Michiguide.com: Michigan's Guide to Radio and Television Broadcasting

TVSpy.com:

Another big TV consolidation deal is in the works. Tonight, Cincinnati-based E.W. Scripps, and Journal Communications of Milwaukee, announced they will merge their broadcasting operations, while spinning off their newspaper businesses into a new entity. As a result of the deal, which is expected to close in 2015, Scripps will be the 5th largest TV station ownership group operating 34 television stations in 24 cities, reaching 18 percent of the U.S. It will also own 35 radio stations.

Full story: E.W. Scripps and Journal Broadcasting to Merge TV Stations, Spin Off Newspapers (Wed, 7/30)

AllAccess.com:

JOURNAL COMMUNICATIONS INC. and E.W. SCRIPPS CO. have announced a merger of their broadcast operations and the spinoff of the companies' newspapers in a stock swap. JOURNAL's radio and television stations and SCRIPPS' television stations will be merged into CINCINNATI-based E.W. SCRIPPS CO., while the newspapers will merge into a new publicly-traded company, JOURNAL MEDIA GROUP.

Full story: Scripps, Journal Merge Broadcast Properties, To Spin Off Newspapers (Wed, 7/30)

WZZM-TV Ch. 13 Grand Rapids:

WZZM 13, the ABC affiliate owned by Gannett, is making two major announcements today. Lee Van Ameyde has a new role at WZZM 13. He has been named Managing Editor of the WZZM 13 Watchdog Investigative Team. This will be in addition to the investigative reporter responsibilities he currently handles.

Full story: WZZM 13 announces new role for Lee Van Ameyde, welcomes Nick LaFave (Wed, 7/30)

MoodyOnTheMarket.com:

Radio listeners in Michigan's Great Southwest and beyond have a whole new day coming when they wake up over the next couple of Mondays, with an incredible array of voices new and old dodging and weaving in and out of various dayparts to bring you the very best on-air lineup possible. My colleagues at Mid-West Family Broadcasting are unveiling a major re-cast of the entire scene at 98.3 The Coast next week, and everyone involved is as gidddy as a little girl getting ready for the fun and games coming your way.

Full story: Big changes on your coastal dial (Wed, 7/30)

Grand Rapids Press:

Joan Osborne, The Bad Plus, My Brightest Diamond and Vieux Farka Toure are the four headliners of WYCE's 2014 Live at Wealthy Theatre concert series.

Full story: Joan Osborne among 4 headliners in WYCE's Live at Wealthy Theatre concert series (Wed, 7/30)

Kalamazoo Gazette:

Longtime Kalamazoo radio personality Richard Piet will return to West Michigan airwaves on Monday as the morning show host on Battle Creek's WBCK-FM (95.3). Piet worked for 14 years in news and talk radio, including an award-winning stint as the morning news anchor for WKZO-AM (590) where his show won for Best in Category in 2008, 2009 and 2010 from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.

Full story: Richard Piet to return to West Michigan airwaves on Monday (Fri, 7/25)

Grand Rapids Press:

Former Christian radio host John Balyo admitted Tuesday, July 29, that he photographed sex acts with a 12-year-old boy at a Kalamazoo County hotel.

Full story: Former Christian radio host John Balyo admits sex with boy, 12: 'I knew it was wrong' (Tue, 7/29)

TVNewsCheck.com:

Post-Newsweek Stations has changed its name to Graham Media Group, effective today ... Graham Media Group, a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Co. (formerly the Washington Post Co.), owns five TV stations -- each in a top-50 market -- reaching 6.2% of U.S. television households: WDIV Detroit and KPRC Houston (NBC); KSAT San Antonio, Texas (ABC); WKMG Orlando, Fla. (CBS); and WJXT Jacksonville, Fla. (independent).

Full story: New Name For Post-Newsweek Stations (Mon, 7/28)

Grand Rapids Press:

WZZM-TV 13, following a national search, has a new morning anchor to join Lauren Stanton and meteorologist Aaron Ofseyer on the air weekday mornings. The ABC-TV affiliate didn't have far to look.

Full story: WZZM 13's national search for new morning anchor ends in its own backyard (Mon, 7/28)