WFIL 56 & WIBG 99 Philadelphia - 1970-1983
Includes George Michael, Long John Wade, Don Wade, John Records Landecker, Don Cannon, Chuck Knapp, Hy Lit, Joe Niagra, Tony Mann, Dick Fennessy, & Jim Nettleton.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
NYC Radio: Non-Com WBAI Announces Lay-offs
Summer Reese, interim executive director of the Pacifica
Radio Network, choked up as she announced Friday afternoon that legendary New
York radio station WBAI 99.5 FMwas laying off its entire news department, and
the majority of on-air talent.
According to The Village Voice, the lay-offs are effective
Monday.
"Today I have concluded union negotiations with SAG-AFTRA,
regarding proposed layoffs here at WBAI, and with a very heavy heart, and very
great difficulty, we will laying off virtually everyone whose voice you
recognize on the air," Reese said.
Approximately 75 percent of staff will be laid off. "We
are only retaining those staff critically necessary to operational functions at
this station," she said.
"We have barely made our transmitter payments,"
Reese explained. WBAI's transmitter, located at the top of the Empire State
Friday, August 9, 2013
Kidd Kraddick Public Memorial Plans Unveiled
A public memorial for Kidd Kraddick, billed as a “Tribute to Kidd,” will take place August 15 on the AT&T Plaza in front of the American Airlines Center, accordng to the Dallas Morning News.
It will begin at 5:30 p.m.
According to Ladd Biro, the late morning-show host’s publicist, “Local dignitaries from around the Dallas/Fort Worth area will speak to Kidd’s impact on the community.” There will also be several musical guests, among them Ben Folds, who will perform.
“Thursday is going to be a beautiful day of remembrance doing two things my dad loved: listening to great music and supporting Kidd’s Kids,” said Caroline Cradick, Kraddick’s daughter, in this morning’s announcement. “This charity meant so much to him and it is such an honor to carry on his legacy. Thank you to all of the fans for your kind words. I feel the love every day and am lucky to have a father that left such an impact. I’m also really excited to see Ben Folds, dad’s and my favorite artist, who we share a lot of fond memories with.”
Following the event is the first-ever Concert for Kidd’s Kids, featuring the Jonas Brothers, which is set to begin at 7 p.m. at the House of Blues. Per the release, “Guests are welcome to stay at the AT&T Plaza after the public memorial and enjoy a closed-circuit feed of the concert.”
That concert was announced on July 26 — one day before Kraddick, at the age of 53, died in New Orleans of an enlarged heart caused by cardiac disease.
Video of the memorial will also be streamed at KiddTV.com.
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Report: Megyn Kelly To Get 9P Time Slot On FNC
 |
| Megyn Kelly |
Where is Megyn Kelly headed?
Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes announced last month
that Kelly would move to a prime time position when she returned from maternity
leave.
Thursday evening, the
Drudge Report says she'll take over the 9pm ET slot in the prime time lineup,
but Fox News isn't spilling the beans.
A Fox News spokesperson said no official announcement would be
made at this time.
“We will neither confirm nor deny any programming schedule
changes," the spokesperson said. "As previously stated, the network
has signed long-term deals with Megyn Kelly, Bret Baier, Shepard Smith, Bill
O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and Greta Van Susteren.”
Kelly recently gave birth to her third child, a baby boy
named Thatcher Bray Brunt.
She joined Fox News in 2004 and has anchored "America
Live" since February 2010.
She also appears weekly on "The O'Reilly Factor"
in a segment titled "The Kelly File."
Digital Video Rights Are Hurdle in CBS-TWC Fight
Digital video rights have become a sticking point in the dispute between Time Warner Cable and CBS, highlighting how new online TV services are adding more tension and complexity to the dealings between content owners and distributors. WSJ's Amol Sharma has more.
Arbitron Sues LM Com Over Copyrighted Ratings
Arbitron is suing LM Communications for allegedly using its
copyrighted radio ratings estimates for the Charleston , S.C.
The privately-held broadcaster is based in Lexington, Ky.,
where it owns six radio stations WBVX(FM), WLXO(FM), WGKS(FM), WCDA(FM),
WBTF(FM), WLXG(AM); five in Charleston, W.Va., WKLC(FM), WMXE(FM), WSCW(AM),
WJYP(AM), WMON(AM); two in Charleston, S.C., WCOO(FM), WYBB(FM); and television
station WBKI(TV) in Louisville, Ky.
According to Radio World, LM subscribes to Arbitron data for
the Lexington
market. That license remains in effect through March 2014. The broadcaster does
not subscribe to Arbitron data for either Charleston
markets.
In a complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern
District of Kentucky, the audience research firm says LM copied, distributed
and used its copyrighted audience estimates for the Charleston , S.C.
Arbitron seeks a total of no less than $725,000 with
interest, as well as attorney’s fees.
Fargo Radio: Q98, Soon to Be Q105, Tops Rock Ratings
Radio F-M Media Operations Manager John Austin said Thursday that KQWB Q98 Rock’s move to 105.1 FM next week. Q98’s modern rock format will stay the same, he said, but the move down the dial is part of “fun changes” in the works for the company that took ownership of several stations Monday.
 |
| 98.7 FM 60dBU Coverage |
 |
| 105.1 FM 60dBu Coverage |
Overall, KFGO 790 AM continues to reign supreme among Fargo listeners,
commanding a 15.5 share – up from 15.2 in the fall and well above nearest
competitor WDAY-FM Y94, a Top 40 station that had a 10.7 share.
Spring ratings show some shifts in listening habits,
especially with country music. KBVB Bob 95, a Radio F-M station, pulled ahead of
Midwest Communications-owned KVOX Froggy 99.9 with respective shares of 8.6 and 8.2
for the No. 3 and No. 4 positions. The two country stations both had shares of
8.3 last fall.
He said Radio F-M Media has plenty of big changes planned
other than Q98’s move to 105.1 that’s “clearing the deck on 98.7 for something
exciting.” But he said listeners will have to wait for more details.
He didn’t offer any new hints about another big change for
the company – the future home of popular morning show hosts Jesse and Amanda
with Pike, who aired their last show July 31 on Froggy 99.9 before the station
moved to Midwest Communications.
Froggy 99.9 launched its new morning show with hosts Shawn
and Mandy on Monday.
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Tom's Take: Both stations operate with 100kW Class C1 signals, however, 105.1 FM transmitter is further away fromFargo .
Tom's Take: Both stations operate with 100kW Class C1 signals, however, 105.1 FM transmitter is further away from
Reports: Another Detroit Sports Station to Launch
 |
| Farewell? |
Reports continue to circulate concerning Greater Media’s
WMGC-FM 105.1. They all point toward a
format flip from AC to sports.
RadioInsight sez the change is coming this Monday August 12
at 3 PM and is expected to brand at ‘Detroit Sports 105.1. Why 3 PM? That’s the start time for the station’s only
weekday live show.
Michiguide.com reports that PM Drive time slot will be
hosted by Drew Lane ,
former morning co-host on Greater Media’s WRIF.
Most of the station’s content is expected to be supplied by
ESPN Radio.
According to Michiguide.com, a format change would be the
frequency's 4th since Greater Media took ownership in 1996 when 105.1 was
Classical WQRS. In 1997 the classics gave way to Alternative Rock 'The Edge'
followed by Urban Oldies 'The Groove' in 1999 and then Adult Contemporary
'Magic 105.1' in 2001. After the retirement of Jim Harper in 2011, the AC
format has changed names from Magic 105.1 to Soft Rock 105.1 to the presently
used Today's 105.1.
Forbes List: Cowell, Stern Top Highest Paid List
It looks like Simon Cowell has little to worry about with a
baby on the way as far as expenses.
According to USAToday, the 54-year-old TV talent competition
judge is tied with Howard Stern for first place on Forbes' annual list of the highest paid TV/Radio personalities. Both have earned an estimated
$95 million between June 2012 and June 2013.
Cowell, who previously was a judge on Fox's American
Idol and now is a judge on the network's X-Factor, makes
most of his money from stakes in X-Factor and Got
Talent, which have franchises around the world. He also has a record label,
Syco, and works with popular musical acts such as Leona Lewis and One
Direction.
Shock jock Stern is now appearing in his second season on
the judges' panel at America's Got Talent.
Forbes says the list was compiled after talking
to producers, managers, agents and other experts to estimate how much each
celebrity earned from entertainment-related work.
Glenn Beck is No. 3 on the list. The former Fox News
personality took to the Internet in 2011 where he has a subscription site, The
Blaze. Forbes estimates he earned $90 million.
Oprah Winfrey is at No. 4 on the list with estimated
earnings of $77 million. Dr. Phil is #5 and Rush Limbaugh #6.
Local TV Newsrooms Salaries Fell In 2012
Newsroom salaries fell in 2012. The latest data to shed light on local
television economics comes from the new RTNDA/Hofstra University annual surveys
of television newsrooms.
Overall, television news salaries fell about 2%, the same
percentage they gained in 2011. News writers and news assistants enjoyed the
biggest gains—16% and 13% respectively—from 2011. Top news managers lost
ground. News directors’ salaries were down 2.3%, assistant news directors’
salaries were down 6.7% and executive producers’ dropped 9.1%. Salaries of news
and sports anchors remained the same.
Tampa Radio: Charges Dropped Against Schnitt Attorney
 |
| Phil Campbell |
According to the Tampa Bay Times, a paralegal texted her bosses even as she flirted with a lawyer who didn't know she worked for the very firm he faced off against that day in court. One of those bosses called his friend on the police force, who sat outside Malio's Prime Steakhouse restaurant and bar for nearly three hours, the two texting back and forth 92 times.
In the middle of it sat lawyer C. Philip Campbell Jr. — who didn't plan on driving that night because his downtown apartment was two blocks away — unaware he was about to get popped for DUI. Campbell at the time was representing Tampa radio personality Todd Schnitt who was suing crosstown rival Bubba The Love Sponge in a civil defamation case. Schnitt has a PM Drive Show on CCM+E's N/T WFLA 970 AM. Bubba is morning host on Cox Media's WHPT FM. Bubba eventually won the case. Schnitt is now suing the 65-year-old Campbell over his legal fees.
 |
| Todd Schnitt, Bubba |
"The intensity of the communication," said William Loughery, a prosecutor with the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office, which was called in to investigate, "was jaw-dropping."
"It is now absolutely clear that Mr. Campbell was the victim of a devious setup," said his attorney, John Fitzgibbons. "And all honest and ethical police officers and lawyers should be deeply troubled over what happened."
The prosecutors' report pulled the lid off a case that has been the talk of the legal community and beyond.
Tampa police Chief Jane Castor backed off her previously unequivocal support of the officers involved, releasing a written statement: "It is clear that Sgt. Ray Fernandez utilized bad judgment when he failed to remove himself from this investigation. He should have assigned it to an officer who did not have a personal connection to the tip."
She declined questions because the FBI is investigating.
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