Cincy Radio: Marty Bender To Program WOFX The Fox

Marty Bender

Cumulus Media announces that it has appointed Classic Rock programming professional Marty Bender as Program Director and Midday Host of Cincinnati Classic Rock WOFX 92.5 FM The Fox.

Bender joins Cumulus from WSHE-FM in Chicago, where he was Program Director. Prior to that, he was Vice President, Programming, Premiere Radio Networks, and was Executive Producer of the nationally syndicated radio program, The Bob and Tom Show. Bender has also served as Operations Manager for WFBQ/WRZX/WNDE in Indianapolis, was Program Director and Morning Drive Host for 96 Rock in Cincinnati, and was Music Director and Morning Drive Personality for WWWM in Cleveland, the first Classic Rock-formatted station in history, conceived and created during Bender’s tenure as Music Director.

Bender’s new Midday show on 92.5 The Fox will air weekdays from 10AM-1PM, and will debut on Monday, October 10.

Keith Mitchell, Operations Manager, Cumulus Media-Cincinnati said: “I can’t explain how excited we are to bring in a programmer of Marty’s caliber to lead The Fox. With years dedicated to the format and working with The Bob and Tom Show at WFBQ, it’s exciting to see what’s in store for The Fox and classic rock listeners in Cincinnati. With the recent addition of Laura Steele and now, with Marty in the PD chair, The Fox is poised for bigger and better things.”

WOFX 92.5 Fm (11 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

Bender said: "It will be great to get back to Cincinnati and focus on one main goal: To make WOFX the best Classic Rock station in America. I'd like to thank the firm of McVay, Hamand, Crowl, Jameson, and Mitchell for the opportunity."

Chicago Radio: Brooke Taylor Lands PM Drive On WEBG

Brooke Taylor

iHeartMedia/Chicago has announced that Brooke Taylor will be the new PM Drive host on its New Country WEBG Big 95.5 FM.

Taylor recently worked as the midday host and Assistant Program Director for WBTU 93.3 FM in Fort Wayne, IN. She also previously served as an air personality for Radio Disney and has made television appearances on the Disney Channel and ESPN2.

"Brooke Taylor will bring great energy to the team and will make an authentic connection to the audience," said BIG 95.5 Program Director Steve Stewart. "We're so excited to see the impact she will have on the Chicagoland community."

WEBG 95.5 FM (5.3 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

"Words can't express how excited I am to join the BIG 95.5 team," added Taylor. "Matt Scarano, Tommy Austin and Steve Stewart are making my dream of working in country radio come true."

A-E-B Radio: Selena Robinson Added To WLEV Morning Show

Selena Robinson

Cumulus Media announces that WLEV 100.7 FM's new morning radio show, “Selena and Scott” debuts on Thursday, October 6, 2016, broadcasting to Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley.

Popular morning show personality Selena Robinson will join co-host Scott Evans weekdays from 5AM -10AM, with 100 minutes of commercial-free music beginning at 8:40AM. Evans has co-hosted Mornings on 100.7 LEV since 2011. Former morning show co-host Josh Gears now takes Afternoons on the station, with Kelly K at Middays.

Robinson’s broadcasting career includes 11 years as Morning Show Host on Entercom’s WGGY-FM/ FROGGY101 in Scranton, PA. Prior to that, she was Morning Show Host on Clear Channel/iHeartMedia’s WMRV-FM/STAR105.7 in Binghamton, NY. Robinson, who holds a B.A. degree in Broadcast Journalism from Penn State University.

WLEV 100.7 FM (11 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

Jerry Padden, Operations Manager, Cumulus Media-Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, said: “Selena has the genuine personality to wake up and connect with an audience one on one.  Selena and Scott are going to make a lot of new friends in the Lehigh Valley very quickly.”

Robinson said: “I’m so excited to be a part of the warm and welcoming Lehigh Valley community, and to get real with my new morning work hubby Scott Evans.”

Fox Fight: Hannity Accuses Kelly Of Supporting HRC

This election has sparked some heated exchanges between family, friends and co-workers — and now between Fox News hosts, reports USAToday.

Conservative pundit Sean Hannity leveled what he might consider the worst insult imaginable at anchor Megyn Kelly in a tweet Wednesday night, which said she "clearly" supports Hillary Clinton.

The tweet was apparently in response to Kelly comments earlier in the evening on The Kelly File when she accused both presidential candidates of avoiding tough interviews.

"They're both in their own version of a presidential protection program," Kelly said. She said Clinton makes sure "she is not in a place where she feels uncomfortable or anything unexpected could come at her, which is why she sat for a half an hour with Mary J. Blige, the singer, which is why she did Entertainment Tonight this evening."

But, Kelly didn't stop there. "And Donald Trump, with all due respect to my friend at 10 o'clock, will go on Hannity, and pretty much only Hannity, and will not venture out to the unsafe spaces these days, which doesn't exactly extend the tent."

Trump has made several appearances on Hannity's show and the Fox News personality has been a vocal supporter of Trump.

Fox News' Jesse Watters Gets Heat Over Chinatown Bit

Fox News and The O’Reilly Factor correspondent Jesse Watters has responded to claims that a segment he filmed in New York City’s Chinatown was racist by saying the clip was meant to be “tongue-in-cheek.”

My man-on-the-street interviews are meant to be taken as tongue-in-cheek and I regret if anyone found offense.

— Jesse Watters (@jessebwatters) October 5, 2016

“As a political humorist, the Chinatown segment was intended to be a light piece, as all Watters World segments are,” he said.

The clip shows Watters taking a trip to Chinatown to interview residents about the 2016 presidential election and was quickly greeted by condemnation on social media and by organizations like the Asian American Journalists Association.

FNC's Harris Faulkner Settles With Hasbro

Last year, Fox News host Harris Faulkner sued toy maker Hasbro over a children’s toy they sold bearing her name.

In her complaint, Faulkner had alleged that Hasbro marketed a toy hamster named “Harris Faulkner,” that also bore a resemblance to her. The toy also had a “TM” trademark symbol next to Faulkner’s name, yet Faulkner claimed that not only had she not approved of the use of her name or likeness, she didn’t even know about it when the toy first went to stores.

According to lawnewz.com, Faulkner also alleged that she contacted Hasbro, one of the world’s leading toy manufacturers, in January 2015 about the toy, but that weeks later it was still being marketed and sold on their own website.

In a joint statement obtained by LawNewz.com, Faulkner and Hasbro announced that they reached a settlement agreement. “Harris Faulkner and Hasbro are pleased to report that the lawsuit filed by Ms. Faulkner last year has been settled amicably,” the statement said.

BBC Radio Fires Presenter Over Queen Sex Jokes

David Baddiel

BBC Radio 4 has axed a show hosted by David Baddiel after outrage over jokes about the Queen’s sex life on her 90th birthday, according to The Guardian.

Don’t Make Me Laugh, which is created and fronted by Baddiel, features panellists discussing topics they are given.

One pre-recorded episode, which aired at 6.30pm on the day of the Queen’s 90th birthday, included the subject “The Queen must have had sex at least four times”. She has four children.

Panellists, who included the comic Russell Kane, made sex jokes about the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The BBC received more than 120 complaints about the show and the corporation’s governing body, the BBC Trust, ruled that the panellists’ comments were “personal, intrusive and demeaning”.

Baddiel later apologised for the offensive section of the show and said that it was never meant to be scheduled to air on the Queen’s birthday but the week after.

October 6 Radio History

Reginald Fessenden

In 1866...Radio pioneer Reginald Aubrey Fessenden was born at Milton [East Bolton] Quebec; he died in Hamilton, Bermuda July 22, 1932 at age 65.

After studies at Bishop University, Fessenden went to work for Thomas Edison, then the Westinghouse labs and the US Weather Service. In 1902, he started his own company to develop his superheterodyne discoveries, and in 1906 accomplished the first two-way radio voice transmission between Scotland and his shore station at Brant Rock Massachusetts.

That Christmas he broadcast the world’s first public program of music and voice transmitted over long distances, from Brant Rock to the ships at sea. He had over 300 patents, and was awarded $2.5 million by the US Radio Trust for his inventions, many of which were used by the US in World War I without his permission.


In 1949...Japanese-American broadcaster, Iva Toguri D'Aquino (Tokyo Rose), was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined $10,000 for treason.

D'Aquino broadcast as "Orphan Ann" during the 15-20 minute D.J. segment of the 75-minute program The Zero Hour on Radio Tokyo (NHK). The program consisted of propaganda-tinged skits and slanted news reports as well as of popular American music.

After World War II ended in 1945, the U.S. military detained Toguri for a year before releasing her for lack of evidence. Department of Justice officials agreed that her broadcasts were "innocuous". But when Toguri tried to return to the US, a popular uproar ensued because Walter Winchell (a powerful broadcasting personality) and the American Legion lobbied relentlessly for a trial, prompting the Federal Bureau of Investigation to renew its investigation of Toguri's wartime activities. Her 1949 trial resulted in a conviction on one of eight counts of treason. In 1974, investigative journalists found that key witnesses claimed they were forced to lie during testimony. U.S. President Gerald Ford pardoned Toguri in 1977.

In 1953...at a low point in his recording & movie career, Frank Sinatra debuted as star of the new radio adventure series, ‘Rocky Fortune’ on NBC.  25 episodes later, and still without a sponsor, the series reached its end.

In 1973...The hot 100..Cher had the #1 song with "Half Breed".  Paul Simon moved to #2 with "Loves Me Like A Rock", Marvin Gaye's former #1 (Let's Get It On") was third followed by the previous #1 "We're An American Band" by Grand Funk.

The rest of the Top 10:  "Higher Ground" from Stevie Wonder, "That Lady" by the Isley Brothers, the Allman Brothers Band had their biggest hit with "Ramblin' Man", the Rolling Stones collected their 30th career hit and 15th Top 10 when "Angie" reached #8, Helen Reddy slipped with "Delta Dawn" and former Temptations member Eddie Kendricks said "Keep On Truckin'".

In 1976...“Disco Duck” by deejay Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots was certified to be a Gold Record. The novelty number eventually went platinum, becoming only the 4th single to do so.

In 1984...The Album Charts..The count reached 10 for weeks at #1 for Prince's excellent Purple Rain album.  The previous #1 from Bruce Springsteen, Born in the U.S.A., however, had been in the Top Three every week since being dethroned and was not going away.  Sports by Huey Lewis & the News, itself a #1 album, was now moving back up after 53 weeks of release!  Private Dancer from Tina Turner was now at 4 and the Cars held steady with Heartbeat City.
So great were these five albums that they had made up the Top Five in various order for the past seven weeks.  Another note:  the debut album from Madonna reached the Top 10 for the first time--in its 58th week of release.


In 1985....bandleader/arranger Nelson Riddle died at age 64 of liver ailments and heart failure.  He had worked frequently (on their Capitol Records) with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Linda Ronstadt.

In 2004...Howard Stern announced he would move his show to SIRIUS Satellite Radio beginning January, 2006.

In 2012...“Sheriff” John Rovick, the beloved Los Angeles children’s TV host whose gentle, fatherly persona made him a welcome guest in homes throughout the 1950s and ’60s, died in his sleep at age 93. Beginning in radio, Rovick was a newly hired announcer at KTTV-TV when the station went on the air in 1949.  His popular late afternoon “Cartoon Time” began in 1952.


In 2014...longtime Philadelphia sportscaster Bill Campbell, who once called games for the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers and Warriors, and whose on-air career extended to age 90, died of complications from a fall at age 91.

TV Ratings: 51M Tuned In for The VP Debate

(Reuters)  --  The television audience for Tuesday's U.S. vice presidential debate between Republican Mike Pence and Democrat Tim Kaine is expected to be 40 million to 50 million - in line with previous such matchups, according to media reports on Wednesday.

The Hollywood Reporter, citing preliminary Nielsen and network data from the four main U.S. broadcasters, said the debate scored a 13.2 household rating.

That would translate into a total TV audience of around 51 million when final numbers from cable and other channels are released by Nielsen later in the day. That is about the same as the viewing figure for the 2012 vice presidential encounter between Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Paul Ryan.

CNN calculated that the final audience would be in the 40-50 million range.

Last week's first debate between presidential candidates Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton was watched by a record 84 million TV viewers.

None of the figures for the debates include those who watched online, through social media, or in bars and restaurants.

Vice presidential debates have traditionally attracted smaller TV audiences, with the exception of the 2008 encounter between Biden and Republican Sarah Palin, which set a record for a VP debate of 69.9 million viewers.

Tuesday's 90-minute face-off between Pence and Kaine, broadcast live across 10 U.S. TV channels, was the only debate between the vice presidential contenders before the Nov. 8 election.

Chicago Radio: Jimmy deCastro To Exit WGN 720 AM

Jimmy deCastro

Jimmy deCastro is stepping down from WGN 720 AM after three and a half years as president and general manager of the Tribune Broadcasting news/talk station, accoridng to Chicago Media Writer Robert Feder.

The veteran media executive plans to leave WGN at the end of the month to focus on The Content Factory, his Evanston-based national syndication and new media company, and to expand into the area of sports representation.

“I’ve done everything I can to respect and build on the legacy of this amazing place, and I believe I accomplished everything I set out to do,” deCastro told me. “It’s been great fun to work with the incredibly talented people here. Now the time is right for me to go back and build something new.”

Larry Wert, president of broadcast media for Tribune Broadcasting, praised his longtime friend: “Jimmy brought his unique leadership, experience and passion to the job every single day, and it made WGN a better, more focused radio station both on and off the air,” he said. “I am eternally grateful to him professionally and personally.”

Wert said he has not decided whether to name a successor to deCastro at WGN. Until then, sales and programming operations will report directly to Wert.

Read More Now

Anderson Cooper Renews CNN Contract

Anderson Cooper

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, whose profile has risen amid a tumultuous election season, has signed a new long-term deal to remain at CNN, thus taking himself out of the running to be Kelly Ripa’s co-host on ABC’s Live, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter.

Cooper informed his staff at CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 last week. He also, of course, let good friend Ripa know that he would not be joining her permanently, though he will continue to fill in on the program. Cooper’s new CNN contract does still include a carve-out for Cooper to appear on CBS News’ 60 Minutes, where he does several pieces each season.

Cooper was Ripa’s top choice to replace Michael Strahan. And given the way ABC handled Strahan’s departure in favor of a full-time gig at Good Morning America, Ripa may have had enough leverage to get her way. Cooper was also her choice back in 2012, but executives convinced her to get behind Strahan.

But Cooper has always maintained that CNN was his top priority.

Live, which is produced by WABC, the network’s owned station in New York, is still auditioning co-hosts for Ripa. And Cooper is on the docket for Wednesday, Oct. 12. Those in rotation have included Fred Savage and Neil Patrick Harris. But Harris recently said he is not interested in the gig full-time.

VP Debate: Contentious

By Ginger Gibson and Alana Wise

FARMVILLE, Va. (Reuters) - Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "small and bullying leader" on Tuesday and condemned his actions in Syria, taking a harder line than Donald Trump at a contentious debate with Democratic rival Tim Kaine.

Pence's denunciation of Putin for his interference in the Syrian civil war and support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was a departure from the frequent praise of Putin by Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, who has called him a better leader than U.S. President Barack Obama and said he could work with him.

“The small and bullying leader of Russia is now dictating terms to the United States,” Pence said. "The greatest nation on earth just withdraws from talks about a ceasefire, while Vladimir Putin puts a missile defense system in Syria."

The encounter between Pence and Kaine, who is No. 2 to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, was the only such debate between the vice presidential contenders before the Nov. 8 election, and the two spent most of their time attacking each other's running mates.

For more than 90 minutes at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, neither Pence nor Kaine appeared to deliver a knockout punch. Pence sought to project an image as a reassuring presence to the bombastic Trump, while Kaine tried to frighten voters away from Trump and make Clinton seem more trustworthy.

A CNN/ORC snap poll declared Pence the winner with 48 percent support, compared with Kaine's 42 percent.

It set the table for a second presidential debate looming on Sunday in St. Louis between Clinton and Trump, who needs to rebound from a rocky performance from his first debate, one that gave Clinton a boost in national opinion polls with Election Day only five weeks away.

InsideGov | Graphiq

RAISING EYEBROWS

Pence's comments raised eyebrows among establishment Republicans as to whether the governor of Indiana was breaking ranks with Trump on Russia. Trump himself earlier in the day condemned Russian bombing in Syria after the United States withdrew from ceasefire talks with Russia.

Conservatives who do not support Trump liked Pence's view.

"Pence's foreign policy is fine. Too bad it isn't Trump's," tweeted Bill Kristol, editor of the conservative Weekly Standard magazine.

Pence said "the provocations by Russia need to be met with American strength” and that if Russia chooses to continue to be involved in “barbaric” attacks on civilians, “the United States of America should be prepared to use military force to strike military targets of the Assad regime."

Pence's blunt comments on Russia, more in line with thinking by traditional Republicans, came in response to Kaine's charge that Trump was too cozy with the Russian leader.

Kaine, a U.S. senator from Virginia, said Clinton would be tough in dealing with Putin.

"Donald Trump, again and again, has praised Vladimir Putin.  And it's clear that he has business dealings with Russian oligarchs who are very connected to Putin," Kaine said.

Democrats were quick to point out the discrepancy between Trump and his running mate on Russia.

"All of a sudden we hear tough talk about Vladimir Putin. It’s the exact opposite of what Donald Trump has been saying," said Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook.

Pence's toughened position on Russia gave him an opening to declare that Clinton had been outfoxed when she attempted a U.S. reset in relations with Russia when she was Obama's secretary of state from 2009 to 2013.

The debate in 90-seconds...



 LIVELY EXCHANGE

Bickering between Kaine and Pence was so intense that they frequently talked over each other. Kaine was seen by television commentators as being overprepared and overeager as he circled back to Trump's refusal to release his tax records at almost every opportunity.

Kaine called the Republican presidential nominee a danger to U.S. national security and someone who denigrates women and minorities and appears to pay little in federal taxes.

Kaine drew Pence's ire by hearkening back to a remark from former Republican President Ronald Reagan that some fool or  maniac with a nuclear weapon could trigger a catastrophic event.

"And I think that's who Governor Pence's running mate is," Kaine said.

Pence shot back: "Senator, senator, that was even beneath you and Hillary Clinton and that's pretty low."

Kaine repeatedly sought to persuade Pence to defend Trump's positions, but Pence steadfastly refused to take the bait.

One of Kaine's most aggressive lines of attack was over Trump's refusal to release his tax records, a decision that breaks with the practice of all other presidential nominees in modern history.

The New York Times reported last weekend that Trump had taken a $916 million tax loss in 1995 and may have avoided paying federal taxes for 18 years because of it.

"Governor Pence had to give Donald Trump his tax returns to show he is qualified to be vice president. Donald Trump has to give his tax returns to show he is qualified to be president," Kaine said.

Pence defended Trump, saying the New York real estate developer had created thousands of jobs and had used U.S. tax laws as they were designed to be used.

"Why won't he release his taxes?" Kaine fired back.

iHeartMedia Lenders Ok $500M In More Debt

iHeartCommunications Inc., a subsidiary of the struggling media giant iHeartMedia Inc., has received approval from its lenders to add $500 million of debt, reports the San Antonio Express-News.

The addition will increase the capacity of the company’s largest basket of senior debt to more than $17 billion, the San Antonio-based company said in a filing Tuesday. The company has more than $21 billion of debt in total.

The amendment will be added to the agreement for the 14 percent notes due 2021, allowing the new senior debt to be issued, according to the filing.

iHM has been grappling with debt accumulated as part of a leveraged buyout by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners in 2008.

Holders of more than $1.4 billion of the 2021 notes agreed to the proposed additional debt.

iHeartCommunications will pay $8.6 million to those consenting holders at a rate of $6.10 for each $1,000 principal amount, and added a new supplemental indenture to the agreement.

Chicago Radio: Sherman & Tingle Reunite On WDRV

Hubbard Broadcasting/Chicago has announced The Sherman & Tingle Show is being added to weekday mornings on Classic Rock WDRV, effective October 31, which is Halloween.

Hosted by veteran morning show talents Brian Sherman and Steve Tingle will replace The Morning Drive with Pete McMurray, Scott Miller and Kathy Voltmer. The Morning driver increased ratings in mornings, especially in WDRV-FM's target demographic of Men 25-54.

Sherman and Tingle

The move to WDRV marks a reunion for Sherman and Tingle, as they previously spent five years together hosting afternoons, then mornings on WKQX (Q101) in Chicago, from 2007 to 2011. The duo split after Q101 changed ownership and flipped to an all-news format, which resulted in the release of all staffers. Tingle went on to co-host mornings at Beasley Broadcasting’s WRDW (Wired 96.5) in Philadelphiaand was part of a team at WSTR Star 94) Atlanta.

Brian Sherman enjoyed a short hiatus from the industry in 2011 and later joined Matrix Broadcasting’s Classic Rock WFXF (The Fox)/Crystal Lake, IL, where he has hosted mornings for several years.

WDRV PD Rob Cressman says, "This is a very exciting new chapter for The Drive. We are eager to welcome Brian (Sherman) and Steve (Tingle) back to Chicago and look forward to offering our region’s commuters a fresh take on Classic Rock, captivating entertainment and local information each morning."

WDRV 97.1 FM (8.3 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

Sherman said: "We're getting the band back together!" Tingle added: "We're on a mission from God! When you get to be in the city you love, working with the people you love working with -- at the best station in Chicago -- and the best company in the business? How can it get any better??"

NYC Radio: NHL Islanders To Air On WFAN, WNYM

Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment and the New York Islanders have named WFAN 660 AM / 101.9 FM, the most-listened-to sports radio station in the nation, as a broadcast partner of the Islanders Radio Network.  WFAN-AM/FM will broadcast 30 games during the regular season starting with the team’s home opener on Oct. 16.

WNYM 970 AM The Answer will also join the Islanders Radio Network and will broadcast 52 regular season games, starting with the team’s 2016-17 season opener against the New York Rangers on Oct. 13.

The two stations will alternate broadcasting Stanley Cup Playoff games.

In addition, the Islanders will be extensively promoted on each station through commercial spots, email marketing and social media.

WRHU 88.7 FM will also continue to simulcast each game throughout the regular season and playoffs as part of the Islanders Radio Network.

Veteran broadcaster Chris King will return for his 24th season on Islanders radio broadcasts, serving as play-by-play announcer. In addition, Greg Picker will return for his 2nd season as the team’s color analyst.

“We are thrilled to welcome WFAN-AM/FM and AM 970 The Answer to the New York Islanders Radio Network and to greatly expand the reach of Islanders games throughout the tri-state area,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment.

“The Islanders are delighted for our fans that we will have such excellent radio coverage this season,” said Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky.

“We are pleased to partner with Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment to add New York Islanders games to our already expansive roster of NY team coverage,” said Mark Chernoff, VP of Programming, WFAN.  “As the #1 sports station in the country, WFAN is uniquely poised to capture and share the excitement around hockey season with its legions of fans.”

“Everyone here at Salem Media of New York/WNYM AM 970 The Answer is excited about being a home of one of New York’s iconic sports franchises,” said Jerry Crowley, Vice President and General Manager of Salem Media of New York. “To add the Islanders with their great tradition of excellence is a tremendous complement to our outstanding talk, news, information, sports programming format.”