," says WJLA General Manager Bill Lord. DCRTV has told you that WJLA has been moving its morning traffic reports away from Total Traffic, which employs local traffic personalities like Lisa Baden, who used to be seen on 7's morning newscasts.
April 26, 2013
Jack Diamond Gone From Mix 107.3, Bert Weiss Replacement
The April 26th morning show was Jack Diamond's (right) last at Cumulus-owned hot adult contemporary WRQX, Mix 107.3. He's been at the station 24 years and we're told that his contract, which is up "soon," won't be renewed. Also, we are told that his replacement will be his former sidekick, Bert Weiss, who does a nationally syndicated morning radio show from Cumulus's contemporary hit Q100 in Atlanta. Mix 107.3 is looking for a younger female demo-skewing show that will better compete with top-rated Kane over on Clear Channel's contemporary hit Hot 99.5, WIHT, we hear.April 24, 2013
105.7's Ed Norris Injured In Motorcycle Accident
Ed Norris (right), morning show host at Baltimore sports talker WJZ-FM, 105.7 The Fan, was airlifted to Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore Wednesday after laying down his motorcycle to avoid hitting a truck in rural Harford County. Belair Patch reports that Norris was driving his Victory motorcycle northbound on Route 1 in Darlington around 2:30 PM. At the same time, the driver of a GMC truck made a left turn from Route 161 onto southbound Route 1, but allegedly failed to yield right of way to the motorcycle. Norris layed down the motorcycle to avoid hitting the truck and successfully avoided hitting another vehicle, according to Maryland State Police. Norris sustained injuries from the motorcycle skid that did not appear to be life-threatening, police add. He was flown by medevac helicopter to shock trauma as a precaution. Norris is a former superintendent of Maryland State Police and former police commissioner in Baltimore.April 19, 2013
Allen Neuharth Dies
Allen Neuharth, the newspaper visionary and former Gannett chairman who founded McLean-based USA Today, helped create a museum dedicated to news and became one of the industry's most influential and sometimes controversial figures, died on April 19th after a fall at his home in Cocoa Beach FL. He was 89.
April 17, 2013
Preston Davis Dies
Preston Davis, the president of broadcast operations and engineering for the ABC Television Network Group since 1993 and a 35-year veteran of the company, has died at the age of 63. A native of Norfolk VA, Davis joined ABC in 1976, beginning as an engineer in Washington DC, and subsequently moving into various positions of increasing responsibility involving field and studio operations in Washington, Atlanta, and New York.
April 17, 2013
Julie Alexandria Is MASN's New Nats Reporter
The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network has hired Julie Alexandria (left) to serve as its sideline reporter for Nationals coverage. She's hosted "Mets Weekly" for SportsNet New York and has been working as a college football sideline reporter for Fox. She also hosted "Ballpark Figures," an online baseball show for Bloomberg Sports, and previously toured Big Ten schools for the Big Ten Network's "Tailgate 48" program. Alexandria replaces Kristina Akra, who jumped to the MLB Network in March.April 17, 2013
Craig Heist Gone From WTOP
Sports reporter Craig Heist (right) is no longer at Hubbard all-newser WTOP. It was an "amicable" parting, we're told. "He left on his own... He's exploring opportunities both in DC and Baltimore," a station source tells us. Heist, whose radio sports career began at Ocean City's WKHI during the 1980s, joined WTOP in 1999. He's a three-time winner of the Maryland Sportscaster Of The Year award from the National Association Of Sportscasters And Sportswriters. More: Our sources at CBS Radio won't confirm or deny that he could be jumping to all-newser WNEW and sports talker WJFK. Yet more: A local radio guru tells us: "Double check what's happening to sports at WTOP. Heisty gone (fed up), veterans George Wallace and Jonathan Warner reduced to nights and weekends. Part-timers hours reduced to nothing - they're mostly in the traffic center now. They've also cut the ISDN line from Camden Yards."April 16, 2013
WAMU, WTOP, WIHT Top DC Radio Heap For March
The Washington market radio ratings for the month of March. Full-day, age 6+: 1) WAMU [ME 1st, ATC 1st], 2) WTOP [AM drive 2nd, PM drive 2nd], 3) WIHT [Kane 3rd], 4) WASH [Loo 5th], 5) WHUR [Harvey 5th, Baisden 6th], 6) WMMJ [Joyner 4th], 7) WKYS [Parr 7th], 8) WPRS, 9) WBIG, 10) WMAL [MOTM 9th], 11) WIAD [McFly 15th], 12) WMZQ [Boxer 15th] and WWDC [Elliot 9th] and WGTS, 15) WPGC [Pablo 17th], 16) WRQX [Diamond 11th], 17) WLZL [Biagi 17th], 18) WETA-FM, 19) WTEM [M&M 23rd, Korny 10th, Czaban 18th] and WFRE, 21) WJFK-FM [Junks 13th, A&D 20th], 22) WBQB and WDCN, 24) WNEW [AM drive 23rd, PM drive 23rd], 25) WQSR, 26) WERQ and WINC-FM, 28) WPFW and WAFY and WRBS-FM and WMAL STREAM. 
Age 25-54: 1) WTOP [AM drive 2nd, PM drive 1st] and WIHT [Kane 5th], 3) WAMU [ME 1st, ATC 3rd] 4) WASH [Loo 8th], 5) WMMJ [Joyner 3rd], 6) WHUR [Harvey 4th, Baisden 9th], 7) WKYS [Parr 6th], 8) WBIG, 9) WPRS, 10) WWDC [Elliot 7th], 11) WLZL [Biagi 13th], 12) WIAD [McFly 13th], 13) WRQX [Diamond 12th], 14) WGTS, 15) WMZQ [Boxer 18th], 16) WPGC [Pablo 19th], 17) WJFK-FM [Junks 10th, A&D 18th], 18) WTEM [M&M 22nd, Korny 12th, Czaban 16th], 19) WDCN, 20) WMAL [MOTM 17th], 21) WINC-FM, 22) WQSR and WETA-FM, 24) WERQ, 25) WFRE, 26) WLIF and WRBS-FM and WNEW [AM drive 27th, PM drive 25th], 29) WIYY and WAFY and WBQB.April 16, 2013
WERQ Tops Balto Radio Heap For March
The Baltimore market radio ratings for the month of March. Full-day, age 12+: 1) WERQ [Smiley 1st], 2) WWIN-FM [Joyner 3rd], 3) WPOC [DeYoung 2nd], 4) WLIF [G&D 5th], 5) WWMX [Maria 11th], 6) WJZ-FM [N&D 4th], 7) WRBS-FM, 8) WZBA [Klug 10th] and WZFT [Kane 12th], 10) WIYY [M&A 9th], 11) WQSR, 12) WBAL-AM [Nehman 7th], 13) WYPR [ME 8th], 14) WBJC, 15) WCAO, 16) WTOP, 17) WHUR, 18) WCBM [S&F 15th] and WKYS, 20) WPGC and WWDC and WAMU, 23) WBIG, 24) WRQX and WIHT, 26) WLZL, 27) WASH and WMZQ, 29) WGTS, 20) WEAA and WXCY and WNEW and 975HFS.
April 14, 2013
DC Radio & TV Vet Thomas Hyre Dies
Emmy Award-winning audio engineer and broadcasting pioneer Thomas Hyre, 74, died April 6. A Washington area native, Hyre attended American University and was a founding member of WAMU, 88.5 FM, and the engineer on duty for the station's inaugural broadcast. He was instrumental in developing the National Educational Radio Network, which subsequently grew into National Public Radio. During the late 1950s and 1960s, Hyre worked with every major radio and TV station in the Washington area, including Channel 9, then WTOP-TV. During his tenure at Channel 5/WTTG, he was the original Deputy Dog, and worked alongside Jim Henson during the early development of the Muppet characters. In the early 1970s, Hyre was brought to New York City by WNBC-TV, beginning his more-than-40-year career as an audio engineer for NBC.
April 12, 2013
Washington City Paper Moves
Washington City Paper is moving in early May from Adams Morgan to office space at 1400 I Street NW at McPherson Square. The freebie weekly has been at 2390 Champlain Street NW since 1993, but the building, which also houses Pacifica's WPFW, is slated to be torn down this year. City Paper will be subleasing office space from by National Strategies, a lobbying and consulting firm. The new offices will be just temporary, according to City Paper Publisher Amy Austin, as the paper continues its search for a long-term home.
April 9, 2013
More DC Radio Revenue Numbers For 2012
DCRTV recently reported that all-news WTOP was the top ad revenue billing radio station in the whole USA in 2012 at $64.6 million. Now, we get a look at some other DC market numbers from BIA. Urban contemporary WPGC placed a distant 2nd at $19.4 million. Adult urban contemporary WHUR and hot adult contemporary WRQX, Mix 107.3, were tied for 3rd with $15.9 million each. Sports talker WTEM, ESPN 980, was 5th with $14.2 million. Urban contemporary WKYS was 6th with $13.9 million. Contemporary hit WIHT, Hot 99.5, was 7th with $12.5 million. Adult contemporary WASH was 8th with $12.2 million. Alternative rocker WWDC, DC101, was 9th with $11.6 million. Country WMZQ and news talker WMAL were tied for 10th with $11.3 million each. Sports talker WJFK, 106.7 The Fan, was 12th with $10.8 million. Spanish contemporary WLZL, El Zol, and adult urban contemporary WWMJ, Majic 102.3, were tied for 13th with $10.6 million each. Classic rock/hits WBIG was 15th with $10.4 million. Way down the list at $1.1 million was new all-newser WNEW, according to the stats.
April 9, 2013
WLIF Tops Balto Radio Rev Heap For 2012
Adult contemporary WLIF was the top ad revenue biller in the Baltimore market in 2012, according to figures from BIA, at $13.4 million. Country WPOC and adult urban contemporary WWIN-FM, Magic 95.9, were tied for 2nd with $11.9 million each. Urban contemporary WERQ, 92Q, was 4th with $11 million. Rocker WIYY was 5th with $9.4 million. News talker WBAL-AM was 6th with $9 million. Hot adult contemporpary WWMX, Mix 106.5, was 7th with $8.8 million. Adult hits WQSR, Jack 102.7, was 8th with $7.5 million. Contemporary hit WZFT, Z104.3, was 9th with $5.2 million. And sports talker WJZ-FM, 105.7 The Fan, placed 10th with $4.7 million.
April 5, 2013
Chilli Amar Leaves Mix 107.3 For WASH
Chilli Amar, long heard on Culumus's hot adult contemporary WRQX, Mix 107.3, is leaving for Clear Channel's adult contemporary WASH, 97.1. WASH morning man Loo Katz has been missing a co-host since Lori Brooks left earlier this year and Amar will be her replacement.
April 5, 2013
Danni Starr Joins Kane's Show
Danni Starr joins Clear Channel contemporary hit WIHT, Hot 99.5's morning Kane show as a sidekick, replacing Sarah Fraser, who announced earlier this year that she's heading to NYC to pursue a TV career. Starr had been heard on Minneapolis rocker KTWN. Kane's show is also heard in Baltimore on Clear Channel's contemporary hit WZFT, Z104.3.
April 3, 2013
Jane Henson Dies
Jane Henson, the wife of famed Muppets creator Jim Henson, died April 2nd at her Connecticut home following a battle with cancer. She was 78. She and Jim met in a University Of Maryland puppetry class in the mid-1950s, and they became creative and business partners in the development of the Muppets. In 1954, while attending Northwestern High School, Jim began working for DC's Channel 9, then WTOP-TV, creating puppets for a Saturday morning children's show. As a freshman at UMD, he created "Sam And Friends," a five-minute puppet show for DC's Channel 4/WRC. The characters on "Sam And Friends" were forerunners of Muppets. While Jim was working at WRC in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Jane did a magazine show for the station, "Afternoon," which was aimed at housewives. Jim died in 1990. At right: Jim and Jane at WRC in 1955.April 1, 2013
Spanish WKDV Now On 106.3
There's a new Spanish language FMer in the DC market. Metro Radio has just started using 106.3 from Manassas to simulcast La Ley, WKDV, 1460 AM, also in Manassas. Metro had been using the 95.9 frequency from a tower in Gainesville, but it was causing interference to Fredericksburg area classic rocker WGRQ, which also uses 95.9. The new signal features 80-watts and can be heard into populous Fairfax County. The 106.3 signal is the third Spanish language FMer in the DC market, joining El Zol, WLZL, on 107.9 and La Nueva, WDCN, on 87.7, which is actually a low-power analog TV operation on channel 6.
March 27, 2013
WTOP Top Ad Revenue Biller Nationwide For 3rd Straight Year
Hubbard all-newser WTOP is the top ad revenue billing radio station in the whole country for the third straight year. It billed $64.6 million in 2012, up from $60 million in 2011. That's according to stats from Chantilly VA-based BIA/Kelsey. Clear Channel's contemporary hit KIIS in LA was number two at $56.8 million. LA is the second largest radio market, DC is eighth. Coming in third was contemporary hit WHTZ in the largest market, NYC, with $48.2 million, also a Clear Channel station.March 26, 2013
13 Hires Miss America Candidate For Weather
Chelsea Ingram leaves Burlington VT's WFFF-TV to replace meteorologist Bernadette Woods at CBS-owned Channel 13/WJZ in Baltimore. Woods is joining the staff at Climate Central in Princeton NJ. Ingram represented Vermont at this year's Miss America pageant in Las Vegas. She has a degree in meteorology from North Carolina State University.
March 25, 2013
Kristina Akra To MLB Network
Kristina Akra has left the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, where she's been the sideline reporter for the Washington Nationals since early 2012. She's jumping to the MLB Network, where she'll debut April 1st on the "MLB Now" show with Brian Kenny and Harold Reynolds. Akra will appear across MLB Network's studio programming.
March 22, 2013
Matt Bosson To WASH Afternoons
Matt Bosson has been named afternoon drive host and assistant program director for Clear Channel's adult contemporary WASH, 97.1 FM. Bosson is an NYC area radio veteran who began his career at that city's rhythmic contemporary WKTU. He's also worked at stations in Poughkeepsie NY and Sussex NJ. Bosso replaces Bill Worthington, who left WASH in late January after 20 years.
March 21, 2013
Baisden Out Of Syndie Deal, Off HUR
Afternoon urban radio talker Michael Baisden (left) has parted ways with his national radio syndicator, Cumulus Media Networks. And he went missing from his show yesterday, which is heard locally on Howard University's adult urban contemporary WHUR, 96.3 FM. Baisden was "locked out" of his studio with a "best of" show airing. He Tweeted that his Cumulus deal ends March 29th and that he'll be leaving radio. Cumulus didn't like that and ended his show's distribution a week early. The word is that he will be off the air for a number of months while he works on a new distribution deal. Baisden reliably propelled WHUR well into the top 10 in the DC market afternoon radio ratings. No word on what WHUR will air in his absence. Baisden was heard in more than 78 markets nationwide with more than 8 million listeners.March 21, 2013
Derek Hunter Joins WBAL Radio
Derek Hunter (right) will join the weekday lineup of Baltimore news talker WBAL, 1090 AM, in the noon to to 2 PM slot starting April 8. He's worked for the Heritage Foundation, was press secretary for Senator Conrad Burns, served as a telecom and education analyst for Americans For Tax Reform, and helped start the Daily Caller website. He's also been a columnist for Townhall.com, a contributor to Breitbart News, and an election blogger for the New York Daily News. His writing has appeared in more than 150 newspapers, including the Washington Times and Baltimore Sun. Hunter has been doing occasional hosting work at DC news talker WMAL and at night on WBAL. Clarence "C4" Mitchell will continue doing his WBAL show from 10 AM to noon and also host "The Week In Review" on Fridays from noon to 2 PM.March 20, 2013
Gamut Now On 820
Hubbard gives its progressive rock/eclectic music non-formatted The Gamut an analog broadcast signal, 820 AM, which is based in the Frederick area and covers much of the DC metro. Replacing the simulcast of Federal News Radio, which remains on 1500 AM, WFED, and at federalnewsradio.com. The 820 signal will keep the WWFD call and continue to carry sports events, including the Capitals, Wizards, and Ravens, plus weekend paid programming. You can also hear The Gamut on the HD Radio digital FM subchannels of all-newser WTOP's 103.5 and 107.7 signals. The Gamut, which debuted in 2011 with a 4,500 song playlist, has been expanded to 10,000 songs and will feature an array of recorded music types that span from pre-World War II to present day. The sampling of artists includes Scissor Sisters, Doris Day, Mumford And Sons, Devo, Elvis Presley, Boney M, and Johnny Cash. "Our hope is that by being on 820 AM listeners will sample The Gamut and then want to listen on our HD signal at 103.5-3 as well," says Joel Oxley, who heads Hubbard's DC radio cluster. The station was born from the extensive and unique music collection of WTOP engineer Dave Kolesar with input from broadcast consultant Sam Brown.March 20, 2013
Sun Names Trif Alatzas Exec Editor
Trif Alatzas has been named executive editor of the Baltimore Sun. He succeeds Mary Corey, who died of cancer in February. Alatzas has been head of digital media at the Sun since 2010. Says Sun Publisher Tim Ryan in a staff memo: "Trif is one of our own - Baltimore native, Sun intern, talented journalist, digital media expert. We are fortunate to have Trif take the lead at such an important time for our company." The Sun's owner, the Chicago-based Tribune Company, is reportedly shopping its newspaper chain to a single buyer, perhaps the right-wing Koch brothers.
March 19, 2013
Washington Examiner To Go Weekly, Cut 90
The freebie daily tabloid Washington Examiner will become a weekly, national politics-centric publication come June. Web-only reporting will continue, although about 30 employees will be let go, some say. However, other estimates indicate that as many as 90 jobs could be lost. Examiner staffers were told that the paper would become a center-right version of political publications like the Hill, during a meeting this morning. The local daily newspaper, owned by righty media baron Philip Anschutz's Clarity Media, will continue to be published through June 14 with a new website launching June 17. The first issue of the weekly will debut June 20. The Examiner will eliminate coverage of local news, sports, and entertainment, with the new weekly edition focusing on politics. Editor Stephen Smith and Executive Editor Mark Tapscott will remain. The Examiner was born seven years ago from the remains of the old Journal local newspapers.
March 19, 2013
WAMU, WTOP, WERQ Top February Radio Ratings
The February monthly radio ratings for the DC market. Full-day, age 6+: 1) WAMU [ME 2nd, ATC 2nd], 2) WTOP [AM drive 1st, PM drive 1st]. 3) WIHT [Lane 3rd], 4) WASH [Loo 4th], 5) WHUR [Harvey 6th, Baisden 6th], 6) WMMJ [Joyner 5th], 7) WMAL [MOTM 7th], 8) WKYS [Parr 8th], 9) WPRS, 10) WBIG, 11) WMZQ [Boxer 12th], 12) WWDC [Elliot 9th], 13) WIAD [McFly 15th] and WGTS, 15) WPGC [P&F 18th] and WRQX [Diamond 13th], 17) WLZL [Biagi 15th], 18) WETA-FM and WFRE, 20) WJFK-FM [Junks 14th, A&D 18th] and WTEM [M&M 22nd, Korny 9th, Czaban 20th], 22) WNEW [AM drive 22nd, PM drive 22nd], 23) WDCN, 24) WBQB, 25) WQSR, 26) WERQ, 27) WINC-FM, 28) WAFY and WPFW and WAVA-FM, 31) WJYJ and WLIF, 33) WKDV and WWEG and WRBS-FM and WGRX and WIYY and WGRQ and WFLS and WTNT. Full-day, age 25-54: 1) WTOP (AM drive 1st, PM drive 1st], 2) WIHT [Kane 3rd], 3) WAMU [ME 2nd, ATC 3rd], 4) WASH [Loo 7th], 5) WMMJ [Joyner 3rd] and WHUR [Harney 5th, Baisden 7th], 7) WKYS [Parr 8th], 8) WBIG and WPRS, 10) WWDC [Elliot 6th], 11) WLZL [Biagi 12th], 12) WRQX [Diamond 13th], 13) WGTS, 14) WMZQ [Boxer 16th] and WIAD [McFly 14th], 16) WPGC [P&F 19th], 17) WJFK-FM [Junks 10th, A&D 17th], 18) WTEM [M&M 21st, Korny 9th, Czaban 18th], 19) WMAL [MOTM 18th], 20) WDCN, 21) WNEW [AM drive 22nd, PM drive 21st], 22) WERQ and WETA-FM and WINC-FM, 25) WFRE, 26) WLIF and WQSR, 28) WBQB, 29) WKDV and WWEG and WRBS-FM and WIYY and WAFY, 34) WPFW. The Baltimore radio ratings for the month of February. Full-week, age 12+: 1) WERQ [Smiley 1st], 2) WLIF [G&D 3rd], 3) WWIN-FM [Joyner 5th], 4) WPOC [DeYoung 2nd], 5) WWMX [JJ&R 9th] and WZFT [Kane 12th], 7) WZBA [Klug 6th], 8) WJZ-FM [N&D 4th], 9) WIYY [M&A 6th], 10) WRBS-FM, 11) WBAL-AM [Nehman 11th], 12) WQSR, 13) WYPR [ME 9th], 14) WCBM [S&F 13th], 15) WTOP, 16) WCAO, 17) WKYS and WHUR and WWDC, 20) WBJC and WAMU, 22) WPGC, 23) WIHT, 24) WBIG, 25) WMZQ, 26) WRQX, 27) WXCY, 28) WASH, 29) WAVA-FM and 975HFS and WNEW, 32) WLZL and WTMD and WEAA and WIAD and WGTS.
March 19, 2013
Ocean City Area Radio Vet Mitch Scott Dies
Eastern Shore radio veteran Mitch Scott (left) died March 17th due to complications from leukemia at age 56. He owned Georgetown DE-based Great Scott Broadcasting, which started with two radio stations in Sussex County in the 1960s. Over the years, Scott grew the company's presence on Delmarva by adding more stations, including OC 104, Big 98.5, and 93.5 The Beach.March 18, 2013
WaPo To Erect Paywall Around Website
This summer, the Washington Post will start charging frequent users of its website, asking those who look at more than 20 articles or multimedia features a month to pay a fee, although the paper has not yet decided how much it will charge. Home delivery subscribers will have free access to all of the Post's digital products, while students, teachers, school administrators, government employees, and military personnel will have unlimited access to the website while in their schools and workplaces. Access to the Post's home page, section front pages, and classified ads will not be limited.
March 18, 2013
7's Pamela Brown To CNN
Anchor and reporter Pamela Brown (right) leaves Channel 7/WJLA to join CNN. She's moving to NYC to work on CNN's revamped morning show. "Pam is an outstanding reporter who made her mark in Washington DC with exceptional coverage of domestic breaking news and enterprise reporting," says Ken Jautz, executive vice president of CNN-US. "The passion in her work is evident and we are so happy to have her join the CNN team."March 15, 2013
Donielle Flynn Leaves WRNR For Detroit Gig
Donielle Flynn (right) is leaving Annapolis progressive rocker WRNR-FM, 103.1, to join the morning show, hosted by Jay Towers, at Clear Channel's adult hits WNIC in Detroit. It's a return to Clear Channel for Flynn, who worked at the company's DC alternative rocker DC101, WWDC, before heading to Annapolis. Before DC101, Flynn worked at Philadelphia rockers WYSP and WMMR and at a Detriot rocker in the late 1990s.March 11, 2013
Lisa de Moraes To Leave WaPo
Washington Post television columnist Lisa de Moraes will leave the paper at the end of May. de Moraes, the author of the Post's "The TV Column," has spent 15 years with the paper, the last six of which saw her traveling between the east coast and Los Angeles, where her husband lives. She attributed her departure to a desire to be with her husband in California. "My husband is based in LA, and I've decided I don't want to do the bi-coastal thing anymore," de Moraes, who spent almost a decade at the Hollywood Reporter, told Politico. "I've moving to Los Angeles so I can live with my husband."
March 7, 2013
NPR Editor Brenda Box Dies
Brenda Box, 58, who edited newscasts at NPR, has died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. The Springfield VA resident once was a Capitol Hill correspondent for USA Today Broadcasting/Gannett News Service, worked as an anchor for the UPI and NBC/Mutual radio networks, and served a reporter for West Virginia Public Radio and WTOP before coming to DC-based NPR 10 years ago. She was a long-time member of the National Association Of Black Journalists, winning an NABJ Excellence award for a series on black pioneers. The Gannett News Service honored Box for radio coverage of the 20th anniversary of the Civil Rights March on Washington.
March 4, 2013
WRC Veteran Gayle Perkins Dies
We're just now hearing that Gayle Perkins (later Atkins) died of cancer on December 15th in NYC. She was editorial director at Channel 4/WRC in the 1980s, and was a reporter and editor at that station's news radio outlet, WRC-AM, 980, in the 1970s. She later became a member of the New York social scene and married a prominent attorney.
February 28, 2013
Gail Huff Resigns From 7
Channel 7/WJLA reporter Gail Huff has resigned. She's the wife of Scott Brown, the former US Senator from Massachusetts. Huff joined WJLA in 2010 after many years as a reporter with Boston's WCVB-TV. "It has been an amazing two and a half year experience - working with so many dedicated professionals," Huff wrote today in a memo to colleagues. "I know this is not goodbye. Our paths are destined to cross again in the future." There are rumblings that her husband, a Republican, may run for Massachusetts governor.
February 28, 2013
Sunni Replaces Free On PGC Mornings
Free is no longer paired with Pablo on CBS Radio's urban contemporary WPGC, 95.5 FM. We're told that she Tweeted that February 27th was her last day on-air at the station. The PGC morning show has been struggling in the ratings. It looks like her replacement is Sunni, who wrote on her Facebook page on the same day: "Check me out tomorrow morning 6 AM -10 AM as I join the WPGC morning show! Super excited!!"
February 27, 2013
Asendio Joins MarketWatch
Jim Asendio, former news director at WAMU, is now a freelance anchor at the MarketWatch Radio Network, which is based in DC. He does twice an hour business newscasts and feature stories for many major market stations including WTOP, plus major CBS all-newsers in NYC, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles. "I started this month and am filling in as needed. It's great to be back on the air, especially on stations where I once worked," he tells us.
February 27, 2013
Amelia Segal Joins 4's Weather Team
Channel 4/WRC hires Amelia Segal (right) for its weather team. A native of Frederick County MD, she comes from a weather reporting gig at WIVB-TV and WLNO-TV in Buffalo. Also, NBC-owned WRC announces "significant investments" in its weather resources and technology, including a more expansive network of cameras and a new weather app.February 27, 2013
Baltimore Sun Veteran Mary Corey Dies
Mary Corey, the first woman to hold the top editorial post at the Baltimore Sun, died February 26 of breast cancer. She was 49. Corey was named senior vice president and director of content at the Tribune-owned paper in 2010. She was the first woman to hold the post in the Sun's 176-year history. Corey joined the Sun in 1987 as an editorial assistant and was quickly promoted to features writer. She later served as assistant national editor and national correspondent. She held various editing roles in the features department from 1998 to 2003, and was promoted to assistant managing editor for features.
February 22, 2013
WaPo Sees 9% Circ Drop In 2012
Revenue at the Washington Post Company's newspaper operations was down 7% in 2012, compared with 2011. Revenue from print advertising was down 12% in the fourth quarter of 2012 and 14% for the year. Online revenue was up, with a 6% increase in online display ad revenue comparing 2012 with 2011. Daily circulation in 2012 at the company flagship Washington Post went down nearly 9%, to 471,800, over the previous year, and Sunday circulation was down about 6% percent, to 687,000.
February 21, 2013
Bernadette Woods Leaving 13
Bernadette Woods (right), a meteorologist at Baltimore's Channel 13/WJZ for the past seven years, is leaving the CBS-owned station to join Climate Central, a non-profit firm in Princeton NJ that focuses on climate change. "No other weathercaster on Baltimore TV seems as deeply engaged and delighted by the science of the job as Woods. In the best sense of the word, at times, she seems like an absolute weather wonk," writes Baltimore Sun media critic David Zurawik. "Baltimore TV is losing one of its best with this departure," he adds.February 19, 2013
WTOP & WAMU Top DC Radio Ratings For January
Public radio news talker WAMU and all-news WTOP top the DC market monthly radio ratings for January. Full-day, age 6+: 1) WAMU [ME 1st, ATC 1st], 2) WTOP [AM drive 2nd, PM drive 2nd], 3) WASH [L&L 3rd], 4) WIHT [Kane 4th], 5) WHUR [Harvey 6th, Baisden 5th], 6) WKYS [Parr 5th], 7) WPRS, 8) WMMJ [Joyner 7th], 9) WGTS, 10) WWDC [Elliot 9th], 11) WMAL [MOTM 9th] and WRQX [Diamond 11th], 13) WBIG and WPGC [P&F 18th], 15) WMZQ [Boxer 15th], 16) WIAD [McFly 16th], 17) WLZL [Biagi 17th] and WETA-FM, 19) WTEM [M&M 22nd, Czaban 20th], 20) WFRE, 21) WJFK-FM [Junks 13th, A&D 18th], 22) WDCN, 23) WBQB, 24) WNEW [AM drive 24th, PM drive 24th], 25) WINC-FM, 26) WERQ and WPFW, 28) WAFY and WLIF and WQSR, 31) WAVA-FM, 32) WJYJ and WKDV and WIYY and WBQH and WRBS-FM and WFLS, 38) WTNT and WACA and WGRQ. Age 25-54: 1) WTOP [AM drive 1st, PM drive 1st], 2) WIHT [Kane 5th], 3) WAMU [ME 2nd, ATC 3rd], 4) WASH [L&L 6th], 5) WKYS [Parr 3rd] and WHUR [Harvey 4th, Baisden 5th], 7) WPRS, 8) WMMJ [Joyner 8th], 9) WWDC [Elliot 7th], 10) WGTS, 11) WRQX [Diamond 10th], 12) WLZL [Biagi 12th], 13) WBIG, 14) WIAD [McFly 15th] and WPGC [P&F 18th], 16) WMZQ [Boxer 18th] and WJFK-FM [Junks 10th, A&D 12th], 18) WTEM [M&M 20th, Czaban 19th], 19) WDCN, 20) WMAL [MOTM 17th], 21) WFRE, 22) WINC-FM, 23) WETA-FM, 24) WNEW [AM drive 24th, PM drive 22nd], 25) WLIF and WERQ, 27) WBQB and WQSR and WPFW, 30) WRBS-FM, 31) WIYY and WAFY, 33) WKDV and WBQH and WWEG, 36) WJYJ and WACA and WAVA-FM and WGRQ and WFLS. The Baltimore radio ratings for the month of January, full-day age 12+: 1) WERQ, 2) WLIF, 3) WPOC, 4) WWIN-FM, 5) WJZ-FM, 6) WWMX, 7) WZFT, 8) WIYY and WRBS-FM, 10) WZBA, 11) WBAL-AM and WQSR and WYPR, 14) WCBM, 15) WTOP, 16) WHUR and WCAO and WWDC, 19) WRQX and WBJC, 21) WKYS, 22) WPGC and WAMU, 24) WBIG and WIHT, 26) WMZQ and WXCY, 28) WAVA-FM, 29) WASH, 30) 975HFS and WNEW and WLZL and WIAD, 34) WEAA, 25) WTMD and WGTS and WOLB.February 19, 2013
Joan Jones Joins WTOP
Joan Jones joins Hubbard all-newser WTOP to be a fulltime fill-in anchor. She comes from Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal Radio Network, where she's been writing and anchoring network broadcasts and customized business updates for major market stations. Prior to joining DJ/WSJRN, Jones was the morning news anchor at CBS news talker WPHT in Philadelphia and the morning co-host on that city's adult contemporary WBEB. She also worked as a Metro Traffic reporter for radio stations in the Philadelphia area.
February 18, 2013
Ray Freeman Dies
Longtime announcer Ray Freeman, 78, of Bowie died February 16th at a local medical facility. He came to Washington in the late 1960s, and worked at WMAL-AM/FM, when the stations were owned by the Evening Star Broadcasting Company. He later worked at Channel 20/WDCA as booth announcer. In the 1980s, Freeman joined the Voice Of America, first with VOA Europe, before taking a staff position in the Broadcast Production Branch as a studio director, announcer, and news reader for VOA Special English newscasts. In 1998, Freeman joined the VOA Music Branch, where he hosted the "American Gold" oldies show, and later was host of "Border Crossings," VOA's weekday request program. Freeman retired in 2003.
February 12, 2013
WASH Loses Lori Brooks
Lori Brooks is leaving the "Loo And Lori" morning show on Clear Channel's adult contemporary WASH, 97.1 FM. Her last day will be Wednesday, after 10 years at the top-rated station. "It's with great thought that I made the decision to move closer to my parents in Pennsylvania to be able to care for them, and my father who recently underwent major surgery and has has several complications," she writes at washfm.com. She's the second high-profile talent to leave WASH of late. Earlier this month, DCRTV reported that Bill Worthington was gone from his afternoon/evening slot after 20 years at the station. Pictured at right: Lori and her co-host, longtime DC radio veteran Loo Katz.February 8, 2013
O'Brien To Head Cumulus DC
DC radio veteran Mark O'Brien (right) replaces Sam Rogers as the market manager for Cumulus's two radio stations in the DC market - news talker WMAL, 105.9 FM/630 AM, and hot adult contemporary Mix 107.3, WRQX. O'Brien, who spent many years in the DC market handling media management, advertising, and marketing, comes from Jacksonville, where he most-recently served as market manager for Clear Channel. O'Brien was vice president and general manager for WASH and DC101 from 1993 to 2000. He was vice president of ad sales for WTEM-owner Red Zebra in 2006 and 2007, before spending five years with Metro Traffic, now Total Traffic. Last week, DCRTV first reported that Rogers was heading to a top advertising gig at Silver Spring-based Radio One.February 6, 2013
Shelby Whitfield Dies
Shelby Whitfield died on February 5th at age 77. In the 1960s, Whitfield was the morning sports guy on Johnny Holliday's morning show on WWDC radio, as well as the radio play-by-play man with Tony Roberts and Ron Menchine during the last few years of the Washington Senators in the late 1960s and early 1970s. "Shelby also did one of the first sports talk shows on Washington radio Saturday evenings from Franny O'Brian's restaurant," Holliday tells us. He also was sports director of ABC Radio Sports for more than 20 years with well-known voices like Dan Lovett, Fred Manfra, and Holliday as his anchors on the ABC networks. "He was a terrific broadcaster and one of the nicest people in a very tough business," Holliday adds. Whitfield was the sports director of DC-based AP Radio in the 1970s, before joining WABC radio in NYC.
February 1, 2013
Bill Worthington Leaves WASH
DCRTV hears that Bill Worthington (left) is gone from Clear Channel's adult contemporary WASH, 97.1 FM, after 20 years. Late Friday, the afternoon/evening host posted this on his Facebook page: "I've done my last show at 97.1 WASH-FM and I am going to miss all my radio friends and all those wonderfully loyal listeners, many of whom have listened to the station since they were children. My fellow jocks, those in promotion, sales, engineering and programming are all remarkably highly-achieving professionals. It has always been a bonus that they are also genuinely nice people. I love all of you. I had a great run at the radio ranch, but now it's onward! It's a new day - quite exciting, if you ask me."January 31, 2013
Glenn Hollis Returns
DCRTV hears that DC radio veteran Glenn Hollis (right) can be heard again. For many years, he hosted an evening love songs show on adult contemporary WASH, 97.1 FM. Hollis tells us: "I am returning to the radio via the internet. I can't wait. I have received so many requests to return to radio and felt that this was the right time to do a show. Love song requests and dedications/messages via Skype, phone and chat." At at glennhollis.com. Hollis, who was heard on WASH from 1994 to 2006, and then later did a Sunday morning brunch show for the station, had been running a picture framing shop in Frederick with his wife, Irene. More: Hollis tells us, "We got rid of the frame shop a couple of years ago. That was a great job. The post office calls us Frederick, but we are really in Urbana, a great little town. I have a 'music room' in my house where I have five-foot speakers and audiophile quality equipment. This is where I ended up putting my 'studio.' I sit right between the speakers to do the show. The biggest challenge was the audio chain. I started with an inexpensive mic that I had had for years and it started going out of phase. So I bought an EV RE-20 and a tube preamp that made everything sound smooth. This was an unexpected expense yet well worth it. I have received a warm response on Facebook and look forward to growing the show."January 28, 2013
Sam Rogers Leaves Cumulus For Radio One
DC radio veteran Sam Rogers leaves his gig as head of Cumulus's DC radio cluster, which includes news talk WMAL and hot adult contemporary WRQX, Mix 107.3. He's been named vice president of national ad sales for Silver Spring-based Radio One, the urban radio giant which owns nine regional stations, including urban contemporary outlets WKYS and WERQ. Before joining Cumulus last year, Rogers was head of CBS's DC radio cluster.
January 28, 2013
WTOP's Segraves To 4
Mark Segraves is leaving Hubbard's all-news WTOP for NBC-owned Channel 4/WRC, where he'll be a reporter. He joins fellow WTOP alums Wendy Rieger, Derrick Ward, and Adam Tuss at DC's NBC4. Segraves has worked as an investigative reporter for WTOP since 2004. He worked at Allbritton's Channel 7/WJLA before and while at WTOP. He's also been doing a local news interview show for Tribune's Channel 50/WDCW.
January 28, 2013
Sunset For Richard Day's WTOP Career
Longtime all-news WTOP anchor Richard Day has retired. Day, 70, "did not want a farewell in the newsroom, a cake or even an announcement before his last day," says WTOP VP/Programming Jim Farley. Day joined WTOP in 1985 after stints at NBC in DC, WCBM in Baltimore, and in syndicated television. Farley called Day "a class act and I will sorely miss his quiet professionalism."
January 25, 2013
Dan Michaels Named ZBA's PD
Dan Michaels has been named program director for Baltimore classic rocker WZBA, 100.7 The Bay. He comes to the Times-Shamrock station after four years at WLTJ, a classic hits station in Pittsburgh. Michaels programmed DC classic hits/rock outlet WBIG, 100.3 FM, from 2006 to 2008. He has also worked at radio stations in Denver, Philadelphia, Houston, and Chicago. Michaels "brings a long track record of programming success and is clearly a very special talent. He has a true passion for radio and a deep understanding of how to build a powerful brand and connect that to listeners and advertisers," says WZBA General Manager Jefferson Ward. "The Bay is a heritage station in Baltimore with tremendous potential," adds Michaels.
January 24, 2013
WFVA Drops Nostalgic Tunes For Talk
Centennial flips Fredericksburg's adult standards WFVA, 1230 AM, back to news talk, starting January 28th. The weekday lineup will include Don Imus, Glenn Beck, Mike Huckabee, Dennis Miller, Mark Levin, and Michael Savage. Ten year WFVA veteran Ted Schubel will continue as news director and will also host a one-hour local program, "Town Talk With Ted," weekdays at 8 AM. The station had dropped its previous talk format in April 2011.
January 23, 2013
Farley To Leave WTOP At End Of 2013
He's hinted he'd like to retire and now he's made it official. WTOP's VP News/Programming Jim Farley (right) announces that he will leave the top-rated all-newser at the end of 2013. He says: "At the very end of this year (2013), I plan to stop working fulltime. I will continue with Hubbard and WTOP in a consultant role. Now, there are hired guns who will consult for anybody, and most consultants are out-of-work PDs. But I bleed WTOP blood and am deeply invested in our continued success. I plan to stay involved until I start to drool conspicuously. I'll be a proactive resource for Joel (Oxley), Laurie (Cantillo), WTOP and Hubbard, and I will visit often. I have so many good friends in this building and spent the best part of my long career here. On to the next chapter, but not until 2014." DCRTV's take: With CBS apparently committed to its new all-newser WNEW for the long term, and with the ratings for Hubbard's top-rated WTOP having nowhere to go but down, perhaps this is a particularly good time for Farley to make his exit. More: Farley tells us that he waited a year to see how WNEW performed before making his decision to leave later this year. And, he insists that WTOP's best ratings days are not in the past. "I'll remind you when our ratings go up," he defiantly exclaims.January 23, 2013
WASH Tops "Holiday" Radio Ratings For DC
Christmas tune-fueled WASH topped the monthly "holiday" period radio ratings for DC. Full-day, age 6+: 1) WASH [L&L 3rd], 2) WAMU [ME 1st, ATC 3rd], 3) WTOP [AM drive 2nd, PM drive 2nd], 4) WIHT [Kane 5th], 5) WHUR [Harvey 4th, Baisden 5th], 6) WMMJ [Joyner 7th], 7) WKYS [Parr 6th], 8) WGTS and WRQX [Diamond 9th], 10) WPRS and WETA-FM, 12) WWDC [Elliot 8th], 13) WPGC [P&F 17th], 14) WLZL [Biagi 16th], 15) WBIG, 16) WTEM [M&M 17th, TSR 21st], 17) WIAD [McFly 22nd] and WMAL [MOTM 11th], 19) WMZQ [Boxer 19th], 20) WFRE and WJFK [Junks 14th, A&D 13th], 22) WDCN, 23) WBQB, 24) WNEW-FM [AM drive 25th, PM drive 24th], 25) WINC-FM. Age 25-54: 1) WASH, 2) WIHT, 3) WTOP, 4) WAMU, 5) WHUR, 6) WKYS, 7) WMMJ, 8) WLZL and WPRS, 10) WRQX, 11) WPGC, 12) WGTS and WWDC, 14) WBIG, 15) WIAD, 16) WMZQ, 17) WTEM and WJFK, 19) WDCN, 20) WETA-FM and WMAL, 22) WINC-FM, 23) WFRE, 24) WERQ, 25) WNEW-FM and WLIF.January 22, 2013
1580 To Carry CBS Sports Net
CBS Radio is dropping the business/government news format on 1580 AM, which has been known as WNEW-AM, to put the new CBS Sports Radio on fulltime in the DC market, starting January 28th. The sports radio network was launched on January 2nd and it is currently carried on-air in Baltimore, via 1300 AM. The new 1580 will be a companion to CBS's DC sports talk WJFK, 106.7 The Fan. CBS Sports Radio is also currently heard on a digital subchannel of 106.7. The 1580 signal covers most of the DC metro by day, but only a small area of Prince George's County and DC at night. More: DCRTV hears that 1580's call will remain WNEW-AM and not be branded WJFK-AM. At least not yet. Yet more: Chris Kinard, who programs 106.7, will also be program director of 1580.January 22, 2013
Sarah Fraser To Leave 99.5's Kane
Sarah Fraser (left) is leaving her sidekick/co-host role on Hot 99.5's nationally-syndicated Kane morning show to head to NYC pursue landing a daytime TV talk show. She's been with "The Kane Show" since 2007 and won't be leaving until spring. Contemporary hit WIHT's owner, Clear Channel, is seeking Fraser's replacement. Kane's show is also heard on Baltimore contemporary hit outlet Z104.3, WZFT, also a Clear Channel outlet.January 17, 2013
WETA Gets Newman's Own Grant
DC area public broadcaster WETA has been awarded a $100,000 grant over two years from Newman's Own Foundation, which was created by late actor and philanthropist Paul Newman. The award aids organizations that serve military service personnel, veterans, and their families. The grant allows BrainLine, a WETA national multimedia project offering information and resources about preventing, treating, and living with traumatic brain injury, to expand its coverage of military-specific information and resources. WETA's BrainLine project, launched in 2008, has received more than 32 national awards.
January 17, 2013
Klose To RFE/RL As Acting Head
Kevin Klose, the former NPR president and former dean of the Philip Merrill College Of Journalism at the University Of Maryland in College Park, returns to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty as acting president. Klose was the top exec at DC-based NPR from 1998 to 2008. While there, he had to deal with a Congressional attempt to de-fund NPR and public television, and funding is an issue that RFE/RL certainly grapple with. Steve Korn recently resigned there, and the Broadcasting Board Of Governors will use a search firm to identify his successor. But for now, Klose is back at RFE/RL, where he was president from 1994 to 1997. More: Klose will be "on leave" from his current UMD teaching gig - he gave up the dean position last summer.
January 14, 2013
O'Meara Returns To Radio Dial
Local radio veteran Mike O'Meara (right) returns to the DC area radio dial tonight, starting a 7 PM to 9 PM show on Metro Radio talker WTNT, 730 AM/102.9 FM. O'Meara will be joined by his longtime WJFK and, later, mikeomearashow.com podcast crew of Robb Spewak, Buzz Burbank, and Oscar Santana. "The success of their podcast was a significant factor in their return to the airwaves, along with the amazing loyalty of their many listeners," according to a press release from O'Meara's camp. "Those listeners have, in equally impressive numbers, demonstrated their loyalty by spending heavily with Mike O'Meara show advertisers." One of the show's advertisers, Oncor Insurance, has agreed to underwrite the broadcast's production costs, and continues to underwrite the show's special projects, including the recent, sold-out live stage show at Circus-Circus in Reno. Metro Radio CEO Dave Houston said, "We are truly excited to acquire such a popular and successful show. We see it as a fresh, new addition to our lineup." O'Meara fills the space formerly occupied by Michael Savage, who stopped airing on WTNT after his TRN syndication deal ended last fall. O'Meara's last radio gig, doing mornings at classic rocker 105.9 The Edge, ended in September 2011 when that station flipped to a simulcast of news talker WMAL. Before that, he'd been partnered with Don Geronimo on the "Don And Mike Show" for two decades on WJFK and WAVA.January 10, 2013
Milt Coleman Leaves WaPo
Washington Post Deputy Managing Editor Milton Coleman, mentor to many young black journalists and Janet Cooke's editor during the "Jimmy's World" controversy, retired from the newspaper January 10th.
January 10, 2013
Banister & Pagnotti Join 45
Longtime Channel 11/ WBAL newscaster Marianne Banister will join Channel 45/WBFF as anchor of a weekend morning news program that will launch January 19th. Another Baltimore TV veteran, meteorologist Tony Pagnotti, will also join WBFF's news team. Banister left the Baltimore airwaves in July 2011 after 15 years as co-anchor on WBAL-TV. Pagnotti moved from fulltime to parttime status at Channel 2/WMAR under an agreement reached during a buyout in 1999 after almost 15 years at the station. WBFF's weekend morning newscast will air from 6 AM to 8 AM on Saturdays. On Sundays, it will air from 7 AM to 9 AM and 10 AM to 11 AM.
January 9, 2013
Jim McCarthy Dies
Jim McCarthy, who was once the Washington bureau chief for NYC all-newser WCBS radio, died January 7 at age 77. Starting in 1967, McCarthy covered Congress and the White House for CBS-owned WCBS-AM, a blowtorch that can usually be heard after dark in the DC area on 880. Prior to that, he had been a news anchor at the Mutual Broadcasting System. He left CBS in 1980 and went on to become a city councilman in Wilkes-Barre PA, where he owned Tavern On The Hill. The tall, lanky McCarthy was known for his sense of humor and amusing anecdotes.
January 7, 2013
Solomon Returns To WashTimes, More Changes
Following 25 job cuts at the Washington Times, John Solomon is returning to the Times as chief digital officer in charge of creating digital revenue and content distribution channels. Solomon previously served as executive editor from 2008 through 2009. Ian Bishop is joining the Times to oversee its new digital news operation as digital editor. Bishop most recently served as managing editor at the New York Daily News, and, before that as acting Washington bureau chief for the New York Post. The Times also announced that editor emeritus Wesley Pruden, who was the editor-in-chief from 1993 to 2007, will oversee a restructuring of the editorial page and the Commentary section. He will continue to write his twice-weekly column, which has appeared in the news section since 1984.
January 6, 2013
WaPo Vet Larry Fox Dies
Larry Fox, 67, who spent nearly 35 years with the Washington Post before retiring as a travel and entertainment writer for the Weekend section in 2004, died December 26 at a hospital in Charleston SC of cardiac arrest. He moved to Seabrook Island SC from Kensington upon his retirement.
January 5, 2013
25's Pieter Bickford Says Adios
Pieter Bickford, longtime assistant news director and anchor, announced that he is leaving Hagerstown NBC affiliate Channel 25/WHAG after eight years there. A viewer tells us: "Bickford was a rarity in small-market television; he was good. Very good. He had a major market delivery, never flubbed a line, never looked like he was reading a teleprompter, had a hard nose for news, and inspired the younger rookie staff members just starting their careers." More: Bickford will become chief editor for a new multimedia venture of High Rock Studios, which has offices across the street from WHAG's studios in downtown Hagerstown.
January 5, 2013
Original WKHI Owner Wayne Powell Dies
Eastern Shore radio veteran JJ "Hitman" McKay tells us that one of the original owners of WKHI in Ocean City, Wayne Powell, has died. "Wayne is the gentleman who kicked-me upstairs to operations manager/program director of the station," McKay says. "He was one of a kind and kind being the operative word." Adds WTOP sports reporter Craig Heist via Facebook: "I met Wayne in the parking lot of the grocery store I was working at and I saw his license plate which read, '100KHI.' We got to talking, I made a friend, and as it turned out, one of my best friends. That interaction and invite to the station started me on my career. He allowed me to cover local college and high school sports on Delmarva and report for a 50,000-watt station you could hear from just north of Dover all the way to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel."
January 3, 2013
WTOP Signs 4-Year Deal With CBS
Hubbard all-newser WTOP has renewed its deal to carry CBS radio newscasts, including "MarketWatch," until April 2017. The station has an unbroken relationship with CBS since 1929, back when he DC area radio outlet was called WJSV. "We highly value our relationship with Harvey Nagler and his full team at CBS News and we're very happy it will continue," says Jim Farley, top programmer for WTOP, in a Thursday afternoon station memo. There had been speculation that CBS's radio newscasts would eventually move to CBS-owned all-newser WNEW, which launched in January 2012. CBS's previous deal with WTOP was set to expire in early 2013.
January 2, 2013
WGTS VP/GM John Konrad Dies
John Konrad (right), the vice president and general manager of Christian contemporary WGTS, 91.9 FM, died January 2. He'd been hospitalized several times since mid-December, suffering from pneumonia. Konrad, 43, died at the University Of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore surrounded by friends and family. "We all hoped John would recover, so needless to say, his passing has left our entire community deeply shocked and saddened," said Rob Vandeman, executive secretary of the Columbia Union Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists and president and chairman of the WGTS Board Of Directors. "We offer our sincerest condolences to his wife, Dawn, and ask that you keep her and our WGTS family in your prayers." Founded in 1957, WGTS is owned and operated by Washington Adventist University, a higher education institution of the Columbia Union Conference. Konrad, who became WGTS general manager in 1996, led the Takoma Park station through a transition from classical music to a contemporary Christian format in the late 1990s and doubled the station's coverage area, with a new antenna in Arlington. Under his leadership, the station grew from 10,000 weekly listeners to more 600,000. The station frequently ranks among the top 10-rated in the Washington market.All original material on this website is copyright by Dave Hughes/DCRTV.
