West Michigan: May 2009 Archives

Grand Rapids Press:

Student Advancement Foundation leaders credit the community's generosity and a radio personality's auction for raising $120,000 at Tuesday's fund-raiser -- double what the group raised last year. Executive Director Susan Heartwell said Tony Gates of WLAV-FM radio suggested trying to get attendees to top each other's pledges for the foundation's focus areas, with additional donors offering to match pledges up to $5,000. That activity raised $40,000... Radio personality helps foundation double fundraising efforts for Grand Rapids schools (Thu, 4/30)

South Bend Tribune:

Because of the University of Notre Dame's planned new hockey arena, radio station WDND-1490 AM is now broadcasting most of its programming on WPNT-1620 AM. The signal on 1490 AM will cease sometime between 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. today, because the station's former tower on the Notre Dame campus is coming down to make way for the university's new hockey arena, the radio station announced. Most of the station's ESPN radio programming has shifted to 1620 AM ... The programming switch to 1620 AM is long term -- for at least three months and perhaps up to a year -- until the company finds a location for a new signal tower, said Arthur Angotti III, a spokesman for Artistic Media Partners... Hockey arena construction forces 1490 AM switch (Wed, 4/29)

Grand Rapids Press:

The morning show on Regent Broadcasting's WNWZ-AM (1410) sounds a lot different these days. Rosie del Valle, the new morning co-host, along with Juan Fresco, recently took the airwaves with a change in name and format. The morning show, "De Manana y Something Else" airs weekdays from 7 a.m. to noon. "The show covers news, entertainment, interviews and information that appeal to Hispanic people," del Valle said. "I am the only bilingual DJ on staff, so we switch back and forth from English to Spanish" ... AP names winners- The Michigan Associated Press Broadcasters Association, which held its annual awards April 25 in Southfield, named WOOD-TV (Channel 8) "Station of the Year 2008" by the Associated Press. Numerous awards for excellence were given for best newscast, best continuing coverage, best spot news, best hard news, best individual reporting, best sportscast and best photojournalism... Broadcast notes: WNWZ-AM in Grand Rapids adds morning co-host Rosie del Valle (Mon, 5/4)

Grand Rapids Press:

Bob Kaser is the first to acknowledge he probably takes losses harder than players do. One thing is for sure: After finishing his ninth season as the radio voice for the Grand Rapids Griffins on WOOD-AM (1300), he remains invested in the team. That's why he grows visibly frustrated from time to time. "I've toned it down a bit. I used to show my emotions probably more than I should have," Kaser said. "Every now and then, the emotions get the best of me. I care." Kaser said he lives and dies with his team, and that's never going to go away. Not as long as he's still enjoying his time with the Griffins. In addition to serving as the Griffins' vice president of community relations, Kaser travels with the team during the season and helps organize its charity work... Bob Kaser, voice for Griffins, is team's No. 1 fan (Fri, 5/8)

WZZM TV news director moving on

Tim Geraghty, vice president-news director of Gannett's WZZM in Grand Rapids is transferring to Gannett's KXTV in Sacramento, CA where he'll take over as vice president-information director. Prior to joining WZZM, Geraghty was news director at WTV Miami and also worked at several other stations including WAND and WWMT in Decatur, IL, and WDAF Kansas City.

Grand Rapids Press:

Tim Geraghty, vice president/news director for WZZM-TV (Channel 13), is heading west. Geraghty has been named vice president and information director for KXTV-TV (Channel 10) in Sacramento, Calif. Both television stations are owned by media giant Gannett Co. Inc. "My family and I are excited to go to Sacramento," Geraghty stated in a news release. "I am looking forward to connecting with my new community and leading the News 10 Information Center. I will miss the talented people of WZZM-TV 13, and I know the many relationships I have formed here in Grand Rapids will last a lifetime"... Gannett sends WZZM-TV news director Tim Geraghty to California station (Mon, 5/11)

AllAccess.com:

McKormick Joins WOOD: former CBS RADIO Talk WKRK (LIVE 97.1 FREE FM)/DETROIT (now Sports WXYT-F (97.1 THE TICKET)) "MOTOR CITY MIDDAYS" co-host MICHELLE MCKORMICK joins CLEAR CHANNEL Talk WOOD-A/GRAND RAPIDS as SCOTT WINTERS' new co-host for "MOUTH TO MOUTH," 9a-noon. MCKORMICK worked at WVTI/GRAND RAPIDS before her DETROIT stint; WINTERS has been working with guest co-hosts since the passing of his former longtime partner RICK BECKETT in FEBRUARY. (Wed, 5/13)

Grand Rapids Press:

Tune in weekdays to WOOD-AM (1300) middays (9 a.m.-noon) and you will hear a new show named "Mouth 2 Mouth," featuring Scott Winters with new partner Michelle McKormick. She takes the spot of longtime radio personality Rick Beckett, who died from a heart attack in February. McKormick has already been on the air with Winters for several weeks, and the chemistry has been good, according to WOOD general manager Tim Feagan, who launched a nationwide search. Both Winters and McKormick are West Michigan natives, and each have more than 20 years of broadcast experience... Michelle McKormick joins Scott Winters at Grand Rapids' WOOD-AM (1300), replaces the late Rick Beckett (Fri, 5/15)

AllAccess.com:

FCC Rejects WOLY's Attempt To Restore License CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK, INC. gets shot down again in its attempt to resurrect its Religion WOLY-A/BATTLE CREEK, MI, as the FCC upholds its dismissal of the company's license renewal application, request for STA, motion for stay, and petition for reconsideration of the deletion of the station's license. The station failed to apply for renewal of its license until after the Commission terminated the license for failure to renew, which gave the Commission grounds to treat the eventually-filed renewal application as a petition for reconsideration. The Commission denied the application and rejected the station's arguments to restore the license. (Wed, 5/27)

CLEAR CHANNEL Country WBCT/GRAND RAPIDS PD DOUG MONTGOMERY has been officially named the Country PD for CC's PREMIUM CHOICE in addition to his current duties. In his new position, he will oversee music and talent for all Country PC offerings. (Wed, 5/27)

Rock WKLQ is no more on the FM dial as sports takes over the 107.3 frequency in the Grand Rapids area. After several hours of stunting, Citadel has announced that the active rock format of WKLQ is moving online-only at wklq.com and that the sports programming of WBBL has moved to 107.3 as 'West Michigan's Sports Leader'.

Grand Rapids Press:

WBBL is taking its ball and leaving -- for the FM dial. Citadel Broadcasting announced Thursday afternoon that the sports radio station known as "The Ball" will move to 107.3 FM, the former home of rock station WKLQ. The switch officially took place at 3 p.m. Thursday. WBBL had been at the 1340 AM location since going to an all-sports format in 1994... Grand Rapids all-sports station WBBL moves to 107.3 FM; WKLQ shifts to Web (Thu, 5/28)

WOOD-TV

In a move embracing present-day realities and the future, WKLQ Radio will become an online-only station while WBBL will take over WKLQ's radio position at 107.3 FM, becoming the largest sports signal in the market. WBBL (AM 1340 The Ball) will simulcast its signal on 107.3. The Ball currently carries the Detroit Tigers, the Detroit Lions, the Detroit Red Wings, the West Michigan Whitecaps and MSU football and basketball. Sister station WLAV will continue to air most Tigers games this season. Putting sports on a 50,000 watt signal "is a large investment. It will give us more power to reach more people with a unique opportunity to bring great talk and great teams with an even more expanded spot for local sports," said Citadel regional president Matt Hanlon in a press release... WBBL adds FM, WKLQ goes only online (Thu, 5/28)

WZZM-TV:

Citadel Broadcasting Corporation made some changes this afternoon to their radio lineup that will change some listeners habits. WKLQ, an "active rock" station will broadcast exclusively online only at WKLQ.com. 107.3 FM, WKLQ's former frequency on the dial, will become WBBL-FM, which will become West Michigan's only all sports FM station. "More than 70 percent of the current WKLQ listeners use the Web site weekly," said Matt Hanlon, regional president, Citadel Broadcasting Company. "This new technology and direct connection all the time is designed to get closer to the needs of this audience; it is where they want us to be." WBBL-FM will broadcast the West Michigan Whitecaps, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Michigan State University football and the Detroit Red Wings... WKLQ goes online only; 107.3 becomes FM sports station (Thu, 5/28)

Grand Rapids Press:

The "sports crazy audience" will be switching to a stronger signal on the FM dial, and the "active, young rockers" are going to the Internet. WBBL, the only all-sports radio station in the Grand Rapids market, started today at its new home on the FM dial at 107.3 in place of WKLQ, which now will be available only online at WKLQ.com, Citadel Broadcasting Corp. announced Thursday. WBBL also will continue to simulcast its programming on the AM dial at 1340, with the option to use it for additional programming when game broadcasts conflict. WBBL is the local network partner for the Detroit Red Wings, Tigers, Lions, Michigan State University (football and basketball) and the West Michigan Whitecaps. It is seeking to renew its affiliation with the Detroit Pistons... Grand Rapids station WBBL increases sports reach with move to 107.3 FM (Fri, 5/29)