Pittsburgh sports icon Stan Savran died Monday at his home in Upper St. Clair. He was 76, reports Triblive.com.
Savran broke into the Pittsburgh sports scene as it became known as the City of Champions, made his mark as an opinionated anchor with a sharp wit and rose to prominence as the host of “SportsBeat,” the longest-running sports talk show in the market’s television history.
After nearly five decades on the airwaves, both in television and radio, Savran was considered the dean of Pittsburgh sportscasters. His gap-toothed smile gave an everyman appearance that was complemented by a blue-collar work ethic, although he took as much pride in his fashion sense as he did his encyclopedic sports knowledge.
“He was Google before there was Google,” longtime friend and co-host Guy Junker said. “I don’t know if a photographic memory is a real thing, but if it is, he had it. He had a very eloquent way of putting things. And he just had a few notes on a yellow legal pad.”
Savran continued to work until this past winter, when he was diagnosed with lung cancer and also lost his right leg to diabetes.
➦In 1913...Ralph Livingstone Edwards born (Died at age 92 – November 16, 2005). He was a rado, TV host best known for his game show Truth or Consequences and This Is Your Life.
Ralph Edwards
Edwards worked for KROW Radio in Oakland, California while he was still in high school. Before graduating from high school in 1931, he worked his way through college at the University of California, Berkeley, earning a B.A. in English in 1935. While there, he worked at every job from janitor to producer at Oakland's KTAB, now KSFO. Failing to get a job as a high school teacher, he worked at KFRC and then hitchhiked across the country to New York, where, he said, "I ate ten-cent (equivalent to $2 in 2015), meals and slept on park benches".
After some part-time announcing jobs, he got his big break in 1938 with a full-time job for the Columbia Broadcasting System on WABC (now WCBS), where he worked with two other young announcers who would become broadcasting fixtures - Mel Allen and Andre Baruch.
He is best remembered as radio’s host for the audience particpation show Truth or Consequences, which he created in 1940, and the TV host of This Is Your Life. In his early years in radio he was announcer on as many as 45 shows a week. In his later years he was one of TV’s most prolific producers.
➦In 1946...Edward Bowes died at age 71 (Born - June 14, 1874). He called himself Major Edward Bowes, and was a radio personality of the 1930s and 1940s. His nickname sprang from his earlier military rank, though historians are divided on whether he was an active-duty officer in World War I or held the rank as a member of the Officer Reserve Corps. His Major Bowes Amateur Hour was the best-known amateur talent show in radio during its 18-year run (1935–1952) on NBC Radio and CBS Radio
Major Bowes
Bowes brought his best-known creation to New York radio station WHN in 1934. He had actually hosted scattered amateur nights on smaller stations while manager of the Capitol. Within a year of its WHN premiere, The Original Amateur Hour began earning its creator and host as much as $1 million a year, according to Variety.
The rapid popularity of The Original Amateur Hour made him better known than most of the talent he featured. Some of his discoveries became stars, including opera stars Lily Pons, Robert Merrill, and Beverly Sills; comedian Jack Carter; pop singer Teresa Brewer; and, Frank Sinatra, fronting a quartet known as the Hoboken Four when they appeared on the show in 1935.
The show consistently ranked among radio's top ten programs throughout its run.
Bowes's familiar catchphrase, "...around and around she goes and where she stops nobody knows", spoken in the familiar avuncular tones for which he was so renowned, whenever it was time to spin its "wheel of fortune," the device by which some contestants were called to perform.
In the early days of the show, whenever a performer was simply too terrible to continue, Bowes would stop the act by striking a gong (a device that would be revived in the 1970s by Chuck Barris's infamous The Gong Show). Bowes heard from thousands of listeners who objected to his terminating these acts prematurely, so he abandoned the gong in 1936.
Bowes is credited for featuring more black entertainers than many network shows of the time.
➦In 1948...WBAM becomes WOR FM in NYC. WOR-AM's original owner was Bamberger's Department Store in Newark, New Jersey. In the early 1920s, the store was selling radio receivers and wanted to put a radio station on the air to help promote receiver sales as well as for general publicity.
Chris Licht, who left the network Wednesday after just over a year in the role, struggled with leadership style, lifting morale, programming decisions, how to cover former President Donald Trump and, ultimately, too much self-confidence.
According to CNBC, Licht’s entire tenure at CNN could have turned out differently had he persuaded Zaslav to keep CNN+.
That may sound absurd. Hardly anyone watched CNN+ during its first two weeks of existence last year. Zaslav and several other Discovery executives, including current Warner Bros. Discovery head of streaming JB Perrette and now-CNN Chief Operating Officer David Leavy, were skeptical of spending hundreds of millions of dollars on niche or half-baked content ideas like “Jake Tapper’s Book Club” and “Parental Guidance with Anderson Cooper.” Leavy is now part of the executive team that will help Zaslav find a new CEO.
Chris Licht
Zaslav thought CNN+ was a waste of resources for a company saddled with $50 billion of debt that needed to boost free cash flow and generate $3 billion in merger-related synergies. But before he made any decisions, he wanted to hear Licht’s thoughts.
Licht was supposed to begin his job May 2, 2022, but he started a few weeks early to weigh in on CNN+. In several virtual conferences, he met with CNN+ head Andrew Morse, CNN+ general manager Alex MacCallum and CNN Chief Tech Officer Robyn Peterson, according to people familiar with the matter who declined to be identified due to the private nature of the talks. Perrette and Discovery streaming CFO Neil Chugani (who would become CNN’s CFO) were also there.
Licht expressed his skepticism with the product’s programming, according to people in the meeting. The discussion centered around the viability of offering a product named after CNN without actually featuring a live feed of the network’s cable programming. Perrette told the CNN+ leadership to pause all marketing spending and not to launch on Roku.
CNN has seen its TV ad revenues drop off sharply this year in part due to plunging ratings.
MediaRadar, a New York-based firm that tracks advertising trends, said TV and digital revenues at the network fell nearly 40% year over year when measuring the first four months of 2023 vs. the same period in 2022. The firm estimated advertisers spent about $313 million from January through April of 2023 compared to $513 million from January to April of 2022.
Rodnery Ho, media watcher for AJC.com writes the information was released by the firm after Warner Bros. Discovery dropped Chris Licht as chief of CNN following a tumultuous 13-month tenure. MediaRadar did not release comparable figures for other cable networks such as Fox News and MSNBC, but ratings have fallen this year for all three networks and part of that was attributable to a quieter news cycle in 2023 vs. that early 2022 period which included the start of the Ukraine war.
Sen. Lindsey Graham and ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos got into a heated back-and-forth during a live interview Sunday about the federal indictment against ex-president Donald Trump.
The NY Post reports the South Carolina Republican — who has endorsed Trump as the Republican candidate for president in 2024 –exploded at the “This Week” co-anchor after he was asked to clarify if he believed the former president’s claims that he “did nothing wrong” in the classified documents cases.
“No let me finish!,” Graham barked.
The tense moment took place just 30 seconds into the interview, after Graham started to compare the case against the candidate to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of private email server, which prompted an FBI investigation in the home stretch of the 2016 presidential race, which she ultimately lost to Trump.
Hope Media Group (HMG) has announced Jeff Evans as WayFM’s new Program Director. Jeff will join the team by the end of July.
Evans joins HMG after serving as Programming Operations Director for Pillar Media’s STAR 93.3 Cincinnati & STAR 99.1 New York for the last 10 years.
Jeff Evans
“Jeff has a real heart for team building. He’s a seasoned program director in both mainstream and Christian radio. I know his shepherding gifts are going to play a significant role in WayFM’s next phase of growth, “shares Scott Herrold, Chief of Programming for Hope Media Group.
Evans extensive experience includes roles as the Operations Manager for Townsquare Media’s group of radio stations in Tyler, Texas (KNUE, KISX, KTYL & KKTX) where all 4 radio stations were rated top 5 under his leadership. Evans has also been an air talent with (KDMX) Mix 102.9 in Dallas.
Evans shared, “I'm honored to be joining the amazing team at WayFM. The impact that Hope Media Group is having in the communities it serves is something I'm excited to be a part of. I look forward to reaching more people for Jesus alongside this stellar team of media professionals!”
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is leading a bipartisan push in Congress to force auto manufacturers to keep AM radio in their cars as some companies have started removing the receivers from electric vehicles, reports The Houston Chronicle.
Carmakers have said AM radio receivers can interfere with the vehicle batteries, and eight manufacturers, including Mazda, Tesla, BMW and Volkswagen, have started removing analog AM radio from their vehicles.
But lawmakers say AM radio is an important source of local news, sports and weather, as well as emergency updates.
Ted Cruz
AM radio reaches more than 4.6 million Texans, according to Nielsen data provided by Cruz’s office. That includes more than 1.5 million around Houston, roughly a quarter of radio listeners in the market, and nearly 800,000 around San Antonio, almost 40 percent of that radio market.
The AM radio push is an unusual effort for the Texas Republican, who says he is “skeptical” of government mandates. But Cruz says he believes the shift away from AM is an effort to “silence conservative voices” that dominate the talk radio airwaves.
It is also the latest example of Cruz using his position as the top Republican on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to push back on private companies he believes are trampling conservatives.
“I also think more broadly than that,” Cruz said. “I think there’s a reason big car companies were open to taking down AM radio, which is AM radio is where a lot of talk radio is found, and talk radio is overwhelmingly conservative. And let’s be clear: Big business doesn’t like things that are overwhelmingly conservative.”
An elevated section of I-95 in Northeast Philadelphia collapsed early Sunday after a tanker truck carrying gasoline burst into flames beneath it, severing the main expressway on the East Coast and causing travel chaos in the region that will be felt for some time.
Four northbound lanes fell onto Cottman Avenue in the city’s Tacony neighborhood after steel girders supporting the roadway were weakened in the searing fire, officials said. The interstate was closed in both directions between Woodhaven Road and Aramingo Avenue.
VIDEO/BREAKING: SkyFOX over the section of northbound I-95 that has collapsed in Philadelphia near the Cottman Ave exit. A tanker truck in the underpass beneath 95 caused the North lanes above to collapse & South have buckled down too. pic.twitter.com/0aIqreRlzI
Standing within view of the collapsed and charred section of roadway Sunday night, Gov. Josh Shapiro said he would issue a disaster declaration Monday morning, a step that will allow Pennsylvania to receive federal aid.
“Remarkable devastation,” Shapiro said, describing his view of the scene from a helicopter. “I found myself thanking the Lord that no motorists who were on I-95 were injured or died.”
No injuries or deaths have been reported, though Kenney said Sunday night “we understand the situation remains fluid.” Shapiro said “at least one vehicle” remained trapped in the rubble.
➤UKRAINE SAYS HEAVY BATTLES RAGING: Ukraine's top military command said on Monday its forces were engaged in heavy battles in frontline hot spots, a day after Kyiv said it had made the first modest gains in reclaiming territory from Russia as part of its counteroffensive.
CBS Entertainment president and CEO George Cheeks confirmed that the company is mulling both a sale of its sprawling West 57th Street Broadcast Center and a move to a different Manhattan location.
Cheeks wrote an internal memo to staff last week: “It is true that the company has retained a real estate consultant to evaluate selling the BC and to identify a new home for our teams there.”
Although the memo wasn’t meant for outside consumption, The NY Post calls it refreshing departure from the common practice of telling employees that accurate press reports about corporate decisions were all wrong.
Cheeks told his troops that CBS was “in the early stages of this process” and a timeline for any “potential sale, design and build of a new facility and an eventual move is very hard to predict.”
At least three major commercial developers/landlords have expressed preliminary interest in making a deal with CBS.
The network won’t leave the block altogether. It’s staying put in 281,000 square feet at SL Green’s 555 W. 57th St., a modern office and studio building across the street, where it signed an early five-year lease renewal in January.
Steve Reynolds is a prominent figure in the radio industry known for his expertise as a talent coach. He began his career in the 1990s and quickly rose through the ranks, holding programming and management positions at various stations, including the legendary WRAL.
In 2001, he founded The Reynolds Group, a consulting firm that assists radio stations across the country. Reynolds is recognized for his innovative strategies that improve radio programming and lead to successful ratings in various formats. He has also contributed to major media publications and frequently speaks at industry events.
Steve Reynolds
During the latest Brandwidth Podcast, Reynolds highlights the power of radio's intimacy and the listeners' desire for human connection. Reynolds encourages radio personalities to embrace change, avoid fear, and stay relevant in the evolving media landscape.
He suggests that talent should be multiplatform and develop a strong presence not only on radio but also on television, social media, and in the community.He believes that the industry should commit resources to develop more radio superstars with a global 360-degree career plan. Overall, Steve's insights focus on the opportunities and challenges of radio in the modern world and the strategies for building and maintaining an audience.
Some of Reynold's Key Takeaways
Embrace change and stay relevant in an evolving world of broadcasting.
Focus on building and maintaining a strong connection with listeners.
Expand your presence beyond radio by becoming a multimedia star, utilizing platforms like television and social media.
Engage with the community and establish a strong local presence.
Develop a comprehensive career plan and consider having a business manager to help navigate the industry
Click Here To Listen to the Latest Brandwidth episode.
FOX News Channel’s (FNC) Sean Hannity will present a sit-down interview with California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday, June 12th on Hannity at 9 PM/ET.
The interview will take place in Sacramento, and encompass topics such as immigration, current issues in California, the economy, the 2024 presidential election, the current state of democratic politics and his newly proposed 28th Amendment to the Constitution regarding gun safety. Hannity’s sit down will mark Newsom’s first interview with FNC since 2010.
Lamar Richardson, Bob Lacy, Listeners, Sheri Lynch
Bob & Sheri listeners are used to seeing and interacting with the morning radio duo live-streamed on social media during their weekly Thursday night Happy Hour on Facebook live. This past Saturday featured a special Facebook Livestream from 6:30-8:00 pm Eastern with listener turned movie reviewer Lamar Richardson, who hosted Lamar BQ ’23 Livestream on Facebook. The livestream debuted last year and was a hit with listeners who demanded a second one.
“Listeners ask; we respond,” said Sheri Lynch, one half of Bob & Sheri and co-owner of NOW! Media, which syndicates the popular morning show. “We have so much fun doing Facebook Live events, and our fans love it. In today’s market, it’s not just about ‘being’ multi—platform, it’s about ‘doing’ multi—platform. You can’t flip a switch and say, ‘oh, okay, now we’re on social media.’ You need to dig in all the way.”
Kyle Brown, an ESPN director who worked at the company for 16 years, died Saturday after suffering a medical emergency at the NCAA baseball super regional in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He was 42, according to ESPN.
➦In 1851...Early Radio pioneer, Oliver Joseph Lodge, was born in England (Died - August 22, 1940).
Oliver Lodge
He was a British physicist and writer involved in the development of key patents in wireless telegraphy.
On 14 August 1894, at a meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science at Oxford University, Lodge gave a lecture on the work of Hertz (then-recently deceased).
There he conducted a demonstration of Hertzian (radio) based wireless telegraphy, transmitting messages between two buildings, showing their potential for communication.
This was one year before Marconi demonstrated his system for radio wireless telegraphy.
➦In 1911...the consummate radio actress Claudia Morgan was born in Brooklyn.
Throughout the 1940’s she played Nora Charles opposite Les Tremayne in The Adventures of the Thin Man. She was married to radio announcer and actor Ernest Chappell, and performed with him on the late ’40s horror show, “Quiet Please.” She was also a regular on The O’Neills, David Harum, Ford Theatre, Joyce Jordan, M.D., The Right to Happiness, Grand Central Station, Inner Sanctum Mysteries, On Stage and Dimension X. In the early ’70s, Morgan was heard on Himan Brown‘s CBS Mystery Theater. She died Sept. 17 1974 at age 63.
William Lundigan
➦In 1914....actor William Lundigan was born in Syracuse NY.
He began as an adolescent announcer for a hometown radio station in a building owned by his father. He spent thirteen years as announcer before being discovered by a Universal film executive in 1937. When big screen roles dried up in the mid-50′s he returned to announcing as host of TV’s dramatic anthology Climax, and Shower of Stars, on which he did commercials for the sponsor Chrysler. He also starred in the 1959 TV series Men into Space.
He died of heart failure Dec 20, 1975 at age 61.
➦In 1928....singer/radio-TV host Vic Damone was born in Brooklyn. He entered the talent search on CBS Radio’s Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts and won in April 1947. This led to his becoming a regular on Godfrey’s show. By mid-1947, Damone had signed a contract with Mercury Records. In 1948, he got his own weekly CBS radio show, Saturday Night Serenade. In January 1950 he made his first of several guest appearances on Ed Sullivan‘s Toast of the Town, including a duet with future TV hostess Dinah Shore. Over the next thirty years he became a regular featured guest on every major variety series on network television.
He died Feb. 11, 2018 from complications of respiratory illness at age 89.
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