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January 2010 to December 2010
December 31, 2010Joe Witte Leaving TBD/NC8
Meteorologist Joe Witte is leaving Allbritton's TBD-TV/NewsChannel 8 as of the end of 2010. For a job at NASA.
December 30, 2010
Shapiro Bids Farewell To WaPo
Sports columnist Len Shapiro pens his last piece for the Washington Post: "After 41 years and more than 7,400 bylines, it's time to blow a farewell smooch to the newspaper and its website that kept me gainfully and so happily employed since the day in 1969 I walked in the door as a part-timer and began taking high school football scores over the telephone on Friday nights." He notes the explosion of the local sports media coverage in the DC market during those four decades. "Warner Wolf did it first on WTOP radio in the '60s, and Ken 'yaw next' Beatrice came along in the '70s to host the most popular sports talk show in local radio history, even if some of his sources and resources were a tad specious. And sorry Junks, (Tony) Kornheiser still has the most entertaining radio show in town. These days, we've got two all-sports radio stations yakking 24/7 and two all sports regional cable outlets providing games and more games. They also give cable viewers slickly produced nightly sports news and highlight programs that provide far more information on our local teams than the two to three minutes allotted on the traditional local news operations at 6 and 11 PM."
December 28, 2010
XMAS Tunes Boost WASH & WLIF
Christmas tunes boosted both adult contemporary WASH and classical WETA-FM in the December monthly radio ratings book for the DC market. Full-week, age 12+: 1) WASH [L&L 2nd], 2) WTOP [1st in both drivetimes], 3) WIHT [Kane 3rd], 4) WETA-FM, 5) WMMJ [Joyner 5th], 6) WHUR [Harvey 6th, Baisden 4th], 7) WAMU, 8) WMAL [GG 7th, Rush 3rd, Hannity 8th], 9) WMZQ and WKYS [Parr 15th], 11) WPGC [BT 13th] and WWDC [Elliot 10th], 13) WRQX [Diamond 11th], 14) WIAD and WPRS and WBIG and WTEM [M&M 13th, Korny 12th, Czaban 10th], 18) WLZL, 19) WGTS, 20) WJFK [Junks 15th, Wise 20th, Arrington 19th] and WVRX [K&M 22nd], 22) WFRE and WAVA-FM, 24) WPFW, 25) WDCN and WBQB, 27) WERQ, 28) WFLS and WINC-FM and WIYY and WBQH, 32) WQSR and WOL and WWEG and WAMU STREAM, 36) WJYJ and WFED and WILC and WFMD and WKIK and WRBS-FM and WAFY and WTNT and WKDV and WBJC and WGRX and WLIF and WWRC and WSPZ. And, Christmas tunes helped boost adult contemporary WLIF to the top of the radio heap in Baltimore for the month of December. Full-week, age 12+: 1) WLIF, 2) WWIN-FM, 3) WPOC, 4) WERQ, 5) WZFT, 6) WBAL-AM, 7) WIYY, 8) WWMX, 9) WCBM, 10) WQSR, 11) WYPR, 12) WRBS-FM and WJZ-FM, 14) WZBA, 15) WPGC, 16) WKYS, 17) WHUR, 18) WCAO and WBJC, 20) WASH, 21) WWDC, 22) WAMU and WTOP and WRQX and WIHT, 26) WLZL and WTMD, 28) WGTS, 29) WTEM and WBIG and WXCY, 32) WIAD, 33) WWIN-AM and WEAA, 35) WJZ-AM and WMAL and WRNR-FM and WMZQ and WETA-FM, 40) WOLB and WFRE and WMMJ, 43) WRBS-AM, 44) WTTR and WLIF STREAM, 46) WJFK and WWEG and WVRX and WPFW and WVIE and WAFY and WPRS and WAVA-FM and WFED.
December 27, 2010
Brad Huffman To Retire From 5
Bradford Huffman is leaving Channel 5/WTTG after four decades in the station's engineering department. He started part-time at then Metromedia-owned WTTG in 1969, back when Connie Chung was a "copy girl" in the newsroom. He joined WTTG fulltime in 1972 doing a batch of engineering jobs. Since 1993, into its Fox-owned years, he's been the evening news audio operator. He'll be retiring after 38 years (they don't count the part-time ones) on January 6.
December 27, 2010
Gannett Tops DC Area Media Firms
The Washington Post is out with its annual "Post 200" listing of the DC area's largest locally-based companies. In the media sector, USA Today publisher and Channel 9/WUSA owner Gannett, based at Tysons Corner, ranks as the biggest DC area headquartered media firm, with annual revenue of $5.6 billion. The Washington Post Company, which also owns TV stations and cable systems outside the DC area, placed second, with revenue of $4.5 billion. With Silver Spring's Discovery Communications, parent of the Discovery Channel and TLC, third at $3.5 billion. Radio ratings firm Arbitron, based in Columbia, placed fourth with revenue at $384 million. Lanham-based Radio One, which owns WKYS and WMMJ along with 60-ish African American-formatted radio stations across the country plus TV One, ranked fifth with $272 million.December 22, 2010
Fox's Brian Wilson Returns To 5
Former Fox News Channel anchor and reporter Brian Wilson (right) returned to the airwaves this month, at Fox-owned Channel 5/WTTG, where he worked for 12 years before joining FNC in 1998. "I like to keep my finger in the broadcasting pie," Wilson tells TVSpy. He has appeared twice in December as a news analyst on WTTG's morning show, the program he co-anchored for six years starting in 1992. Wilson made his 2010 WTTG debut on December 9, followed by a lengthy segment on December 20. "It was lovely to get the opportunity to go back on a Fox-owned station," he says. "And I was very happy to do it." Wilson and FNC's DC bureau parted company in September. Since then he's been doing morning show guest hosting gigs at DC news talker WMAL (630 AM).December 22, 2010
Clarissa Douglas Dies
DC radio veteran Clarissa Douglas has died. She'd worked at ABC News and WTOP. Her resume also included stops at WAVA when it was all-news, Mutual Radio, and KRLD radio in Dallas. She married former Channel 9, then WTOP-TV weatherman Gordon Barnes. We're told that she passed away on November 28th after a two-year battle with breast cancer.
December 21, 2010
32's GM To CPB
The DC-based Corporation For Public Broadcasting has named Jennifer Lawson (right) as its senior vice president of television and digital video content. She will work closely with Arlington-based PBS, public television stations, and independent production organizations to develop programming and content for national public media audiences. Lawson is currently the general manager of Howard University Television's Channel 32/WHUT, a position she has held since 2004. She also recently concluded her term as vice chair of the PBS board of directors. For nine years prior to PBS member WHUT, Lawson headed Magic Box Mediaworks, a company that co-produced an eight-hour television series, "AFRICA." She will join CPB in February.December 16, 2010
Bill Parris Buys WAMD
Radio-Info.com tells us that Salem, having maximized its New York City-market 970 "Apple," sells off the 970 in Maryland that made it possible. Aberdeen-licensed WAMD used to have 500-watts daytime, and now it's down to 300-watts, with a nice tight directional. It still runs 500-watts at night, but Salem got what it needed out of the station near the Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground, and it's selling the reduced facility to a well-known DC-Baltimore operator - Bill Parris. He currently owns Annapolis-market WYRE (810), but adding WAMD is no problem under the FCC's local ownership rules. Parris gets a bargain price, paying Salem just $1. In the DC market, Salem owns Christian talkers WAVA-FM/AM (105.1/780).December 15, 2010
45 To Add Hour To AM News
Baltimore's Channel 45/WBFF will be expanding its "Fox 45 Morning News" to 10 AM starting January 24. Making it a five-hour broadcast, with its 5 AM start. Patrice Harris will continue to be the main anchor. It's the only locally-originated full TV newscast in Baltimore between 7 AM and 10 AM. "We look forward to bringing viewers another interactive hour of television that will give them an opportunity to be involved in the newscast," says Scott Livingston, WBFF's news director and station manager. "There will be a heavy emphasis on our website and social media that will allow our viewers to share their opinions. This extra hour will provide viewers with information on how to save money, protect their family, and improve their health." The Sinclair station says that 45's morning news has become the second-ranked early morning news show against network programming weekdays from 7 AM to 9 AM in the Baltimore market.
December 13, 2010
David Nitkin Leaves Sun
David Nitkin, who has run the Maryland news desk for the past two years, is leaving the Baltimore Sun to accept a position with Howard County government. Nitkin joined the Sun in 1999 and worked as Baltimore County government reporter, State House bureau chief, political editor, and White House correspondent.
December 13, 2010
American U Buys Current
Current, the newspaper that has covered the public broadcasting business every two weeks for three decades, and its Current.org website, are leaving the hands of its longtime owner, WNET, the New York City public broadcaster. The board of WNET last week approved an agreement to sell Current to DC's American University School Of Communication, whose board has also approved the move. American University owns DC public radio outlet WAMU (88.5 FM).
December 10, 2010
Robert Shuman To Leave MPT
Robert Shuman, CEO and president of Maryland Public Television, will leave the state-run broadcaster at the end of the current fiscal year, in June 2011. He's been with MPT since 1996. "I took this job with the purpose of restructuring MPT's outdated business model and committing three years to the effort, thinking it probably would take much less time," he said in a Friday letter to fellow MPT staffers. "Today, although there are still difficulties, MPT is on solid footing and in a far better position to successfully meet new challenges. In addition to having the right business plans for these demanding times, MPT has one of the best staffs and management teams in the PTV system," he added. "There will be no immediate changes in the near term. I will continue to be here over the next six months, working hard in furthering MPT's interests and assisting the MPT Commission and its search committee with an orderly and successful transition for MPT's next president and CEO." Before joining MPT nearly 15 years ago, Shuman founded The Learning Channel and ran it for 10 years before selling it to Discovery Communications and joining Discovery as TLC president. MPT can be seen locally on Channel 22/WMPT.
December 8, 2010
Tribune Names Messina VP-GM For 50
Ashley Messina is the new vice president and general manager of Tribune's Channel 50/WDCW. She's been the station's interim GM for the past three months. Messina replaces Eric Meyrowitz, who left WDCW for Tribune's NYC TV station, WPIX, in September. Messina joined WDCW (then WBDC) in 2001 as an account executive. Since then, she has served as national sales manager and general sales manager. Prior to joining Tribune, she worked in promotions with Baltimore radio station WITH. WDCW is DC's CW affiliate.
December 2, 2010
WTOP & WPOC Top November Radio Ratings
All-newser WTOP dominated the DC radio monthly ratings for November. Full-week, age 12+: 1) WTOP [1st in all dayparts], 2) WIHT [Kane 3rd], 3) WASH [L&L 4th], 4) WAMU, 5) WHUR [Harvey 5th, Baisden 3rd] and WMMJ [Joyner 6th], 7) WETA-FM, 8) WMAL [GG 8th, Rush 3rd, Hannity 6th], 9) WMZQ, 10) WKYS [Parr 12th] and WWDC [Elliot 9th], 12) WRQX [Diamond 11th], 13) WPGC [BT 16th], 14) WLZL [Biagi 16th] and WBIG, 16) WPRS, 17) WTEM [M&M 14th, Korny 14th, Czaban 12th], 18) WIAD, 19) WGTS, 20) WJFK [Junks 14th, Wise 19th, Arrington 19th] and WVRX [K&M 21st], 22) WBQB, 23) WFRE and WAVA-FM, 25) WPFW, 26) WDCN and WFLS and WERQ and WINC-FM, 30) WIYY, 31) WKIK and WFMD and WBQH and WWEG and WFED and WBJC and WOL and WQSR, 40) WSPZ and WTNT and WGRQ and WAFY and WRBS-FM and WKDV and WGRX. Mornings, men age 25-54: 1) WTOP, 2) WAMU, 3) WWDC, 4) WMMJ and WJFK, 6) WLZL, 7) WBIG, 8) WKYS and WHUR, 10) WTEM, 11) WIHT, 12) WASH, 13) WRQX, 14) WPGC, 15) WIAD, 16) WMAL, 17) WVRX, 18) WMZQ, 19) WDCN, 20) WETA-FM. 
The November monthly radio ratings for Baltimore, full-week, age 12+: 1) WPOC, 2) WWIN-FM, 3) WLIF, 4) WERQ, 5) WZFT, 6) WBAL-AM, 7) WWMX, 8) WIYY, 9) WRBS-FM, 10) WCBM and WJZ-FM, 12) WQSR, 13) WYPR, 14) WZBA, 15) WPGC, 16) WKYS, 17) WCAO and WBJC, 19) WHUR, 20) WAMU and WIAD and WWDC and WRQX, 24) WIHT, 25) WLZL, 26) WBIG, 27) WGTS and WTOP and WASH and WXCY, 31) WEAA and WTMD and WTEM, 34) WJZ-AM, 35) WMAL, 36) WRNR-FM and WETA-FM and WMZQ, 39) WMMJ and WFRE and WOLB and WTTR and WWIN-AM, 44) WPFW and WPRS and WVIE and WAVA-FM and WWEG-FM, 49) WNST and WJBR and WAFY and WSTW and WVRX and WFED.December 1, 2010
9 Hires New Meteorologist
Channel 9/WUSA has hired Anny Hong (right) as weekend meteorologist and weekday reporter. She comes from the KOVR/KMAX TV combo in Sacramento. She's also worked at TVers in Fresno, Eugene OR, Syracuse, and Watertown NY. She interned at the BBC in London and CNN in Seoul. She is a graduate of Syracuse University where she double-majored in broadcast journalism and policy studies. Hong received her broadcast meteorology degree from Mississippi State University.November 30, 2010
McKelway To Fox News
Former Channel 7/WJLA anchor and reporter Doug McKelway (left) is joining Fox News here in DC. He will be replacing anchor and reporter Brian Wilson, who left Fox in September. You'll recall that McKelway got the boot from JLA after a summer dispute with Bill Lord, that station's news czar, when McKelway made opinionated comments on US energy policy during a news report.November 30, 2010
Metro Networks Sports Reporters To Make Move To WTOP
DCRTV hears that the sports reporters you've been hearing on WTOP will continue to be heard on the all-newser after the station ends its contract with Metro Networks in early 2011. The station is waiting until February 1 to make a formal announcement about its new in-house sports department. Currently, WTOP contracts out to Metro for sports and traffic reports. As for the traffic staff, you'll be hearing some new voices on WTOP, with many of the Metro employees - including morning traffic diva Lisa Baden - heard elsewhere on the DC radio dial. Metro did enforce its non-compete agreements for its traffic reporters and WTOP is honoring that, we're told. It's purely a business decision to bring sports and traffic in-house, we hear. WTOP management has always been satisfied with the quality of reporting it's received from Metro's employees, but the station can make more money by doing its own sports and traffic reporting and not contracting out for it, we're told.
November 30, 2010
Michel Wright To HUR
Michel Wright (right), who was at CBS's urban contemporary WPGC (95.5 FM) for many years, is finally "official" at Howard University's adult urban contemporary WHUR (96.3 FM). She picks up some imaging duties as well as the "Grown And Sexy" Saturday show from 6 PM to 9 PM.November 30, 2010
Uliano Joins WTOP
Former CNN Radioer Dick Uliano was heard anchoring on Bonneville's all-news WTOP radio last night. We're told that he's joined the station as a freelance anchor and editor. Uliano lost his 11-year CNN Radio DC-based gig during a round of October cuts.
November 23, 2010
ZDC To Launch HD Newscasts
DCRTV hears that Washington's Telemundo station, Channel 25/WZDC, unveiled its new news studios Monday in preparation for its high-def local programming launch on November 28th. We're told that WZDC's newscast will be the first Hispanic local news show to be in full 1080i. WZDC's facelift also includes a talent shift, with Nitza Perez anchoring the 6 PM and 11 PM newscasts, Jorge Andrés anchoring sports, and Roxana Solano doing weather. Angelica Herrera and Juliana Monsalve are the station's primary local beat reporters.November 21, 2010
Wolfson Leaves 5
Scott Wolfson is leaving his AP, Emmy, and Murrow award-winning job as a photographer at Channel 5/WTTG after 8-1/2 years for a new gig as communications manager for Cynergy Systems, a software design and development agency headquartered in DC.
November 20, 2010
Griffiths to BIG Mornings
The new morning man at Clear Channel's classic rock WBIG (100.3 FM) turns out to be Tommy Griffiths, who used to be part of the "Tommy And Rumble" morning show at Norfolk rocker WNOR for 20 years. A few months back, WBIG pink-slipped morning man Jon Ballard.
November 20, 2010
Norman Cook Dies
Norman Cook, 73, a satellite tech who had lived in Silver Spring, died November 14 at Kent General Hospital in Dover, Delaware. He had worked for ABC and Disney. Also, circa 1970, he worked the morning radio show with Johnny Holliday at WWDC and also when Holliday was at WMAL.
November 19, 2010
Dealey Leaves WashTimes
Sam Dealey will be stepping down as editor of the Washington Times, following the sale of the paper to a group led by members of the paper's old guard who were ousted a year ago, the Politico reports. Sources say that Managing Editor Chris Dolan will step in as acting editor-in-chief while the paper's "new" old owners, including the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, conduct a national search for a permanent replacement.
November 19, 2010
Keith Murphy Dies
Keith Murphy (left), a veteran Milwaukee broadcaster whose "The Urban Journal" was heard nationally five days a week on Sirius XM radio, died Sunday at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He fell Saturday in an apartment he had just rented in that city, his wife, Delores Murphy, told Journal-isms. Murphy turned 56 on October 31. A native of Washington DC, Murphy started his broadcast career at the old WFTY-TV and WOL radio, before moving to Wisconsin. He moved back to the area last month, choosing Baltimore so he could be closer to LaFontaine Oliver, general manager of WEAA, the Morgan State University station, with whom he had partnered throughout the years. The two had worked at DC's XM Satellite Radio and with the African American Media Incubator, co-founded in 1994 by Murphy's father, restaurateur Ed Murphy, his mother, Pearl Murphy, and David Honig, who now heads the Minority Media And Telecommunications Council.November 18, 2010
Wilbon Leaving WaPo
Sports columnist Michael Wilbon (right) is leaving the Washington Post after 32 years to focus on his ESPN/ABC sports work. He will continue to co-host ESPN's "Pardon The Interruption" with another former Post sports columnist, Tony Kornheiser.November 17, 2010
2 To Stay With ABC
Baltimore's Channel 2/WMAR will remain an ABC affiliate through at least early 2015. Station owner EW Scripps said Wednesday that it has extended WMAR's affiliation with ABC through January 31, 2015. The station's previous affiliate agreement ended on January 31, 2010 - and it had been operating on a short-term extension. WMAR was a CBS affiliate in the 1960s and 1970s, switching to NBC in the 1980s. It became an ABC affiliate in 1994.
November 17, 2010
Mark Woodworth Leaving WTTR
Mark Woodworth is retiring as the award-winning news director at Sajak Broadcasting's WTTR (1470 AM). He's been with the Westminster MD station 18 years.
November 17, 2010
9 Hires Ken Molestina
Ken Molestina, a weekend anchor and reporter at El Paso's KVIA-TV, starts in December as a general assignment reporter at Gannett's Channel 9/WUSA. He will focus on crime, public safety, and immigration news.
November 17, 2010
Pot Charges Against Arenstein Dropped
A judge has dismissed drug possession charges against CBS Radio News correspodent Howard Arenstein and his wife, Israeli newspaper journalist Orly Katz. According to the Washington Post, at a hearing before DC Magistrate Judge Kimberley Knowles, Assistant US Attorney Kathy Sawyers told the judge that a government witness who was scheduled to testify in the case, was not present. Attorneys for Arenstein and Katz then asked the judge to dismiss the case. Knowles agreed to dismiss the case, but told Arenstein and Katz that prosecutors could still call the case in the future. The couple was arrested on October 1 for possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Police received an anonymous tip that the couple, who reside in Georgetown in the 3500 block of T Street NW, were growing marijuana plants in their backyard.
November 15, 2010
New PD For DC101, QSR
James "Doubledown" Howard gets named program director of Clear Channel's DC alternative rocker DC101, WWDC. He will also be program director for Clear Channel's "Jack" adult hits WQSR, 102.7, in Baltimore. Howard replaces Dave Wellington, who exited two months ago. Howard comes from Clear Channel's active rock WXTB in Tampa.
November 11, 2010
Mix's McFly To Fresh
Evening man at Citadel's hot adult contemporary Mix 107.3, Tommy McFly (right), will be jumping to 94.7 Fresh FM to do afternoons. He'll start at the CBS chick rocker on November 22nd.November 6, 2010
"WWIR" Panelist Charles McDowell Dies
Charles R. McDowell, 84, a syndicated columnist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, who became better known as a longtime panelist on the WETA-produced PBS current events program "Washington Week In Review," died November 5 in Virginia Beach. The Times-Dispatch reported that he had dementia and died after a stroke.
November 6, 2010
WaPo 1980s GM Dies
Thomas H. Ferguson, 74, who served as president and general manager of the Washington Post from 1979 to 1995, a period marked by large gains in circulation and profitability, died November 3 at a hospital in Southampton NY. He had leukemia.
November 3, 2010
Weasel To WTMD
Longtime DC rock radio legend Weasel (right) is joining Towson University's adult alternative rock WTMD (89.7 FM). Starting Saturday, November 6th, Jonathan "Weasel" Gilbert will be heard from noon to 3 PM doing a weekly show. "General Manager Steve Yasko and Program Director Scott Mullens have been encouraging me to bring back the style and sound of the show I used to do on that legendary Bethesda and Annapolis institution and I am much appreciative to both of them as well as the entire staff of WTMD and Towson University for giving me this golden opportunity," Weasel tells DCRTV. "There's even some talk about bringing back Frank and Max and maybe even 'My Three Songs.'" You can stream the show at wtmd.org. Weasel had been heard on the old progressive rock WHFS for several decades, from the 1970s through the early 2000s. He most recently did mornings at now-defunct alternative rocker WTGB, The Globe, until late 2008.November 3, 2010
Olsson's Founder Dies
John E. Olsson, the founder and proprietor of Olsson's Books And Records, the venerable Washington area institution that dominated the local bookselling market in the 1970s and '80s, died October 28 at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring after a heart attack. He was 78. According to the Washington Post, at its height, Olsson's was the go-to neighborhood bookstore and music shop for much of the Washington region. It boasted nine branches in the city and surrounding suburbs, anchored by a Georgetown store where shoppers navigated aisles made tight by overflowing books, records, and eventually compact discs. Olsson was forced to close his high-rent Georgetown location in 2002. The number of stores continued to dwindle, and Olsson's was forced into bankruptcy. His last five stores were closed in the fall of 2008.
November 2, 2010
WashTimes Sold To "Old Guard"
The Washington Times sale that began with a due diligence process in late August has gone through. News World Communications, the paper's parent company, chaired by Preston Moon, sold the paper to News World Media Development, a Delaware-registered firm led by former Times Chairman Douglas Joo. The Politico adds that the sale represents a return to the paper's old guard and has widely been interpreted as the paper's founder, the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, reasserting control over the 28-year-old newspaper that has been one of the most public faces of his sprawling business empire. Selling price: $1 plus assumption of liabilities. The "new" ownership says it plans to restore the paper's sports, local metro news, and entertainment coverage.
November 1, 2010
WTOP & WPOC Top October Radio Ratings
The October monthly radio ratings for the DC market, full-week, listeners age 12+: 1) WTOP [1st in both drivetimes], 2) WIHT [Kane 3rd], 3) WASH [L&L 6th], 4) WHUR [Harvey 4th, Baisden 3rd], 5) WAMU and WMMJ [Joyner 5th], 7) WMAL [G&G 7th, Rush 3rd, Hannity 5th] and WETA-FM, 9) WMZQ, 10) WKYS [Parr 14th], 11) WRQX [Diamond 9th], 12) WLZL [Biagi 17th], 13) WPRS and WPGC [BT 18th] and WWDC [Elliot 11th], 16) WBIG, 17) WTEM [M&M 19th, Korny 13th, Czaban 10th], 18) WIAD, 19) WGTS, 20) WJFK [Junks 13th, Wise 10th, Arrington 19th], 21) WVRX [K&M 22nd], 22) WFRE, 23) WAVA-FM, 24) WPFW and WBQB, 26) WINC-FM, 27) WFLS and WERQ, 29) WDCN, 30) WIYY, 31) WOL and WTNT and WJYJ and WQSR and WKDV and WWEG and WFED. Men, full-week, listeners age 25-54: 1) WLZL, 2) WTOP, 3) WASH, 4) WJFK, 5) WWDC and WBIG, 7) WHUR and WIHT, 9) WTEM and WMMJ, 11) WAMU, 12) WKYS, 13) WPGC, 14) WVRX, 15) WIAD, 16) WMAL, 17) WRQX, 18) WMZQ, 19) WGTS, 20) WPRS. The October monthly radio ratings for Baltimore, full-week, age 12+: 1) WPOC, 2) WWIN-FM, 3) WLIF, 4) WERQ, 5) WBAL-AM, 6) WWMX and WIYY, 8) WZFT, 9) WRBS-FM, 10) WJZ-FM and WCBM, 12) WQSR, 13) WYPR, 14) WZBA and WPGC, 16) WKYS, 17) WBJC and WHUR, 19) WCAO and WBIG, 21) WIHT and WWDC and WAMU and WASH, 25) WIAD and WRQX and WLZL, 28) WGTS and WTOP, 30) WTEM, 31) WXCT, 32) WMAL and WEAA, 34) WMZQ and WTMD and WRBR-FM and WJZ-AM, 38) WETA-FM, 39) WWIN-AM, 40) WTTR and WFRE and WMMJ, 43) WOLB, 44) WAVA-FM and WPRS and WVIE and WNST and WVRX and WWEG.
November 1, 2010
Gursky Hangs Up VOA Headphones
DC area radio veteran Ed Gursky says adios to the DC-based Voice Of America, where he was chief of its music branch and operations manager at VOA's satellite Music Mix Network. He's been with the VOA 25 years. He's also worked for classic rockers WCXR and WARW - as "Ed Kowalski," and the old "top 40" outlets WEAM and WPGC. In addition, he was once chief of the FCC's Auxiliary Branch and spent a year with Radio Marti.
October 28, 2010
WBAL Radio Promotes Mark Miller
Mark Miller will become director of news and programming at Baltimore news talker WBAL (1090 AM). That's a promotion from his former title of just news director. Later this year, he celebrates his 31st anniversary with the Hearst station, having started there as an intern.
October 27, 2010
Uliano Out In CNN Radio Cuts
There's a fresh round of layoffs at CNN Radio. And Washington correspondent Dick Uliano (right) is out. His former position is reportedly being "re-defined." Sources suggest Uliano's replacement will be hired at a lower salary level than the eleven-year CNN Radio veteran. While at CNN, Uliano covered major Washington political stories, including the election and inauguration of President Obama, NASA, and breaking news, worldwide. The personnel changes, which include some cuts in Atlanta, follow recent CNN Radio programming downsizing, including the elimination of sports and business news, and shortened hourly newscasts.October 25, 2010
Pentagon Reporting Vet Jack Robertson Dies
Jack Robertson, a pioneering reporter who covered the electronics industry and the federal information technology sector, died suddenly at the age of 78 on October 19. Robertson began his career with Fairchild Publications in 1957, he joined the staff of Electronic News shortly thereafter, first in the Dallas bureau, and later moving to Washington, where he spent nearly 30 years covering the Pentagon, its purchases of multimillion dollar systems and important trade issues involving the semiconductor and electronics industries. After leaving Electronic News in the late 1990s, Robertson continued reporting for various publications, including Electronic Business News, until his retirement in 2007.
October 24, 2010
Adimu To Do Evenings For MMJ
Adimu Colón has been signed by Radio One's urban adult contemporary My Majic 102.3, WMMJ, where he'll be heard Sundays through Thursdays from 7 PM to midnight. His career has included several stops at CBS's urban contemporary WPGC, along with other radio gigs in LA and NYC, plus TV work for BET.
October 24, 2010
Tippy Stringer Dies
Tippy Stringer Huntley Conrad (right), who became a Washington personality during the 1950s as a comely weather girl issuing forecasts on the local NBC station, and who left the city for New York when she married television newsman Chet Huntley, died Octcober 1 at her home in Los Angeles. She was 80 and had a brain tumor. "Miss Tippy Stringer," as she was known when she took to the airwaves, hosted cooking and homemaking shows on Channel 4/WRC and WRC radio before she landed a permanent role as the station's weather girl in 1953. She appeared as a weather girl twice each evening, at 6:45 and 11:10, wearing pearls and a perfect coiffure. In between, she raced to the Shoreham Hotel's swanky Blue Room nightclub, where she changed costumes to sing in two nightly floor shows.October 22, 2010
Cerphe To 105.9 The Edge
Longtime DC rock radio veteran Cerphe (left) joins Citadel classic rocker 105.9 The Edge, WVRX. He starts on October 25 and will do the 2 PM to 7 PM weekday shift. In the past four-ish decades, Don "Cerphe" Colwell has worked at a plethora of DC area rockers, like freeform progressive rocker WHFS in the 1970s, plus DC101 and the old WAVA in the 1980s. And, most recently, at WARW/WTGB, where he did afternoons until the CBS station dropped its classic rock format in the spring of 2009. "Cerphe is an outstanding talent and we are thrilled to bring him back to DC radio," says Kenny King, operations manager of Citadel's DC radio cluster. "We
finally came to our senses and listened to all of the Edge fans who've been asking for him."October 22, 2010
4 Launches "Nonstop" Channel
NBC's Channel 4/WRC will launching its Nonstop news features and information channel on October 27. Via one of its digital subchannels. Like other Nonstop channels planned for other NBC-owned stations, the WRC venture will feature around eight hours of local programming, as well as franchise programs such as "Talk Stoop" and lifestyle shows such as "First Look" and "Open House" from NBC's LX production wing.
October 22, 2010
BAL's Bruce Elliott To Delaware Radio Gig
News talk WBAL (1090 AM) radio's Saturday morning host Bruce Elliott has been named the program director and morning drive personality at Wilmington news talker WILM (1450 AM) and Dover sister WDOV (1410 AM).
October 21, 2010
NPR Fires Juan Williams
NPR fired DC-based news analyst Juan Williams (right) after comments the pundit made on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" that Muslims dressed in Muslim garb on planes made him nervous. "Tonight we gave Juan Williams notice that we are terminating his contract as a senior news analyst for NPR News," NPR said in a statement. "Juan has been a valuable contributor to NPR and public radio for many years and we did not make this decision lightly or without regret. However, his remarks on 'The O'Reilly Factor' this past Monday were inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR." During an appearance Monday on O'Reilly's show, Williams backed the host's recent claim that "Muslims killed us on 9/11" and then said: "Look, Bill, I'm not a bigot. You know the kind of books I've written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous."October 19, 2010
Cemetery Manager Had Shows on 14 & 20
Nathan Loube, 88, who managed Pleasant Valley Memorial Park cemetery in Annandale from 1981 to 1993, died October 8 at his home in Silver Spring. He had lung cancer. Before working for the cemetery, Mr. Loube was a public relations representative in Washington for a record promotion company based in Baltimore. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, he produced and hosted a country music television show that was broadcast on the old Channel 14/WFAN and Channel 20/WDCA. He also served as program director for the old WUST radio.
October 18, 2010
Snyder Sells 730 Which Picks Up TNT Calls & Old Talk Format
Redskins owner Dan Snyder's Red Zebra broadcasting arm is selling Alexandria's WXTR, 730 AM, to Vienna-based Metro Radio. No price announced yet. With the WTNT calls moving from Snyder's sports talker on 570 to 730, which had been airing oldies the past week or so. Under a lease agreement that takes effect today, the new "The Truth" on 730 will pick up the largely Talk Radio Network righty talk programming that 570 dumped in September, including the old Washington Times "America's Morning News" show, plus Laura Ingraham, Michael Savage, and Jerry Doyle. Snyder's just-launched sports talker on 570 will take on the WSPZ calls. Metro, which has applied for the 730WTNT.com web address, owns Spanish language outlets in Manassas, 1460 AM, and Warrenton, 1420 AM, plus a classic country station on 1250 AM, also Warrenton. The deal leaves Snyder's Red Zebra with two DC area sports talkers - ESPN 980, WTEM, on three signals, including 980 AM plus 92.7 FM and 94.3 FM, as well as WSPZ on 570 AM.
October 17, 2010
Joseph Marino Dies
Joseph A. Marino, 75, a Federal Communications Commission lawyer who successfully argued before the Supreme Court a case that upheld the agency's authority to penalize a broadcast for indecency under certain conditions, died October 7 at a hospice in Clearwater, Florida. He had cancer. In 1978, Mr. Marino was the lead litigator in Federal Communications Commission v. Pacifica Foundation. The case stemmed from the 1973 airing of satirist George Carlin's "Filthy Words" monologue. The Carlin routine was broadcast on a New York noncommercial, radio station operated by the Pacifica Foundation. During the case, Mr. Marino argued that the explicit language was "indecent" and aired when "children were undoubtedly in the audience.
October 14, 2010
Anqoinette Crosby To Be WaPo's 1st Video Newser
Anqoinette Crosby (right) joins the Washington Post as its first-ever video anchor and on-camera reporter for washingtonpost.com. She will be leading the launch of Post Now Video Cast that will present news and features from the Post multiple times each day. She's been seen on Channel 4/WRC's news/infomercial "Daily Connection" show, automotive segments for Channel 9/WUSA and Channel 2/WMAR, plus a six-year stint at Maryland Public Television, where she hosted "Gear" segments for "MotorWeek." Crosby has also done work for Fox's "America's Most Wanted."October 12, 2010
WAMU Ups Elliott Francis
Elliott Francis (left) becomes a fulltime news anchor and host at American University news talker WAMU (88.5 FM). He will continue as WAMU's afternoon/evening and weekend news anchor while adding three days of "street reporting" to his duties. He will also serve as a backup for 88.5's regular weekday news anchors. Francis has spent three decades covering news, most of that in DC with Channel 7/WJLA and NewsChannel 8. Plus work for Fox News, CNN Headline News, along with news gigs in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston.October 6, 2010
WTOP & WWIN-FM Top September Radio Ratings
The September monthly radio ratings for the DC market. Age 12+, full-week: 1) WTOP [1st in all dayparts], 2) WIHT [Kane 3th], 3) WHUR [Harvey 4th, Baisden 4th], 4) WASH [L&L 6th], 5) WMMJ [Joyner 5th], 6) WAMU, 7) WETA-FM, 8) WMZQ, 9) WMAL [GG 8th, Rush 5th, Hannity 7th], 10) WKYS [Parr 11th], 11) WWDC [Elliot 10th], 12) WPGC [BT 16th] and WBIG and WLZL [Biagi 17th] and WRQX [Diamond 11th], 16) WPRS, 17) WIAD, 18) WVRX [K&M 21st], 19) WTEM [M&M 19th, Korny 17th, Czaban 17th] and WJFK [Junks 13th, Wise 19th, Arrington 18th], 21) WGTS, 22) WAVA-FM and WFLS, 24) WBQB, 25) WPFW and WINC-FM and WFRE, 28) WERQ, 29) WBJC, 30) WIYY and WOL, 32) WILC and WGRQ and WWEG and WFED and WDCN and WAFY and WQSR and WTNT. Age 25-54, full-week: 1) WTOP, 2) WHUR, 3) WASH, 4) WIHT, 5) WKYS, 6) WLZL, 7) WMZQ, 8) WMMJ, 9) WRQX, 10) WAMU, 11) WWDC and WBIG, 13) WPGC, 14) WPRS, 15) WIAD and WJFK, 17) WVRX, 18) WTEM, 19) WGTS, 20) WETA-FM and WMAL. Men, age 25-54, full-week: 1) WLZL, 2) WTOP, 3) WJFK, 4) WHUR, 5) WBIG, 6) WIHT, 7) WWDC, 8) WVRX, 9) WASH, 10) WKYS. WWIN-FM, Magic 95.9, tops the Baltimore radio ratings for the month of September, full-week, age 12+: 1) WWIN-FM, 2) WPOC, 3) WLIF, 4) WERQ, 5) WZFT, 6) WRBS-FM and WWMX, 8) WIYY, 9) WBAL-AM and WJZ-FM, 11) WQSR, 12) WCBM and WZBA, 14) WYPR, 15) WPGC, 16) WWDC, 17) WKYS, 18) WBJC and WBIG, 20) WHUR and WRQX, 22) WIHT, 23) WAMU and WXCY and WCAO, 26) WASH and WTOP and WGTS, 29) WEAA, 30) WTEM and WLZL, 32) WMAL and WMZQ and WTMD, 35) WJZ-AM, 36) WRNR-FM and WFRE, 38) WTTR and WETA-FM and WWIN-AM, 41) WIAD and WOLB and WRBS-AM, 44) WWEG and WVIE and WAVA-FM, 47) WAFY and WJBR and WNST and WVRX and WMMJ and WRDW and WSTW and WPFW and WVBV.
October 5, 2010
WaPo Loses Kurtz To Daily Beast
Longtime Washington Post political media columnist and reporter Howard Kurtz (right) jumps to The Daily Beast, where he will be the Tina Brown-edited website's Washington bureau chief. Kurtz, who won renown as an investigative reporter for Post, writes a must-read weekly media column and daily blog for the DC rag. He will continue to host CNN's "Reliable Sources" on Sunday mornings.October 4, 2010
FCC Eyes JLA For Un-IDed Promos During Newscasts
TV Business Report tells us that Allbritton's Channel 7/WJLA was the subject of a complaint that it was running promotional material during newscasts without identifying the sponsor, and has settled the matter with the Federal Communications Commission via a consent decree, in which Allbritton admits no guilt in the matter. According to the FCC, it began digging into charges from the complaint "...alleging that various broadcasters, including the licensee, had solicited paying sponsors for promotional segments that were featured in the station's news coverage." TVBR adds that the FCC offered no clues as to which other stations were named in the complaint. WJLA was said to have "...policies and procedures to deter employees from engaging in conduct that violates the sponsorship identification laws, but is willing to adopt a new plan in an effort to enhance the effectiveness of (the) licensee's efforts." WJLA will also submit compliance reports to the FCC within 90 days, and then on the anniversary of the consent decree for the next three years. It will also make a "voluntary contribution to defray the national debt" in the amount of $21,000, TVBR adds.
October 4, 2010
Mike Hydeck To Anchor AM News At 9
Mike Hydeck is heading from a previous gig Hartford CT's WFSB-TV, where he's anchored morning news, to anchor morning news at Channel 9/WUSA. Before Hartford, he worked as an anchor and reporter at WBZ-TV in Boston, WLOS-TV in Asheville NC, and WCYB in Bristol VA. Fun fact: This makes the third "Mike and Andrea" morning anchor team for WUSA, with Hydeck following Mike Buchanan and Mike Walter as partners with Ms. Roane.
October 2, 2010
Forsyth Leaves Allbritton
DCRTV hears that Robert Forsyth (left) is checking out of the great Allbritton empire after 17 years. He's been director of web technologies for the DC-based media firm, director of operations and engineering at Allbritton's WJLA-TV, and director of internet operations at WJLA. He remains president of internet firm InABox Technologies, which he founded in 2006.September 29, 2010
CSN Makes Changes, Launches "SportsNet Central"
Comcast SportsNet makes a batch of changes come October 4. Including a new "SportsNet Central" show in place of "SportsNite" and "SportsDay." It'll run at 6 PM, 10 PM, 11 PM, and 1 AM, along with multiple morning airings. Russ Thaler, Chick Hernandez, Julie Donaldson, and Michael Jenkins will anchor the various editions. Plus, CSN announces the addition of "Capitals Central" and "Wizards Central" half-hour pre-game shows. "Capitals Postgame Live" and "Wizards Postgame Live" will continue to provide news and analysis following each game, but will now air live from the network's Bethesda studios instead of from the Verizon Center. Also, there's a new thirty-minute format for the formerly hour-long "Washington Post Live" at 5 PM and 11:30 PM.
September 27, 2010
Wegmann To Head Radio One DC Cluster
Christopher Wegmann has been named vice president and general manager of its DC radio cluster, which includes WKYS, WMMJ, WOL, WPRS, and WYCB. Wegmann joined Radio One in 2009 and has been VP/GM of its St. Louis and Dallas clusters. He will continue to hold those positions with his new DC duties.
September 23, 2010
PD Dunkin Out At Fresh
Greg Dunkin is out as program director at CBS Radio's 94.7 Fresh FM. He is the architect of the "Fresh" format, which also airs on CBS stations in NYC and Chicago. It aims light rock and hot adult contemporary tunes to young female demos. Dunkin has been with DC's Fresh, WIAD, since its launch in April 2009. While CBS's 94.7 Fresh FM has put a ratings dent into its rivals, Clear Channel's WASH and Citadel's Mix 107.3, WRQX, it has not dethroned either to be the "radio queen" of the DC area female audience that many advertisers crave. Steve Davis is the new program director for WIAD. He has been senior vice president of radio consulting firm Zapoleon Media Strategies and has previously programmed stations in Richmond, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Tampa.
September 22, 2010
WPFW's Ambrose Lane Dies
Ambrose I. Lane Sr., an anti-poverty activist who became a political and religious commentator as host of the talk show "We Ourselves" on Pacifica Radio's Washington station, WPFW, died September 14 of complications from congestive heart failure at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore. He was 75. Lane, who had been a mainstay at left-wing WPFW (89.3 FM) since 1978, used his platform as the host of "We Ourselves" to champion social justice and highlight issues related to poverty and race. He served as a member of the Pacifica National Board, which oversees a network of public radio stations around the country. He also served as Pacifica's interim executive director in 2005 and 2006.
September 20, 2010
Snyder Flips 570 To Sports
Redskins owner Dan Snyder's Red Zebra flipped righty talker WTNT (570 AM) to sports talk on September 20th. Steve Czaban's new Sporting News Radio show will air in mornings, with personalities from ESPN's national radio network airing the rest of the time. Including Colin Cowherd, Scott Van Pelt, Doug Gottleib, and Brian Kenny. Plus a new website at sportstalk570.com. No word on the local radio fates of WTNT's current line-up of syndicated righty political talkers, including Laura Ingraham and Michael Savage, or the "America's Morning News" morning show, formerly produced by the Washington Times. The line-up of Snyder's existing sports talker, ESPN 980, WTEM, will remain unchanged.September 17, 2010
7 Fires McKelway
Channel 7/WJLA has fired anchorman Doug McKelway (left) for a verbal confrontation with the Allbritton station's news director that came after McKelway broadcast a sharply worded live report about Democrats and President Obama regarding environmental policies relating to the BP oil leak in the Gulf Of Mexico. DCRTV broke the news on July 23 that McKelway was placed on "indefinite" suspension after a dispute with Bill Lord, ABC7's news director and general manager. In a letter to McKelway this week, WJLA said it was terminating his contract immediately, citing insubordination and misconduct, according to the Washington Post.September 16, 2010
Battagliese To Head WTOP's New Traffic Ops
Jim Battagliese will head WTOP's new traffic and transit operations. DCRTV told you that the Bonneville all-newser is bringing its traffic reporting in-house come February 2011, when it ends its contract with Westwood One's Metro Traffic. Battagliese has worked at Traffic.com and with XM Radio's traffic and weather channels. He began his career at Shadow Traffic in Philadelphia, and has worked at Shadow's operations in DC, Detroit, Dallas, Miami, Baltimore, and Minneapolis.
September 16, 2010
"Duke Of Earl" Murton Dies
Earl Murton, a 20-year veteran of the Washington radio dial, died this morning of complications from a brain tumor. He was 63. After starting his radio career in the 1960s in Goldsboro NC, where he was known as the "Duke Of Earl," he moved to Washington in 1973 to work at WMAL-AM/FM. Murton served as an account exec and general sales manager for WASH in the 1980s, and moved on to WJFK in the mid-1990s, where he was a frequent guest on the "Don And Mike" show. From 1998 to 2005, his son, Matt, has been an account exec at WWRC, WMZQ, WWZZ, and WRQX.
September 15, 2010
Ron Menchine Dies
Ron Menchine, the last voice of Washington Senators who broadcast their final game, died on September 10. He had a heart attack at age 76. Menchine began his career broadcasting Navy football. In the early 1960s, he did the Baltimore Orioles pre- and post-game broadcasts on WBAL radio. He was eventually named sports director and held that position until 1966, when he became sports director of Channel 20/WDCA. He was with the Senators, which aired on WWDC radio (right), from 1969 to 1971, when they left Washington.
September 14, 2010
Leinwand To Radio One DC
Alan Leinwand will join Radio One's DC cluster as director of ad sales. It'll be his return to the DC market, where he spent 12 years with CBS's WJFK during its "superstation" period with Howard Stern, Don and Mike, and the Redskins. He was in charge of 106.7's ad sales in the 1990s, when the then "guy talker" spent four years as the top billing station in the market. Most recently, Leinwand has been general sales manager for Clear Channel's contemporary hit Z100 and urban contemporary Power 105 in NYC. Before working at WJFK, Leinwand spent seven years at then ABC-owned news talker WMAL, where he was general sales manager, local sales manager, and senior account executive. The DC area native started his career at all-news WTOP. Locally, Radio One owns WKYS, WMMJ, WPRS, WOL, and WYCB.
September 10, 2010
WTOP & WWIN-FM Top August Radio Ratings
All-news WTOP continues to dominate the DC radio dial in the August monthly Portable People Meter ratings. With a big lead over second place WHUR. Talker WMAL continues its top 10 performance, while urbans WPGC and WKYS post slumping numbers. WJFK bests WTEM for top sportser. The full-week, age 12+ numbers: 1) WTOP [1st in all dayparts], 2) WHUR [Harvey 3rd, Baisden 2nd], 3) WIHT [Kane 5th], 4) WAMU, 5) WMMJ [Joyner 3rd], 6) WASH [L&L 6th], 7) WETA-FM, 8) WMZQ, 9) WMAL [GG 8th, Rush 7th, Hannity 8th], 10) WLZL [Biagi 16th], 11) WRQX [Diamond 9th], 12) WWDC [Elliot 11th] and WPRS, 14) WBIG [Ballard 13th], 15) WPGC [BT 16th] and WIAD, 17) WKYS [Parr 14th], 18) WJFK [Junks 11th, Wise 18th, Arrington 16th], 19) WVRX [K&M 21st], 20) WGTS, 21) WTEM [M&M 19th, Korny 19th, Czaban 19th], 22) WPFW and WBQB and WINC-FM, 25) WFLS and WFRE and WAVA-FM, 28) WERQ, 29) WFED, 30) WOL and WWUZ and WDCN and WWEG, 34) WRNR-FM and WIYY and WBQH and WAFY and WBJC and WWMX and WGRX and WTNT, 42) WJYJ and WPOC and WFMD and WQSR and WGRQ and WLIF. Radio One's urban adult contemporary Magic 95.9, WWIN-FM, tops the Baltimore Portable People Meter radio ratings for the month of August. Full-week, age 12+: 1) WWIN-FM, 2) WLIF, 3) WPOC, 4) WERQ, 5) WRBS, 6) WWMX, 7) WZFT, 8) WIYY, 9) WBAL-AM, 10) WJZ-FM, 11) WQSR, 12) WZBA, 13) WCBM, 14) WYPR, 15) WPGC, 16) WCAO and WKYS and WRQX and WWDC, 20) WTOP and WBIG and WXCY, 23) WAMU and WBJC, 25) WIHT and WHUR, 27) WGTS, 28) WLZL, 29) WASH and WEAA, 31) WTMD, 32) WTEM and WMAL and WMZQ, 35) WFRE, 36) WJZ-AM and WRNR-FM, 38) WTTR, 39) WETA-FM and WMMJ and WWIN-AM and WIAD, 44) WAVA-FM and WVIE and WVRX, 47) WAFY and WOGL and WGRQ and WVBV and WNST and WSTW and WWEG.
September 9, 2010
Veteran 7 Director Jim Hollingsworth Retires
Producer and director Jim Hollingsworth (left) retired on September 3 after more than 40 years with Channel 7/WJLA and NewsChannel 8. He started his TV career in Lynchburg in 1962, and came to Washington's WMAL-TV (now WJLA) in 1968. His primary assignment has been to direct evening news shows. Plus, over the years, Redskins pre-season games, "Redskins Magazine" pre-game shows, University Of Maryland basketball and football games, Redskins coach and player shows, the Cherry Blossom Parade, segments of the Easter Seals and United Negro College Fund telethons, and the Miss Black America Pageant. Also, he was in the control room during coverage of the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963. He's received multiple Emmys and served as the president of the Washington chapter of the National Academy Of TV Arts And Sciences. After his retirement, Hollingsworth will continue with freelance directing assignments, spending more time with family and friends and "trying to lower his golf handicap," he says.September 9, 2010
7's Donelan Suffers Heart Attack
Channel 7/WJLA reporter Jennifer Donelan (right) suffered a heart attack on September 8 after doing a live shot during the Allbritton station's 5 PM newscast. She developed chest pains and breathing problems after the news piece and WJLA news crew members called for an ambulance. She was taken to Washington Hospital Center. We hear that Donelan is resting comfortably today in the hospital's ICU after doctors inserted two stents to remove blockage in her heart arteries. The docs add that there doesn't appear to be any damage to her heart, we're told. A full recovery is expected. Former Channel 9/WUSA reporter Dave Statter, via his statter911.com website, tells us that Donelan was reporting from southeast DC about the 911 response
for an infant in cardiac arrest when she suffered her heart attack symptoms.September 8, 2010
Metromedia Founder John Kluge Dies
John Kluge, who built an investment in a radio station into the Metromedia broadcasting empire, has died. He was 95. The University Of Virginia says Kluge died Tuesday at his home near Charlottesville. Forbes magazine's ranked Kluge as the richest man in America from 1989 to 1991 with a net worth of more than $5 billion. Rupert Murdoch bought seven TV stations from Metromedia in 1985, enabling him to form the Fox television network. In DC, Kluge's Metromedia company owned Channel 5/WTTG and WASH radio. Regionally, he also owned WCBM radio in Baltimore, WIP radio in Philadelphia, and NYC's WNEW TV and radio stations.
September 3, 2010
Dave Wellington Gone From DC101 PD Gig
Clear Channel says adios to Dave Wellington, who has been program director for DC rocker DC101 and Baltimore classic hits outlet WQSR, 102.7. "Clear Channel Washington and I have amicably decided to part ways," says Wellington. "I've thoroughly enjoyed the last two years programming Jack FM, WQSR, and DC101, WWDC... Currently, I'm looking at all available programming and on-air opportunities, both within Clear Channel and at other broadcasting companies." Before coming to DC, Wellington spent four years programming CBS rocker WBCN in Boston. He's also worked at radio stations in Las Vegas and Detroit.
September 3, 2010
Ernie Baur Retires
Ernie Baur, a veteran sports producer and director at WJLA, WUSA, WTTG, Home Team Sports, and now executive producer at Comcast SportsNet, is retiring this week. He was a copy boy for Sam Donaldson, directed Channel 7's "AM Washington" with Ed Walker, covered breaking news with Gordon Peterson, directed Glenn Brenner, Sonny Jurgensen, and Sam Huff, worked on the field for six national Super Bowl broadcasts, co-produced the "Warner Wolf Show," and gave birth to Wolf's signature "Let's go to the videotape" call.
September 2, 2010
50's Meyrowitz To NYC
Eric Meyrowitz leaves his gig as vice president and general manager of Tribune's Channel 50/WDCW to take on the same title at Tribune's NYC station, Channel 11/WPIX. Both are CW affiliates. Meyrowitz is a native of New York and has served as head of WDCW since 2004. Meyrowitz joined the local sales department of WDCW (then WBDC) in 2000, and served as general sales manager at the station from 2002 to 2004. Prior to DC50, Meyrowitz served as national sales manager for Channel 11/WBAL in Baltimore from 1997 to 2000.
September 1, 2010
WTOP To Staff Up For Traffic & Sports, End Deal With Metro Traffic
Bonneville's top-rated all-news WTOP radio plans to expand its news department by taking "in-house" all traffic and sports news reporting. Currently, like many DC area radio stations, WTOP uses Westwood One's Metro Traffic, based in Silver Spring, for many traffic and sports news reports. Right now, WTOP does its own in-house traffic only during afternoon drive, with veteran traffic reporter Bob Marbourg. A source tells DCRTV that WTOP will end its contract with Metro, which employs morning traffic diva Lisa Baden, in February 2011. WTOP is in the process of staffing a 24-hour traffic center in its Idaho Avenue newsroom, and is planning to "invest heavily in people and resources to make sure we have the best possible sports and traffic products," according to an internal memo from station head Joel Oxley obtained by DCRTV. Oxley adds that he has nothing but praise for the quality of Metro's traffic and sports reports, and that the decision to take the services "in-house" is a matter of "economics."
September 1, 2010
Nats Fire Dibble After Strasburg Comment
The Washington Nationals say Rob Dibble (right) will no longer work as a TV analyst for the team's games, a split that comes after the former reliever made comments critical of rookie pitcher Stephen Strasburg. Dibble lashed out at Strasburg last week for not pitching through pain. Dibble said on Sirius XM Radio that "you can't have the cavalry come in and save your butt every time you feel a little stiff shoulder, sore elbow." Strasburg has since been diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament and will have surgery Friday. He will be sidelined 12 to 18 months. Two days after making those comments, Dibble was absent from the broadcast both on MASN, the network that televises the games. At the time, MASN said Dibble had requested "a few days off."September 1, 2010
Gunman Killed After Taking Hostages At Discovery HQ
Police in Maryland say a gunman entered Discovery Communications headquarters in Silver Spring at 1 PM Wednesday and had taken several people hostage. The man also had something strapped to his chest. Shots were reportedly fired in the building's lobby. The gunman, who has been identified as James Lee, had a manifesto posted at savetheplanetprotest.com. He'd been charged with disorderly conduct in 2008 after an environmentally-related protest at the Discovery building. In a 6 PM press conference, police said they shot and killed Lee, 43, and released all hostages, who are said to be safe. Police continued combing the building for explosive devices. By mid-afternoon, all local DC TV newsers - 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9 - and WTOP radio were wall-to-wall with the story, along with CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News.August 31, 2010
WaPo Suspends Wise For Fake News Twitter Postings
Washington Post sports columnist Mike Wise has received a one-month suspension from the Washington Post for fabricating a story on Monday in an attempt, he said, to demonstrate the declining standards and credibility of the sports media. In the end he damaged his own credibility. "My bosses at the Post feel I need a month to think about the severity of my actions," Wise said at the beginning of his WJFK, 106.7 The Fan radio show on Tuesday. Wise explained on the radio that by posting inaccurate information - a false claim that he had been told the NFL would suspend Ben Roethlisberger for five games, he thought he was demonstrating how easily other outlets will pick up and pass along inaccurate information. "I tried to showcase the absurdity of bad journalism," Wise said. "I could give you 10 reasons why I did this and what went wrong in the execution. I made a horrendous mistake, using my Twitter account that identifies me as a Washington Post columnist. Wise said he hopes he hasn't damaged the Post's credibility - or his own. "Our worst moments should not define us," said Wise, a columnist who often delights in ripping others for their worst moments. "I'm paying the price I should for careless, dumb behavior."
August 31, 2010
New CSN Gigs For Donaldson, Sorenson, Hillary
Julie Donaldson joins Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic as an anchor and reporter for "SportsNite." She comes from Boston's WHDH-TV and NYC's SportsNet New York. Also, CSN anchor and reporter Jill Sorenson becomes CSN's Capitals reporter, replacing Lisa Hillary, who, as DCRTV has reported, relocates to CSN Philadelphia to serve as Flyers reporter. Hillary assumes the role previously held by John Boruk, who becomes an anchor and reporter for CSN Philly. Sorenson returns to the role of Capitals reporter after serving as an anchor and reporter for CSN for five years. She worked at Channel 4/WRC from 2000 to 2004. Hillary joined CSN in 2007 following gigs as a reporter and anchor with several TV outlets in Canada.
August 31, 2010
Moon Rebuys WashTimes For $1
The Reverend Sun Myung Moon is regaining control of the Washington Times after allies of the South Korean spiritual leader agreed to acquire the paper for just $1 and assumption of most if its debts, according to an internal memo. The memo contradicts rumors that a feud among the Moon's sons over control of the Washington Times prompted the father to buy it back for tens of millions of dollars. The deal is financially similar to the one the Washington Post cut in selling its money-losing Newsweek to businessman Sidney Harmon.
August 31, 2010
BIG Drops Jocks, Leans Classic Rock
"Bigger, better. Just you and the music. Bigger than ever." The new jockless classic hits/rock WBIG, 100.3 FM, and a redesigned website at TheBigDC.com. No DJs. Just pre-recorded liners in between the songs, a la the "Jack" format heard via Clear Channel's sister classic hits WQSR, 102.7 FM, in Baltimore. And a tweak from classic hits to classic rock.August 30, 2010
Ballard Gone From BIG
Jon Ballard (right) has been cut loose from Clear Channel's classic hits WBIG (100.3 FM), where he did morning drive. A DCRTVer tells us that at 9:10 this morning, Ballard called into morning man Elliot Segal's show at Clear Channel sister rocker DC101 (101.1 FM) to say that
he had been canned from WBIG. "As they began discussing how much
stuff Jon had to clean up from his office, Elliot went into a Foo Fighters song mid-conversation. Music continued there after," we're told. Ballard spent nearly 12 years at Clear Channel's DC radio complex in Rockville, originally doing afternoons at DC101 for eight years, and then moving down the hall to WBIG. "I'm gonna take some time to catch up on my sleep, but am ready for any and all opportunities - anywhere," he tells radio trade pub All Access. Clear Channel also axed WBIG morning newsman Bill Stabler at the end of his shift today. Stabler did newscasts on WBIG for five years, working through three format changes and four program directors. He replaced longtime WBIG news anchor Ira Melman, who was dumped by Clear Channel in September 2005. Prior to working for WBIG, Stabler anchored news for NBC, WMAL, and WTOP.August 27, 2010
4 Continues To Dominate DC TV News Ratings
Channel 4/WRC's newscasts again dominated DC TV in August with total viewers. At 4:30 AM: 1) WRC (up 69% year-to-year), 2) WUSA, 3) WTTG, 4) WJLA. At 5 AM: 1) WRC (up 21% year-to-year), 2) WJLA, 3) WTTG, 4) WUSA. At 6 AM: 1) WRC (up 16% year-to-year), 2) WJLA, 3) WTTG, 4) WUSA. At 4 PM: 1) WRC (up 14% year-to-year), 2) WJLA/"Oprah," 3) WTTG/"Judge Judy," 4) WUSA/"Doctors." At 5 PM: 1) WRC (71% advantage over WJLA, up 18% year-to-year), 2) WJLA, 3) WTTG, 4) WUSA. At 6 PM: 1) WRC (63% advantage over WJLA, up 18% year-to-year), 2) WJLA, 3) WUSA, 4) WTTG. At 11 PM: 1) WRC (15% advantage over WTTG's 10 PM news, 57% advantage over WUSA at 11 PM), 2) WUSA, 3) WJLA, 4) WTTG.August 26, 2010
Kammerer Debuts On 4
NBC-owned Channel 4/WRC debuts its new "chief meteoroligist" Doug Kammerer (left) this week. His new gig at 4 was announced in June. Kammerer grew up in Herndon and attended Herndon High School (same as your friendly webmaster). He has earned the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society, and he holds a degree in meteorology from the University Of Northern Colorado. Kammerer's latest TV gigs were in Philadelphia, where he worked at Channel 3/KYW and Channel 10/WCAU. He replaces Bob Ryan, who bolted in the spring for a late news weather gig at Channel 7/WJLA after almost three decades at WRC.August 23, 2010
Maura Clancey Dies
DC-based CSPAN is mourning the death of Maura Clancey, 50, the public affairs network's first research director. Recently, she worked for Statistical Research and Knowledge Networks.
August 20, 2010
Ravens Do Deal With CSN
The Baltimore Ravens today announced that their seasonal television shows, produced internally by Rave TV, will be seen throughout the Mid-Atlantic region via Bethesda-based Comcast SportsNet. The Ravens ended their TV deal with the Baltimore-based Mid-Atlantic Sports Network in early August. The weekly shows, including "1 Winning Drive," "The John Harbaugh Show," "Game Plan Wednesday," "Ravens Report Thursday," and "Purple Passion Friday" will air on CSN at 4:30 PM and midnight most weekdays. As we've previously reported, the shows will also air on Channel 11/WBAL's WBAL Plus channel at 7:30 PM and midnight each weekday, starting September 8. In addition, all five shows will also air on CSN periodically during primetime, when the network does not have a live event scheduled.
August 17, 2010
Bill Hess Joins WMAL
DC radio veteran Bill Hess has been named assistant program director of Citadel righty news talker WMAL (630 AM). His most recent gig was programming lefty talk network Air America, before it went belly-up in January. Before that, Hess worked at Clear Channel, where he programmed talker WTNT, adult contemporary WASH, and classic hits WBIG. In his WMAL gig, he will assist Operations Manager Drew Hayes, who is defacto program director of the station. Hayes is based in Chicago, where he programs Citadel's sister news talker, WLS-AM. Hayes took the programming reins at WMAL in May, when the station canned Paul Duckworth. Duckworth has since landed a programming job at a Dallas news talker.
August 16, 2010
James Kilpatrick Dies
James J. Kilpatrick, 89, a fiery advocate of racial segregation as a Richmond newspaper editor in the 1950s who became a sparring partner of liberals on the television show "60 Minutes" and a syndicated columnist who offered conservative views on subjects ranging from politics to proper use of the English language, died August 15 at George Washington University hospital. He had congestive heart failure. His stature as a writer, lecturer, and commentator on public-affairs shows led to his appearances on the "60 Minutes" segment "Point-Counterpoint" in the 1970s. Kilpatrick was also a commentator on the old WTOP-TV, Channel 9, where he was one of the panel members of the weekly political talk show "Agronsky And Company."
August 15, 2010
Pacifica Yanks PFW Manager
A year after Pacifica ousted the station manager of its Washington outlet, Pacifica officials on Friday dismissed the interim Station Manager Grigsby Hubbard and interim Program Director Bob Daughtry of WPFW (89.3 FM). But during a meeting Saturday called to discuss the resulting turmoil, Daughtry was reinstated, according to participants in the meeting at the "jazz and justice" station.
August 12, 2010
WBAL Plus To Air Ravens Shows
The Ravens have found a new home for their TV shows, a la "1 Winning Drive," "The John Harbaugh Show," "Ravens Game Plan," "Ravens Report," and "Purple Passion" now that is has divorced from MASN. They'll be seen on the WBAL Plus digital subchannel of Channel 11/WBAL's signal. The shows will air Monday through Friday at 7:30 PM and at midnight, starting September 7. WBAL Plus can be found on-air at 11-2 and via Comcast's 208 and Verizon Fios's 460 in the Baltimore area. You can watch the shows via BaltimoreRavens.com.
August 10, 2010
WTOP & WWIN-FM Wins July Radio Ratings Race
All-news WTOP continued its huge lead in the DC radio ratings for July. It got a 10.9 share of all listeners, age 12+, full-week, during the summer month. That's a spectacular nearly 2-to-1 advantage over second place WMMJ. The rankings: 1) WTOP [1st in all dayparts], 2) WMMJ [Joyner 2nd], 3) WIHT [Kane 5th], 4) WHUR [Harvey 4th, Baisden 2nd], 5) WAMU, 6) WASH [L&L 6th], 7) WETA-FM, 8) WMZQ, 9) WPRS and WBIG and WLZL [Biagi 17th], 12) WKYS [Parr 10th], 13) WRQX [Diamond 8th] and WPGC [BT 16th], 15) WMAL [GG 9th, Rush 8th, Hannity 16th], 16) WWDC [Elliot 12th], 17) WIAD, 18) WVRX [K&M 19th], 19) WJFK [Junks 13th, Wise 20th, Arrington 19th] and WGTS, 21) WTEM [M&M 20th, Korny 19th, Czaban 20th], 22) WBQB, 23) WFLS, 24) WINC-FM and WPFW and WWEG and WAVA-FM, 28) WFRE and WERQ, 30) WDCN and WFED, 32) WAFY and WIYY and WQSR and WBQH and WILC, 37) WJYJ and WLIF and WWRC and WPOC and WWMX and WGRX and WTNT and WGRQ and WBJC and WRNR-FM. In the male, age 25-54 demo, full-week: 1) WTOP, 2) WLZL, 3) WVRX, 4) WAMU, 5) WMMJ and WIHT, 7) WWDC, 8) WJFK, 9) WHUR, 10) WASH and WBIG, 12) WKYS, 13) WTEM, 14) WRQX, 15) WPGC. Radio One's adult urban contemporary Magic 95.9, WWIN-FM, tops the Baltimore radio ratings for the month of July. Full-week, age 12+: 1) WWIN-FM, 2) WLIF, 3) WPOC, 4) WERQ, 5) WWMX, 6) WZFT, 7) WIYY and WQSR, 9) WBAL-AM, 10) WRBS-FM, 11) WCBM, 12) WZBA, 13) WYPR, 14) WPGC, 15) WJZ-FM, 16) WWDC, 17) WCAO, 18) WRQX and WKYS, 20) WAMU and WTOP-FM, 22) WHUR and WIHT and WBIG, 25) WBJC, 26) WASH, 27) WRNR-FM and WEAA, 29) WGTS and WXCY and WLZL, 22) WMZQ and WMAL and WTEM, 35) WTMD, 36) WWIN-AM and WJZ-AM, 38) WFRE and WIAD, 40) WMMJ and WOLB, 42) WETA-FM and WTTR, 44) WVBV and WVRX and WPFW and WWEG and WVIE and WAVA-FM and WFED.
August 10, 2010
New Morning Show For Czaban
ESPN 980's Steve Czaban will be hosting a morning show for Sporting News Radio, where he'll be joined by 980's Scott Linn, plus producer Steve Solomon and news update anchor Al Galdi. The DC-based show starts later this month and will be produced by Mission Media Group. Czaban will continue hosting the afternoon "Sports Reporters" show for ESPN 980, WTEM. From 2003 to 2009, he hosted a morning show for Fox Sports Radio. The show will not be heard on ESPN 980. It currently runs ESPN's "Mike And Mike" in mornings.
August 9, 2010
Allbritton Launches TBD
Allbritton's new local news operation TBD launched on August 9. It replaces the wjla.com site of co-owned Channel 7/WJLA and the news8.net site of co-owned NewsChannel 8. NewsChannel 8 is to become TBD-TV. It now sports both logos.
August 6, 2010
WaPo Circ Continues Slump, Parent Earnings Up
Despite continued circulation drops at its Washington newspaper, second-quarter earnings at the Washington Post Company rose nearly eight-fold compared with the same period of 2009. As profits soared at Kaplan, the Post company's education division, and advertising rebounded at the Post company's six television stations. However, daily circulation at the Post during the first six months of this year declined 10.7 percent, while Sunday circulation was down 9.5 percent. Daily average circulation now stands at 556,300, with Sunday at 776,900. The Post newspaper would have swung back to profitability in the second quarter were it not for the anticipated $17.7 million cost of withdrawing from a multi-employer pension plan. Newspaper division revenue was up 2 percent for the quarter, though print ad revenue at the Post was down 6 percent. Online newspaper ad revenue was up 14 percent. The Post company sold its money-losing Newsweek last week and took an $8.5 million loss from its discontinued operations in the quarter.
August 2, 2010
Washington Jewish Week Sold
The Washington Jewish Week has been acquired by WJW Group, which is owned by David Butler, Allan Fox, Michael Gelman, Stuart Kurlander, and Louis Mayberg. All of the new owners have been active in the Washington area Jewish community. Craig Burke, a former publisher of the Washington Jewish Week, has been hired to serve as the chief operating officer, and will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the paper.
August 2, 2010
RZ's Bruce Gilbert To Dallas
Bruce Gilbert, CEO of Red Zebra Broadcasting, is jumping to CBS Radio in Dallas, where he'll be VP of news, talk, and sports, including the firm's WRLD-FM, a sports talker. Red Zebra, which is owned by Redskins owner Dan Snyder, owns DC sports talker WTEM, ESPN 980. Before joining Red Zebra, Gilbert worked for Dallas sports talker KTCK.
August 2, 2010
Ravens Sever Relationship With MASN
The Baltimore-based Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will no longer be the "official cable network" for the Ravens. The regional cable network and the Ravens were unable to reach an agreement, which ends a partnership that began in 2006, Ravens president Dick Cass confirmed Monday. "We've tried to work an arrangement with MASN along the lines with the arrangement we have had for the past four years and we're unable to work it out," Cass told the Baltimore Sun. "So, we're pursuing alternatives." MASN spokesman Todd Webster said the split was amicable. "MASN remains a strong supporter of the Ravens' organization," he said. "We look forward to seeing them making another run to the playoffs."
August 2, 2010
WAMU Renames HD3 "Intersection"
American University public radioer WAMU (88.5 FM) renames its digital HD Radio HD3 news/talk/music channel "Intersection." According to a WAMU statement: "The new name reflects the multicast station's intersection of sound-rich, innovative programs like 'Radiolab,' inventive story-telling programs like 'Snap Judgment,' issue-driven talk shows like 'The Michael Eric Dyson Show,' and eclectic music like 'Retro Cocktail Hour' and 'World Café'." And WAMU is making a batch of schedule changes to its HD3 as well as Bluegrass Country on its HD2, come August 14.
July 26, 2010
Former WRCer Leah Siegel Dies
Leah Siegel, an ESPN producer and Dallas mother of three whose two-year struggle with breast cancer inspired many thousands, died on July 26. She was 43. Siegel grew up in Washington DC, attending Maret High School, was graduated from the University Of Maryland. She began her career at Channel 4/WRC. We're told that she's the daughter of long-time sportswriter Mo Siegel.
July 23, 2010
McKelway Off JLA, NC8
A source tells DCRTV that news anchor Doug McKelway (left) has been pulled off Channel 7/WJLA and sister NewsChannel 8. We're told that he made some personal comments on-air yesterday regarding a local protest about the Gulf Of Mexico BP oil spill that didn't sit well with the Allbritton stations' management, as well as some e-mails he allegedly sent to other WJLA-NC8 employees after Thursday's dust-up. DCRTV gets confirmation that McKelway had been taken off the air after incorporating some comments in the WJLA report about the spill's impact on US energy policy legislation. And that led to a coverage dispute with WJLA station manager Bill Lord, who is in charge of the ABC affiliate's news output. Allbritton also owns the Politico Capitol Hill newspaper/website, which is heavily dependent on advertising from energy policy lobbying groups.July 23, 2010
Daniel Schorr Dies
Daniel Schorr, a combative broadcast reporter who over six decades broke major national stories while also provoking presidents, foreign leaders, the KGB, CIA, and his bosses at both CBS and CNN, died Friday morning at Georgetown University Hospital. He was 93. No specific cause of death was reported. Mr. Schorr, a senior news analyst with National Public Radio for the past 25 years, was one of only a handful of reporters with firsthand knowledge of newsmakers from the 1950s through the 2000s. Recruited to CBS by the legendary Edward Murrow in 1953, he had the first televised interview with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and won three Emmy Awards for his coverage of the Watergate scandal.
July 23, 2010
Edwards & Dark Join WTTR
Oldies WTTR (1470 AM) in Westminster adds local radio veteran Jack Edwards for the 9 AM to noon shift. He started on July 19th. With another vet, Johnny Dark, to handle the noon to 3 PM shift. He'll start on August 2. Both Edwards and Dark rose to prominence in the 1960s at legendary Baltimore "top 40" outlet Big 60, WCAO. Saturdays now feature Betsy Santos from 6 AM to 10 AM. She's followed by Joe Evelius from 10 AM to 3 PM. The former Saturday morning shows get moved to Sunday mornings. WTTR is owned by "Wheel Of Fortune" host Pat Sajak.
July 20, 2010
CSN Launches Baltimore Sports Site
Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic launches CSNbaltimore.com. The new site provides exclusive Baltimore-area sports coverage featuring the Ravens, Orioles, and the University Of Maryland Terrapins. Newly-hired CSNbaltimore.com lead writer John Eisenberg, a veteran Baltimore sportswriter, serves as the site's "Ravens Insider," while also contributing to coverage of the Orioles and other local teams. Eisenberg is an award-winning former columnist for the Baltimore Sun. Through an exclusive content-development partnership with PressBox, the Baltimore-based sports media company, CSNbaltimore.com features original content from a variety of local sports experts. PressBox's local writers who will regularly contribute to the site include Stan Charles, Joe Platania, and Pete Kerzel. Plus, video content from Comcast SportsNet Baltimore correspondent and area native Brent Harris.
July 20, 2010
David Dick Dies
David Dick, a former CBS News correspondent who worked in Washington in the 1960s and 1970s, died of prostate cancer on July 16 at the age of 80. He won an Emmy in 1972 for his coverage of the attempted assassination of Alabama Governor George Wallace in Laurel, Maryland. He retired from CBS in 1985 and became a professor at the University Of Kentucky and at Cumberland College.
July 15, 2010
TOP & POC Dominates June Ratings
The monthly June Portable People Meter radio ratings for the Washington market, full-week, age 12+: 1) WTOP [1st in all dayparts], 2) WIHT [Kane 3rd], 3) WMMJ [Joyner 6th], 4) WHUR [Harvey 2nd], 5) WASH [L&L 8th], 6) WAMU, 7) WPGC [BT 10th] and WBIG and WETA-FM, 10) WPRS, 11) WRQX [Diamond 8th], 12) WKYS [Parr 12th], 13) WWDC [Elliot 11th] and WLZL [Biagi 14th] and WMZQ, 16) WMAL [GG 13th, Rush 9th, Hannity 18th], 17) WIAD, 18) WVRX, 19) WTEM [M&M 18th, Korny 17th, Czaban 19th] and WGTS, 21) WJFK [Junks 14th, Wise 21st, Arrington 20th], 22) WBQB, 23) WINC-FM and WPFW, 25) WFRE and WFLS and WAVA-FM, 28) WWEG and WDCN and WFED, 31) WERQ and WIYY and WACA, 34) WILC and WQSR and WJYJ and WKDV and WKIK, 39) WPOC and WBJC and WTNT and WMMJ STREAM and WGRQ and WGRX and WAFY and WRNR-FM and WLIF. The Baltimore Portable People Meter radio ratings for the month of June, full-week, age 12+: 1) WPOC, 2) WWIN-FM and WLIF, 4) WERQ, 5) WWMX, 6) WZFT, 7) WIYY, 8) WBAL-AM, 9) WRBS-FM, 10) WQSR, 11) WYPR, 12) WZBA and WCBM, 14) WJZ-FM, 15) WPGC, 16) WWDC, 17) WKYS, 18) WAMU and WCAO, 20) WRQX and WBJC and WTOP-FM, 23) WBIG and WIHT and WASH and WHUR, 27) WEAA, 28) WMZQ and WLZL and WMAL and WTEM, 32) WGTS and WTMD, 34) WJZ-AM and WRNR-FM and WFRE, 37) WXCY, 38) WWIN-AM and WLIF STREAM and WIAD, 41) WTTR and WMMJ and WOLB, 44) WETA-FM and WVRX and WRBS-AM, 47) WVIE and WWEG and WAVA-FM and WNST and WYSP and WSTW and WFED and WVBV.
July 12, 2010
Baltimore Radio & TV Pioneer Jack Wells Dies
Jack Wells, a pioneering broadcaster who hosted Baltimore's first morning TV show, died June 27 from complications of a stroke at a Los Angeles nursing home. He was 86. Wells decided to go into radio during World War II, when he served in Europe as an Army radio operator with Chuck Thompson, who went on the become a legendary Baltimore Orioles announcer. In 1948, Wells originated the nation's second radio talk show, one that was broadcast from 1 AM to 4 AM from a nightclub called the Copa. Because the technology for a two-way conversation on the air didn't exist at the time, Wells repeated the caller's words to listeners, he told the Baltimore Evening Sun in a 1977 interview. In 1950, Wells began a seven-year stint as the host of TV's "Dialing For Dollars," which was adapted from radio. After moving to the West Coast in 1963, Wells had his own show at KABC-AM Los Angeles, and he created and hosted another show on LA TV station KHJ, "The Age Of Aquarius." Wells also did voice-overs and guest starred on shows such as "Days Of Our Lives," "The Young And The Restless," and "General Hospital."
July 11, 2010
Tom Sater To 9
Former Channel 5/WTTG weatherman Tom Sater will be doing the weather on Channel 9/WUSA. He will be doing weekend freelance forecasts during the summer to cover vacationing 9ers. Devon Lucie will work weekdays on 9 when Howard Bernstein or Topper Shutt is on vacation, with Sater picking up the weekend weathercasts. The husband of WTTG morning news anchor Gurvir Dhindsa, Sater got the axe from 5 a few years ago. He's since been working as a salesman at a tractor and farm implements supply store in Warrenton.
July 9, 2010
WMAL Morning Producer Leaves
Ann Wog, the producer of WMAL's "Grandy Group" morning show, is leaving the Citadel news talker for a producer job at Boston talker WTKK. She's been with WMAL for several incarnations of its morning show, including the previous pairing of Fred Grandy with Andy Parks.
July 6, 2010
Jackie Bradford Named GM Of 4
Jackie Bradford, who heads the NBC-owned TVer in San Diego, KNSD, has been named the new general manager of NBC-owned Channel 4/WRC in DC. Bradford succeeds Michael Jack, who last month became head of NBC-owned WNBC-TV in NYC. This is a return to WRC for Bradford, who was the station's finance director from 2000 to 2008. Before that, she worked for NBC parent GE's Capital Real Estate Services for two years. She was also finance manager for NBC News and a financial analyst for NBC's "Today" show. Bradford began her career working on Capitol Hill for Nevada Senator Richard Bryan. She's a graduate of the University Of Virginia.
July 6, 2010
Steve Davis To 105.7 Mornings
Steve Davis (left), former sports anchor for Channel 45/WBFF and WBAL radio, gets paired with Ed Norris to give mornings on Baltimore sports talker WJZ-FM, 105.7 The Fan, more of a sports feel, with the new "Norris And Davis In The Morning" show. Norris, a former Baltimore city top cop, frequently talks politics and other non-sports topics, and CBS suits in Charm City and at the HQ in NYC want more sports topics on the show. Also, Ken Wienman is gone from the 105.7 morning show and is being sent back to nights. Norris's producer and sidekick, Maynard Edwards, was given his pink slip back in early June. WJZ-FM flipped to sports talk in late 2008 and its ratings have been sagging of late.July 1, 2010
O'Meara To 105.9, Paired With McEwen For Mornings
Washington radio veteran Mike O'Meara will be joining Citadel classic rocker 105.9 The Edge, WVRX, for mornings. He'll be partnered with another local radio veteran, Kirk McEwen, who currently does afternoons at the station. The show will debut on July 7 and run from 5 AM to 9 AM daily. "For the first time in my career, my favorite music will be on the same station with my favorite personality, me," said O'Meara in a Citadel announcement. Joining McEwen and O'Meara is DC and Baltimore veteran radio producer Jeff Shamrock. It'll be called "The Kirk McEwen And Mike O'Meara Morning Show." Says Kenny King, operations manager of 105.9: "Kirk and Mike are two extremely popular radio personalities that each have an incredible DC and Baltimore fan base, and it's so exciting to be able to put them together on the Edge." O'Meara had been heard on CBS's WJFK until last summer, when the station flipped from guy talk to sports talk. In December 2009, O'Meara launched an internet-based podcast. At the time, DCRTV reported that he was in-line for the morning slot at 105.9, but the station's owner, Citadel, was entering several months of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and was not hiring. O'Meara's longtime radio partners, Buzz Burbank and Robb Spewak, will not be regulars on the new 105.9 morning show. However, we hear that O'Meara will continue his podcast with Buzz and Robb. According to O'Meara's podcast business manager, Marc Ronick: "The (105.9) morning show will not affect or interfere with the podcast, KCJJ Iowa, or any of our future affiliates. This is a wonderful opportunity for all involved and we look forward to it." For many years, McEwen did the "Kirk And Mark" morning show at Baltimore's 98 Rock, and later at cross-town talker 105.7. He once worked at DC rocker DC101. Citadel launched 105.9 The Edge in August 2009.
July 1, 2010
BAL Radio Starts PM News Block
Baltimore news talker WBAL (1090 AM) unveils the name of its new afternoon drive news block - "Afternoon News Journal With Shari Elliker." The Hearst station will be moving afternoon talk host Ron Smith to the 9 AM to noon slot, starting 7/5. With Elliker moving from late mornings to the new afternoon drive news show, which will run from 3 PM to 6 PM. It will feature CBS News at the top of the hour, traffic and weather "on the 5s," sports twice an hour, as well as business news reports. The start of the "Afternoon News Journal " follows last year's move by WBAL radio to launch an all-news morning drive show, "Maryland's Morning News," hosted by Dave Durian.
June 28, 2010
WorldSpace Gets Sold To CEO's Firm
WorldSpace has closed a deal to sell its assets to Yazmi USA, a company owned by WorldSpace Chief Executive Officer Noah Samara. The Silver Spring-based international satellite radio provider filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2008. Yazmi paid a reported $5.5 million for WorldSpace's assets. Liberty Media had been interested in acquiring WorldSpace at one point, which could have combined its reach with that of Sirius XM, but such a deal never materialized. WorldSpace offers satellite radio programming overseas.June 28, 2010
WAMU Starts OC Relay
American University's WAMU, 88.5 FM, launched its Ocean City relay, WRAU, 88.3 FM, on Friday. We're told that it's broadcasting from the WQHQ tower in Whaylesville. "We know that many Washingtonians take advantage of the beautiful beaches and relaxing atmosphere of the Delmarva peninsula when the weather warms up," said WAMU General Manager Caryn Mathes. "Our audience has long expressed a desire to 'take us across the bridge' with them, and 88.3 Ocean City allows them to do just that." WAMU also broadcasts its three digital HD Radio channels via the 88.3 relay, including Bluegrass Country on its HD2. WAMU is not the only out-of-market public radioer to serve the resort town. In 2007, Baltimore's WYPR started an OC area relay via WYPO on 106.9 FM.
June 24, 2010
La Mera Mera Debuts On 1050
Bonneville's 1050 AM has flipped to Spanish. United Media Group has leased the outlet, which had been running a relay of all-news WTOP since lefty talk network Air America folded in January. The new WBQH, La Mera Mera, will target the Mexican component of the DC and Baltimore's Hispanic market. Homero Huerta will be general manager and Jose Angel will be news director. The syndicated Eddie Sotelo show will air in mornings, and Gina Layva will do afternoons. The station will air "regional Mexican" music by artists like Vicente Fernandez, Horoscopos De Durango, Jenny Rivera, and Conjunto Primavera.
June 23, 2010
MMJ Fires Airstaff
Radio One is making some big changes at adult urban contemporary WMMJ, Majic 102.3. With the exception of the syndicated Tom Joyner in mornings, it's going "all music all the time." All of the local jocks have been let go, including Olivia Fox, Suge, Mike Chase, Alvin John Waples, as well as music director and morning show producer Chris Harris. Weekenders gone, too. The news came down at a 10 AM meeting at WMMJ's Lanham studios. A local radio source tells DCRTV that the station, which recently ranked 2nd in the DC market PPMs, saw a ratings spike when it cut back DJ banter. "So the ax came calling," we're told. WMMJ has undergone a batch of recent management changes. Michelle Williams exited her general manager gig in April, soon followed by Kathy Brown leaving her program director position. In May, Jammillah Muhammad was named program director of WMMJ and Radio One's sister gospel outlet, WPRS, Praise 104.1.
June 22, 2010
USA Today Veteran Don Collins Dies
Don Collins, whose 30-year journalism career took him from Western Kentucky's student newspaper, the College Heights Herald, to McLean-based USA Today, died at his home in Herndon late Sunday night, June 13, after a long battle with cancer. He was 57. Collins was a member of the founding staff of USA Today. Collins played for the Metropolitan Media Softball League.
June 21, 2010
Steve Eldridge Dies
DC radio veteran Steve Eldridge lost his long battle with cancer over the weekend. Eldridge worked at Westwood One's Metro Networks and at Bonneville all-newser WTOP. "He faced his final adversity with determination and bravery, and somehow persevered through tremendously difficult circumstances," a colleage tells DCRTV.
June 21, 2010
Jack Neff Dies
Jack Neff, who once was an engineer at DC radio station WOL, died on June 6 at age 87. He was one of the founders of broadcast equipment firm Broadcast Electronics and later bought Dataworld. He sold the firm in 1993.
June 18, 2010
"Mayor Of Capitol Hill" Tom Kelly Dies
Tom Kelly (right), 86, died of a heart attack at George Washington Hospital. The Washington journalist was so rooted in the Nation's Capital he was often called "The Mayor of Capitol Hill." Kelly, whose career spanned five newspapers including the old Washington Daily News, made a name for himself as a feature writer, an investigative reporter, and a media critic, for which he won a number of awards and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize three times. Kelly also authored two books. A Gonzaga graduate, he began as a copyboy on the Washington Post in 1939 while still in high school. Kelly joined the Washington Daily News in 1954 and soon became its star reporter. In 1969, he became a freelancer, writing and editing the magazine Canada Today for many years, as well as pieces for the New York Times, People, Nation, and Washingtonian. Kelly later worked as a feature writer for the Washington Times. He is the father of famed Washington Post journalist Michael Kelly, who was killed during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.June 16, 2010
Two Loudoun Rags To Merge Ops
Peter Arundel, president and chief executive officer of Times Community News, announced that Loudoun County's two largest newspapers - the Loudoun-Times Mirror and the Loudoun Independent - are merging their online and print operations to create a "unique multimedia offering." The agreement was announced by privately-owned ArCom Publishing, which owns Times Community News. The Times-Mirror is one of more than a dozen publications across Northern Virginia that is owned and operated by TCN. The Independent is owned by MC Dean of Dulles, an engineering firm. As part of the agreement between ArCom and Dean, William Dean, president and CEO of the company, will become an investor in ArCom and will hold a seat on its board. Arundel also announced that Nicholas Graham has been appointed as executive editor for both the Times-Mirror and the Independent. Amy Burns will continue in her role as publisher of the Independent, which was founded in 2005. Not long ago, TCN sold the Reston-based Fairfax County Times to the Washington Post Company.
June 16, 2010
WTOP, WPOC, WLIF Tops May PPMs
The May monthly Portable People Meter radio ratings for the DC market, full-week, age 12+: 1) WTOP [1st in all dayparts], 2) WHUR [Harvey 2nd], 3) WIHT [Kane 4th], 4) WMMJ [Joyner 5th], 5) WASH [L&L 6th], 6) WAMU, 7) WETA-FM, 8) WRQX [Diamond 8th], 9) WWDC [Elliot 10th], 10) WMZQ and WKYS [Parr 13th] and WPGC [BT 9th] and WBIG, 14) WLZL [Biagi 15th], 15) WPRS, 16) WMAL [GG 11th, Rush 10th, Hannity 18th], 17) WIAD, 18) WVRX, 19) WTEM [M&M 16th, Korny 17th, Czaban 19th], 20) WGTS, 21) WJFK [Junks 17th, Wise 21st, Arrington 21st], 22) WBQB, 23) WWEG and WFRE and WINC-FM, 26) WPFW and WFLS and WACA and WAVA-FM, 30) WDCN and WFED and WERQ, 33) WIYY, 34) WBJC and WWMX and WJYJ and WPOC and WKDV and WQSR, 40) WAMU-HD2 [Bluegrass Country] and WLIF and WGRQ and WILC and WTNT and WRNR-FM and WKIK and WGRX and WMMJ-STREAM and WAFY. The May monthly Portable People Meter radio ratings for Baltimore, full-week, age 12+: 1) WPOC and WLIF, 3) WWIN-FM, 4) WERQ, 5) WWMX, 6) WZFT, 7) WBAL-AM, 8) WQSR, 9) WIYY, 10) WYPR, 11) WRBS-FM, 12) WZBA, 13) WCBM, 14) WJZ-FM, 15) WPGC, 16) WWDC, 17) WBJC, 18) WRQX, 19) WHUR, 20) WAMU and WKYS and WBIG and WCAO and WTOP-FM, 25) WIHT, 26) WASH, 27) WEAA and WLZL, 29) WTMD and WMAL and WTEM and WMZQ and WFRE, 34) WGTS, 35) WXCY and WRNR-FM, 37) WJZ-AM, 38) WIAD and WTTR and WOLB and WETA-FM and WMMJ and WWIN-AM, 44) WAVA-FM and WRBS-AM and WVRX and WWEG, 48) WVBV and WFED and WVIE and WNST.
June 15, 2010
John Morekas Dies
John Morekas (right), a retired Baltimore businessman who hosted the "Greek-American Hour" on WBMD (750 AM) for more than 50 years, died June 8 of Parkinson's disease at Gilchrist Hospice Care. He was 81. Mr. Morekas is the uncle of former WCBM and WNST sports talk host Spiro Morekas.June 14, 2010
Sausage King & DC TV Veteran Jimmy Dean Dies
Jimmy Dean (right), 81, the country musician and founder of the sausage company that bears his name, died Sunday. He lived in Varina, near Richmond. We're told that Dean started at DC's WTOP-TV, Channel 9, in the early 1950s, and then hosted a filmed syndicated show called "Town And Country Time," which produced by DC radio and TV great Connie B. Gay. It aired on DC's WMAL-TV, Channel 7. After that, Dean had a daytime CBS show from 1957 to 1959 that started at Channel 9 and moved to NYC. His 1961 hit "Big Bad John" soared to number one and earned him a Grammy. Dean was a regular headliner in Las Vegas and Reno in the 1960s, and even had a part in the James Bond movie "Diamonds Are Forever." He was later frequenty featured as a TV ad pitchman for his sausages.June 13, 2010
Warrenton's WPRZ Airs Via 88.1
Warrenton-based WPRZ radio, which sold its 1250 AM radio license in 2007, is now back on the air at 88.1 FM with a 10,000-watt signal. According to the Culpeper Star-Exponent, the station has broadcasted over the internet and recently began simulcasting programming over WKDL, 1250 AM, through a lease agreement with the station's new owner. WPRZ is owned and operated by Praise Communications, a Warrenton-based Christian ministry founded by Steve and Sally Buchanan. Praise Communications operated WPRZ on 1250 AM from the early 1980s until its sale in 2007. The new station's programming will remain a mix of news, talk, and Christian music. Bible-teaching programs and news talk shows will also be featured.
June 13, 2010
VOA's Maureen Shannon Dies
Maureen Shannon, 60, who retired in 2006 as a coordinator at Voice Of America's office of program evaluation, died of cardiac arrest June 1 at a hospital in Lancaster PA. She was a longtime Alexandria and Falls Church resident before retiring to Pennsylvania. Ms. Shannon moved to the Washington area in the late 1960s and began working at VOA as a secretary. After taking time off to raise two daughters during the 1980s, she returned to VOA in the early 1990s as the lead coordinator in the program evaluation office.
June 10, 2010
Delia Gonçalves Heads From 2 To 9
Channel 9/WUSA hires Delia Gonçalves (right) as a reporter and multi-media journalist. For the past four years, she's worked at Channel 2/WMAR in Baltimore as a nightside reporter and fill-in anchor. Baltimore magazine named Delia "Best TV Reporter" for 2009. Before Baltimore, she worked at WPRI-TV in Providence and at WGGB-TV in Springfield, Massachusetts. After graduating from Emerson College in Boston, she was a legislative intern at the US Senate Radio-Television Gallery. Her first job in the business was as a production assistant for "NBC Nightly News" in Washington.June 10, 2010
MASN To Carry Riggo's Radio Show
In April, Redskins great John Riggins began doing a radio show via the HD Radio digital HD2 channel of all-news WTOP. Now, we hear that the Mid-Atlantic Sports network will carry Riggins' afternoon show at 4 PM come July. Back when he was on the old Triple X sports talker - before its owner, Redskins owner Dan Snyder, bought WTEM - Riggins' radio show was carried on MASN from 2006 to 2008.
June 9, 2010
Herndon Observer Closes
The Herndon-based Observer newspaper has printed its last edition, closing up shop after more than three decades. The Washington Business Journal reports that Christopher Moore, the weekly paper's publisher and co-owner, said that print advertising revenue simply couldn't keep up with the publication's overhead - a two-suite office at 1043 Sterling Road. The paper had only three fulltime staff by the time of the June 4 final edition - Moore and his wife Katie, the co-owners, and a sales manager. The Moores have owned the paper since 2003, though the Observer chain launched in the mid-1970s. The Observer used to offer three papers catering to Loudoun County, Reston, and Herndon, and at one point it circulated more than 100,000 free papers a week. But the Loudoun edition was axed in 2007 and the Reston and Herndon editions were merged in early 2009. Moore is moving on to AOL's Patch.com project, a community-specific news and information site, where he'll resurrect local news coverage in the Herndon/Reston/Sterling area. DCRTV adds: The Observer, as well as the the Northern Virginia Connection newspapers, have been struggling lately, going up against the refurbished Reston-based Fairfax County Times, which was recently purchased by an arm of the Washington Post Company.
June 8, 2010
Blue Mornings For Z104.3
Clear Channel's contemporary hit Z104.3, WZFT, in Baltimore picks Jackson Blue for morning drive duty. He comes from afternoons at Kiss FM, KHKS, in Dallas. He will also serve as assistant program director for the Baltimore station. Says Z104.3 Program Director Mick Lee: "He's creative, energetic... exactly what we needed to make some noise in AM drive."
June 7, 2010
Kammerer To Be 4's New Head Weatherman
Doug Kammerer (left) is the new chief meteorologist at NBC's Channel 4/WRC. He comes from CBS's Channel 3/KYW in Philadelphia, where he's been doing morning weather duties. Kammerer grew up in Fairfax County. He's been at KYW since 2007, and worked at NBC's Channel 10/WCAU in Philadelphia since 2003. He replaces Bob Ryan at WRC, who recently joined Channel 7/WJLA. Kammerer will start at WRC in August.June 7, 2010
4's GM Michael Jack To NYC NBCer
Michael Jack, president and general manager of NBC's DC station, Channel 4/WRC, is moving to NYC to run WNBC-TV, with the same titles. A replacement for Jack at WRC will be announced shortly. Prior to joining WRC as GM in 2002, Jack was GM of WCMH-TV Columbus, Ohio, from 1999 to 2002, and as VP of sales of KNBC-TV Los Angeles for three years. Prior to NBC, Jack spent 19 years at Capital Cities/ABC.
June 7, 2010
Gail Huff To JLA
Gail Huff joins Channel 7/WJLA as a part-time special project reporter. She's the wife of Scott Brown, the newly-elected Republican senator from Massachusetts. Huff will do medical, consumer, and investigative stories, but will steer clear of politics. She has been working at Boston's WCVB-TV for 17 years. Huff starts at WJLA in September.
June 4, 2010
WRC, WWDC Vet Phil Gaines Dies
Marion "Phil" Gaines, 87, a staff announcer at Channel 4/WRC from 1963 to 1979, died on May 23 at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home in St. Mary's County of complications from an aortic abdominal aneurysm. After leaving WRC, Mr. Gaines worked as a freelance announcer, narrator, and spokesman for various companies and government agencies. He hosted the classical music program the "One To Six Show" on WWDC and worked for Voice Of America.
May 28, 2010
4 Leads DC TV News Battle
Channel 4/WRC again holds the lead in almost all time periods for its newscasts, despite NBC getting poor primetime ratings in the Washington market. Here are the DC TV news viewership numbers for the May "sweeps," P2+ numbers. At 4:30 AM: WRC 29,000, WUSA 26,000, WTTG 23,000, WJLA 15,000 (non-news). At 5 AM: WRC: 57,000 (up 49% year-to-year), WTTG 42,000, WUSA 31,000, WJLA 26,000. At 6 AM: WRC 114,000 (up 28% year-to-year), WTTG 73,000, WJLA 42,000, WUSA 25,000. At 5 PM: WRC 107,000 (up 9% year-to-year), WJLA 78,000, WTTG 63,000, WUSA 36,000. At 6 PM: WRC 145,000 (up 7% year-to-year), WJLA 86,000, WTTG 57,000, WUSA 43,000. At 11 PM: WRC 157,000, WTTG 152,000 (10 PM news), WJLA 100,000, WUSA 95,000, WTTG 81,000 (11 PM news). The primetime average nightly viewership numbers for May: WTTG/Fox 194,000, WJLA/ABC 180,000, WUSA/CBS 164,000, WRC/NBC 125,000.
May 25, 2010
Nathan Roberts Says Adios To WTOP
DCRTV hears that DC TV and radio news veteran Nathan Roberts (left) is leaving his news anchoring gig at WTOP radio. In the past, he's worked at NewsChannel 8 and Channel 5/WTTG. A source tells DCRTV that Roberts
wants to move back to his native California because he's getting close to retirement age and wants to be closer to his family. "Right after Nathan Roberts signed off for the last time on WTOP at 2 PM, he walked out of the Glass Enclosed Nerve Center to a heartfelt round of applause from the crowd gathered in the newsroom. It was a well deserved ovation," a WTOPer tells DCRTV.May 22, 2010
BAL To Move Ron Smith To Late Mornings, Launch Afternoon News Block
Baltimore news talker WBAL (1090 AM) is making some weekday changes, come July. Afternoon talker Ron Smith will be moved to the 9 AM to noon slot, which will allow the Hearst station to launch an afternoon drive news block, a la the recently-launched morning news block with Dave Durian. We're told that Shari Elliker, who currently hosts the 9 AM to noon talk slot, will be part of the afternoon news block - and she's not happy about the move.
May 21, 2010
Barnes Leaving 9
Channel 9/WUSA is losing another veteran reporter. Audrey Barnes (right) has accepted a severance package and will be leaving the Gannett CBS affiliate in early June. "After 27 years of television broadcasting, I'm ready to make my personal dreams come true," Barnes says. She's launched a media consulting and talent coaching business, Audrey Barnes Media at audreybarnesmedia.com.May 19, 2010
Statter To Leave 9
A longtime Channel 9/WUSA reporter says adios. From Dave Statter (right) at statter911.com: "I have informed the management at Channel 9 today that I will be exercising an option in our union's 2008 collective bargaining agreement and will be taking what is essentially a buyout in early June. It has been a great 25 years in television, but it is time to move on." He will continue his statter911.com website, which provides fire, police, and emergency services news around the region, and hints that he'll have an announcement about a new gig in the not too distant future. Statter's wife, Hillary Howard, is an afternoon news anchor on WTOP radio.May 19, 2010
WTOP & WLIF Top April Radio Heap
The Washington market Portable People Meter radio ratings for the month of April, full-week, age 12+: 1) WTOP [1st in all dayparts], 2) WHUR [Harvey 2nd], 3) WIHT [Kane 4th], 4) WAMU, 5) WASH [L&L 5th], 6) WMMJ [Joyner 5th], 7) WETA-FM, 8) WBIG, 9) WKYS [Parr 9th] and WWDC [Elliot 11th], 11) WRQX [Diamond 8th], 12) WPGC [BT 14th], 13) WPRS, 14) WMZQ, 15) WMAL [G&A 10th, Rush 9th, Hannity 18th], 16) WLZL, 17) WIAD, 18) WVRX, 19) WJFK [Junks 13th, Wise 20th, Arrington 18th] and WTEM [M&M 20th, Korny 18th, Czaban 17th], 21) WGTS, 22) WFRE, 23) WAVA-FM and WACA and WWEG and WINC-FM, 27) WBQB and WFLS and WPFW, 30) WFED, 31) WDCN and WPOC, 33) WKDV and WBJC and WFRE and WJYJ and WIYY and WTNT, 38) WAFY and WYCB and WQSR and WGRX and WILC and WGRQ and WLIF. The Baltimore Portable People Meter radio ratings, full-week, age 12+: 1) WLIF, 2) WWIN-FM 3) WPOC, 4) WERQ, 5) WWMX, 6) WZFT, 7) WBAL-AM, 8) WIYY and WQSR, 10) WRBS-FM, 11) WZBA, 12) WCBM, 13) WYPR, 14) WJZ-FM, 15) WPGC, 16) WBJC, 17) WCAO, 18) WBIG, 19) WKYS and WWDC, 21) WAMU and WTOP, 23) WRQX and WHUR, 25) WASH, 26) WIHT, 27) WEAA and WTEM, 29) WLZL and WGTS and WTMD, 32) WMAL, 33) WMZQ and WFRE and WXCY, 36) WMMJ and WJZ-AM and WIAD, 40) WLIF stream and WWIN-AM and WETA-FM, 43) WRBS-AM and WVIE and WAVA-FM and WTTR and WOLB and WVRX and WAFY, 50) WWEG and WVBV and WNST.
May 17, 2010
Ryan To 7, Plus Martucci To 4
Channel 7/WJLA officially announced on the 11 PM Sunday newscast that Bob Ryan will be working there. As widely rumored. They had a pic of Bob and Doug Hill together. Ryan, who left Channel 4/WRC in February, will be doing 7's 11 PM newscast's weathercast, teaming with Hill during weather emergencies, and contributing to station owner's new TBD local news website. Also, Kim Martucci, who left Channel 9/WUSA at the end of December when her contract was not renewed, announced on her Facebook page that she will be doing some freelance weather work at Channel 4/WRC soon. "They have a great team and I am excited to be working with some incredibly talented people who have been here a long time. See you on the air very soon," she writes.
May 17, 2010
Salem Flips 1260 To Righty Talk
Salem takes over 1260 AM, WWRC, from Red Zebra and flips it from business talk to right-leaning political talk, doing a direct challenge to Citadel's WMAL, RZ's WTNT, and CBS's WHFS-AM. With Salem Radio Network's Bill Bennett, Mike Gallagher, Dennis Prager, Michael Medved, and Hugh Hewitt. Says Salem news/talk VP Tom Tradeup: "Obviously, we are thrilled to extend SRN's 'footprint' in our nation's capital... and look forward the shaking up the radio market in the exciting days ahead." Salem also owns Christian talker WAVA-FM/AM.
May 13, 2010
Former WRC Radio GM Frank Scott Dies
Frank Scott (right), who was once general manager of NBC's WRC radio and then-sister WKYS-FM, died Tuesday at age 77. Mr. Scott ran WRC radio, AM 980, in the mid-1970s when it was all-news with NBC's News And Information Service. He'd been at a retirement home in Silver Spring, after suffering from dementia. Early on, the Nebraska native pursued an acting career in New York and Hollywood, leading to a role in a John Wayne movie, and then worked at KVOA-TV in Houston and KBON radio in Omaha. He was a vice president of Welcome Radio and general manager of KTLK radio in Denver, before moving to Washington. After his WRC/WKYS position, Mr. Scott moved on to head the Voice Of America's European operations.May 11, 2010
Winneker Leaves Pentagon Channel
Michael Winneker is leaving the Arlington-based Pentagon Channel, which provides programming for and about US military members and the defense community. He's moving to Philadelphia to be director of distribution operations for the new RightNetwork conservative talk channel. Winneker been doing the same thing for the Pentagon Channel for the past five years. During his term, he's seen the Pentagon Channel added by most of the cable TV systems in the Washington area. He's still waiting for Comcast to add it in Arlington, where the Pentagon is located.
May 11, 2010
PD Paul Duckworth Out At WMAL
Paul Duckworth is out as program director at Citadel news talker WMAL (630 AM). He's being replaced by Drew Hayes, the program director and operations manager at Citadel sister news talker WLS-AM in Chicago. Hayes will continue his WLS duties and program WMAL from the Windy City. WMAL is in the midst of turmoil regarding its morning show. Both Andy Parks and Fred Grandy were recently jettisoned, replaced by Chris Plante.
May 8, 2010
WaPo Book World Vet Nina King Dies
Nina King, who was editor of the Washington Post's Book World section from 1988 to 1999 and often reviewed fiction and wrote about her far-flung travels, died May 6 at the Washington House, a nursing facility in Alexandria. A cousin, Nancy Dupree, said she died of complications from Parkinson's disease one day before her 69th birthday.
May 6, 2010
Ismail Joins Ravens Radio Team
Former Ravens wide receiver Qadry Ismail has been named the new color commentator for the Ravens radio broadcasts, which are heard on news talker WBAL and 98 Rock, WIYY. Ismail will continue his work with WBAL radio's weekday evening "Sportsline" show with Brett Hollander.
May 6, 2010
Morris To Replace Norris At WFED
Amy Morris will be replacing co-host Jane Norris in mornings on Federal News Radio, WFED (1500/820 AM). As DCRTV told you in mid-April, Norris will become the public relations manager at global consulting firm Deloitte's federal sector. Norris has been with FNR since 2006. Her last day at WFED is Friday. Morris's move from afternoons is a return to the morning drive slot on the Bonneville station. Chris Dorobek will now solo anchor the afternoon "Daily Debrief" show.
May 6, 2010
Terry Owens To MTA
Former Channel 2/WMAR reporter and anchor Terry Owens has been hired as spokesman by the MTA, Maryland Transit Administration.
May 1, 2010
Morris Jones To Revamped NC8
Some upcoming changes to Allbritton's NewsChannel 8, with the upcoming launch of the firm's new TBD.com local news website. Local anchor veteran Morris Jones, who once worked at DC's Channel 5/WTTG and Baltimore's Sinclair News Central, is joining the to-be-rebranded NC8 as its new weekday evening anchor. We also hear that Katherine Amenta, current evening anchor at Channel 47/WMDT in Salisbury, will also be joining the revamped NC8 as a morning co-anchor.
April 30, 2010
WashTimes Sale Rumors Confirmed
There have been rumors. Now we get confirmation that the Washington Times is up for sale. Nicholas Chiaia, a member of the Times' two-man board of directors and president of the Unification Church-owned United Press International wire service, confirmed that the paper is actively on the market: "We recently entered into discussions with a number of parties interested in either purchasing or partnering with the Washington Times," he said in a statement to the Washington Post. The negotiations follow months of turmoil at both the 28-year-old conservative daily and the business empire founded by church founder Sun Myung Moon, 90, whose children are jostling for control over the church's enterprises, which range from fisheries to arms manufacturing.
April 29, 2010
13's Viviano Assaulted In Park
Channel 13/WJZ Sports Director Mark Viviano was assaulted by teens as he jogged through Baltimore's Druid Hill Park on Tuesday afternoon, police said. Viviano was wearing headphones as he ran through the park and past three teens when one struck him in the head from behind, the Baltimore Sun reports. Viviano said he did not hear the teens come up behind him about 1 PM. He said a second teen tried to hit him but missed. He said they exchanged words, but Viviano continued to run, while the teens ran the other way. Viviano said he was not injured. After the incident, he flagged down a police officer in the park, he said.
April 26, 2010
DC Agenda To Resurrect Blade Moniker
DCRTV tipped you a few months ago that the owners of DC's gay newspaper, DC Agenda, had purchased the name of their old employer, the Washington Blade. Now, the DC Agenda will re-christen itself as the Blade with its Friday edition, along with a resurrection of the old washblade.com website. The Blade went belly-up last November when its parent, Window Media, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation. Its former staff formed the DC Agenda, and got out its first edition within a week. The DC Agenda name will live on as an editorial section of the new Blade.
April 21, 2010
TOP & LIF Top March PPMs
All-news WTOP continues it dominance of the Washington market radio ratings. The monthly March Portable People Meter numbers, age 12+, full-week: 1) WTOP [1st in all dayparts], 2) WIHT [Kane 2nd], 3) WHUR [Harvey 3rd], 4) WAMU, 5) WASH [L&L 5th], 6) WMMJ [Joyner 6th], 7) WKYS [Parr 8th] and WETA-FM, 9) WRQX [Diamond 9th], 10) WBIG, 11) WWDC [Elliot 13th], 12) WPGC [BT 11th], 13) WPRS, 14) WMAL [G&A 11th, Rush 7th, Hannity 14th], 15) WMZQ, 16) WIAD, 17) WLZL, 18) WTEM [M&M 20th, Korny 15th, Czaban 17th], 19) WVRX and WGTS, 21) WJFK [Junks 14th, Wise 21st, Arrington 20th], 22) WINC-FM, 23) WFLS, 24) WAVA-FM and WBQB and WACA, 27) WDCN and WPFW and WFRE, 30) WWEG and WERQ and WAFY, 33) WIYY and WYCB and WFMD and WKDV and WTNT and WILC, 39) WRBS-FM and WQSR and WGRX and WGRQ and WPOC and WBJC and WJYJ and WFED, 47) WZBA and WWMX and WLIF and WZFT and WWGB. CBS's adult contemporary WLIF, Lite FM 101.9, takes the top spot in the monthly March Portable People Meter radio ratings for the Baltimore market. Full-week, age 12+: 1) WLIF, 2) WWIN-FM, 3) WPOC, 4) WERQ, 5) WWMX, 6) WQSR, 7) WBAL-AM, 8) WIYY, 9) WZFT, 10) WRBS-FM, 11) WCBM and WYPR, 13) WZBA, 14) WJZ-FM, 15) WPGC and WBJC, 17) WCAO, 18) WBIG and WWDC and WASH, 21) WKYS and WAMU and WIHT and WTOP-FM, 25) WHUR and WRQX, 27) WLZL and WEAA, 29) WMAL and WXCY and WTEM, 32) WGTS and WTMD and WRNR-FM and WFRE, 36) WOLB and WMZQ, 38) WJZ-AM, 39) WWIN-AM and WIAD and WETA-FM and WAFY, 43) WLIF stream and WMMJ and WNST and WWEG and WTTR and WVBV and WVRX and WVIE and WAVA-FM, 52) WPFW and WFED.
April 21, 2010
New PD For TMD
Towson University's adult alternative WTMD (89.7 FM) hires Scott Mullins as program director. Mullins most-recently served as music director and interim program director at rock/urban hybrid free-form non-commercial WYMS in Milwaukee. Mullins has also worked at WFPK in his native Louisville KY, where he developed the "Dirty Soul Party," a program combining the blues, soul, funk, R&B, zydeco, and roots rock.
April 16, 2010
Jane Norris Leaves FNR
Jane Norris leaves Bonneville's Federal News Radio, heard via WFED, to become public relations manager at global consulting firm Deloitte's federal sector. Norris has been with FNR since 2006, where she helped launch the morning show. Before that, she co-hosted the morning show at WMAL with Bill Press and Andy Parks.
April 16, 2010
Red Zebra Sells 1260 To Salem
Salem, which owns Christian talker WAVA, 105.1 FM and 780 AM, is buying business talker WWRC, 1260 AM, from Redskins owner Dan Snyder's Red Zebra. The California-based broadcaster will put its national talk format, with the likes of Bill Bennett, Mike Gallagher, and Michael Medved, on its new DC signal. The sale, rumored price of about $3 million, will leave RZ with five local signals - sports talker WTEM on 980 AM, plus 92.7 FM and 94.3 FM, Spanish sports talker WXTR on 730 AM, and talker WTNT on 570 AM.
April 14, 2010
WMAL Veteran Eileen Gallant Dies
Eileen Gallant, 60, who served as a producer and program director at WMAL radio from 1976 through 1989, died on 4/2 of complications from pancreatic cancer. She was a patient at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford. Her production of special event coverage such as the January 1982 crash of Air Florida flight 90 into the Potomac River and the March 1981 assassination attempt of President Ronald Reagan won several awards for outstanding news coverage.
April 10, 2010
Gershon Fishbein Dies
Gershon Fishbein, 88, a former Washington Post assistant city editor who started an independent newsletter publishing company that he ran for more than 25 years, died March 29 of a heart attack at his home in Bethesda. Mr. Fishbein's journalism career spanned more than 50 years and began when he was hired at age 16 to cover sports part time for the Post. He served two other stints at the Post, as a full-time reporter from 1939 to 1941 and as assistant city editor from 1949 to the mid-1950s.
March 24, 2010
WTOP & WLIF Lead February Ratings
All that snow created a blizzard of ratings for all-news WTOP radio in February, as the monthly Portable People Meter radio numbers show. Full-day, age 12+: 1) WTOP [1st in all dayparts], 2) WIHT [Kane 3rd], 3) WAMU, 4) WHUR [Harvey 2nd], 5) WASH [L&L 7th], 6) WMMJ [Joyner 6th], 7) WETA-FM, 8) WRQX [Diamond 8th], 9) WBIG and WWDC [Elliot 10th], 11) WMAL [G&A 9th, Rush 3rd, Hannity 11th], 12) WKYS [Parr 10th], 13) WPRS, 14) WPGC [post Simpson 13th], 15) WGTS, 16) WIAD, 17) WMZQ, 18) WTEM [M&M 19th, Korny 13th, Czaban 15th], 19) WLZL, 20) WVRX, 21) WJFK [Junks 14th, Wise 21st, Arrington 21st], 22) WINC-FM, 23) WAVA-FM and WBQB and WFLS and WDCN, 27) WFRE and WWEG and WPFW, 30) WTNT [AMN 32nd] and WAFY and WERQ, 33) WYCB and WQSR and WFMD and WPOC, 37) WILC and WLIF and WJYJ and WRBS-FM and WOL and WIYY and WACA and WBJC and WFED, 46) WWMX and WGRX and WZBA and WGRQ. The Baltimore Portable People Meter radio ratings for the month of February. Full-day, age 12+: 1) WLIF, 2) WWIN-FM, 3) WPOC, 4) WERQ, 5) WWMX, 6) WQSR, 7) WBAL-AM, 8) WRBS-FM, 9) WZFT, 10) WIYY, 11) WYPR, 12) WCBM, 13) WZBA, 14) WJZ-FM, 15) WPGC and WTOP, 17) WBJC, 18) WCAO, 19) WBIG and WWDC and WAMU, 22) WKYS, 23) WRQX and WHUR, 25) WIHT, 26) WLZL and WFRE, 28) WEAA and WASH and WMAL and WTMD, 32) WTEM and WXCY, 34) WRNR-FM and WGTS, 36) WMZQ, 37) WWIN-AM and WIAD and WJZ-AM and WOLB, 41) WETA-FM and WMMJ, 43) WAFY and WAVA-FM, 45) WTTR and WWEG and WVIE and WNST and WPFW.
March 23, 2010
Cook To Leave Sun
Top editor J. Montgomery Cook (right), who last year oversaw a reorganization of the Baltimore Sun's newsroom to merge print and online operations, is leaving the Tribune-owned newspaper in April for a job at his alma mater, the University Of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He will head an experimental digital news and audience research effort at the university's journalism school. Cook was promoted to the Sun editor job in January 2009, when Timothy Franklin left to launch a sports journalism center at Indiana University, his alma mater. Cook joined the Sun six years ago as deputy managing editor, launching the free daily b, and overseeing digital news efforts. The newsroom faced 61 layoffs during his tenure. Mary Corey, head of print, will work as interim editor while the Sun searches for a permanent replacement, Sun Publisher Tim Ryan said.March 22, 2010
WMET To Air Guadalupe Network
DCRTV recently reported the sale of Gaithersburg's WMET (1160 AM), but we had no clue as to the possible new format of the brokered ethnic station. Now, we hear that the station will soon be airing Catholic religious programming via the Guadalupe Radio Network. Last month, WMET was sold to Huffines Media for $4 million.
March 22, 2010
Big Tigger Debuts In PGC Mornings
CBS Radio and Big Tigger must have come to some deal on his financial compensation because the former WPGC afternoon man starts his new morning gig today. Replacing longtime morning man Donnie Simpson, who left the station under pressure in late January. CBS suits are looking for younger demos to better battle Clear Channel's Hot 99.5, WIHT, which sports Kane in the mornings. That station has been 2nd overall and 3rd in mornings lately, while PGC, with Simpson, had frequently been outside the top 10. While Hot 99.5 is contemporary hits, it looks like PGC will remain rhythmic/urban contemporary - for now. No Amp or Now moniker - yet. Big Tigger's show staff includes former BETer Donela and comedian Donell Rawlings, formerly of WWPR radio in NYC.
March 22, 2010
DC AP Veteran Roy Steinfort Dies
Roy Steinfort, former vice president of Associated Press, died Sunday of cancer in Leesburg. He was 88. Steinfort held a variety of positions with AP and eventually oversaw the expansion of its radio news operations and established a Washington broadcast center. He retired in 1986.
March 19, 2010
Chick Lang Dies
Chick Lang passed away Thursday afternoon at a medical care center in Easton after battling lengthy multiple illnesses. He was 83. Lang was WBAL radio's racing analyst. He ran Pimlico Race Course for 27 years, holding the positions of director of racing, vice president, and general manager.
March 18, 2010
JFK's Arrington & Dukes To Do Sports Show For 50
WJFK, 106.7 The Fan's afternoon drive team of LaVar Arrington and Chad Dukes will be doing a Sunday sports show on Channel 50/WDCW. "SportsWeek With Arrington And Dukes" will premiere on 4/11 at noon, although the normal air time will be 12:30 PM, immediately preceding the Washington Nationals pre-game show. Nationals games on DC50 will air on Sundays, usually beginning at 1:30 PM. The first 12-weeks of "SportsWeek" will be shot at Icons Sports Bar in Alexandria. It'll feature interviews with local and national sports figures and cover professional, college, and high school sports.
March 17, 2010
WTOP Places 2nd Nationally In Radio Revenue
Bonneville's WTOP was the 2nd highest ad revenue billing radio station in the whole country, according to 2009 stats just-out from Chantilly's BIA Financial. WTOP billed $51 million, second only to one station, LA's KIIS. Keep in mind that the numbers are not station profits, and all-news WTOP is a very expensive operation. Rounding out the top 10: NYC's WCBS-AM was 3rd, NYC's WINS 4th, LA's KROQ 5th, NYC's WLTW 6th, LA's KFI 7th, Chicago's WBBM-AM 8th, NYC's WHTZ 9th, and Chicago's WGN-AM 10th. CBS's WPGC was the 2nd highest biller in the DC market with $18 million. Citadel's WRQX was 3rd at $15.7 million, Howard U's WHUR 4th with $15.3 million, and Radio One's WKYS was 5th with $14.3 million. The top Baltimore station was Radio One's WERQ, which placed 113th nationally, at $12.9 million. More local stations: WTEM $12.6 million, WLIF $12.2 million, WMMJ $11.6 million, WASH $11.5 million, WPOC $11.4 million, WWIN-FM $10.6 million, WJFK $10.2 million, WMZQ $10.1 million, WIHT $10.0 million, WWDC $9.7 million, WBIG $9.2 million, WLZL $9.0 million, WWMX $9.0 million, WBAL-AM $8.9 million, WMAL $8.8 million, WIYY $8.3 million, WQSR $7.0 million, WAVA-FM $6.9 million, WVRX $6.5 million, WIAD $6.2 million.
March 15, 2010
WaPo To Launch Biz Pub
The Washington Post is launching a missile directly at the Washington Business Journal and starting a weekly local business publication. Dan Beyers will be editor of Capital Business, and Arnie Applebaum will be general manager. It launches on April 19, with the first free editions delivered to full-week Post subscribers. Come mid-May, it'll cost $49 for 52 issues and be available only to Post subscribers. The Post elimiated its stand-alone weekday Business news section in late 2008.
March 14, 2010
Jazz Musician Harold Kaufman Dies, Hosted MAL Talk Show
Harold Kaufman, who was trained as a lawyer, then became a psychiatrist and college professor while moonlighting as a jazz musician and nightclub owner, died March 10 at age 77 of heart disease at his home in Washington. He was an accomplished jazz pianist who, during the 1970s, owned Harold's Rogue And Jar Club at Dupont Circle, which became an intimate gathering spot for the city's jazz lovers. DCRTV hears that, in the mid-1970s, Mr. Kaufman hosted one of the first call-in talk shows offered by WMAL, then a full-service middle-of-the-road music station.
March 12, 2010
WJZ-FM News: Conn To Join Garceau, Royle To Cover O's
CBS Radio Baltimore sports talker, 105.7 The Fan, WJZ-FM has picked Jeremy Conn to be the top contributor to its afternoon drive show with Scott Garceau. Conn replaces Anita Marks, whose contract with the station was not renewed earlier this year. Conn has been hosting the evening "Playmakers" show on WJZ-FM. He's also a radio producer and fill-in for 105.7 morning man Ed Norris as well as Garceau. Dave Labrozzi, who heads CBS Radio's Baltimore cluster, tells DCRTV that it'll still be called "The Scott Garceau Show." Also, Labrozzi tells us that he's hired Jen Royle from NYC's YES sports network to be the Orioles beat reporter for 105.7. She will also contribute to WJZ-FM's shows.
March 9, 2010
Win Clearwater Dies
Fans of DC's now-defunct commercial classical WGMS will be saddened to learn of the passing of Winfield "Win" Clearwater (left) on February 28th at age 83. He was a resident of Bowie. Before joining WGMS, Mr. Clearwater was the first Saturday night anchorperson for Channel 9, then WTOP-TV's "Newsnight" broadcast in December 1962.March 9, 2010
Frank Herzog To Retire
Veteran DC TV and radio personality Frank Herzog (right), 65, says he'll be retiring from his current gig as a WTOP radio morning news anchor. The longtime radio voice of the Redskins, who also served as a sports reporter and sports anchor for Channels 7 and 9, and who has been a frequent bit-part actor in movies filmed in Washington, announced his decision in a memo to WTOP staff on Monday. He says he wants to spend more time with his wife and grandchildren. Herzog is ending a 40-plus-year career that both started and ended at WTOP radio. He'd also called Bullets games during his career. DCRTV hears that Herzog will do a special one-hour "Ask Frank" call-in show with WTOP's Mark Segraves on 3/22. Herzog's last day at WTOP will be 3/31.March 9, 2010
NBC4 Wins DC TV News Race For February
The ratings are in for the February TV "book" and NBC4 continues to be Washington's local news leader. Helped by impressive Olympics ratings, Channel 4/WRC produced commanding wins over the competition. Even with the loss of weatherman Bob Ryan, numbers remained steady. While morning show viewership was slightly down compared to the previous book, Channel 7/WJLA's morning product continues a dramatic downward trend, with key demos in last place. Noticeable gains for Channel 9/WUSA at 11 PM thanks to stronger CBS primetime programming. At 5 AM: NBC4 (1.8), Fox5 (1.5), CBS9 (1.0), ABC7 (0.8). At 6 AM: NBC4 (3.9), Fox5 (3.0), ABC7 (1.4), CBS9 (1.2). At 5 PM: NBC4 (3.6), Fox5 (2.7), ABC7 (2.1), CBS9 (2.1). At 6 PM: NBC4 (5.1), ABC7 (3.4), Fox5 (2.4), CBS9 (2.1). At 11 PM: NBC4 (5.5), CBS9 (3.3), ABC7 (3.2), Fox5 (2.5).
March 8, 2010
CBS Puts Balto, NYC, Philly Sportsers On 106.7's HD Radio Sigs
CBS Radio sports talker WJFK, 106.7 The Fan, starts relays of three CBS sister sports talkers on the digital HD Radio subschannels of 106.7. You can hear Baltimore's 105.7 The Fan, WJZ-FM, on 106.7's HD2, NYC's WFAN on 106.7's HD3, and Philadelphia's WIP on 106.7's HD4. Says WJFK afternoon host Lavar Arrington: "Having spent many years of my football career in New York and Pennsylvania I'm very familiar with WFAN and WIP and know they put out great programming - even if I didn't always agree with what they were saying. Hopefully they'll be kind to me now that they are broadcasting in my hometown." Adds CBS Radio VP/Programming Chris Oliviero: "Washington DC is home to a diverse range of sports fans, many originally from other parts of the Northeast, making WJFK an ideal home for this breakthrough quadcast. We're thrilled to offer local audiences various opinions and insights from the best sports stations up and down the East Coast."
March 8, 2010
Kane Gets National Show
Clear Channel's syndication arm, Premiere, will launch "Club Kane" on contemporary hit stations around the country come March 28. The Sunday evening 7-to-midnight music show will be hosted by Kane, who does mornings on Clear Channel's Hot 99.5, WIHT, in DC. According to a press release, Kane "will play chart-topping songs, debut new music, and take requests as he welcomes listeners to his on-air party. Broadcasting live from Washington DC, he'll also discuss pop culture, music, and entertainment, and feature candid conversations with music artists and celebrities."
March 8, 2010
Phil Wood Joins WFED's Nats Team
Washington Examiner sports columnist and DC sports radio veteran Phil Wood joins WFED's coverage of the Washington Nationals. During the regular season, Slowes and Jageler will once again co-host "Nats On Deck," which, new this year, will feature a Manager's show with Jim Riggleman. The post-game show, "Nats Talk Live," will be hosted primarily by Wood.
March 3, 2010
Mick Lee Gets PD Gig At Z104.3
Clear Channel names Mick Lee program director and on-air personality at its new contemporary hit outlet in Baltimore, Z104.3, WZFT. He comes from CC's contemporary hit KKRZ in Portland, Oregon. DCRTV hears that Lee worked at CC's DC contemporary hit Hot 99.5, WIHT, for several weeks as program director before getting canned. He replaced local radio veteran Albie Dee.
March 3, 2010
VivaLaVoce To 90.9's HD2
Classical music-formatted WETA-FM is launching VivaLaVoce, a radio service featuring classical vocal music - including choral, opera, and art song - on the HD2 digital HD Radio signal of 90.9 FM and via vivalavoce.org. Look for "Opera At 8" each evening as well as a "Vocal CD Pick Of The Week," drawn from recent classical vocal releases. VivaLaVoce is hosted by WETA-FM announcers David Ginder, Marilyn Cooley, John Chester, Nicole Lacroix, and Deb Lamberton. A similar classical vocal service was offered for a time by the old commercial classical WGMS, before it left the airwaves several years ago.
March 3, 2010
Bob Mathers Joins WTTR
Sajak Broadcasting hires Bob Mathers as station manager, program director, and morning host of Westminster's WTTR (1470 AM). After recent stints as owner/operator of an Alabama station, and as news anchor/editor at KOMO in Seattle, Mathers returns home to the Baltimore area. Mathers spent most of his career working for Baltimore area stations, including WPOC, WSBA, WAMD, WQSR, and WITH. "Wheel Of Fortune" host and Maryland resident Pat Sajak owns Sajak Broadcasting, which also owns WNAV (1430 AM) in Annapolis.
March 3, 2010
TEM Names Galdi Skins Reporter
Al Galdi gets named Redskins beat reporter at Redskins owner Dan Snyder's ESPN 980, WTEM. He's the station's morning drive sports news anchor and hosts the Redskins post-game show.
February 26, 2010
WWDC Veteran Donald Rice Dies
Donald Rice, 82, a radio engineer with WWDC and the Voice Of America, died of congestive heart failure February 18 at Montgomery General Hospital in Olney. He lived in Silver Spring. Mr. Rice, a native of Brunswick MD, joined WWDC radio in 1949, where he worked for the next 19 years, becoming operations manager. He then moved to the VOA as a radio engineer, working there until he retired in 1987. In addition, Mr. Rice co-owned and operated M&D Audio, in which he worked as an engineer for visiting sportscasters covering games involving the Redskins, Capitals, and Bullets. He sold the business in the 1990s.
February 25, 2010
Radio One Cancels DC Move
Radio One has cancelled the planned move of its HQ and DC area radio studio facilities from Lanham, in Maryland's Prince George's County, to DC's Shaw neighborhood. The decision has dealt a major blow to an already long-delayed mixed-use project backed by the city. The company, owner of 53 urban and gospel-formatted radio stations in 16 markets nationwide, had planned to return to the city where it was founded by Catherine Hughes more than 20 years ago, with Hughes herself testifying before the DC Council about her desire to return to DC. Radio One would have been the anchor tenant in Broadcast Center One, a project that was slated to bring 103,000 square feet of office space and 25,000 square feet of retail directly atop an entrance to the Shaw-Howard University Metro station, financed by $30 million in subsidies. In the DC market, Radio One owns WKYS, WMMJ, WPRS, WOL, and WYCB.
February 25, 2010
WMET Sold
CTM Media Holdings is selling brokered WMET (1160 AM) in Gaithersburg to Huffines Media for $4 million - $1.3 million in cash and the remainder in a promissory note or cash at closing. "WMET has not been profitable for CTM and we believe that this sale is in the best interest of the company and our shareholders," says CEO Marc Knoller. Under previous owner IDT, WMET moved from 1150 to 1160 with a 50,000-watt daytime signal and attempted a political talk format with a DC-based studio and Doug "Greaseman" Tracht doing mornings. But the station, which continues to have a weak night signal, could not get any ratings traction. Since then, WMET has been selling its time slots and running mainly ethnic programming.February 24, 2010
Bob Ryan Leaving 4
Channel 4/WRC has issued an official memo today confirming that weatherman Bob Ryan's (right) last day at the NBC station will be Friday. "No mention of going to 7, but he is definitely leaving as of Friday," a source tells DCRTV. Earlier today, a reliable 4 insider told DCRTV that Ryan is jumping from 4, after 31 years there, to Channel 7/WJLA, with his last day at 4 being Friday. However, a spokesperson for 7 tells DCRTV: "We emphatically deny there is any deal between Mr. Ryan and WJLA-TV." A few weeks ago, DCRTV reported rumblings that Ryan might be making the jump. The word is that Ryan would do ABC7's 11 PM weathercasts, freeing up Doug Hill to concentrate on the 5 PM and 6 PM weathercasts and spend more time with his family in evenings.February 24, 2010
WTOP Takes Top In Pre-Blizzard January Numbers
All-news WTOP takes the top of the January monthly Portable People Meter radio ratings heap for DC. The ratings period ended 2/3, before DC's two mammoth snowstorms. So, expect WTOP to get even bigger numbers in the February book, with its wall-to-wall coverage of the storms that caused power outages for many. Full-day, age 12+: 1) WTOP [1st in all dayparts], 2) WAMU, 3) WIHT [Kane 4th], 4) WHUR [Harvey 3rd], 5) WASH [L&L 7th], 6) WETA-FM, 7) WMMJ [Joyner 6th], 8) WRQX [Diamond 8th], 9) WBIG, 10) WPGC [Simpson 8th], 11) WMAL [G&A 14th, Rush 4th, Hannity 12th], 12) WWDC [Elliot 13th], 13) WGTS, 14) WPRS and WKYS [Parr 11th], 16) WMZQ, 17) WIAD, 18) WTEM [M&M 18th, Korny 14th, Czaban 14th], 19) WLZL, 20) WVRX, 21) WJFK [Junks 17th, Wise 21st, Arrington 19th], 22) WINC-FM and WBQB, 24) WDCN, 25) WFLS and WPFW and WAVA-FM, 28) WWEG and WKDV and WERQ and WYCB and WAFY and WTNT and WFRE and WACA, 36) WQSR and WIYY, 38) WFMD and WILC and WBJC and WGRQ and WPOC and WGRX and WLIF and WJYJ, 46) WFED and WZFT and WWGB and WWMX and WZBA and WRBS and WKCW. The monthly January Portable People Meter radio ratings for Baltimore, full-week, age 12+: 1) WLIF, 2) WWIN-FM, 3) WPOC, 4) WERQ, 5) WWMX, 6) WQSR, 7) WIYY, 8) WRBS-FM, 9) WBAL-AM, 10) WZFT, 11) WYPR, 12) WZBA, 13) WJZ-FM, 14) WCBM, 15) WBJC, 16) WPGC, 17) WWDC, 18) WAMU, 19) WTOP and WHUR and WCAO, 22) WKYS, 23) WBIG and WIHT, 25) WRQX, 26) WFRE, 27) WASH and WXCY, 29) WGTS and WTEM and WMAL, 32) WLZL and WTMD and WRNR-FM, 35) WIAD and WEAA, 37) WJZ-AM, 38) WMZQ and WMMJ, 40) WWIN-AM and WAVA-FM and WETA-FM, 43) WOLB and WNST and WRBS-AM, 46) WPRS and WAFY and WVIE and WPFW.February 24, 2010
LeRoy Tillman Dies
LeRoy W. Tillman Jr., 54, a media spokesman and veteran news reporter and editor for the Associated Press, who had a passion for District politics and breaking news, died February 17 at his home in the District. He had a heart ailment. Mr. Tillman began his journalism career in the early 1980s as a producer for WMAL-AM, where he worked on the Ken Beatrice morning show and other programs for more than two years. In 1984 he moved to WTOP-AM, where he worked as an editor until he was hired by AP.
February 24, 2010
Walter Crawford Dies
Walter Charles Crawford, 61, a photojournalist who had worked for Washington's Channel 7 (then WMAL, now WJLA) since 1982, who died of cancer February 14 at Reston Hospital Center. Mr. Crawford received multiple awards from the White House News Photographers Association, one last year for his work on flooding in Prince William County and another last week for lighting. He was also a still photographer and received honors for his work at the League Of Reston Artists show last year.
February 20, 2010
Donnie Radcliffe Dies
Donnie Radcliffe, 80, a Washington Post journalist who chronicled first ladies and high society from the Watergate era to the Clinton administration, died February 19 at her home in South Acworth, New Hampshire. She had cancer. During her 22-year career at the Post, Mrs. Radcliffe covered six White Houses and wrote biographies of first ladies Barbara Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
February 19, 2010
Longtime 7 Engineer Clyde Roller Dies
Clyde Roller, 85, a broadcast engineer who specialized in sound work for acclaimed news documentaries, died February 10 at Laurel Regional Hospital from complications of an intestinal blockage. He was a Silver Spring resident. Mr. Roller spent his career at Channel 7, then WMAL-TV, and retired around 1990. He was best known for teaming with the husband-wife filmmaking team of Paul and Holly Fine for award-winning documentaries, including "Until We Say Goodbye," a film about the hospice movement, and "The Saving Of The President," about the medical efforts to save President Ronald Reagan's life after an assassination attempt in 1981. Mr. Roller won several Emmys and was recognized for excellence in sound by the White House News Photographers Association.
February 17, 2010
C-SPAN Bus Drives Mike Connors Dies
Mike Connors, the first driver of the iconic C-SPAN Bus, died on February 13 at age 61, the cable industry-funded public affairs network said. Connors worked at the DC-based network for 17 years, starting as the bus's first driver in 1993. C-SPAN launched the bus program to bring the world of public affairs into schools and communities nationwide. Working with cable industry partners throughout the country, the two C-SPAN buses have visited students, teachers and citizens in all 50 states, to discuss media, public affairs, and C-SPAN's programming and free educational resources. Connors logged more than half-a-million miles over that span, C-SPAN said.
February 17, 2010
7 Veteran Walt Crawford Dies
Walt Crawford, who had worked for Channel 7/WJLA for the past 28 years, died on 2/14. The cause of death was not reported, but he had been on medical leave. "His death is shocking nonetheless," said station manager Bill Lord in a statement, adding that Crawford left behind "countless friends." Lord said Crawford had just received an award from the White House News Photographers Association. The association had posted an "In Memoriam" note on its blog at press time pointing out that Crawford had just received a first place award for lighting. Writes former WJLA reporter Andrea McCarren on her Facebook page: "A true gentleman, a great colleague and one of the kindest, most talented people I've met. He asked me to teach him how to say in Spanish 'Don't shoot me, I'm just the photog...' before we went to El Salvador. I'll miss you, Walt."
February 16, 2010
Metro Radio Sells WKCW & WKDL
Vienna VA-based Metro Radio is selling brokered Spanish "Radio La Ley" WKCW (1420 AM) and brokered/classic country WKDL (1250 AM), both Warrenton VA, to Radio Companion for $2.7 million.
February 12, 2010
NBC DC Vet Bill Gebhardt Retires
Bill Gebhardt has taken his retirement from NBC Washington after 38 years. He was best known for his leadership and command of NBC's White House Division, where he spent most of his time as the lead cameraman since 2000, we're told. "We all wish Bill a happy retirement and await to see if anyone is capable of filling his shoes," a colleague tells DCRTV.
February 12, 2010
CBS, CNN DC Vet Janet Moore Dies
Janet Moore, 66, a television news producer and reporter who covered Capitol Hill for the "CBS Evening News" and for CNN, died on February 8 at Capital Hospice in Arlington. She suffered from a neurological disorder. Then known as Janet Westmoreland, she joined CBS in 1977 as a gofer to evening news anchor Walter Cronkite. In the late-1990s, she joined CNN, covering the US Senate as a producer-reporter.
February 9, 2010
Sun Sports Veteran Bill Free Dies
William K. "Bill" Free, a retired Baltimore Sun sportswriter and sports car enthusiast, died Friday of a perforated bowel at his Reisterstown home. He was 66. Mr. Free served in the Army as a sportswriter and then went to work as a newspaper reporter for the Gettysburg Times, Waynesboro Record, and Harrisburg Patriot-News before beginning his 39-year career with the Baltimore Sun's sports department in 1969.
February 4, 2010
Riggo To Do PM Drive Show For TOP's HD3
Bonneville all-newser WTOP radio has signed a "multi-year broadcasting partnership" with NFL Hall Of Famer and Redskins great John Riggins (right). "The John Riggins Show" will return to the air via WTOP's digital HD Radio HD3 channel via 103.5 FM from 4 PM to 7 PM weekdays starting in March. Riggins did an afternoon drive show for Redskins owner Dan Snyder's now defunct Triple X ESPN Radio, but that ended in mid-2008 when Snyder bought sports talker WTEM and shut down Triple X. Also, Riggins will host WTOP pre-game and post-game shows during the NFL season. "Riggo" just completed his first year of providing analysis and commentary for WTOP during the Redskins' season and will continue in that role during the 2010 NFL season. Riggins will also host one-hour "Ask Riggo" late morning WTOP specials throughout the year.February 4, 2010
Comcast To Launch Xfinity Brand
Comcast plans to rebrand its cable TV, internet, and phone services as Xfinity TV, Xfinity Internet, and Xfinity Voice in 11 markets, including DC and Baltimore, starting next week. Comcast will remain the name of the parent company. A Comcast spokesman said that last year's switch from analog to digital cable laid the groundwork for the switch to Xfinity by freeing up bandwidth for new services, including 100 megabit-per-second broadband, additional high-def channels, and a larger On-Demand catalog. Comcast has switched some, but not all, of its DC and Baltimore area cable TV systems to mostly digital. However, some systems, like Arlington, Reston, Howard, and Baltimore city, await equipment that won't be available until spring.January 30, 2010
Parshall Leaves Salem For Moody
Janet Parshall, a syndicated talk-show host and the nation's pre-eminent female Christian broadcaster, is leaving the Salem Radio Network to start a new show with the Chicago-based Moody Broadcasting Network. The last day for "Janet Parshall's America" was a Friday rerun. Parshall, who lives near Front Royal VA, recorded her last live show Monday, when she announced she was leaving. Locally, Parshall is heard on Salem's Christian talk WAVA (105.1 FM) and attracted 0.9 percent of the local audience, one-third that of rival Christian contemporary WGTS (91.9 FM). In 1998, Parshall's show ran four hours a day on WAVA. Her time has since been reduced to one hour at 3 PM.
January 29, 2010
Donnie Simpson's Last Day At PGC
"This is not a retirement, I will be back," Donnie Simpson said on urban contemporary WPGC's airwaves at 6:13 AM Friday, 1/29. He confirmed that it's his last day at the CBS Radio station, but not his last day on the radio in DC. He jested that he was late this morning because he had to "get some boxes from the basement" to pack up his things. "I brought my own box. Usually they put it in a box for you." DCRTV has told you that CBS was negotiating an early contractual "out" with the longtime morning personality in order to cut costs and to attract more younger listeners to DC's 95.5. Simpson's first tribute caller was Robert Johnson, the founder of BET, where Simpson once worked. Said Steve Harvey, who's heard mornings on PGC rival WHUR: "You cannot let a legend go and replace him," in a slam to "PGC or PEC, whatever it's called." Stressed Simpson: "This is my decision, bro, I don't want to point a finger... The option to stay was there... There's no animosity to management or anything like that... I leave happy... and with integrity." Russ Parr, morning man on rival WKYS, also called Simpson. More call-ins: Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Tavis Smiley, Bootsy Collins, Frankie Beverly, Wyclef Jean, John Legend, DL Hughley, and DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier. Channel 5/WTTG and Tony Perkins (left with Simpson in pic at right), who worked at WKYS with Simpson before Simpson jumped to PGC in 1992, streamed the PGC farewell during its Friday morning newscast at myfoxdc.com. According to the Washington Post, the station forbade Simpson to reminisce on the air with two former sidekicks, Chris Paul and Huggy Lowdown, who now work for rival programs. While Simpson was tight-lipped about what he will do next, he hinted that he could be heading back to TV. And still no official word about who will replace Simpson in the PGC morning slot, but DCRTV has reported rumors that Big Tigger could be moved over from afternoons.January 29, 2010
Al Colby Dies
Al Colby, 66, a retired CBS News Washington Bureau cameraman, died on January 29. Colby joined CBS in the late 1960s.
January 29, 2010
Bob Windsor Dies
Bob Windsor, who worked for ABC News in TV and radio in the 1960s, and again in the late 1970s and early 1980s, died on January 25 of cancer at his DC area home. He was 73. He originally worked as a radio and television news correspondent for WTOP, and then joined ABC News in DC and later became one of the voices of ABC Radio Network/Information.
January 28, 2010
WASH & WLIF Top Radio Ratings
The monthly "Holiday" Portable People Meter radio ratings for DC, full-day, age 12+:) 1) WASH [L&L 4th], 2) WTOP [AM drive 1st, PM drive 2nd], 3) WAMU, 4) WIHT [Kane 6th], 5) WHUR [Harvey 3rd], 6) WMMJ [Joyner 7th], 7) WETA-FM, 8) WBIG, 9) WPGC [Simpson 9th], 10) WKYS [Parr 10th] and WWDC [Elliot 11th], 12) WRQX [Diamond 11th], 13) WMZQ, 14) WTGB, 15) WMAL [G&A 17th, Rush 8th, Hannity 15th], 16) WGTS, 17) WPRS, 18) WLZL, 19) WTEM [M&M 18th, Korny 14th, Czaban 17th], 20) WJFK [Junks 14th, Wise 19th, Arrington 20th], 21) WVRX, 22) WDCN, 23) WBQB, 24) WPFW, 25) WINC-FM and WFLS and WAVA. Baltimore: 1) WLIF, 2) WWIN-FM, 3) WERQ, 4) WPOC, 5) WWMX, 6) WQSR, 7) WIYY and WRBS-FM, 9) WBAL-AM, 10) WYPR, 11) WJZ-FM, 12) WZFT, 13) WZBA, 14) WCBM, 15) WBJC. More: 19) WCAO, 30) WEAA, 32) WRNR-FM and WTMD, 38) WJZ-AM, 41) WWIN-AM, 44) WNST and WVIE.
January 25, 2010
Anita Marks Out At 105.7
After over a month of working on a new contract, Anita Marks (right) and CBS Radio's Baltimore sports talker, WJZ-FM, 105.7 The Fan, will be parting ways after four years. The two sides could not craft an agreement that would give Marks the freedom to explore other national TV options while working for CBS. "I had a great run in Baltimore but in the end I had to do what is best for my career, so it is time to move on," Marks says. It is not clear yet what CBS will do to replace Marks on the popular "Scott Garceau And Anita Marks Show" afternoons on WJZ-FM.January 25, 2010
Former 2er Ken Matz Dies
Ken Matz, who used to work at Channel 2/WMAR, has died of throat cancer in Florida. Matz, who was also known as "Gary Smith," also worked at TV stations in Philadelphia and Miami, and at radio stations across Pennsylvania, including Harrisburg's WFEC and Philadelphia's WIBG and KYW.
January 24, 2010
WaPo Print Plant Vet Dies
Jerre George Lowe, 80, an engraving foreman at the Washington Post's printing plants from 1953 until he retired in 1989, died after a heart attack on January 22 at Inova Loudoun Hospital. A former resident of Falls Church, he had lived in Loudoun County since 1992.
January 24, 2010
FCC Veteran Jim Quello Dies
Federal Communications Commission commissioner Jim Quello died on January 24 at his Alexandria home. He was 95. "A helluva career as both broadcaster and common-sense regulator during his 24 years on the FCC," says Tom Taylor of Radio-Info.com. "Also, an avid tennis player in the DC area, well into his 80s." Quello joined the FCC after a broadcasting career that included stints at local television stations in Detroit. He was the winner of the National Association Of Broadcaster's Distinguished Service Award in 1994.
January 22, 2010
4 Cameraman Harry Davis Dies
Longtime NBC-DC and Channel 4/WRC cameraman Harry Davis (left, with son at right), 62, died Thursday from a heart attack in North Carolina. Davis was an award-winning news photographer at NBC4 for 28 years, before he retired a few years ago.
According to nbcwashington.com, Davis traveled the country supporting his son Marc's dream to drive racing cars. Marc was a driver for the Joe Gibbs racing team. At WRC, Davis founded Teen TV, a program that mentored inner city kids and taught them all about TV production. His other project, the Broadcast Factory, also offered opportunities to DC area kids.January 21, 2010
Air America Shuts Down
Lefty talk radio Air America is shutting down. Company Chairman Charlie Kireker notified staffers today that the company will be filing for bankruptcy and terminating programming. "Our painstaking search for new investors has come close several times right up into this week, but ultimately fell short of success," Kireker says. The politically liberal network was heard on the DC area on WZAA (1050 AM). All current employees will be paid through today. A severance package will be offered tomorrow to fulltime current employees with more than six months of tenure. Air America's chief executive is Bennett Zier (right), who founded and previously headed Redskins owner Daniel Snyder's broadcasting company, Red Zebra, and was the top executive of Clear Channel's DC radio cluster. The company's programming director, Bill Hess, was also once a Clear Channel DC radio executive. Since last summer, Air America has been heard in the Washington area on WZAA. Its audience has been so small that Arbitron, which compiles radio ratings, was unable to detect any listeners for WZAA during several weeks in December.
January 21, 2010
Former 7 Reporter Charles Powers Dies
When Charles Powers, a public relations practitioner who died on January 3, was a reporter for Channel 7, then WMAL-TV, in 1974, he helped break the infamous Tidal Basin story by his knowledge of a congressman's cranium. Early in the morning of October 9, 1974, US Park Police stopped a Lincoln Continental, driven by an intoxicated Representative Wilbur Mills. An exotic dancer named Fanne Foxe jumped out of the congressman's car and jumped into the Tidal Basin. Powers, 64, died of cancer at Inova Alexandria Hospital.
January 14, 2010
Andres New Sports Anchor At ZDC
DCRTV hears that DC's Telemundo TVer, WZDC, has dismissed longtime sports anchor Gustavo Cherquis. He'll be replaced with Jorge Andres (right), who is currently a radio show host and Spanish play-by-play anchor for the Redskins on Dan Snyder-owned Red Zebra's ESPN Deportes, WXTR (730 AM). Andres will continue his hosting and play-by-play duties for WXTR, but will step down as director of operations at the radioer.January 11, 2010
Gary Froseth Dies
DCRTV hears that longtime WTOP news anchor and editor Gary Froseth (right) has died. Froseth has been a member of the WTOP news team for 16 years. Recently, he battled health problems that affected his voice, causing him to work off the air. During his long news career, he's worked for KFI and KFWB radio in Los Angeles, KYW radio in Philadelphia, and was news director of WOWO radio in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and at KDKA radio in Pittsburgh. According to WTOP, Froseth passed away in Managua, Nicaragua. He was in Managua as part of a delegation from his hometown of Gettysburg PA. He is believed to have suffered a heart attack. His wife of 32 years, Paulette, was with him.
A service will be held in Gettysburg.January 11, 2010
Harold Willard Dies
Harold Willard, 82, a former Washington Post reporter and editor, died on 12/24 of sepsis at Gilcrist Center Hospice Care in Towson. From 1956 to 1977, under the byline of Hal Willard, he covered Montgomery County politics. After leaving the Post, he was a copy editor for the Baltimore Evening Sun and taught journalism at Loyola University.
January 7, 2010
PGC PD Scorpio Out, Saunders To Replace
Robert Scorpio is out as program director at urban contemporary WPGC, and Michael Saunders has been named operations manager for CBS Radio's cluster of five stations in the DC market. Saunders will oversee both programming and operations for WPGC, WLZL, WIAD, WJFK, and WHFS-AM. Also, Saunders will focus his day-to-day attention on programming WPGC. Saunders comes from radio management gigs in Charlotte, LA, Detroit, NYC, and, most recently, at CBS Radio in Orlando. In addition to working with the staff at WPGC, Saunders will work closely with the program directors at Spanish WLZL, sports talk WJFK, hot adult contemporary WIAD, and talker WHFS, according to a CBS statement.
January 5, 2010
Marcia Slacum Greene Dies
Marcia Slacum Greene, a Washington Post reporter and editor for more than 20 years who was active in the National Association Of Black Journalists, has died after a year fight with pancreatic cancer. Greene was named city editor in 2006, after her many years of covering DC politics and government.
January 4, 2010
Morgan Resigns From WashTimes Radio Show
Melanie Morgan, one of the co-hosts of the Washington Times' morning radio show, "America's Morning News," is gone. "I have resigned from 'America's Morning News' with a tremendous amount of sadness," Morgan writes at melaniemorgan.com. "I have some health issues that I need to attend to and that's the reason why I am leaving Washington DC and returning to California where my family and friends can help me get through this challenging time."
January 4, 2010
Washington Times Relaunches
Following months of turbulence, the Washington Times has relaunched as a two-section local paper with a sharpened focus around politics, national security, and investigative reporting, along with the paper's conservative editorial page. In gearing up for the relaunch, the Times let go of about 40 percent of the staff last week, including the entire sports department, while fine-tuning the management team until shortly before the new edition hits the streets. On Sunday night, the Times announced several new appointments. Veteran national security reporter Bill Gertz becomes geopolitics editor and Sol Sanders takes oversee international business editor. Investigative editor Jerry Seper will oversee an expanded staff of investigative reporters. Also, Robert Morton - who previously served as managing editor of the Times National Weekly - becomes associate publisher. The new local edition, according to a press release, "will consist of an A section providing political, national security and investigative coverage from the nation's capital, geostrategic coverage from around the world, sports and local news features, and a hard-hitting B section featuring editorials, opinion, and cultural coverage."
January 2, 2010
Former WaPo Ombud Dies
Deborah Howell, the former ombudsman for the Washington Post, died Saturday after being struck by a car while vacationing in New Zealand. She was 68 and was a resident of Glen Echo.
January 1, 2010
4 Yanks Harrison Off Early AM News
Barbara Harrison is moving out of her familiar early-morning anchor spot on Channel 4/WRC, but will continue to co-anchor the midday news and special segments for the NBC-owned station. Harrison, who has been with WRC for 28 years and recently signed a new multiyear contract, has teamed with Joe Krebs on the station's 5 to 7 AM newscast and brief local-news segments during "The Today Show." The duo have been co-anchors since 1994. Eun Yang will take over Harrison's early-morning duties. Harrison will continue with Krebs on WRC's broadcast following "Today" at 11 AM.
January 1, 2010
WAMD Going Away
WAMD (970 AM) in Aberdeen MD is going off the air on 1/10. The station, which had served Harford County for many years with talk, news, sports, and oldies music, was recently purchased by WAVA-owner Salem. It's been speculated that Salem wants the signal removed to improve the night coverage of WNYM, a talker it owns in the NYC market on the same frequency.
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