Paul Harvey dies at 90
National News:He was once known as the most listened to man in radio and now his voice is silenced. Paul Harvey passed away today at the age of 90 at a hospital near his winter home in Phoenix, Arizona. Harvey's death comes 9 months after the death of his wife and business partner, Lynne Cooper Harvey according to ABC News.
He began his more than 70 years on the air by helping out at a local radio station when he was a teenager. Harvey's claim to fame, however, were the programs "News & Comment" and "Rest of the Story" which millions of Americans were able to hear on 1350 commercial stations and 400 Armed Forces Radio Service stations. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1990.
"...and now YOU know the Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrest of the Story!"
Bohannon to KDKA slot
Pittsburgh:McKeesport Daily News' Pat Cloonan (sorry, not online) reports Jim Bohannon will fill the 10pm - 1am slot on KDKA-AM (1020) beginning Monday, March 2. Bohannon's show replaces Bill O'Reilly's program as O'Reilly goes off radio to do more work for Fox News. The addition of the program also means that all of KDKA's time slots will be live - whether local or syndicated.
Bohannon is a 35-year veteran of the airwaves and is carried by Westwood One.
Something new!
Person Profile:Beginning in March and hopefully appearing twice a month, PBRTV begins its new "Person Profile".
Person Profile recognizes one broadcaster whether on air, behind the scenes, in the area, out of the area, long-time or just getting their feet wet. The only stipulation is that they've had to have worked or have been heard somewhere within the PBRTV coverage area. Stay tuned, we hope to have our first posting very soon!
If you would like to nominate someone for Person Profile, email Eric O'Brien. Please, if at all possible, have the person's contact information available.
Patrice King Brown recovering and will miss part of sweeps
Pittsburgh:Since the digital conversion was supposed to happen in February, sweeps month was pushed back to March. However, you won't see KDKA-TV's (2) Patrice King Brown for at least part of the ratings period. She tells the PG that she's recovering from surgery of a torn Achilles tendon. She plans to be back in a few weeks when she can bear weight on the leg, but until then she's on the couch.
Brown joins co-worker, traffic reporter Jim Lokay on the list of the recovering. Lokay has spent a few weeks recovering from surgery for a torn ACL. PBRTV has kept a watchful eye on his progress and recovery is slow but sure.
WWCP/WATM switcheroo
Johnstown-Altoona-State College: If you receive WWCP-TV over the air, you may have noticed that the station's signal suddenly disappeared from your digital TV or converter box this week.
After shutting down its analog signal on VHF channel 8, the station moved its digital signal from UHF channel 29 back to channel 8.
The switch happened Monday, a WWCP-TV employee tells us.
That's going to require you to rescan your TV or converter box. When you do, WWCP should pop back up on Channel 8.1 (and WATM, its sister station, will be back Channel 8.2).
Rescanning the digital tuner can usually be accomplished by pressing "Menu" on your remote control and following the instructions. (Look for a selection like "Channel Scan" or "Setup.")
At PBRTV's Mon Valley Bureau, we noticed that WWCP's digital signal on Channel 8 seems a little bit weaker than the signal on Channel 29.
So, you may need to adjust your antenna. And after you do that, adjust the TV's antenna. (Rimshot.)
WSEE addresses viewer complaints
Erie-Meadville:Over the past week, WSEE has been taking calls regarding problems with receiving the new digital signal on 16-1 which remaps to 35-1. (The station made the digital transition on the old transition date of February 17th.) WSEE reporter Charles Santini addressed the situation by showing viewers how to properly hook up a converter box as well as the antenna issue where he stated that you may need to invest in an outdoor antenna or put one in your attic in order to pull in the station. Of course, those very issues are addressed when viewers call the station. WQLN has also fielded calls about their digital only station and now is also answering questions about the reception of WSEE's digital signal. With two of Erie's stations now digital only, this will help to get viewers ready for when the other three Erie stations make the switch between now and June 12th.
A fresh, new look for 27 First News
Youngstown: After 10 years of planning and 15 years with the same light blue news set, WKBN has finally updated it's on air look. The new set has more Earth friendly colors like brown & red. In addition, the station is now using different graphics as well as fonts to compliment the new look. They are also using the same graphics on the WYTV weather channel on 33-3. According to station sources, the upgrades were necessary and will help to transition the station into the digital age. (Could an HD newscast be far behind?) You can also see the same set used for WYFX during their hour long 10pm newscast. In addition to the new updates, the station now has a new weather website at http://www.myvalleyweather.com/ which looks somewhat like The Weather Channel at first glance.Nearly 45 years and Patitucci keeps the Italian hits coming
Pittsburgh:People have tuned in for nearly 45 years to Sal Patitucci and his "Radio Italia" program. The program is considered the only daily, hour-long Italian music program in the nation. "Music is a mood," Patitucci told YourFoxChapel.com, "It is universal. The world is changing every day and people want to know the music." While mass immigration from Italy has tapered off over the years, the program endures and the host attributes that to the public's deep devotion to Italian culture and the pleasure of music. It attracts not only those who are looking for the connections to their homeland but also epople seeking alternative programming.
The program began on October 11, 1964 after Patitucci talked to the general manager of WKPA-AM (1150) in New Kensington. The GM told him if he could sell five advertising slots, the program could start anytime. It took him two weeks to sell the time. Over the years, the show hopped from one station to another - WDUQ-FM (90.5), WYEP-FM (91.3), WHJB-AM (620) and has spent the last 22 years on WEDO-AM (810).
Patitucci and his wife, of Aspinwall, emigrated here in 1960 from the Calabria region of Italy following his parents who came here years earlier. He is a retired flood management engineer from the Army Corps of Engineers in Pittsburgh. At 72, the host shows no signs of slowing down and plays in ameteur tennis tournaments.
Don Riggs has passed away
Pittsburgh:Former broadcaster and avaition advocate Don Riggs passed away today at his Mount Lebanon home. He was 81. Riggs first came to Pittsburgh from Columbus in 1960 to host "Daybreak" on KDKA-TV (2). He also hosted "Safari" where, as "Bwana Don," he entertained children with Tarzan films. After a brief stint as a news anchor in Indianapolis, Riggs returned to Pittsburgh in 1968 to work at WQED-TV (13) and later WIIC-TV (11), now WPXI. He spent 20 years at 11 as a weather forecaster, broadcaster and community affairs secretary.
Mr. Riggs awas also a pilot and life member of the Experimental Aircraft Association. He played an instrumental role in the effort to restore, purchase and display biplane "Miss Pittsburgh" at Pittsburgh International Airport.
Wheeling anchor Kellas dies
West Virginia: Longtime Ohio Valley sportscaster and WKKX (1600) afternoon talk show host George Kellas has died at 53 after a long battle with cancer.
A graduate of Triadelphia High School and West Liberty State College, Kellas began his broadcasting career at WWVA (1170) and eventually spent 20 years as a TV sports anchor at WTRF-TV (7) and WTOV-TV (9).
Besides covering the Steelers for WTOV, he also did play-by-play for the NBC affiliate's "Game of the Week."
Kellas is survived by his wife, Sherri, and children George III, Max and Lydia.
Friends will be received Sunday and Monday at Kepner Funeral Home, 166 Kruger St., Wheeling, with services at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery.
More from the Wheeling News-Register and WTOV.
Honsberger to celebrate 30 years
Pittsburgh:KDKA-AM (1020) host Fred Honsberger will be celebrating 30 years with the station this Thursday, February 26. There will be a special edition of "The Fred Honsberger Show" from noon-3pm hosted by Mike Pintek and John Cigna.
The show will feature special, surprise guests and some rare airchecks - including one from Honsberger's early days in radio as Harrisburg radio DJ "Big Fred".
Honsberger joined KDKA in 1979 as a news anchor and served as news director from 1984-1989 prior to hosting his own show and replacing Mike Levine.
This year marks the fifth consecutive year that he has been listed in Talkers magazine on the list of the industry's 250 most important talk show hosts. This year he was number 73.
WTAE has new News Director
Pittsburgh:WTAE-TV (4) has hired a new news director to replace Bob Longo. Longo recently left for sister station WESH in Orlando.
Alex Bongiorno comes from WSPA in Spartansburg SC. The PG's Rob Owen feels Bongiorno has her work cut out for her and is interested in seeing the kinds of changes she might bring to the station.
Q92.9 gets new PD
Pittsburgh: Tom Taylor is reporting that WLTJ-FM (92.9) has a new program director in Dan Michaels. Michaels' most recent position was as PD of Clear Channel's classic hit WBIG-FM (100.3) in Washington. He has also worked in Denver and Philadelphia.FCC nails Wheeling talker
West Virginia: Funny Cousin Charlie doesn't have much of a sense of humor.
Yesterday, the FCC slapped Wheeling's "WatchDawg," talker WKKX (1600), with a $3,200 fine for broadcasting a phone call without notifying the recipient on the other end of the line.
The fine stems from an incident that happened back on Aug. 31, 2005, when former morning host Dave "Bloomdaddy" Blomquist --- during a segment he called "Wake Your Lazy Carcass Up" --- randomly called David Delk of Wheeling at 7:05 a.m.
According to the commission's ruling, Blomquist told Delk and his wife that he was from a radio station and that he wanted to ask them some trivia questions, but he didn't inform them that their call was live.
The Delks weren't amused, and neither was the FCC. Federal rules require both notification and consent before a call can be broadcast.
The fine was reduced from the original $4,000 after station owners RCK 1 Group promised the commission that "corrective measures" have been taken to prevent a similar incident from happening again. Blomquist is now at cross-town rival talker WWVA (1170).
More cuts at Clear Channel?
National News: Tom Taylor reports that Friday (February 20) could bring another round of cuts at Clear Channel stations across the country. This time, traffic departments, continuity and smaller market managers could see the losses. January 20 was the day that 1850 employees - most behind the scenes - were let go.John Kanzius passes away
Erie-Meadville: Breaking News - It is with deep sadness that we must report that a true pioneer in both broadcasting and the battle against cancer has passed away. John Kanzius passed away today at the very young age of 64 from complications with pneumonia. We here at PBRTV extend our deepest sympathy to the entire Kanzius family. More details as they become available and your comments are welcome.Digital delay explained
Pittsburgh, National News:A few weeks ago, we linked to a bit from Fox's Talkshow with Spike Feresten about the digital TV transition.
Here's an important update that explains what you need to do now that some stations are delaying their transition.
Get some Scotch tape and any simple household coat-hanger, and you'll be all set.
D-Day, part 1
Pittsburgh:For those of you who didn't stay up until midnight to see what happened when WQEX-TV (formerly analog channel 16), WPMY-TV (22) and WPGH-TV (53) stopped broadcasting in analog, well, you didn't miss much.
WQEX simply pulled the plug on its soul-sucking carriage of the ShopNBC network. There wasn't so much as a test pattern, a legal ID or a few seconds of "Always Look on The Bright Side of Life."
The remaining viewers watching the analog transmissions of WPMY and WPGH saw a few seconds of a JVC DVD player start-up screen. Both stations then went to a continuous loop (in English y en Español) of a National Association of Broadcasters DTV infomercial. (There was also some background conversation that sounded like someone in the control room at 750 Ivory Ave. had their mike open.)
Gee whiz. Aren't there any romantics left in broadcasting that wanted to mark the passing of an era?
When the remainder of Pittsburgh's analog TV stations go dark, it wouldn't kill one of them to have a little fun. We'd settle for "High Flight" and the Star-Spangled Banner.
It's February 17...
Pittsburgh:...and 3 local TV stations will turn off the analog signal tonight. Tonight you will need a cable hook-up or a digital TV or digital converter to see WPGH-TV (53), WPMY-TV (22) and WQEX-TV (16). As of midnight (unless the FCC denies the request at the last minute) these stations will be digital only.
Here is the schedule for the rest of the switches.
March 17 - WPCB (40)
April 1 - WQED (13) (The only station in Pittsburgh retaining its analog channel number.)
June 12 - KDKA (2), WPCW (19), WPXI (11) & WTAE (4)
R.D. Summers dies
Pittsburgh:We received word from Charlie Apple that 3-W-S (WWSW-FM 94.5) Radio's R.D. ("Rinky Dink") Summers passed away early Sunday morning. Apple's email said, "He DJ'd at the Tarentum Elks last (Saturday) night, slept in this morning, and passed away sometime during his sleep. His death was discovered around 1 PM." Apple called Summers a real gentleman and an excellent Oldies D.J. and M.C.
Summers' real name was Thomas L. Renkenberger and he recently turned 60 years old. Friends will be received on Tuesday (February 17) at Todd Funeral Home in Beaver where the funeral service will be held on Wednesday. He was survived by his mother, a sister, a neice, several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Local voice stilled
Pittsburgh: You may not have known Jerry Wayne Summers' name, but if you listened to any of Keymarket's local radio stations, you knew his sound.The production voice of Pittsburgh-area "Froggy" country radio stations for the past six years, Summers died Feb. 6 in UPMC Montefiore hospital, Oakland. He was 54 and had battled lupus and other ailments.
According to the Post-Gazette, the South Carolina native entered broadcasting after his engineer father encouraged him to study for an FCC operator's license. His first job came at a 1,000-watt radio station in Bristol, Tenn.
Summers worked in Charlotte, Milwaukee, Buffalo and Miami before settling down in Pittsburgh several years ago. He had recently performed in stage productions at Carnegie Mellon, Open Stage Theatre, Prime Stage Theatre and Canonsburg's Little Lake Theatre.
He is survived by his wife Becky; sons Jonathan, Sean and Matthew; daughters Emily and Laura Testa; and two brothers. Memorial contributions may be made to the foundation for the Lupus Center of Excellence, 2403 Sidney St., Suite 235, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.
Winds blamed for station power loss
Pittsburgh:When high winds - some at hurricane force - passed through the region Wednesday Night, it knocked trees and power lines down. One of those lines was in North Huntingdon Township along a road leading to the WKHB/WKFB transmitter site. The stations remain off the air as this blurb is written.
UPDATE: The transmitter power was restored and the stations returned to the air late Friday afternoon
Disclosure: This editor works part-time for stations WKHB/WKFB.
Pittsburgh Renaissance Radio changing name
Pittsburgh:Effective Monday, Pittsburgh Renaissance Radio will become "Pittsburgh Business Radio on Money Talk 1360 AM WMNY". Founder Ron Morris says the change, "tells the audience exactly who we are and what we're about. This will also make it easier for listeners to remember us." The program is the local component for 1360 with 3 hours of live business talk weekday afternoons from 3-6 and local business news at 2, 3, 4, and 5 pm. At 2pm the best hour of the previous day's show is aired.
Morris hosts the program on Thursdays and Fridays with a rotating list hosting Monday - Wednesday including Jim Roddey, Mark DeSantis, Steve Greenburg and Jerry Bowyer. Pittsburgh Business Radio is made possible through funding from area businesses and is streamed live at their website - www.pittsburghbusinessradio.com.
Streaks on the china still don't matter
Pittsburgh:Run, don't walk, to order your copies of Seasons 1 and 2 of Mr. Belvedere, the 1980s ABC-TV sitcom which was set in Beaver Falls, but which never actually spent a single second at the Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe, as far as we know.
How can the economy be in trouble when we're still cranking out crap like DVDs of Mr. Belvedere?
Tip o'the PBRTV propeller beanie to Francesco Marciuliano, who says, "sit back and enjoy the opening credits and theme song. Then later ask yourself, 'I wonder whatever happened to the actors who portrayed the mom and kids on Mr. Belvedere.' Then ask yourself, 'I wonder whatever happened to the actress who played the teenage daughter on ALF.' Then ask yourself, 'I wonder whatever happened to the entire cast of Mama's Family.' Keep doing this. Eventually you'll go mad with concern."
WKST and WBZW remove Brown from playlists
Pittsburgh:Both WKST-FM (96.1) and WBZW-FM (93.7) have pulled Chris Brown's songs from their playlists for the forseeable future. Brown was arrested Sunday over an alleged assault involving his girlfriend, Rihanna. The Post-Gazette reports that WKST's morning show received many calls from outraged listeners on Monday wondering why the station would continue to support his music. Music director and afternoon host Bonics wrote to listeners via the station website, "Our listeners have strong feelings about this." He went on, "...we are following the lead of our listeners and will put his music on hold on 96.1 Kiss until the alleged situation gets resolved."
CBS Pittsburgh Market Manager Michael Young called the move a "local programming decision" in regard to WBZW's similar decision to pull the music.
LA Police presented a case regarding Chris Brown, but prosecutors are seeking investigation. Brown was booked on Sunday after supposedly making a criminal threat after a woman accused him of assaulting her the night before the Grammy Awards. Brown is free on bail.
Erie DTV update
Erie-Meadville: Some updates regarding the DTV delay in the Erie region. Only one station has filed with the FCC to cease analog TV operations before yesterday's filing deadline. WSEE will join WQLN in becoming digital only stations which means you'll need a converter box or digital TV if you view either station over the air. According to the FCC update, WSEE will offer nightlight service for about a month informing viewers what they will need to do in order to watch WSEE's digital station. Both WICU and WFXP will continue broadcasting in both analog and digital until June 12th. Meanwhile WJET hopes to cease analog broadcasting in April and convert to digital sometime that month according to WJET / WFXP GM Tim Dunst. He states that the weather may not be as harsh during that time. Jet and Fox will have to take both digital signals off the air as well as Jet's analog signal in order to take down the old analog antenna and install a new digital antenna. It will take up to four days in order to convert the station to digital and flashcut to DT 24. Meanwhile, Fox 66 would temporarily feed their analog signal to cable companies and Dish Network since their analog signal is not on Jet's tower like their digital is. It's actually right next to WQLN's tower just behind Jet's facility on Peach street. Meanwhile, Jet would possibly only be available on Time Warner cable but not on any other cable outlet or Dish Network. No word yet if Jet will become a temporary sub channel on WFXP's full powered signal since WJET DT 58 is currently at low power. The move would help with pulling in an SD version of the station in outlying areas without having to toggle between your analog TV tuner and converter box for just one channel. WICU currently does that on WSEE's DT sub channel at 35-3 (16-3) since WICU DT itself is still at low power.Youngstown DTV update
Youngstown: Until recently, two of the Youngstown area TV stations were going to cease analog TV operations on the old analog shut off date of 2/17/09. Both WKBN and WYTV stated that they were going to pull the plug on their analog operations this month. With the new guidelines I stated in an earlier article, it appears that both stations will continue with their analog signals until June 12th according to filings made with the FCC. They will join with WFMJ in serving the Valley with both analog and digital signals a while longer. However, you'll need a converter box to watch WNEO DT 45 in some areas where you cannot watch the station on their analog translator on channel 58. Maybe if the construction permit is approved by the FCC for WYTV to go from 50kw to 1,000kw, things could be completed by the new transition date.HAZLETT: DVE's format seems to be all things to all listeners
Pittsburgh:Terry Hazlett of the Observer-Reporter finds out what makes DVE tick in the midst of listeners talking about what they think they are hearing, opposed to what they're actually hearing. One example is older listeners saying that DVE has a 40 artist/100 song playlist - the exact reason they tune in! Most of the songs per hour are familiar from the 60s and 70s era of rock with newer tunes "spicing" the hour. Hardcore rock listeners are seeking newer stuff. Hazlett writes, "Credit WDVE with achiving the impossible - convincing baby boomers that it hasn't moved much from the days of original disc jockey 'Brother Love,' while still catering to teens and twenty-somethings."
WKBN tests dual HD signal
Youngstown: No, the title is not a misprint. According to news from the AVS forum, WKBN Chief Engineer Thomas A. Zocolo decided to experiment with broadcasting two HD signals on WKBN DT 41 (27-1 and 27-2) over the weekend. There was college basketball on 27-1 from CBS while 27-2 featured Daytona 500 qualifying from Fox. In order to do this, both HD sources were carried in 720p. I cannot confirm how well this experiment worked since I was watching qualifying over on WFXP DT out of Erie but most readers over at AVS liked the experiment. This is good news with the limited amount of TV signals in the Mahoning Valley plus it's good news for fans of NASCAR and Fox shows in general that are broadcast in HD. Congrats to Thomas for testing with HD beyond what was thought to be impossible.WQED joins list of delayed
Pittsburgh:WQED-TV (13) has postponed its analog shutoff date to April 1. Sister station WQEX (16) will still shutoff its signal on February 17. Executives originally planned to shut both analog signals down on the original deadline to save nearly $50,000 it would take to operate the analog signals for an additional four months. The decision was made Friday to keep 13's analog signal on through the end of the March fund drive.
Meanwhile, Cornerstone's WPCB-TV (40) is awaiting FCC approval to power off the analog on March 17. WPGH (53) and WPMY (22) are still planning on February 17 but won't make a final decision until Tuesday. The big three will remain until the new June 12 deadline.
Source: PG
Loss of analog TV stations on February 17th? Not necessarily.
National News: The FCC with the new DTV delay law (just a Presidential signature away) has decided to make it tougher for TV stations to shut off their analog TV stations before the new June 12th deadline.They are now requiring stations to let the FCC know if it's in the public interest to shut down their analog signal before June 12th. Some stations have already converted or are nearly converted.
Every station that has filed to terminate it's analog early will have to do so before next Monday evening according to Ohio Media Watch. They had reported that a station there had filed for early analog termination but with the new change, they are saying on air that they will now shut off it's analog on June 12th instead.
Two Youngstown area stations (WKBN and WYTV) had also planned on shutting down early but will now have to refile if they intend to do so with just cause. Meanwhile WSEE is stating that they are going ahead with their analog shut off on February 17th while WICU would have to wait until a tower crew was available.
Their plans to convert WICU to DT 12 may have to wait until June unless they state that they have to shut off their analog signal first in order to convert.
Same goes with WJET, though they could temporarily piggyback on WFXP's signal on 66-2 if they decide to back off of their plans to convert to DT 24 on February 17th. No word on their plans as of yet. (more)
KD slapped with fine
Pittsburgh:As reported on Radio Online, the FCC has fined KDKA-AM (1020) $6000 (AKA a Notice of Apparent Liability) for airing information about a contest without giving all material terms. The broadcast in question occurred November 22, 2007 when host Marty Griffin announced he would give away $1 million to the thirteenth caller followed by "a million an hour" after that. A listener (the complainant) alleges that he called the station and was told he was the 13th caller, and spent 43 minutes on hold before getting on the air. Once on the air with Griffin, who asked the listener a question about Thanksgiving, the listener proceded to ask about the prize and was disconnected. The listener called back and was told there was no prize.
CBS Radio has not disputed the broadcast of the material, but contends that this particular broadcast was, at most, a "harmless prank" - neither a contest or hoax under FCC rules. The Commission disagreed saying that the rules should not apply because the station saw this as a joke. KDKA has 10 days to pay or appeal.
Congress approves digital delay
National News:Congress voted today to postpone the switch from analog to digital TV broadcasting. The move addresses the concern that 6.5 million Americans would not be ready for the February 17 switch. This is The House's second vote on the issue. A vote last week was shut down in a procedure requiring more than a simple majority. Today's vote was normal. The Senate passed the bill in a unanimous vote last week. The bill is now on its way to The White House where President Obama is expected to sign it tomorrow. The new deadline is June 12.
Critics say the delay will confuse people and "burden" the services (cellular, EMS, etc.) waiting to use the analog spectrum. It also costs TV broadcasters more money to broadcast in both signals.
UPDATE: The PG reports that with the change, WTAE, WPXI and KDKA are expected to retain their analog signals until the new deadline. However, the new legislation consists of a provision that stations may go ahead with the February 17 deadline. WPGH and WPMY are expected to convert on February 17 as will WQED and WQEX. WQED will move its digital signal from 38 back to 13 while WQEX will take over the 38 allocation. WPCB has not decided which deadline to go with, but WPCW will not be able to switch until Channel 11 becomes available when WPXI shuts down analog.
Older demos tuning into AM 740 and WYNE
Erie-Meadville: The latest fall Arbitron numbers showed the usual suspects on top including Star 104 and Classy 100, but I also noticed another trend that could be rebuilding.While it may seem like a small piece of the ratings pie, it's also a voice that was shut out by format changes back in 2007. At that time, two stations that leaned towards the older demographic changed formats. One station was oldies Froggy 94.7 and the other was nostalgia based WRIE AM 1260. Both flipped formats in order to attract younger listeners.
Now it's 2009 and the Fall book came out recently. Among the stations making gains with a 3 share is a Toronto based nostalgia station AM 740 CFZM "Zoomer Radio." The other is an oldies station WYNE 1530 from North East with a 1 share.
While these numbers may not be at the level of the top FM stations in the market, they are saying that the older demo should not be put out to pasture and that they actually still listen to the radio. (more)
Northern Pa. cable system struggles with costs
Pittsburgh, Johnstown-Altoona-State College: Local TV stations in Pittsburgh, Johnstown and Altoona that were once carried for free by a cable TV system in tiny Brockway Borough are now demanding payments from subscribers.As a result, subscribers to non-profit Brockway TV Inc. will see their rates increase at least $3 per month.
According to the Dubois Courier-Express, Brockway TV has reached agreements with Cox Broadcasting --- owners of Pittsburgh's WPXI-TV (11) and Johnstown's WJAC-TV (6) --- and Altoona's WTAJ-TV (10) to carry those stations for the next three years.
In addition, Brockway will add WPXI sister station PCNC for its subscribers in the Jefferson County borough of 2,100 people. (more)
Former 'TAJ, 'JAC anchor to Central Pa.
Misc. Pennsylvania: Former WTAJ-TV (10) and WJAC-TV (6) anchor Jere Gish has gone to Lancaster's NBC affiliate, WGAL-TV (8), to co-anchor the morning news. He had recently worked at KMBC-TV, Kansas City. Details here.Curve slates booth team, network
Johnstown-Altoona-State College: A southern broadcaster comes north this year to work Altoona Curve baseball broadcasts.
The Eastern League Double-A Pirates farm club last month tapped Ron Potesta and Dan Zangrilli as its play-by-play team.
Potesta, 44, is a native of the Youngstown area who spent the past six years as director of broadcasting for the Diamond Jaxx, a Seattle Mariners farm club in Jackson, Tenn.
In related news, Curve games will move to Forever Broadcasting's WVAM (1430) this season. The sports-talker replaces Vernal Broadcasting's WHPA-FM (93.5) as the Curve's flagship station after three seasons. (more)
Ohio pubcasters share newscasts
Youngstown: Two eastern Ohio public radio stations are sharing news in morning drive, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.Kent State's WKSU-FM (89.7) began providing hourly newscasts to Youngstown State's WYSU-FM (88.5) in January. The newscasts are heard during breaks on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered."
WYSU officials tell the newspaper the station didn't have the resources to originate local and regional newscasts of its own.
WKSU and WYSU are both classical-music stations that also carry many of NPR's marquee news programs.
WFBG morning host axed
Johnstown-Altoona-State College: The latest local victim of radio's nationwide belt-tightening is one half of the Charlie & Steve Show on WFBG (1290).The Altoona news-talker laid off Steve Clark on Friday, according to the Altoona Mirror.
Charlie Weston is now anchoring the show alone.
Clark, at Forever's WFBG since 2005 and previously at cross-town rival WRTA for 10 years, told the newspaper he was a victim of budget cuts.
"These are unfortunate times," Dave Davies, vice president and GM of Forever's Altoona cluster, told the Mirror. "It was a budget decision, and he was let go."
Clark is the second Altoona morning host let go by Forever in recent months. Roger Corey, co-host of the morning show on WALY-FM (103.9) since 1991, was laid off in November.
WDUQ celebrates 60 with highest ratings
Pittsburgh:Attributing the Radio Research Consortium and Arbitron, WDUQ-FM (90.5) is celebrating it's 60th anniversary with the highest number of listeners ever. The fall 2008 numbers (Pittsburgh Total Market) showed WDUQ reaching a cume ofr more than 192,000 aged 12+ a new record for the station - and any of the public stations in Pittsburgh.
WDUQ General Manager Scott Hanley said in a press release, "In a time of growing media choices, we're very encouraged that our programming is serving more listeners than ever."
The same ratings period showed a higher total listening to the three leading public stations in the Pittsburgh market. The three stations combined served more than 320,000 listeners per week. That is considered an all-time high to Hanley.
The statiuon signed on in 1949 as a lab for Duquesne University students. It has grown each decade since and joined the newly formed National Public Radio in 1970. Throughout the 80s and 90s the station increased its commitment to news and public affairs. In 2006 and 2007 WDUQ added four translators in Johnstown (100.5 FM), Somerset (104.1 FM), Ligonier (104.1 FM) and New Baltimore (92.3FM).
Lexus of North Hills gets full naming rights to KDKA studio
Pittsburgh:In a new deal between KDKA-AM (1020) and Lexus of North Hills in Wexford, the studio naming rights given to the car dealership will be announced every hour beginning March 1.
"We are obviously thrilled to be able to put this partnership together with a brand as strong as Lexus of North Hills," said Michael Spacc, CBS Radio Pittsburgh's director of sales. "These types of sponsor relationships will be the core of our business as we move forward and develop marketing campaigns that allow advertisers to become part of the fabric of our radio stations."
Comcast dumps WBGN...again
Pittsburgh:Low-power local TV station WBGN has been dumped from Comcast Cable systems around the city. There is no law that a low-power TV station is a "must carry" and is instead foreced to pay the cable system for carriage. WBGN can be picked up over the air on Channel 59 in Pittsburgh and various other channels throughout the region.
The Post-Gazette says, the cable system was forced to remove the channel "following numerous contractual and financial violations." The statement issued by Comcast went on to say that WBGN has been out of compliance for the past year. Comcast will continue to air the Mass from St. Mary of Mercy in Pittsburgh at the same time and on the same channel on which WBGN was carried. Station owner Ron Bruno told the PG that the station has been behind in payments. "We are making payments, it just isn't the full amount," Bruno said, "We're going to pay everything we owe them and we're still willing to pay."
This isn't the first time the station has been dumped by the cable giant. The most recent event was November 2006 when Comcast took over Adelphia's systems.
Bayoneting the wounded
Signal-to-Noise:
(Commentary)WPXI-TV (11) last night pre-empted a special one-hour episode of "The Office" to air a Super Bowl XLIII Super Showdown Super Post-Game Super Showcase Super Bowl Super Report.
Sorry, Channel 11, but you should have run "The Office" and used the hour to get your act together. (more)