Recently in Michigan Almanac Category

The MHSAA Network has begun its third season of coverage of high school sports, and its first week of action will launch this week on Comcast Channel 900 and the MHSAA.tv website.

The flagship production of the Network is MHSAA Game Night, which airs at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. Game Night kicks off its third season with a Macomb Area Conference football rivalry game from last Thursday (Aug. 26) between Marine City and Marysville, a game won by the Mariners, 12-8. Game Night will also show on Sundays at 7 p.m., and a third showing may occur on Saturdays at 7 p.m. when not pre-empted by live college games on Comcast.

Two other games will be featured each week. Following the Marine City-Marysville football game on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. on Comcast Channel 900 will be a Wolverine Conference boys soccer match between Richland Gull Lake and Vicksburg from last Monday (Aug. 23), a game won by the Bulldogs, 3-1. The second Wednesday night game each week will get a second airing on Channel 900 on Sundays at Noon; and a third showing may occur on Saturdays at 3 p.m., when not pre-empted by live college games on Comcast.

Thursdays at 8 p.m. will be the third featured production of the week. This week on Thursday will be a boys soccer game between East Lansing and Chelsea from last Tuesday (Aug. 24), which was won by the Trojans, 3-1. The third game each week will generally receive a second airing on Channel 900 on Saturdays at 9:30 p.m., and again on Sunday at 9 a.m. In subsequent weeks, the Thursday prime-time slot will feature girls volleyball action.

Each week's featured games will be available for on-demand viewing on the MHSAA.tv website the day after their initial playback on Comcast and highlight package of all games will be available for Comcast subscribers to watch through its Video On Demand service.

MHSAA Classics return again this year, featuring great games of years past. These games will be available Mondays through Fridays on Comcast Channel 900.

The complete schedule of upcoming MHSAA Network productions on Comcast Channel 900 and the MHSAA.tv website can be found exclusively online by clicking on MHSAA.tv and selecting TV Schedule.

Here's where the MHSAA Network cameras will be this week:

The MHSAA Network delivers coverage of regular season and MHSAA Tournament competition across multiple platforms -- cable television, radio and the internet to fans of high school sports across the state and around the world. In addition to providing content to cable partners Comcast Television and Fox Sports Detroit, the MHSAA Network features two websites, MHSAA.tv and MHSAANetwork.com where fans can click to view or listen to content; and a radio network of nearly 40 stations statewide which annually carry the MHSAA Basketball Finals and the commentary MHSAA Perspective, which airs for 30 weeks during the school year.

 

In association with the 2010 Motor City Radio Reunion, voiceover icon Ms. Randy Thomas will conduct a four-hour workshop to assist broadcasters of all ages on how to better prepare and market themselves!

This special workshop will be held on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (248-348-5000) in Novi, MI from 10 am - 2 pm. A special recession-busting fee to attend is only $75.00! To register, please visit www.randythomasvo.com and click on "Classes" for Detroit VO Workshop. Space is limited. Sign up today!

Spend a few hours with Randy Thomas, one of the most recognized and sought after female voice talents on the planet, as she takes you inside the world of voiceovers at the highest level. She is the first woman in history to announce The Academy Awards and honored to be the voice of the live Oscar telecast seven times. Every night you hear her voice on "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider," two of the the most watched entertainment TV news magazine programs in the world. It's an honor to have her returning to Detroit, where she began her radio career.

The Detroit Radio Reunion is a separate cost and open only to people who work (or have worked) in Detroit radio.

Voiceover seminar highlights:

• State of the industry today
• How to make the big segue from radio personality to freelance voice over artist
• Leaving radio behind and learning to become the best voice actor you can
• What tools you need to become a top voiceover artist
• What to look for from other coaches and how to avoid getting caught up in VO marketing scams
• How to get from where you are now to quitting your full time job to do VO all day long from your home studio

Following the seminar, Randy will sign her book for you ($10 purchase).

See you there!

 

By now, you've probably heard about the huge Motor City Radio Reunion to be held on September 25, 2010 in Novi. The price of tickets will be jumping from $80 to $110 by this Monday. If you'd like to save a few dollars log onto the web site: www.mcrr2010.com and order your ticket(s) now. Attendance will offer to you a chance to meet and greet many of the legendary names who made Detroit one of the most exciting radio markets in America! Already confirmed are most of the WKNR Keener jocks, Big 8 DJ's and CKLW newsmen, plus stars from WXYZ, WJR and WWJ among others. Organizers have indicated, "This will be the final such event, and those who miss it will surely regret it as time goes on. We hope you will be a part of this very special event."

 

AllAccess.com:

Two bills introduced in the MICHIGAN legislature would ban non-compete clauses in broadcasters' contracts, and AFTRA's DETROIT chapter is urging its members to call their representatives to support the efforts. A bill sponsored by State Rep. FRED MILLER and co-sponsored by 20 other representatives is making its way through the House; the bill, HB 5750, has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by one of the bill's co-sponsors, Rep. MARK MEADOWS. Another bill, SB 1068, sponsored by Sen. RAYMOND E. BASHAM, has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce and Tourism... AFTRA Urges Support For Michigan Anti-Non-Compete Bills (Tue. 7/27)

 

Michigan Association of Broadcasters elects new Board of Directors and Officers

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) elected their 2010-2011 Board of Directors and Officers during the Summer Celebration and MAB Annual Meeting July 15, 2010 at the Inn at St. John's in Plymouth. The newly elected officers include:

• Chairman, Mike King, Vice President & General Manager, WILX-TV, Gray Television, Lansing
• Vice Chairman/Chairman-Elect, Duane Alverson, President, MacDonald Broadcasting Co., Saginaw/Lansing
• Secretary/Treasurer, Trey Fabacher, Vice President & General Manager, WWJ-TV/WKBD-TV CBS Television, Detroit
• At-Large, Tim Feagan, General Manager, Clear Channel West Michigan, Grand Rapids
• Immediate Past Chairman, Tom Mogush, President and Owner, WMQT-FM/WZAM-AM, Marquette

Members elected for their first-full term include:

• Secretary/Treasurer, Trey Fabacher, Vice President & General Manager, WWJ/WKBD-TV, Detroit
• Director, Debbie Kenyon, Vice President & Market Manager, CBS Radio, Detroit
• Director, Marla Drutz, Vice President & General Manager, WDIV-TV, Detroit

Board members who have been elected for a second term include:

• Director, Ken Radant, President and Owner, WBCH-AM/FM, Hastings
• Director, Rob Striker, Market Manager, Cumulus Radio, Flint

The MAB congratulates the members on their newly elected positions and looks forward to working with the board to bring the best service to all Michigan broadcasters. For more information about the MAB and its board members, including full bios and photos, click here.

 

MAB Foundation announces newly elected Board of Directors and Officers

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation (MABF) elected their 2010-2011 Board of Directors and Officers during the Summer Celebration and MAB Annual Conference July 15, 2010 at the Inn at St. John's. The newly elected officers include:

• Chairman, Chris Monk, Citadel Broadcasting Company, Saginaw/Flint
• Vice Chairman/Chairman-Elect, Dave Downing, Lansing Community College/WLNZ-FM, Lansing
• Secretary/Treasurer, Julie Koehn, WLEN-FM, Adrian
• Immediate Past Chairman, Charles Ganzert Ph.D., Northern Michigan University, WUPX-FM, Marquette

Members elected for their first full-term include:

• Director, Pete Bowers, Bloomfield Hills School District, WBFH-FM, Bloomfield Hills
• Director, Sue Goldsen, WKHM-AM/FM & WIBM-AM, Jackson
• Director, Rick Sykes, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant
• Director, Eva Aguirre-Cooper, WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids

Board members who have been elected for a second 3-year term include:

• Director, Jennifer Mefford, IBEW NECA, Detroit
• Director, Steve Marks, WBKP/WBKB/WBUP-TV, Alpena

The MAB congratulates the new MABF elected officials and looks forward to working with them in the year ahead. For more information about the MABF and its board members, please contact the MABF office at mabf@michmab.com.

 

MAPB Presents Michael T. Walenta with the 2010 Professional Pioneer Award

The Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters (MAPB) presented the MAPB Professional Pioneer Award to Michael T. Walenta, General Manager of WGVU-AM/FM/TV in Grand Rapids. He accepted the award during the Chairman's Banquet at the Summer Celebration and MAB Annual Meeting held Thursday, July 15 at The Inn at St. John's in Plymouth, Michigan.

Michael Walenta began his career in 1978 after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast and Cinematic Arts from Central Michigan University and his Masters degree in 1980. As a spirited young broadcaster, Walenta worked in several broadcasting positions in and around Central and West Michigan, including assistant engineer, video editor and college instructor.

In 1983, Walenta headed to Texas where he worked first as a production manager and later as operations manager for a series of television stations. However, in 1988, Walenta returned to his home state of Michigan to take on the position of General Manager for the public broadcasting station WGVU-AM/FM/TV, a position he proudly holds today.

Walenta is an outdoor enthusiast and world traveler who has visited the far corners of the earth. He is actively involved with the National Ski Patrol, the Rapid Wheelman Bicycling Team and the Boy Scouts of America.

 

MAB Inducts three into the Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) inducted three new members into the Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame at the Summer Celebration and MAB Annual Meeting held Thursday, July 15 at The Inn at St. John's. The inductees were selected based upon their service to the broadcasting industry and their communities. The 2010 Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductees are Bill Bonds, Retired Television Anchor & Reporter, Detroit, Jerry Hodak, Chief Meteorologist for WXYZ-TV, Detroit, and Karole L. White, President & CEO of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Lansing.

The Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductees were presented during the Chairman's Banquet at the Summer Celebration and MAB Annual Meeting. For more information about this year's inductees, including full bios, visit the MAB website at www.michmab.com.

 

MAB presented P. Thomas Bryson with the MAB Lifetime Achievement Award

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) was proud to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to P. Thomas "Tom" Bryson, President and General Manager of WJRT-TV in Flint, Michigan. The MAB presented the award at their Summer Celebration and MAB Annual Meeting on Thursday, July 15 at The Inn at St. John's.

For more information, including a full biography, about this year's Lifetime Achievement Award winner, please visit the MAB website at www.michmab.com.

 

The Michigan Emergency Alert System (EAS) will enable the first, full use of a new public warning delivery system allowing direct input from the Michigan State Police and Emergency Managers to key broadcast stations statewide beginning Monday, July 19, 2010.

Through funds provided by the federal government, the Michigan State Police and several Emergency Managers will be able to send emergency messages and AMBER alerts directly to key EAS stations throughout the state. The EAS terminals are linked by both satellite and internet to provide redundancy when communication systems have failed. Additionally, as the warning is sent to key broadcast stations, it can be sent in a short length format that can be used to post to web sites, feed electronic signs and be sent to email accounts, as well as text messages to mobile devices.

"EMnet is a proven system, in use in nearly 25% of the United States and is compliant with the forthcoming government required messaging format. We expect to demonstrate its ability to provide full text messaging for the hearing impaired in the coming weeks," said Larry Estlack, State Chair for EAS and Director of Technology for the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. "These early warnings will allow the broadcasting community to inform their audiences quicker, ultimately helping to save lives."

For over a year, emergency managers have trained on the EMnet equipment, testing weekly, as required by the FCC. The system is multilingual, with the ability to send messages in English, Spanish and French. In addition, it delivers prompt messaging; from the time an Emergency Manager pushes the send button to the receipt of the message, takes just 10 seconds.

 

Lansing State Journal:

Michigan Government Television is going to air a gubernatorial debate that was held earlier this month on Mackinac Island. MGTV is to show the debate at 12:05 p.m. on Monday. The debate took place at the 2010 Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference and featured all seven candidates running for governor. MGTV to air gubernatorial debate from Mackinac (Mon, 6/14)

 

Lifetime Achievement Award: P. Thomas "Tom" Bryson President and General Manager of WJRT-TV, Flint, Michigan

Tom Bryson is the President and General Manager of WJRT-TV in Flint, a position he has held for nearly 25 years. Bryson graduated from the University of Missouri in 1961, where upon, one of his first assignments with Group W Radio in Washington, D.C. was to cover the "I Have a Dream" speech of Martin Luther King, Jr. Bryson has since served in the broadcasting community at a variety of stations in multiple cities across the country including Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Albany and finally landing at WJRT-TV in Flint, which is where he has called home for nearly two-and-half decades. He also served as president of the MAB in 1990. Bryson's commitment to Michigan broadcasting and to his community is unmatched and why he was selected as the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

 

Hall of Fame Inductees:

Bill Bonds, Retired Television Anchor and Reporter Detroit, Michigan; Bill Bonds, an iconic, award-winning television anchor and reporter is best known for his work at Detroit's WXYZ-TV, as a news anchor for more than 25 years. His anchoring and commentaries won more Emmys than any other newscaster in the country and helped to build his reputation for being a no-nonsense, up-front interviewer, confronting lawmakers and national figures with tough questions and demanding straight answers. Bonds has been an advocate and member of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters for the duration of his career and an active supporter of broadcast education.

Jerry Hodak, Chief Meteorologist WXYZ-TV, Detroit, Michigan; Jerry Hodak's name has been synonymous with the word "weather" in the Detroit area for more than 45 years. However, Hodak's experience extends far beyond weather reports and includes award-winning reporting and community activism. Hodak has served on the board of directors for the Science and Engineering Fair of Metropolitan Detroit and as a mentor for several young broadcasting hopefuls including two of his own children, who have successful careers within the Michigan broadcasting industry.

Karole L. White, President & CEO Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Lansing, Michigan; Karole White began her career in broadcasting 25 years ago when the MAB was just a fledgling, part-time organization. Through her hard work and overwhelming dedication, the MAB has grown into one of the most powerful and successful state broadcasting associations in the country. White's commitment to the MAB members and the Michigan broadcasting industry is recognized nationwide and has been awarded through various state and national organizations. White joins the ranks of some of the finest examples of broadcast leaders in the state as a 2010 Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame Inductee.

 

Two of the Michigan High School Athletic Association's television partners -- PlayON! Sports (PlayON) and When We Were Young Productions (WWWYP) -- announced Monday (May 10) that they have signed a definitive agreement to merge their companies. The combined company will bring together the deep production and distribution experience of WWWYP, the extensive technology platform of PlayON, and the high school association relationships of each company. The combination of assets creates the premiere high school sports network and the leader in producing, distributing, and monetizing video content in the high school category.

The company will have offices in Atlanta, Georgia, Madison, Wisconsin, and Lansing, Michigan with additional offices planned in Illinois, Missouri, Oregon, and South Carolina. The transaction is expected to close before the end of the year.

PlayON and WWWYP currently partner with seven (7) state high school athletic associations, including Wisconsin (WIAA), Michigan (MHSAA), Georgia (GHSA), South Carolina (SCHSL), Missouri (MSHSAA), Illinois (IHSA), and Oregon (OSAA). The partnership with each state high school association encompasses two primary areas: 1) production, distribution, and monetization of post-season events through television and the Internet; 2) access to PlayON's proprietary technology platform to member schools for self-production of regular season events.

Additional state partnerships will be announced in the near future.

The combined company managed over 2,500 productions of high school events in 2009 and projects to exceed 5,000 events in 2010. It has existing distribution relationships with Comcast, Charter Cable, Time Warner Cable, and Fox Sports Wisconsin, among others.

PlayON President and Chief Executive Officer David Rudolph said, "This is a tremendous expansion opportunity for PlayON and will allow us to continue to aggressively grow our presence in the high school category. Tim Eichorst and When We Were Young Productions have developed an excellent reputation during their seven years of producing high-quality high school sports events and have deep relationships to show for it. Additionally, we are very excited to further extend PlayON's comprehensive technology platform to allow individual high schools to produce and distribute their games."

WWWYP President Tim Eichorst said, "PlayON and When We Were Young Productions complement each other very well. Our companies began working together a year ago and we quickly realized that we had a natural fit in how we approached working in the high school space. Together our position in the market and our ability to deliver on our mission will be even stronger."

To assist the company with its ongoing growth plans, Neal Pilson has agreed to join as a Strategic Advisor, focusing on strategic counsel with special emphasis in areas related to media, distribution, investor relations, partnerships, and growth. Pilson is a senior industry executive, former president of CBS Sports, and is currently president of Pilson Communications Inc. (PCI) where he is active in all areas of sports television, media and marketing.

Pilson said, "High school is the high growth area for the sports and media industry. As the category further develops over the next few years, I am looking forward to working with PlayON and When We Were Young as they continue to expand their leadership position."

 

Ernie Harwell, Michigan's most beloved broadcaster ever, has died this evening at the age of 92 in his home in the Detroit suburb of Novi after an inspiring fight with bile duct cancer.

There will be countless accolades and articles written about the life of a man that cared for his family, friends, and fans in a way that no one ever has before or will again. Whatever it is that is written, it won't be enough to capture just how much Mr. Harwell meant to our state.

Godspeed Ernie and thank you.

 

 

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Detroit Free Press:

In Ernie Harwell's voice, the South rose again and conquered Michigan in a way no one else ever has. When Harwell arrived in Detroit to join the Tigers radio broadcast team in 1960, he was an unknown to Tigers fans. When he died Tuesday night at his home in Novi, at 92, after nearly a year-long bout with cancer, he had a strong case as the most beloved figure ever in Michigan. He rose to that cherished place through the combined power of radio and baseball and just as importantly his own charm and warmth, which were as steady through the decades as his unchanging Georgia accent. Harwell did Tigers radio from 1960 through 1991, then -- after an ill-conceived dismissal by the Tigers that lasted only one season -- he did a combination of Tigers radio and TV from 1993 through 2002. He ended his 55-year big-league career at the end of 2002 season... Ernie Harwell dies at 92 (Tue, 5/4)

 

In a telephone interview tonight, Detroit Tigers legend Al Kaline was asked why Harwell was so overwhelmingly popular in Michigan. "There wasn't a nicer person," Kaline said. "He had time for everybody. He lived here and stayed here. He didn't just work here and then go away in the off-season. He would have young announcers up to his booth all the time and give them advice. He had time for everybody." Kaline worked as Harwell's broadcast partner on television in the 1990s... Dignitaries share warm memories of Ernie Harwell (Tue, 5/4)

 

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Detroit News:

Ernie has died. After a battle against bile duct cancer, one he knew he would lose, Ernie Harwell died Tuesday. He was 92. With his death, Michigan -- and baseball -- loses one of its most beloved figures. For 55 years, Harwell was a major league broadcaster, 42 with the Tigers. He broadcast his last game Sept. 22, 2002. Instead of moving away from the Detroit area, he spent his final years in Novi, still being part of our lives as an author and corporate spokesman. William Earnest Harwell was born Jan. 25, 1918 in Washington, Ga. As a boy, his family moved to Atlanta, where he grew up loving newspapers and baseball, which is how and why he became a paperboy and a batboy for his hometown minor league club, the Atlanta Crackers... Legendary broadcaster Ernie Harwell dies at 92 (Tue, 5/4)

 

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MLive.com

The voice that we fell asleep to while listening to baseball games on transistor radios, the one that called Detroit Tigers games for four decades and became part of our lives, has gone silent. Ernie Harwell died Tuesday of cancer. He was 92. Harwell was the 1981 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, placing him in the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown as a broadcaster. He said that his induction speech and the Christian testimony he gave at a Billy Graham Crusade in Tampa were the two most memorable speaking engagements of his life. He loved God, baseball, his family and countless friends. "When you met Ernie Harwell, you walked away feeling you were his best friend," said Tigers radio broadcaster Jim Price, who first met Harwell as a rookie catcher with Detroit in 1967. "People who never met him before would say, 'It's like I've known him forever.' "He was very unique that way." Harwell was a one-of-a-kind person and broadcaster, who had first-hand experiences with nearly every big name in the history of the game... Hall of Fame Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell dies at 92 after battle with cancer (Tue, 5/4)

 

RadioInfo.com reporter extraordinaire Tom Taylor reports that Michigan attorney General Mike Cox has filed information with federal bankruptcy court that Citadel (which owns several radio stations in Detroit, Grand Rapids and mid-Michigan) has "failed to file its 2008 Michigan Business tax return and to remit the taxes, penalties and interest," and that Michigan doubts "as to whether the debtor's proposed plan [to re-organize and flush away two-thirds of its debt] is offered in good faith." The AG's office also claims that under Michigan law, "Certain 'responsible persons' and officers [are] personally liable for certain unpaid corporate obligations."

Michigan is an an unsecured creditor as Citadel proceeds through Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and the state has obviously decided to make an attempt to collect on those taxes.

 

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) presented Michael Gottlieb of Don-Lors Electronics and Will Tieman of TBC Sports/Spartan Sports Network with the organization's Associate of the Year Award. The presentation was made Wednesday, March 3 during the Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference and Expo in Lansing. The award recognizes the significant contributions made by MAB associate members, and acknowledges their efforts in enhancing the quality and integrity of broadcasting while supporting their community.

• Michael Gottlieb, National Director of Sales and Marketing, Don-Lors Electronics, Livonia, Michigan

Michael Gottlieb grew up in Plymouth, MI where he graduated from Plymouth Canton High School. After attending Central Michigan University he went to work for E.F. Hutton as a Stockbroker and remained in investment business for over 15 years seeing several corporate mergers and acquisitions. He was promoted to several levels from Branch Manager to Vice President during that time before making the move to Don-Lors Electronics who specializes in all facets of commercial and residential satellite TV and communication, home and commercial theatre and A/V and Digital signage and advertising. As the National Director of Sales and Marketing, Michael is responsible for offices in 14 major markets throughout the country.

In 2008 Michael, and his company, teamed with the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) to bring the most comprehensive DTV transition plan in the country. Through his dedication to the cause and the people of Michigan, Michael and Don-Lors Electronics opened their facilities and dedicated their staff to the first-ever Live DTV Helpline, assisting Michigan citizens with every facet of the digital television transition.

"Michael Gottlieb was a key player in the massive success of the 2009 transition to digital television," said Karole White, MAB President and CEO. "Michael offered his company's assistance and resources to bring the people of Michigan the first live-operator DTV call center in the nation."

• Will Tieman, President of TBC Sports/ Spartan Sports Network, Holt, Michigan

Will Tieman is in his 4th decade of broadcasting college football and basketball games. Within the state of Michigan he is most recognized as the voice for Coach Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartan basketball team. In addition to his broadcast work with MSU, Tieman has served as the voice of Miami University, the Big Ten Basketball Game of the Week and was lead announcer for Coach Eddie Robinson's Grambling State University Tigers national radio network.

His national network football bowl assignments have included The Citrus Bowl, The Motor City Bowl (now Little Caesars Pizza Bowl), the International Bowl and the Blue-Gray Game. He has anchored various television assignments and for 15 seasons in the month of May, Tieman provided national radio coverage from The Indianapolis Motor Speedway. During the course of a year over 250 radio stations around the nation air broadcasts he anchors.

For the past two years, Tieman and his crew received the Michigan Association of Broadcaster's "Best Network Play-By-Play" Award. Tieman is currently the President of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association.

"Will Tieman has been an extremely active and supportive associate member of the MAB," said White. "Mr. Tieman has provided countless opportunities for the MAB to build key external relationships and has given back to the broadcasting community by sharing his depth of knowledge on sports broadcasting with new and experienced broadcasters alike, by serving as a speaker and panelist at MAB events and as a guest columnist for the MAB newsletter."

 

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) has presented its most prestigious engineering award to a pair of Michigan broadcasters, who combined have served in the industry for nearly eight decades. The Carl Lee Broadcast Engineering Excellence Awards were presented during the Engineering Luncheon at the MAB's annual Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference and Expo which was held the Lansing Center, March 3 in Lansing.

The Carl E. Lee Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award winners are:

• Radio Winner: Ed Trombley, Field Engineer/RF Expert, Munn-Reese, Inc., Coldwater, Michigan

Ed Trombley is the Field Engineer and RF Expert Extraordinaire at Munn-Reese, Inc. He began his broadcasting career as a student at Lake Superior State College in the Electronic Engineering Technology program. Upon graduating, Ed worked as a contract engineer for several years at numerous stations across Lower Michigan. In 1984 Ed took on the position of Chief Engineer and Technical Director of Telecommunications at WSAE/KTGG at Spring Arbor College. After a decade of service at Spring Arbor College, Ed made to the move to Munn-Reese, Inc. in Coldwater, MI to work as a field engineer conquering the most complex of radio engineering issues. Since his move to Munn-Reese, Ed has become quite the engineering celebrity throughout the state known for his problem solving and uncanny way of communicating with the finickiest of machinery.

In addition to his professional work, Ed is known for his garage full of old broadcast parts and equipment supplying the local theatre with period props not to mention the numerous engineers who have been helped in a pinch because of his garage full of goodies. Ed is married to his lovely wife Mary and the couple has four children.

• Television Winner: John Grover, Chief Engineer, WADL-TV, Mount Clemens/Detroit, Michigan

John Grover is the Chief Engineer for Adell Broadcasting Corporation's WADL-TV. He has over 46 years of experience in broadcast engineering, 33 of which has been as a television station chief engineer. John began his broadcasting career in 1963 at WJIM as a staff engineer before a brief two-year stint as an engineer for World Wide Sports in Williamston, MI. He then became the Chief Engineer for WGPR, a radio and television licensee, in 1977 where he assemble a U-Matic auto logging sequencer for interstitial and program playback.

In 1988, John joined the Sinclair Broadcast Group in Flint as Chief Engineer at WSMH starting a local news operation. In addition, in 1992 John took on the extra duties of Chief Engineer at WADL-TV where he managed the operations and staffing of Master Control. In 2006, John opted to lighten his heavy work load retiring from WSMH-TV. John is still Chief Engineer at WADL-TV and is known for his positive, can-do sprit and outstanding work ethic.

 

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters presented Station of the Year honors at the Broadcast Excellence Awards presentation in Lansing on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 to the following stations:

Market 1 (Detroit):

• Television: WJBK-TV
• Radio: WJR AM

Market 2:

• Television: WOOD-TV Grand Rapids
• Radio: WKZO AM Kalamazoo

Market 3:

• Television: WILX-TV Lansing
• Radio: WLEN-FM Adrian

Market 4:

• Television: WLUC-TV Marquette
• Radio: WSJM-FM/AM Benton Harbor

Public Broadcasting Group 1:

• Television: WGVU-TV Grand Rapids
• Radio: WICA-FM Interlochen

Public Broadcasting Group 2:

• Television: WTVS-TV Detroit
• Radio: Michigan Radio/Ann Arbor (WUOM-FM/WFUM-FM/WVGR-FM)

High School Radio Station of the Year: Bloomfield Andover/Lahser High School, WBFH-FM

College Radio Station of the Year: Michigan State University, WDBM-FM

High School Television Station of the Year: Davison High School, DTV

College Television Station of the Year: Central Michigan University, MHTV

The MAB also announced the winners of its Broadcast Excellence Award competition. For a complete list of all winners, click here. The MAB Broadcast Excellence Awards is one of the largest state awards programs in the nation and continues to set broadcast excellence standards.

Congratulations to all the winning stations and their employees!

 

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WBFH Bloomfield Hills named 2010 High School Radio Station of the Year

Eight WBFH students win 14 awards from MAB

Bloomfield Hills School District radio broadcasting students won five first place awards, three second place awards and six third place awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) at their annual Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference held March 3, 2010 at the Lansing Center in Lansing. WBFH received the most cumulative points in all categories entered and was awarded the 2010 High School Radio Station of the Year.

The MAB received 458 entries from 33 schools for their annual High School and College Broadcasting Awards competition. WBFH students won 14 of the 26 awards given out in the high school radio division.

Lahser senior Chad Shepard won five awards: 1st Place, MHSAA Sports PSA; 1st Place, Sportscast/Sports Play-by-Play; 2nd Place, Promotional Announcement; 3rd Place, Talk Show (with Bobby Brandon); 3rd Place, Air Check (with Drake Deitch).

Andover senior Josh Loney won four awards: 1st Place, Talk Show; 2nd Place, Air Check; 3rd Place, Daily Newscast/News Feature; 3rd Place (tie), Promotional Announcement.

Andover senior Josh Gordon won two awards: 2nd Place, Public Service Announcement; 3rd Place (tie), Promotional Announcement.

Andover senior Kevin Furlong won one award: 1st Place, Daily Newscast/News Feature.

Lahser senior Patrick Garretson won one award: 1st Place, Promotional Announcement.

Andover senior Ryan Bloom won one award: 3rd Place, Station Activities Report.

Andover senior Drake Deitch won one award: 3rd Place, Air Check (with Chad Shepard).

Lahser junior Bobby Brandon won one award: 3rd Place, Talk Show (with Chad Shepard).

The WBFH management team of Station Manager Pete Bowers, Assistant Manager/Technical Director Randy Carr and Remote Supervisor/Program Director Ron Wittebols were present to congratulate the award winning students and accept the Station of the Year Award on their behalf. This was the sixth Station of the Year Award WBFH has won in the last eight years.

WBFH, also known as The Biff, is a non-commercial, educational radio station broadcasting at 88.1 on the FM dial or online at www.wbfh.fm.

 

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MSU News:

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters and Broadcast Music Inc. have named Michigan State University's WDBM - or Impact 89 FM, as it is commonly known - the college radio station of the year. The Gold Record Award was presented at the Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference in Lansing on March 3. This is the 10th time in a row that WDBM-FM has won the award. "To be named College Station of the Year for the 10th year in a row is an unprecedented accomplishment." said Gary Reid, professional general manager of the station. "I am extremely proud of our staff, and honored to be able to work with such talented and motivated young people." Impact staffers took first place in four of the seven categories, including Ed Glazer for talk show, Ben Rickert for promotional announcement and public service announcement, and Jeremy Whiting for the station activities report. The staff earned 10 awards in all and amassed nearly twice the number of points than the next nearest competitor... MSU's Impact 89 FM named College Station of the Year for the 10th time (Thu, 3/4)

 

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) is sad to report the passing of MAB Past President, Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, MAB Foundation Honorary Board Member and former WOOD Grand Rapids executive Willard "Bill" Schroeder. Schroeder passed away Tuesday, February 23 at his home in East Grand Rapids. He was 96.

Schroeder's Michigan connection began in 1950, when the new WOOD Radio/Grand Rapids owner Harry Bitner hired him as general manager of the station. At that point, WOOD Radio was making plans to add a television station and on October 15, 1951, WOOD-TV went on the air with the first "live" programming in West Michigan. In 1962, WOOD-FM signed on. Under Bill's guidance, WOOD Broadcasting introduced area residents to everything from color television to personalities such as Bruce Grant, Frank Slaymaker and Buck Matthews. Upon retirement as general manager of the TV station, Schroeder remained active as president of WOOD Broadcasting until 1984 when the stations were sold.

Through his broadcasting work in West Michigan, Schroeder was elected president of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters in 1963 and in June of 1964, he was elected chairman of the board of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). He assumed the job would be traditionally honorary; but after NAB president LeRoy Collins resigned to join the Johnson administration, the NAB decided to create a two-man team to head the association. Schroeder became a working chairman, assigned to Washington in partnership with NAB president Vince Wasilewski. For the balance of his term, he juggled two hats and occupied two desks, one in Washington and the other in Grand Rapids.

During his life, Bill was named "Man of the Year" by both the United Fund and the Advertising Club of Grand Rapids. He served on the boards of the YMCA, Salvation Army, Red Cross, United Way, St. Mary's Hospital, Aquinas College, West Michigan Public Broadcasting and Kendall School of Design.

Bill Schroeder was honored by his fellow broadcasters with the MAB's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also a member of the MAB Foundation Founders Club which provides scholarships to deserving broadcast media students in Michigan. Those desiring to make contributions to a scholarship fund in Bill's honor may do so by clicking this link to donate online or contacting Julie Sochay at mabf@michmab.com.

Schroeder was born June 6, 1913 in St. Louis, Missouri. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in journalism school at the University of Missouri. Upon graduation in 1934, Bill was recruited by Hearst Corporation, and at age 23, became a radio advertising sales person at the Hearst station in Pittsburgh, WCAE. He later rose to the position of sales manager of the station and then was transferred and promoted to the general manager position at the company's New York City station. While in New York, Bill met his future wife Barbara, who was teaching radio at Briarcliff College. He and Barbara eventually would have three daughters, Gail, Sally and Christine, and one son, David.

A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. March 6 at the Kent Country Club in Grand Rapids.

 

Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference & Expo Slated for March 2 & 3 at The Lansing Center in Lansing

Working towards a profitable multi-media future will be the focus at the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) annual Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference & Expo (GLBC).

"GLBC is the hot spot for broadcasting innovation and a move toward a brighter outlook for the broadcast industry," said MAB President and CEO Karole White. "Michigan broadcasters are retooling and reaching out to new forms of media to secure their place in the future."

This year's GLBC will spotlight embracing the changes that have come to the broadcasting industry and working with emerging social media to reach broadcast audiences in a whole new way. This year's event includes: seminars with nationally renowned speakers; an interactive exhibit hall which will feature numerous exhibitors with the latest industry technology and programs; and a career fair for up and coming broadcast professionals.

GLBC features over 20 national caliber speakers and offers one of the biggest networking opportunities in the Midwest broadcasting industry. Exhibit Only registration is always free. Full information is available on the MAB web site at www.michmab.com.

Other GLBC conference highlights include:

• The Broadcast Excellence Awards Presentation, which recognizes outstanding news, programming and public service performances by Michigan radio and television stations (Separate registration required).
• The MAB Foundation Broadcast Media Career & Networking Fair, which will allow students interested in the industry to meet and obtain advice from broadcasters.
• The MAB Foundation's Michigan High School & College Broadcast Awards, which recognizes the talents of Michigan high school and college broadcast media students.

 

Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame adds five

The Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame recognizes reporters, editors, publishers, owners, photographers, broadcasters, educators and others who have made outstanding contributions to the profession. Since 1985 the Journalism Hall of Fame has continued the tradition of honoring journalists begun in 1952 by the Michigan Newspaper Hall of Fame.

The class of 2010 includes:

• Bill Bonds- iconic TV anchor at WXYZ-TV 7 and WJBK-TV 2 in Detroit
• Ron Dzwonkowski- Detroit Free Press associate editor and columnist
• Dawn Hertz - Media Lawyer with the firm Butzel-Long
• Jerry Hodak- Detroit TV reporter and anchor since 1965; currently the chief meteorologist at WXYZ-TV
• James Pooler- Detroit Free Press reporter

The Hall of Fame banquet is scheduled for Sunday, April 18, 2010, at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing. Contact Michigan State University's School of Journalism at 517-353-6430 for more information.

 

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MLive.com / Associated Press:

Ernie Harwell will receive the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports Broadcasting. The Hall of Fame broadcaster for the Detroit Tigers will receive the award on May 5 in New York. The 92-year-old Harwell was the voice of the Tigers from 1960-02. He said last September he has inoperable cancer, a month after surgery for an obstructed bile duct. He was honored with a tribute during a game at Comerica Park on Sept. 16. Harwell's 55-year career began in Atlanta in 1946. He moved two years later to the Brooklyn Dodgers. After stints with the New York Giants and Baltimore Orioles, he started his long association with the Tigers. Harwell was voted the 1981 Ford Frick Award for major contributions to baseball by the Hall of Fame. The Scully award is named for the longtime Dodgers broadcaster, who won the Frick Award in 1982. Scully helped form Fordham's radio station WFUV, which is the award's sponsor, and joined the Dodgers broadcast crew in 1950. Tigers' Ernie Harwell to receive Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award for broadcasting (Thu, 2/11)

 

column written by Mike Austerman

Last week's news that the FCC is going to allow FM stations to increase their output power from 1% of their analog output to up to 10% prompted lots of coverage. It's a polarizing issue between those that continue to promote HD as the next big thing for free FM radio and those that think the idea continues to be a horrible mistake that just keeps getting worse.

Truth be told I don't know where I stand, as I can see both sides. I guess I tend to lean toward the technology -- at least for FM -- hoping that the addition of programming can help fill broadcast holes that wouldn't otherwise be served. A quick example: In Angola, Indiana pop WLKI FM 100.3 has recently added HD2 and HD3 programming, providing the area with a sports format (ESPN Radio) and a rock format. Maybe even more intriguing, both formats are also available to analog listeners via FM translators that were recently purchased and moved to Angola. If it weren't for HD, listeners wouldn't have those extra options.

The biggest argument against HD appears to be concerns over interference. If it turns the FM dial into the mess AM has become since HD has come online, this position will be validated. My guess is that many of the protests come from owners of 'rimshot' stations that rely on listeners from nearby larger markets to help keep their stations afloat. If listeners they have today get blocked by IBOC stations, it could very well impact whether or not some of these stations survive. Is this really what the FCC wants -- fewer voices on the airwaves?

In Detroit, the situation could be even worse should HD-caused interference affect stations from nearby southwestern Ontario, which has recently added a number of FMs. Most are just two clicks away on the dial from powerful Detroit FM's that could very well increase digital power and create much more interference in Canada. It'll be interesting to see what happens if/when the juice gets turned up on local HDs.

One thing I can say without hesitation though - if all of this is going to wind up being worth it, a lot more effort is going to be needed in programming the HD2 and HD3 stations to entice listeners to upgrade their radios.

 

On a personal note, I pheel compelled to mention a recent loss to the radio phamily. Listeners to Phlash Phelps' morning show (6am - noon ET) on SiriusXM's 60's on 6 understand the connection he had with his beloved beagle Clyde, who was probably one of the best traveled dogs of all time. Phlash and Clyde were best buds phor over 14 years and stuck together through numerous radio gigs and together got the chance to visit 48 states, 5 provinces of Canada, 2 U.S. territories, and Washington D.C. Unfortunately, Clyde didn't make it to see his 15th birthday which would have been in June as he died on Saturday.

Phlash intends to take Clyde's ashes to both Alaska and Hawaii to complete the 50 state tour.

Listeners to the Phlash Phelps Phunny Pharm grew used to hearing Clyde's bark and amazing ability to phind nearly any song request listeners might make. While much of satellite radio can be impersonal, Phlash's program is a refreshing difference. I'm certainly proud to be a Phan and send my condolences to Phlash.

If you feel compelled, reach out to Phlash c/o XM Satellite Radio, 1500 Eckington Place NE, Washington, DC 20002.

 

MAB Says Goodbye to Former FCC Chairman and Michigan Broadcast Pioneer James H. Quello

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters sent out this release today on the death of James Quello:

It is with a heavy heart that the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) announces the death of our friend, Michigan native, broadcast pioneer, MAB Past President and former FCC Chairman, James H. Quello. Quello died Sunday, January 24 surrounded by friends and family at his Alexandria, VA home after heart and kidney failure. He was 95.

Quello, a World War II Lieutenant and Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army and a war hero, started his career in radio broadcasting immediately after returning from Europe in 1945. He worked in the promotions department at WXYZ-AM (Detroit) and two years later moved to rival station WJR-AM (Detroit). He later became Vice President and General Manager of WJR-AM in 1960.

Quello was one of the original MAB members. He supported and helped to build the association from a small group of radio managers looking for representation on legal issues to what it currently is today - a nationally-recognized association representing more than 300 Michigan radio and television stations. Jim served as president of the MAB in 1959 and credited the MAB, his colleagues and friends from Michigan for mounting a campaign to get him appointed to the FCC in 1974. He served there until 1997 when he retired. For eleven months in 1993, Quello was the Acting Chairman of the FCC. He was honored with the prestigious MAB Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993 and many other awards too numerous to mention is this brief article. You could always find our friend Jim attending MAB conferences - catching up with old Michigan broadcast friends during a reception or participating in a tennis match - Jim was one of us and we will miss him.

This past Friday, January 22, MAB President/CEO Karole White spoke briefly with Jim:

"Weak and frail he used his limited breath to be uplifting to me," said White. "He thanks his friends in the MAB, 'The Greatest Broadcasting Association in the States,' he said. I'm to tell everyone he loves them and good bye (from Jim)."

Funeral arrangements are pending.

 

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WZZM-TV Grand Rapids:

James Henry Quello, a one-time broadcaster who served as an FCC commissioner for 24 years, and as acting FCC chairman in 1993, died today at age 95. Appointed to the FCC in 1974 by then President Richard Nixon, Quello, a Democrat, kept winning reappointments to the commission until 1998, when he retired. He was named acting chairman of the FCC in 1993, bridging the gap between the tenure of Republican Albert Sikes and Democratic appointee, Reed Hundt. Quello's initial appointment to the FCC sparked protests from consumer advocate Ralph Nader, who called the new commissioner "a pawn for broadcasters." Although his tenure as acting chairman of the FCC was brief, the New York Times described his tenure with the headline, "Temporary Chief Proves More Than a Fill-In." As an FCC commissioner, Quelo became known for his independent thinking. He championed the preservation of free universal television and he sat on the commission as it and the media transitioned into the Information Age, during a period of revolutionary technological change and the birth of the Internet... Michigan native and former Detroit Radio manager James Quello dies (Sun, 1/24)