Recently in Television Category

Ann Arbor.com:

Dozens of former Michigan football players returned to Ann Arbor on Friday for a good cause, and C.S. Mott Children's Hospital will reap plenty of benefit because of it. Ex-Wolverines Charles Woodson, Steve Hutchinson and Brian Griese are hosting their annual Champions for Children's Heart weekend in Ann Arbor, an event that kicked off Friday with WTKA-AM's day-long radiothon in support of the hospital.

Full story: WTKA raises nearly $80,000 for Mott Children's Hospital during Michigan football radio 'takeover' (Fri, 5/18)

Grand Rapids Press:

WZZM-TV's first home, 50 years ago, was in the Pantlind Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids. It wasn't exactly the swanky studio you might imagine today.

Full story: Remember WZZM-TV 13's first studio in Grand Rapids? The station's 50th anniversary celebration takes you there (Fri, 5/18)

Detroit News:

WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) and its viewers are losing yet another on-air personality to retirement. Reporter and fill-in anchor Val Clark, who has been at the local ABC affiliate for more than 30 years, announced she is retiring from the station this summer. Earlier this week, the Detroit City Council honored Clark for being tough but fair.

Full story: Television reporter Val Clark to retire (Wed, 5/16)

Detroit Free Press:

Tigers radio analyst Jim Price said he missed the team's just-concluded trip at the suggestion of owner Mike Ilitch, who was concerned the West Coast swing might tax Price's health.

Full story: TTigers radio analyst Jim Price on his return: 'I feel great' (Thu, 5/17)

Grand Rapids Press:

TV stations and news and entertainment websites in West Michigan have been nominated for 44 Michigan Emmy Awards for 2011.

Full story: West Michigan TV stations, websites, tally 44 nominations for 2011 Michigan Emmy Awards (Wed, 5/16)

WSNX-FM (104.5) made two major announcements about this year's Party in the Park concert

Full story: 104.5 WSNX expands Party in the Park, teases lineup announcement (Wed, 5/16)

If you're a regular viewer of WWMT (Channel 3) news, you may be wondering what happened to Jennifer Dowling. If you watch WXMI (Channel 17), you already know.

Full story: Wondering why Jennifer Dowling has disappeared from WWMT Newschannel 3? Just switch channels (Wed, 5/16)

Bloomfield-Bloomfield Hills Patch:

The Biff, 88.1 FM, will host the first ever nationwide celebration of high school radio stations on Wednesday. The brainchild of WBHF's award-winning station manager Pete Bowers, the event is modeled after National College Radio Day in October, and consists of 30 stations from 14 states around the country.

Full story: BIFF Hosts First National High School Radio Day (Tue, 5/15)

WZZM-TV Ch. 13 Grand Rapids:

Guy Gordon has spent nearly three decades anchoring newscasts in Detroit. He credits a lot of his success to what he learned at WZZM 13 in the 1980's. He worked at the station from 1981 to 1984 as the weekend anchor.

Full story: Guy Gordon credits WZZM for success (Mon, 5/14)

Grand Rapids Press:

Doing the news for WZZM-TV was good for former anchor Guy Gordon and for John Keating, formerly known as Steve Knight.

Full story: WZZM-TV 13 was a good start for two former newsmen still broadcasting today (Tue, 5/15)

The anchormen are back again. Still not Will Ferrell, Steve Carrell or even Christina Applegate. But WZZM-TV 13's 50th anniversary celebration continues this week with more familiar faces from the past.

Full story: WZZM-TV 13 anchors return for second week of blast from the past to celebrate 50th anniversary (Mon, 5/14)

WSB-TV Atlanta, GA:

A television anchor is coming forward with an emotional story of an attack in downtown Atlanta, hoping that she can find the man who came to her rescue more than two decades ago. Diana Lewis, an anchor at WXYZ-TV in Detroit, was interviewing for a job at CNN in October 1986 when she took a wrong turn.

Full story: TV anchor searching for "angel" 20 years after attack (Mon, 5/14)

WJBK-TV Fox 2 Detroit:

Former Fox 2 Photo-Journalist Earl L. "Bud" Johnson Dies at Age 83 (Tue, 5/15)

WDIV-TV / ClickOnDetroit.com:

Many of you have e-mailed me questions about Local 4's annual NOAA Weather Radio campaign, so I'll answer those questions here: How long do I have to buy one of the radios at the special WDIV discounted price? Our campaign extends well into the summer, so you have plenty of time to buy your radio for $29.99, which is $10 off the normal retail price.

Full story: Paul Gross gives weather radio campaign update (Mon, 5/14)

Detroit Free Press:

The annual Mott Children's Hospital takeover of WTKA-AM (1050) will be next Friday, May 18. Michigan football guests will dominate the airwaves from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. The event kicks off the Brian Griese/Steve Hutchinson/Charles Woodson fundraising weekend, during which the stars of the 1997 national championship team put on an array of events to raise money for the hospital, including a gala dinner and a golf outing.

Full story: Lineup set for Michigan football charity radio 'takeover' (Thu, 5/10)

TVNewsCheck:

WZZM , the Gannett-owned ABC affiliate in Grand Rapids, Mich. (DMA 42), will replay its 6 a.m. newscast on its ch. 13.2, WZZM 13 On Target Weather Network, Mondays through Fridays beginning June 4 at 7 a.m.

Full story: WZZM to replay 6 A.M. news on subchannel (Thu, 5/10)

WDIV-TV Local 4 Detroit:

Alan Frank, president and chief executive officer of Post-Newsweek Stations, the television broadcasting division of The Washington Post Company, has announced that he will retire from that position at the end of 2012. "Alan Frank has been a key contributor to the company for more than 30 years and a brilliant head of Post-Newsweek Stations," said Donald E. Graham, chairman and chief executive officer of The Washington Post Company.

Full story: Alan Frank, President and CEO of Post-Newsweek Stations, to retire at end of 2012 (Wed, 5/9)

Crain's Detroit Business:

The headquarters of Post-Newsweek Stations Inc., which owns the local NBC affiliate WDIV-Channel 4, will officially move next year from Detroit to Chicago to accommodate the broadcaster's incoming president and CEO. The geographical shift is largely symbolic.

Full story: Post-Newsweek Stations, owner of WDIV-Channel 4, to move headquarters from Detroit to Chicago next year (Wed, 5/9)

Grand Rapids Press:

It's been 27 years since former WZZM 13 Chief Meteorologist Craig James set foot in the studios on 3 Mile Road NW. "It's been great fun seeing all the old people," he said.

Full story: Behind the scenes look as former anchormen return to WZZM 13, share memories (Wed, 5/9)

WZZM-TV's anchormen were having a good time. Former newsmen Barry Shanley, meteorologist Craig James and sportscaster Sam Hooks were on air Monday with anchorman Lee Van Ameyde to remember the 80's.

Full story: WZZM-TV former broadcasters reminisce about the 'golden era' of TV news in the 1980s (Wed, 5/9)

Fine Tuning

• After less than three months on the job, Rob Otto has been let go as Sports Director at Birach Broadcasting Sports WCAR AM 1090.

Detroit News:

As a former high-school newspaper nerd, it warms my heart to see student journalists reaching new heights. This is one reason I'm spotlighting the broadcast journalism students at Fraser High School who recently earned two awards from the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Full story: Fraser High broadcast students pull down awards (Tue, 5/8)

WJBK-TV, FOX 2 Detroit:

Dale Pegg has been capturing the news for WJBK since the 1970s. Working for the CBS affiliate all the way up to the present day FOX affiliate, Dale has seen it all. Now, after 42 years, he plans to retire.

Full story: FOX 2 Pays Tribute to Longtime Photographer Dale Pegg (Mon, 5/7)

WXMI-TV FOX 17 has named Rick Mecklenburg its chief meteorologist, succeeding Peter Chan, who departed in March. Formerly chief meteorologist at WSBT-TV in South Bend, Mecklenburg filled in for Chan last August and September when Chan was sidelined with a torn Archilles tendon.

Full story: FOX 17 names Rick Mecklenburg as chief meteorologist, succeeding Peter Chan (Fri, 5/4)

Longtime WFUR/Grand Rapids morning host Dave Kuiper dies

Dave Kuiper, son of the late longtime WFUR-FM/AM 102.9/1570 owner William Kuiper, died on April 28th at the age of 58. Dave hosted mornings at WFUR for over 30 years.

- Obituary from MLive.com

U-M's Michigan Radio to sponsor "One Minute Michigan" story writing contest

The University of Michigan's Michigan Radio (WUOM-FM 91.7 Ann Arbor / WFUM-FM 91.1 Flint / WVGR-FM 104.1 Grand Rapids), in partnership with the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, is presenting a "One Minute Michigan" story writing contest. People across Michigan are being invited to submit stories about their favorite Michigan memories or experiences. The contest is open to anyone with a personal Michigan-themed story to tell. Entrants are asked to submit a 120-word description of a uniquely Michigan experience - for example, a Michigan travel or adventure moment, a Michigan landmark, where they were when they ate your favorite Michigan food for the first time, and so on.

Three winning essays will be recorded and aired on Michigan Radio and posted on the Michigan Radio website, www.michiganradio.org. The three winners will also each receive a pair of tickets to "Reinventing Radio: An Evening with Ira Glass" on June 23 at Ann Arbor's Power Center, and admission to the evening's private reception with Ira Glass. One of the three winning essays will be selected and read onstage by Ira Glass during the performance.

Stories must be a maximum of 120 words and must mention at least one Michigan location. All entries must be submitted by midnight on Thursday, May 31, 2012. People can submit a story at: http://michiganradio.org/one-minute-michigan-story-writing-contest.

"Reinventing Radio: An Evening with Ira Glass" will take place at 8 p.m. on June 23 at the Power Center for the Performing Arts in Ann Arbor. The creator of the public radio show This American Life will talk about his program and how it's put together: what makes a compelling story, where they find the amazing stories for their show, how he and his staff are trying to push broadcast journalism to do things it doesn't usually do.

As part of the event, Glass will mix stories from the show--live onstage--and play funny and memorable This American Life moments and discuss their creation. Tickets for the show are available at www.annarborsummerfestival.org.

Jackson Citizen-Patriot:

The debut of "Buzz TV Jackson" has been pushed back two weeks. The new 30-minute, Jackson-produced variety show, which was to debut after "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Friday night will not air as planned.

Full story: "Buzz TV Jackson" premiere pushed back until May 18 (Wed, 5/2)

Grand Rapids Press:

Remember the '80s? Or the '90s? WZZM-TV 13 does. The ABC-TV affiliate is inviting former broadcasters Barry Shanley, Craig James and Sam Hooks back to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the station.

Full story: WZZM-TV celebrates 50th anniversary with on-air return of former broadcast personalities in May (Fri, 4/27)

WOOD-TV 24 Hour News 8 is getting a jump on the day by moving its morning news show "Daybreak" a half hour ahead to begin its broadcast day at 4:30 a.m. weekdays.

Full story: WOOD-TV next week will move morning news 'Daybreak' to begin airing at 4:30 a.m. weekdays (Fri, 4/27)

5th Annual 96.3 WDVD Cares For Kids Radiothon underway

Cumulus Pop WDVD-FM 96.3 Detroit has partnered with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals to help raise funds in support of children with special medical needs. All proceeds from the event go towards the purchase of life-saving equipment for children, as well as specialized pediatric programs and research at Beaumont Children's Hospital in Royal Oak.

96.3 WDVD's Blaine & Allison kicked off a live broadcast at 6 a.m. from Beaumont Royal Oak - the station will continue to broadcast live through 7 p.m.

Last year, 96.3 WDVD's "Cares for Kids" Radiothon helped raise over $100,000 for the cause and the station is inviting listeners to make a difference by spreading the word and helping raise money for children in need. 100% of the donations will stay in the community to help children in need.

To make a donation, call at (866) 963-GIVE (4483), stop by the radiothon to give in person, or visit the station's web site at 963wdvd.com.

Detroit's WDIV-TV Ch. 4 to presents Michigan School Expo April 28 - 29

From pre-school to post-grad, local education providers will join together at the 2012 Michigan School Expo on Saturday, April 28, and Sunday April 29 from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. throughout Oakland Mall in Troy. The event is presented by Detroit NBC affiliate WDIV-TV, Local 4.

The Michigan School Expo will include representatives from local, national and online universities, community colleges, technical/trade schools, and private and public pre-elementary and secondary schools. Last year, over 40 thousand people were in attendance at Oakland Mall during the first-ever Michigan School Expo.

Confirmed educational providers at the 2012 Michigan School Expo include Hazel Park Schools "Promise Zone" - offering college tuition to high school graduates, the Hinoki International School - a unique bi-lingual public charter school, the University of Toledo, Specs Howard School of Media Arts, Oakland Schools Technical Campuses and many more. Special exhibits include the AAA of Michigan Teen Driving Safety program featuring interactive driving simulators, "Financial Jeopardy" from the Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union where representatives from 3 local schools will vie for $500 in prize money for their institution, and an opportunity to show your forecasting skills at the WDIV Local4Casters Weather Wall.

The Michigan School Expo kicks off Saturday with a special performance by Oak Park High School Marching Band. Visit the Local 4 booth at the Michigan School Expo to meet several of WDIV news personalities including Rhonda Walker, Guy Gordon and Ashlee Baracy of Local 4 News Morning.

For more info on the Michigan School Expo, including a continually updated list of participating schools, visit www.ClickOnDetroit.com/School-Expo.

AllAccess.com:

CUMULUS Talk WJIM-A/LANSING, MI and the MICHIGAN TALK NETWORK have settled on the official replacement for MICHAEL PATRICK SHIELS on the statewide-syndicated "MICHIGAN'S MORNING SHOW," with former NBC affiliate WILX-TV news anchor STEVE GRUBER and CBS affiliate WLNS-TV host JO ANNE PAUL as hosts, according to the LANSING STATE JOURNAL.

Full story: 'Michigan's Morning Show' Has New Hosts (Thu, 4/26)

Information added/updated periodically throughout the day; Refresh the page for the latest version.

Jackson Citizen-Patriot:

Original television programming based in the Jackson area is on the rise. Two new Jackson-produced programs - JTV's "SoundWave" and "Buzz TV Jackson" on WLAJ - will debut in the coming days, both of which will highlight the entertainment scene around south-central Michigan. This comes on the heels of another new JTV show "Jackson Pickers," based on "American Pickers," which debuted on April 13.

Full story: New Jackson-based TV shows "SoundWave" and "Buzz TV Jackson" to debut soon (Tue, 4/24)

Fine Tuning

• Annie 'Spears' Nawrocki has exited Pop WBTI-FM 96.9 Lexington/Pt. Huron to take over middays at NextMedia Pop WGER-FM 106.3 Saginaw.

Information added/updated periodically throughout the day; Refresh the page for the latest version.

Arbitron drops Ann Arbor and Tri-Cities markets from its ratings service

Radio ratings service Arbitron has backed out of two Michigan markets, dropping Ann Arbor (ranked as the 155th largest market in the country) and Saginaw/Bay City/Midland (139th largest) from the list of areas where it provides service.

Both Ann Arbor and the Tri-Cities were diary-based markets and had been receiving Fall and Spring reports from Arbitron. They were dropped due to lack of client support - meaning not enough radio stations in those markets were subscribing to Arbitron's services.

Arbitron also recently made another change to all of the markets it serves - ratings information for non-subscribing stations will no longer be part of any publicly released ratings reports, making it tough for the general public to know exactly where stations rank in markets where there are non-subscribing stations.

Traverse City's Good News Media wins FM Auction 93 bid

The recently concluded FCC Auction 93 offered up 93 new FM frequencies for bid across the country. In Michigan, Traverse City based Good News Media was the high bidder at $109,000 for a new Class C3 station at 95.9 to be licensed to Grand Traverse County's Fife Lake.

Good News Media is the owner of religious formatted stations WJLN-FM/AM 89.9 / 1400 Traverse City and WLJW AM 1370 Cadillac. WLJN-FM was also recently granted a construction permit to increase power from 39,000 to 100,000 watts.

TVNewsCheck:

Sinclair Communications-owned CBS affiliate WWMT Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Mich., (DMA 42), today launched a 4:30 a.m. newscast. The expanded early morning newscast will air every weekday.

Full story: WWMT launches 4:30 am newscast (Mon, 4/23)

AllAccess.com:

TOWNSQUARE Active Rocker WGRD/GRAND RAPIDS, MI and FREE BEER & HOT WINGS announce WINGSTOCK 2012. The show is JUNE 16th at FIFTH THIRD BALLPARK with headliners OUR LADY PEACE, also local boys POP EVIL with DOKKEN, WAYLAND and more acts to be announced.

Full story: WGRD Announces Wingstock 2012 (Mon, 4/23)

Macomb Daily:

Using 100 percent donated parts and the sweat of volunteers, Keith Strong and his crew at Ice Nine Group in Clinton Township can now get to the task at hand: building a reproduction of a 1969 Ford Mustang as part of WCSX radio's Stone Soup Project to raise funds for children's charities.

Full story: Ice Nine Group, WCSX to build new '69 Boss Mustang (Sat, 4/21)

Fine Tuning

• Steve Stewart has exited as the longtime Operations Manager at Cumulus News/Talk WJR AM 760 Detroit. Ron Harrell takes over the role - he also oversees Cumulus' other two stations in Detroit, WDVD-FM 96.3 and WDRQ-FM 93.1. Stewart's career at WJR spanned 22 years.

Grand Rapids Press:

Matt Hanlon, a former top radio executive for Citadel Broadcasting and until recently Townsquare Media, is accused of drunken driving after a crash that injured a Grand Rapids couple, police and court records show.

Full story: Former radio executive Matt Hanlon charged with drunken driving after Grand Rapids couple injured in crash (Fri, 4/20)

Toledo Blade:

The sign is already there: "Toledo News Now." That's the slogan for the new combined newsroom product of WTOL-TV, Channel 11, and WUPW-TV, Channel 36, as part of the FCC-approved shared services agreement.

Full story: TV news merger moving forward (Fri, 4/20)

Detroit News:

Dan Petry sure had fun. But he's made this perfectly clear, too: He's not out to take anybody's job. "I told Jim Price, 'I am keeping your seat warm. Hurry up and get back,'" Petry said this week from Kansas City, Mo., where he worked with Dan Dickerson on three Tigers radio broadcasts while Price was out with an illness. "I was in the pinch-hitter's role."

Full story: Ex-Tiger Dan Petry happy with radio relief role (Thu, 4/19)

MLive.com:

Detroit Tigers color commentator Jim Price was back in the radio booth Thursday after missing five broadcasts due to illness. It was the first assignment he's missed in 20 years, he said.

Full story: Detroit Tigers broadcaster Jim Price returns to radio booth after battling illness (Thu, 4/19)

Fine Tuning

• Val Clark, veteran reporter and fill-in anchor at Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV Ch. 7, announced she will retire from the station this summer.

WDIV claims 2012 Murrow Award

Post-Newsweek NBC affiliate WDIV-TV Ch. 4 Detroit was honored by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) for the fourth straight year with an Edward R. Murrow Award for excellence in journalism.

Local 4 News won the top award in Region 7 of the large market TV Writing category for it's public affairs program "Flashpoint" with Devin Scillian.

AllAccess.com:

MACDONALD/GARBER BROADCAST GROUP AC WLXT (LITE 96.3)/TRAVERSE CITY brings in market vet LISA KNIGHT as morning show co-host with TIM NIXON, beginning next MONDAY (4/23). KNIGHT will also take over mid-day duties on sister Top 40 WKHQ.

Full story: Lisa Knight To Co-Host Wakeups On WLXT, Middays On WKHQ (Wed, 4/18)

WDIV-TV / Local 4 Detroit:

Today marks the kickoff of our third annual NOAA Weather Radio Campaign. Since the program began, well over 17,000 radios have been purchased. If you already have yours, then congratulations: you will be warned of an approaching tornado even if it happens in the middle of the night when you're sleeping.

Full story: Local 4 hosts 'Weather Radio' day: Why you need a weather radio (Tue, 4/17)

Crain's Detroit Business:

The financial ripple effects from the record $2.15 billion sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to find their way 2,000 miles east to Detroit. The sale price, reportedly for $500 million more than the next highest bid, is largely predicated on an expected bidding war for the baseball team's local television broadcast rights in the nation's second-largest market.

Full story: A record L.A. TV deal could score for Tigers (Sun, 4/15)

Detroit Free Press:

Jim Price, the analyst on Tigers radio broadcasts, said today he'll be back in the booth Thursday when the Tigers open a home stand. Price is missing the three-game series in Kansas City that starts tonight because of what he describes as an infection.

Full story: Tigers broadcaster Jim Price to miss Kansas City series due to infection (Mon, 4/16)

Fine Tuning

• Radio One and Affiliate Stations Raise More than $1 Million for Kids Fighting Cancer, Sickle Cell and Other Deadly Diseases

Barrington Broadcasting to add Bounce TV as digital subchannel in Flint/Tri-Cities

Bounce TV, the nation's first and only over-the-air broadcast television network for African Americans, will launch in the Flint and Tri-Cities market on Monday, April 16th.

Bounce TV will be seen over the air on WEYI's 25.3 digital channel. Charter Cable has agreed to carry it on channel 445 and Comcast will begin airing Bounce TV on May 24, 2012 on channel 291.

"We are very excited to be launching another television station in the Genesee and Great Lakes Bay Region. Bounce TV gives our viewers another option for programming and entertainment, and we are very happy to be affiliated with Bounce TV", said Becky Butcher President and CEO of WEYI and WBSF television.

Bounce TV will air twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. The new network will feature a programming mix of theatrical motion pictures, live sporting events, documentaries, specials, inspirational faith-based programs, off-net series, original programming and more.

Birach Broadcasting files to sell to more of its Michigan radio stations

Following yesterday's filing of the sale of WSDS-AM Salem Township comes the filing that reveals that Birach is selling Mexican formatted WMJH AM 810 Rockford (Grand Rapids) along with Oldies WOAP AM 1080 Owosso for a total of $1.1 million to Cano's Broadcasting. Cano's has been programming WMJH via a local marketing agreement for a number of years. Both WMJH and WOAP are daytime-only stations.

96.3 launches 4th annual Project Prom Princess

Prom is one of the most memorable events in a young lady's life. Unfortunately, many high school students and their families are feeling the hurt of our tough economy. This should be no reason for girls to be denied the time-honored tradition of going to Prom. 96.3 WDVD and Lakeside Mall will make every effort to make sure less fortunate girls receive a FREE Prom Dress! 96.3 WDVD will be collecting gently worn formal dresses, shoes and accessories (less than 5 years old) at Lakeside Mall (upper level, next to Macy's Women's Store) Friday, April 13 - Sunday, April 15, 2012. 96.3 WDVD on-air personalities will broadcast from inside the Project Prom Princess Boutique all weekend long. Our mission is to fill the store with racks of dresses, shoes and accessories to make hundreds of girls feel like a true princess on prom night.

Less fortunate girls that may be in need of a dress for prom can log on to www.963WDVD.com to register for an appointment. Selected girls will be asked to join us inside the Project Prom Princess Boutique to pick out a free dress for prom.

Visitors to the Prom Princess Boutique will be able to register for the chance to win a Prom production package courtesy of AV7 Productions.

WXYZ-TV and the Detroit Lions extend partnership

E.W. Scripps ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV today announced a new agreement with the NFL's Detroit Lions that will extend the station's partnership with the team through the 2015 NFL season. The agreement includes on-air, on-line and mobile elements.

PR Newswire: WXYZ-TV and the Detroit Lions Announce New Partnership (Mon, 4/9)

WDIV-TV, ClickonDetroit.com:

Mike Wallace, of CBS's "60 Minutes" died at the age of 93 the network said on Sunday. The longtime newsman has many ties to Michigan and came from Brookline, Mass. to attend the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. During his time at U of M, Wallace was a member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. He also reported for the student-run newspaper The Michigan Daily and did radio work as well, graduating in 1939.

Full story: Mike Wallace's Michigan legacy (Sun, 4/8)

Grand Rapids Press:

Mike Wallace, the longtime CBS newsman who died Saturday at age 93, kick-started his lengthy broadcast career at WOOD Radio in Grand Rapids, according to the station and multiple media reports.

Full story: Mike Wallace, longtime CBS newsman, started broadcast career in Grand Rapids (Sun, 4/8)

Wings' NHL playoff TV schedule set for Round 1

When the Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators drop the puck on their NHL Playoff series on Wednesday, there will be an unprecedented number of options for television viewers to catch the action throughout the series.

In the Detroit area, several games will be carried on the Wings regular TV home, FOX Sports Detroit (or FS Detroit+) with game 3 being carried over the air by NBC (WDIV-TV Ch. 4 in Detroit). Over the air and many cable viewers will also have the option of watching the Canadian broadcasts from CBC's Hockey Night in Canada on CBET-TV Ch. 9 from Windsor as that network has the rights to the entire series.

Part of NBC Sports new agreement with the NHL will bring access for the first time ever to viewers in the US to every NHL Playoff game on either NBC, the NBC Sports Network, CNBC, or the NHL Network, excluding games carried by the teams' local broadcast partners in their home regions.

For viewers outside of FOX Sports Detroit's region, that means every game of the Detroit/Nashville series will be available on either NBC, CNBC or the NBC Sports Network.

Here is the schedule (times are EDT):

• Wed April 11, 8 p.m.: Detroit at Nashville - FS Detroit, CNBC, CBC
• Fri April 13, 7:30 p.m.: Detroit at Nashville - FS Detroit, CNBC, CBC
• Sun April 15, Noon: Nashville at Detroit - NBC, CBC
• Tue April 17, 7:30 p.m.: Nashville at Detroit - FS Detroit, NBC Sports Network, CBC
• *Fri April 20, 8 p.m.: Detroit at Nashville - FS Detroit (or +), CNBC, CBC
• *Sun April 22, TBD: Nashville at Detroit - TBD, CBC
• *Tue April 24 TBD: Detroit at Nashville - FS Detroit (or +), TBD, CBC

* - if necessary

WJBK-TV, Fox 2 Detroit:

Working for one of Detroit's top radio stations is a prestigious job, and meeting someone who works for a big station like "The Riff" is exciting. However, that excitement wanes when you realize you've been duped by a fast-talking wannabe. Problem Solver Rob Wolchek says he comes up to you while you're waiting for a concert or game wearing press passes and WRIF badges. By the time you find out the gift card you paid him for is no good, he is long gone. (Video)

Full story: Don't Get Played by WRIF Radio Phoney (Wed, 4/4)

FOX 17/Grand Rapids restored for DirecTV subscribers

DirecTV and Tribune reached a retransmission consent deal yesterday for the subscription TV service to carry all of Tribune's 23 local TV stations in 19 markets, including WXMI-TV Ch. 17 (FOX 17) Grand Rapids, as well as WGN America for the next five years. Financial terms weren't released.

The impasse resulted in a blackout of all of Tribune's stations that started at midnight on April 1st. Service was restored during prime time programming yesterday.

Macomb Daily:

WADL-TV Channel 38 will start airing the classic television show, "WKRP in Cincinnati" starting April 8. Longtime fans of the hapless radio crew will rejoice at the chance to get "More news and Les Nessman." (Video)

Full story: WCSX jocks ready for return of 'WKRP' (Thu, 4/5)

Fine Tuning

• Detroit Tigers' Opening Day television coverage starts at 9 a.m. today on WJBK-TV FOX 2 Detroit. FOX Sports Detroit's pregame and play-by-play of the game will be simulcast once again this year for over-the-air viewers in the Detroit area on WJBK-TV Ch. 2. First pitch of the game will be shortly after 1 p.m., FSD's pregame starts at noon.

 

• The Kalamazoo Community Foundation will make a gift to the nonprofit group Open Doors equal to 10% of dollars pledged or donated to Western Michigan University Public Radio station WMUK-FM 102.1 during the station's Spring fundraising campaign. More details are available at wmuk.org.

 

• Stan Stachak has announced his retirement as Chief Meteorologist at 13 ABC WTVG-TV Toledo, OH. Jay Berschback will move from mornings into the role.

MLive.com:

The general manager of WWMT-News Channel 3 says the station's acquisition by Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. will mean positive change.

Full story: New ownership for WWMT-Channel 3 means positive change, its local leader says (Wed, 4/4)

Fine Tuning

• Independent WADL-TV Ch. 38 Detroit has switched its 38.1 feed to 16:9 at 1080i, giving the station the ability to broadcast programming in high definition. It was noted this afternoon stretching 4:3 programming to fill a 16:9 screen. The station is also offering a non-stretched 4:3 480i feed of the station's main programming on a new subchannel, 38.4. WADL is owned by Adell broadcasting.

MLive.com:

WWMT-Channel 3 has a new owner. The CBS affiliate, whose newscasts and programming serve most of West Michigan, including Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Battle Creek, is one of eight television stations sold by Freedom Communications to Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. as part of a $385 million deal.

Full story: WWMT-Channel 3 acquired by Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcast Group (Tue, 4/3)

Bloomberg Businessweek:

DirecTV, the largest U.S. satellite- company, filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission accusing Tribune Co. of negotiating a new programming contract in "bad faith" and questioning who is making decisions at the company. Tribune's management agreed to a new contract allowing the satellite-TV provider to carry its 23 local broadcast channels on March 29, according to DirecTV's filing, a claim Tribune denies.

Full story: DirecTV Files FCC Complaint Questioning Tribune's Control (Tue, 4/3)

TVNewsCheck.com:

Sinclair Broadcast Group announced Monday that it has closed on its acquisition of the Freedom Communications broadcast assets for $385 million. The deal was announced last November. (In Michigan, Sinclair adds CBS affiliate WWMT-TV Ch.3 Grand Rapids and ABC affiliate WLAJ-TV Ch. 53 Lansing)

Full story: Sinclair closes Freedom stations purchase (Mon, 4/2)

Fine Tuning

• Radio-Canada has signed on French Language CBEF-FM 105.5 Windsor. The heavily directional station, which simulcasts CBEF AM 540, doesn't reach far into the Detroit area.

 

• Cumulus Country Thunder 94.5 (WTNR-FM) Grand Rapids adds CMT Radio Live with Cody Allen to evenings (7 p.m. - midnight); former evening host Chris Tyler shifts to afternoon drive (3 - 7 p.m.), replacing Shane Goad in that time slot. Goad, formerly the station's Program Director, has exited.

 It's no April Fool's joke: A dispute over the price of retransmitting television signals over pay TV services has hit DirecTV subscribers as Tribune has pulled all of its local broadcast stations across the country off the service, including Grand Rapids' FOX affiliate WXMI-TV Ch. 17. The dispute includes a total 23 broadcast stations as well as Tribune's WGN America.

West Michigan DirecTV subscribers lost FOX 17 as of midnight when the previous agreement expired. The station is available over-the-air via an outdoor antenna to viewers with the proper equipment within the station's service area.

The outage will likely receive a lot of attention later this afternoon when NASCAR fans attempt to watch FOX's coverage of a Sprint Cup race, but will instead discover that once again a fight between large conglomerates claims viewers as victims in the fight. American Idol, Glee, and viewers of other FOX programming will be next to discover the issue.

Tribune has established a web site for viewers with ways to communicate their dismay over the situation; FOX 17 viewers should visit www.telldirectv.com/fox17/

DirecTV counters with its own site: www.DirectvPromise.com

• Coverage from the Chicago Tribune: Tribune Co. pulls its programming from DirecTV after midnight deadline (Sun, 4/1)

• Coverage from the MLive.com: Michigan DirecTV customers lose Fox 17 after Tribune Broadcasting talks break down (Sun, 4/1)

Comment on the dispute using Facebook or leave a message on the Michiguide.net Message Board here (no registration required).

Grand Rapids Press:

"Into the Dark," the documentary about the murder of Shannon Siders, will air at midnight Monday on local PBS station WGVU-TV (Channel 35). Directed by David Schock, the film investigates the unsolved crime, which took place in 1989 in Newaygo County.

Full story: Documentary about Shannon Siders' murder, 'Into the Dark,' to air on WGVU (Thu, 3/29)

Detroit Free Press:

A funeral will be held today for photojournalist Rodney Ferguson, 50, who died Sunday from complications of sickle cell anemia, according to WJBK-TV (Channel 2), where he had worked since 1989.

Full story: Funeral is today for Fox 2 Detroit photojournalist (Fri, 3/30)

Another awful day at Clear Channel affects Detroit market...

It's become an annual (or even more regular) event at Clear Channel's radio stations across the country - mass layoffs that affect people in markets from coast to coast.

Another wave hit today, and apparently there have been a number of people that were let go from some of Clear Channel's seven stations in the Detroit market. Names that have been reported in various trade publications, on social networks, and on message boards include Russ McNamara and Tom 'The Gov' Millikan from WDFN AM 1130, Joe Rosati from WQKI-FM 95.5, O'Neill Stevens from WMXD-FM 92.3, and Dr. Darrius from WJLB-FM 97.9. There are others as well, many of them hard working people behind the scenes that unfortunately will be making phone calls to MARVIN soon.

... and Grand Rapids too

Clear Channel's operations in West Michigan apparently weren't entirely spared from the cutbacks either. Only the name of ESPN 96.1 producer/host Ryan Terpstra has been identified thus far, but as is the case in Detroit there are likely others that received bad news about their jobs today.

Smile FM expansion in southeast Michigan continues

A slice of eastern Macomb and southern St. Clair counties are the newest areas served by Contemporary Christian Smile FM with this week's sign on of WVMV FM 91.5 China Township. The new station's antenna is located between New Baltimore and Algonac.

The Smile FM network added service in the downriver area of Metro Detroit with the sign on of WDTP FM 89.5 last summer and is heard across many other areas of the state.

WXYZ-TV, WDET-FM to air this evening's Town Hall with Governor Snyder and Deputy Detroit Mayor Kirk Lewis

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and Detroit Deputy Mayor Kirk Lewis, filling in for Mayor Dave Bing, will meet face-to-face to tackle the issue of Detroit's financial future on a special Detroit 2020 live interactive town hall meeting on Thursday, March 29th, from 7-8 p.m. on WXYZ-TV Channel 7 and simulcast on WDET-FM 101.9. The special, "The Challenge of Change," will allow viewers to engage in the conversation through social media, and ask questions of the Governor and Deputy Mayor on Facebook, Twitter and on-line.

This special comes at a critical time for Detroit, as city and state officials continue to debate plans for the financially troubled city that could include the appointment of an emergency manager. "The Challenge of Change," will offer a live forum for viewers to participate in a dialogue about the fiscal challenges facing the city.

"We believe it's an important service to our viewers to allow them to engage in an important discussion that will ultimately have a dramatic impact on their lives and the future of their city," said WXYZ Vice-President and General Manager Ed Fernandez. "This show is part of our ongoing commitment through Detroit 2020 to take action for our viewers on-air, on-line and on mobile platforms."

"The Challenge of Change" will be hosted by 7 Action News anchors Stephen Clark and Carolyn Clifford, with reports from Diana Lewis, JoAnne Purtan, and Dave LewAllen.

Grand Rapids Press:

The Grand Rapids-based country radio station WBCT-FM (93.7) will again deliver some of the biggest names in the industry for its annual party. Birthday Bash 20 will be held on June 23-24 at the U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin.

Full story: Dierks Bentley, Montgomery Gentry, Brantley Gilbert and Lee Brice top list of acts at B-93 Birthday Bash 20 (Wed, 3/27)

Fine Tuning

• Dahmer exits afternoons at Townsquare Media Modern Rock WGRD-FM 97.9 Grand Rapids to take a still-to-be-announced gig at Clear Channel Classic Rock WDTW-FM 106.7 Detroit.

 

• Former Detroit radio personality Rick Gillette (he spent about 10 years in the Motor City between WHYT and WKQI) has been named as Program Director for CBS Radio's 92.3 Now in New York City. After leaving Detroit, Gillette has spent time in Chicago and, most recently, Phoenix.

FOX Sports Detroit:

FOX Sports Detroit is thrilled to announce the addition of former Major League outfielder Craig Monroe as a studio analyst for the 2012 Tigers season.

Full story: Craig Monroe joins FSD as analyst (Wed, 3/28)

Bloomfield Hills WBFH sets annual 'Biffstock' fundraiser

The Bloomfield Hills School District's radio station WBFH FM 88.1, also known as The Biff, will begin broadcasting its 36th Annual Biffstock pledge drive at 8 a.m. Thursday, April 12, 2012 and will continue until 11 p.m. Friday, April 13.  WBFH students will be collecting money and pledges from listeners in the community to help underwrite radio station enhancement expenses.

"Our radio-a-thon is a fun event for the radio students and it gives listeners a chance to support community radio with their donations" said WBFH Biffstock Chair and Andover Senior Zac Barnett.   All 28 WBFH staff students from Andover and Lahser will be on the air for one-hour shifts for a total of 28 hours of live programming.  The shift schedule and other pledge drive information can be found on the station website:  www.wbfh.fm. Listeners can also follow the station on Twitter @TheBiff881.

There are four levels of support for those that want to be a fan of The Biff:  $25, $50, $100 and $250 or more.  Those who donate receive donor announcements aired on the station and listing on the station's website.  Listeners who would like to be an underwriter can do so by calling (248) 341-WBFH. They can also fax in pledges to (248) 341-5679 or e-mail pledges to TheBiff@Radio.fm.

Listeners are also encouraged to join The Biff Fan Group on Facebook.  Search "WBFH 88.1 FM, The Biff" and click "Like".

The station will be broadcasting live during the school day from Lahser High School Thursday, April 12 and from Andover High School Friday, April 13.

In connection with the pledge drive, a benefit rock concert is scheduled for May 18 in the Andover Theater at 7 p.m.  Details about the concert will be posted on the station website.  A $5 donation will be collected at the door.

WBFH is one of only ten high schools in the state with an FM radio station.  The station is supervised by the WBFH management team of Station Manager/Electronic Media Teacher Pete Bowers and Assistant Manager/Technical Director Randy Carr.

Saginaw News:

Delta College's radio station, WUCX Q90.1 was recently honored by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, winning three awards during the organization's state meeting. The college won a merit award in the categories of Feature Use of Medium, Community Involvement and Membership Appeal.

Full story: Delta College's radio station wins three awards from Michigan Association of Broadcasters (Tue, 3/27)

TVNewsCheck:

This year, the E.W. Scripps Co. will morph from a newspaper company that owns television stations to a broadcast company that owns some newspapers. With this year's addition of the McGraw-Hill station group, which Scripps purchased for $212 million, annual broadcast revenue will jump 50% to roughly $450 million. Publishing, by contrast, will contribute a just $400 million.

Full story: Scripps Co.: Old media dog full of new tricks (Wed, 3/28)

Flint Journal:

Dawn Jones is headed home to TV after a stint at City Hall. Jones was a reporter and anchor at WJRT (Channel 12) but left in 2009, when Flint Mayor Dayne Walling appointed her communications director for City Hall. Now, she's headed back to the news desk at the end of May.

Full story: Flint City Hall spokeswoman Dawn Jones returning 'home' to WJRT TV news desk as anchor (Tue, 3/27)

Every year, men struggle with finding the money and method to pop the question of marriage to hopeful brides-to-be. But this spring, FOX66 will lay all the financial and mood-setting groundwork for an occasion that one woman will never forget.

Full story: American Idol and FOX66 to host Michigan marriage proposal (Tue, 3/27)

Toledo Blade:

The sale of a Toledo TV station that could result in as many as 63 layoffs was approved Monday by the Federal Communications Commission. WUPW-TV, Channel 36, has been purchased by American Spirit Media from LIN Media in a $22 million deal. Courtney Guertin, a spokesman for LIN Media, said in an e-mail Tuesday morning the sale has yet to close.

Full story: FCC approves Channel 36 sale; 63 layoffs loom (Tue, 3/27)

TVNewsCheck.com:

ATribune television stations in 16 markets across the country began informing DirecTV subscribers on Monday that they could lose the local news, traffic, weather, sports and entertainment programming provided by those stations at midnight, March 31, when Tribune's contract with DirecTV expires. Subscribers will also lose access to WGN America, Tribune's national cable network. Among the markets involved are New Orleans; Houston; Philadelphia; Chicago; San Diego; Hartford, Conn.; Indianapolis; Grand Rapids, Mich.; amd Harrisburg, Pa. (Tribune owns/operates FOX affiliate WXMI-TV Ch. 17 Grand Rapids)

Full story: Tribune threatens to pull plug on DirecTV (Mon, 3/26)

OneNewsNow.com:

Eighteen west Michigan radio listeners are headed to Guatemala this Thursday with WCSG and Orphan Outreach. It'll be a first-time mission trip for many of the team.

Full story: Radio listeners get out of the pew and head to Guatemala (Mon, 3/26)

Fox 2 Detroit:

Bill Gallagher, the professor of local journalism, went to work Friday for perhaps the 7,000th time. But the day was a special one. After more than 10,000 television news stories, today's would be his last. The day began much like the others -- with a false start.

Full story: TV Bill's Excellent Adventure (Fri, 3/23)

Flint Journal:

Michigan Public Radio will host a discussion on the state's emergency manager law at 6 p.m. Monday at Blackstone's Pub, 531 S. Saginaw St. in downtown Flint. Jack Lessenberry, Michigan Radio's senior political analyst, is expected to lead the dialogue on the controversial measure. The event is part of Michigan Radio's Issues & Ale series.

Full story: Michigan Radio to host emergency manager discussion in downtown Flint (Thu, 3/22)

Fine Tuning

• Thursday's hours-long outage at Detroit's WMYD-TV Ch. 20 was apparently a power-related issue. The station was noted back on the air in the early hours of Friday.

 

• A couple of AM radio format changes that slipped by over the last several months: Ludington's WKLA AM 1450 has dropped News/Talk in favor of Oldies; Sault Ste Marie's WKNW AM 1400 also dropped News/Talk in favor of Sports.

Grand Rapids Press:

Michigan Radio at the University of Michigan raised $817,000 during its spring membership drive, some 6 percent beyond its goal. Named 2011 Station of the Year by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters for Public Radio Stations with budgets above $2 million, the Michigan Radio Network includes WUOM-FM (91.7) in Ann Arbor, WFUM-FM (91.1) in Flint and WVGR-FM (104.1) in Grand Rapids.

Full story: Michigan Radio raises more than $800,000 in spring membership drive, 6 percent above goal (Thu, 3/22)

Detroit News:

A Night of Giggles & Gloves II, a benefit for Mittens for Detroit, is 7-10 p.m. Saturday at the Grand Ballroom inside MGM Grand Detroit, 1777 Third St.

Full story: Radio host Coco to highlight Mittens for Detroit fundraiser (Fri, 3/23)

To further encourage viewers, a number of local PBS affiliates produced vignettes that run on air and online in conjunction with "Finding Your Roots." In turn, Detroit Public Television WTVS-TV (Channel 56) is spotlighting a few Metro Detroiters with compelling ancestral stories.

Full story: New PBS series traces noncelebrity lineages, too (Fri, 3/23)

Detroit Public Television, WTVS-TV (Channel 56) is launching "MiWeek," a new show that debuts at 7:30 tonight. The news and public affairs program is designed to meet the community's evolving need for a journalism-focused perspective on the top news stories and issues affecting Metro Detroit, the State of Michigan and the Great Lakes region.

Full story: Friday TV pick: 'MiWeek' (Fri, 3/23)

Detroit Free Press:

Some years it is a grind, Will Tieman admitted. Tieman, the Michigan State play-by-play radio broadcaster, reflected on the season before Thursday's 57-44 loss to Louisville.

Full story: Play-by-play man Will Tieman enjoys this Michigan State team (Fri, 3/23)

The State News:

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters recently named WKAR-TV the Public Television Station of the Year at the Broadcast Excellence Awards ceremony. The station had seven individual winning entries in the children's programming, community involvement and membership appeal categories among others.

Full story: WKAR named 'Public Television Station of the Year' (Fri, 3/23)

Detroit's WMYD Ch. 20 suffering from extended outage

MyNetworkTV WMYD-TV Ch. 20 Detroit has been noted off the air for much of today, March 22nd. The reason for the surprisingly lengthy outage is not immediately clear.

The outage does not appear to be affecting the other TV stations (WWJ-TV Ch. 62, WTVS-TV Ch. 56, WUDT-CA Ch. 23) that also broadcast from the same tower. The outage affects both Ch. 20.1 and Ch. 20.2. At least some cable providers are also affected- Comcast is displaying blue 'technical difficulty screens for Ch 20.1, both SD and HD, and Ch. 20.2.

Detroit News:

A serial killer once confessed to Bill Gallagher, even before he'd confided in the cops. Returned a call, found Gallagher in a Channel 2 truck, started running down the list: murder, murder, rape, yeah, he did it. The very same Bill Gallagher won a Peabody Award -- sort of like the Oscars, but for people who have to rent their tuxedos -- in his first year at his first full-time TV job.

Full story: WJBK newsman Bill Gallagher signing off (Thu, 3/22)

Detroit Free Press / Associated Press:

Rush Limbaugh's opponents are starting a radio campaign against him Thursday, seizing upon the radio star's attack of a Georgetown law student as a "slut" to make a long-term effort aimed at weakening his business.

Full story: $100K radio campaign aiming to tarnish Rush Limbaugh will air in Detroit (Thu, 3/22)

Grand Rapids Press:

Fox 17 has posted a want ad for a new chief meteorologist following the departure of Peter Chan last week from WXMI-TV in Grand Rapids.

Full story: Fox17 begins search for chief meteorologist to replace Peter Chan at WXMI-TV in Grand Rapids (Thu, 3/22)

TVSpy.com:

The Scripps station group has announced a restructuring in station leadership, with general managers Ed Fernandez, Sam Rosenwasser and Steve Wasserman taking on expanded roles. Fernandez, currently the general manager of WXYZ in Detroit, will also oversee KSHB-KMCI in Kansas City and the Azteca America affiliates.

Full story: 3 Scripps General Managers Take On Expanded Roles (Thu, 3/22)

Detroit News:

Don Shane is not used to being in the spotlight. For 38 years -- 23 of them at WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) -- Shane has been the sports reporter asking the tough questions and chasing down the good stories. Now, that's coming to an end. The 59-year-old Baltimore native has retired as the station's sports director. And today, his soon-to-be former co-workers will hold an on-air tribute to him with a series of special goodbyes complete with clips and highlights.

Full story: WXYZ says so long to Don Shane (Tue, 3/20)

Grand Rapids Press:

WOOD-TV and WZZM-TV won the lion's share of awards for its market in the Michigan Association of Broadcasters' Broadcast Excellence Awards for 2011. WGVU-TV, meanwhile, took four statewide awards for public television, more than any other public TV station in Michigan.

Full story: 24 Hour News 8 and WZZM 13 win most of 2011 Michigan Association of Broadcasters awards for its market size (Tue, 3/20)

Pure Michigan campaign set for national run

A $12 million advertising campaign will start on Monday, March 19th and run through June on more than twenty national cable stations such as Animal Planet, CNN, and The Weather Channel. The goal is to duplicate the success of similar campaigns that in the past have successfully lured tourists to Michigan during the summer travel season.

Travel destinations to be highlighted include Mackinac Island, The Henry Ford, Traverse City and Ann Arbor - organizations that each contributed $500,000 toward the Pure Michigan effort.

FOX Sports Detroit, FSD Detroit+ providing live coverage of MHSAA Girls Basketball Finals

The Michigan High School Athletic Association Girls Basketball Finals are being broadcast by FOX Sports Detroit and FOX Sports Detroit+ on Saturday, March 17th.

The Class D final began at 10 a.m. on FOX Sports Detroit. That game will be followed by the Class A game at noon on FSD, Class C at 4 p.m. on FSD, and Class B at 6 p.m. on FSD PLUS.

TVSpy.com

Nicole DiDonato and Morgan Bond have been hired at WXMI, the Fox-affiliate in Grand Rapids. DiDonato will be a multimedia journalist on the station's morning newscast ... Bond will be a multimedia journalist for the station's evening newscasts.

Full story: Nicole DiDonato, Morgan Bond Join WXMI (Thu, 3/15)

Fine Tuning

• Former WYCD/Detroit midday host Mike Scott starts Monday, March 19th as the new afternoon drive host and Program Director at KZKX-FM 96.9 Lincoln, NE.
• Peter Chan has exited as chief meteorologist from Tribune FOX affiliate WXMI-TV Ch. 17 Grand Rapids.
• NBC affiliate WDIV-TV Ch. 4 Detroit has come to terms with Bright House Networks on a retransmission agreement that will ensure the station remains on the cable system serving portions of Oakland and Wayne counties.
• CBS-owned WWJ-TV Ch. 62 Detroit has re-branded itself from 'CBS Detroit' to 'CBS 62'.

Twelve WBFH/Bloomfield Hills take home awards from MABF

Bloomfield Hills School District radio broadcasting students won four first place awards, two second place awards and three third place awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation (MABF) at their annual Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference held March 14, 2012 at the Lansing Center in Lansing.

The MABF received 571 entries from 31 schools for their annual High School and College Broadcasting Awards competition. WBFH students won nine of the 25 awards given out in the high school radio division:

• Andover senior Cameron Billes won three awards: 1st Place (tie), MHSAA Sports PSA (with Bryan Furlong); 2nd Place, Public Service Announcement (with Sean Shepard); 3rd Place, Talk Show (with Bryan Furlong).

• Andover senior Paul Stewart won two awards: 1st Place, Talk Show; 3rd Place, Station Activities Report (with Justin Lopas).

• Andover senior Kenny Selander won one award: 1st Place, Public Service Announcement (with Harrison Kenum).

• Andover senior Harrison Kenum won one award: 1st Place, Public Service Announcement (with Kenny Selander).

• Andover junior Danny Harwood won one award: 1st Place, Michigan National Guard Current Events Program (with Winston Parker).

• Andover sophomore Winston Parker won one award: 1st Place, Michigan National Guard Current Events Program (with Danny Harwood).

• Andover junior Bryan Furlong won two awards: 1st Place (tie), MHSAA Sports PSA (with Cameron Billes); 3rd Place, Talk Show (with Cameron Billes).

• Lahser junior Sean Shepard won two awards: 2nd Place, Public Service Announcement (with Cameron Billes); 3rd Place, Promotional Announcement (with Ayman Alam and Michael Blumenthal).

• Andover senior Grace McIlhon won one award: 2nd Place, Daily Newscast/News Feature.

• Andover senior Justin Lopas won one award: 3rd Place, Station Activities Report (with Paul Stewart).

• Lahser junior Michael Blumenthal won one award: 3rd Place, Promotional Announcement (with Ayman Alam and Sean Shepard).

• Andover sophomore Ayman Alam won one award: 3rd Place, Promotional Announcement (with Sean Shepard and Michael Blumenthal).

Billes, McIlhon, Harwood and Selander won MABF awards last year. Stewart, Lopas, Kenum, Parker, Furlong, Shepard, Alam and Blumenthal are all first-time MABF award winners.

Stewart was one of only three high school students to be awarded an MAB Foundation scholarship. Students who won a scholarship have been accepted at a MABF-approved Michigan college, university or trade school and plan to pursue a career in a broadcast-related field. Each one-time scholarship award is $750. Stewart will attend Albion College next fall.

The WBFH management team of Station Manager Pete Bowers and Assistant Manager/Technical Director Randy Carr were present to congratulate the award winning students. "I'm so proud of all the Biff students who won awards, especially those who won for the first time" said Bowers.

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

Detroit Free Press:

Tim Bryant left the Motor City to play golf in Florida last weekend. Sadly, we won't have the chance to ask him how he struck the ball. Bryant, the always-smiling, self-effacing director of media relations for Fox Sports Detroit, died in his sleep, according to his family, some time before he was to have picked up a friend at the airport in Florida on Sunday morning.

Full story: Family, friends and colleagues miss FSD media director Tim Bryant (Wed, 3/14)

Fine Tuning

• Former WJBK-TV Ch. 2 Detroit (FOX 2) reporter/anchor Brad Edwards has been hired in Chicago at CBS 2 (WBBM-TV). Edwards left Detroit in 2010 to head to WISH-TV in Indianapolis.

Tim Rainey new PD for Detroit's 98.7 AMP Radio

 CBS Radio/Detroit Contemporary Hits WDZH-FM 98.7 "AMP Radio" has hired Tim Rainey to serve as the station's new Program Director. Rainey was most recently director of programming/brand manager/afternoon personality at WNOU-FM (Radio One Inc) in Indianapolis, Indiana. He starts at AMP Radio tomorrow, March 14th.

"After six amazing years in Indianapolis I can't wait to join the AMP Radio team already in place and do some amazing, fun and exciting radio in the Motor City," said Rainey. "Oh, and you have a baseball team? Even better!"

Rainey, who goes by the nickname Rayne, started his career in radio before he could even drive, working as a board operator on Leeza Gibbons' Top 25 Countdown. In addition to his most recent position in Indiana, he has worked at stations in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Las Vegas, Nevada, Reno, Nevada, and Colby, Kansas. Rainey likes to interact with his listeners through Facebook and Twitter and says he loves to try new and different things, just as he knows his audience does.

"Tim is the perfect addition to 98.7 AMP Radio," said Michael Martin, Vice President of Top 40 Programming for CBS Radio. "His passion and creativity will help lead the team to new heights!"

Debbie Kenyon, Senior Vice-President and Market Manager of CBS Radio Detroit, said: "I am excited to bring a talent like Tim Rainey to Detroit. Tim is a talented, creative programmer, and I look forward to those attributes being used to continue the growth of WDZH."

Rainey succeeds Dom Theodore who exited CBS Radio recently to focus on radio ownership and consulting.

WXYZ-TV Ch. 7 Detroit wins Associated Press Awards

Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV Channel 7 won eight first place awards in the 2011 AP Broadcasters Association awards, more than any other station in the Detroit market. Included in the first place awards were the prestigious general excellence award and the highly coveted best newscast award.

"WXYZ is proud to receive these awards for journalistic excellence in news coverage," said WXYZ Vice-President and General Manager Ed Fernandez. "This is a great honor for all those who work hard every day to take action for our viewers. It's very rewarding to be recognized for these efforts."

The 7 Action News Investigators won in the categories of hard news, continuing coverage, news documentary, and enterprise/investigative reporting, for their on-going reporting of corruption and scandal in local government. Detroit 2020, WXYZ's decade-long, multi-platform, community outreach initiative was also a winner in the best feature story category, and reporter Bill Spencer took top honors in individual reporting.

WXYZ also earned two honorable mentions in the photojournalism and website categories.

Grand Rapids Press:

Mayor George Heartwell was an indirect influence on the spring Hat Trick Concert Series. His State of the City speech focused on the plight of underprivileged children in Grand Rapids, so organizers decided to donate the proceeds from the series to local youth-oriented charities.

Full story: WYCE's Hat Trick Concert Series focuses on raising money for Grand Rapids youth charities (Tue, 3/13)

Lansing State Journal:

Michael Patrick Shiels will be honored as the "Network Radio Personality of the Year" by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. The Lansing-based talk radio host will receive the 2012 award Wednesday at the Lansing Center. He has won it four other times.

Full story: Shiels will receive broadcast honor (Tue, 3/13)

Fine Tuning

• Adell Broadcasting independent WADL-TV Ch. 38 Detroit has hired veteran Detroit TV reporter Joelle Lukasiewicz as the station's News Director where she will oversee the station's "News @ 9" broadcast. Lukasiewicz lengthy resume includes stints at the news operations of Detroit's WDIV Ch. 4, WXYZ Ch. 7, and WKBD Ch. 50.
  Lukasiewicz is wife of station owner Kevin Adell and has been hosting the station's Saturday's "Motor City Movie Night".

Big changes coming to WYCD/Detroit's Downtown Hoedown for event's 30th anniversary

What had once been billed as the world's largest free country music festival is making major changes for its 30th anniversary, starting with becoming a ticketed event for the first time ever. The Hoedown will be changing its location away from the riverfront at Hart Plaza, moving to areas surrounding Comerica Park. The other big change will be on the calendar as the event shifts from its traditional early May weekend to June 8th - 12th.

The adjustments will be likely be welcomed by many regular attendees - as the festival has grown through the years, so too have the challenges involved with keeping the experience a positive one for music fans.

"The 30th anniversary of the WYCD Downtown Hoedown marks a tremendous milestone for this iconic Detroit event and offers an ideal opportunity to enrich the overall experience of the attendees," said Debbie Kenyon, Senior Vice President and Market Manager of CBS Radio Detroit. "We had outgrown our previous riverfront location but remained 100 percent committed to keeping the WYCD Downtown Hoedown in the city of Detroit. We can provide the best of everything on the user-friendly grounds surrounding Comerica Park. People feel it's very safe and truly enjoy attending sporting events and concerts there. The layout also allows for much larger and more elaborate staging and better visibility for fans to enjoy the performers. Attendees will also have easier access to concessions, cleaner, more plentiful restroom facilities, and opportunities to take a break in the shade of the Comerica Park concourse."

"We have three fantastic days of entertainment lined up with mega-stars like Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Gentry, Dierks Bentley and Chris Young," said Tim Roberts, Program Director and Operations Manager at WYCD. "With over 40 bands, our three stages and new bigger main stage will provide our fans with a fantastic country music experience and the ability to also head over to Comerica Park for concessions and fun."

Tickets will be required for everyone age 5 and older - prices for individual ticket prices will be announced soon - but a limited number of 30th anniversary 3-day passes at $30 each will go on sale Friday, March 16th at 10 a.m., while supplies last at all Ticketmaster locations, ticketmaster.com, or service fee free at the Joe Louis Arena Box Office, the Fox Theatre Box Office and Hockeytown Authentics in Troy.

The changes announced today address criticisms the event has been drawing in recent years that have ranged from poor weather, crowd control/lines, and attendees that were less interested in the country music being played and more interested in taking part in unwelcome behavior.

More info on the event can be found on WYCD's web site.

Detroit sports media left reeling with loss of Fox Sports Detroit's Tim Bryant

Tim Bryant was much more than the director of media relations with FOX Sports Detroit to many members of the media that touch on sports coverage in Detroit. His sudden death at age 53 over the weekend leaves a huge void, not only for his family, but for anyone that worked with or watched sports on FOX Sports Detroit.

I'll remember Tim as a guy that was always helpful and friendly - and always seemed to put in an extra effort to answer a question or address an issue.

Two of his co-workers have written their memories of Tim:

John Keating: Remembering a gentleman, sports scholar

Mario Imbemba: We've lost a good friend at FSD

Kalamazoo Gazette:

A longtime reporter for WWMT-TV Newschannel 3 has left the local station to join the team of Michigan Blood, officials said. Carolyn Wyllie will serve as the organization's public relations supervisor, overseeing public relations activities for a region that includes Kalamazoo, and the Benton Harbor and St. Joseph areas, according to a news release issued by Michigan Blood.

Full story: Carolyn Wyllie, longtime reporter at WWMT-TV, leaving station to join staff of Michigan Blood (Mon, 3/12)

Michigan Association of Broadcasters:

It is with the deepest of sadness that we inform you of the passing of John F.X. Browne. He served on the Michigan Association of Broadcasters board of directors and has been part of our Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference since its beginning. He helped to write the broadcasting tower rules with the Michigan Aeronautics Commission.

Full story: John F.X. Browne Passes (Mon, 3/12)

Fine Tuning

• Another Rush Limbaugh gaffe? Holly writer stung by radio host's 'authorette' taunt Detroit Free Press

 

• WXYZ-TV Wins Silver Telly Award MarketWatch.com

 

• Present, past get TV time Detroit News

 

• March can be maddening for television viewers Jackson Citizen Patriot

Eastern U.P. radio station returns to the air

Over the weekend, West Central Michigan Media Ministries returned WIHC FM 97.9 Newberry/Sault Ste Marie to the airwaves. The station now carries the organization's religious "Strong Tower Radio" format that first debuted in Northern Michigan on WGCP FM 91.9 Cadillac about two years ago.

WIHC was purchased by West Central in November 2011 for $150,000 - the station had been taken off the air by previous owner Northern Star Broadcasting at about the same time that company sold off it's Upper Peninsula radio stations (with the exception of WIHC) in 2010.

Prior to returning to the air as a Religious station WIHC has featured Easy Listening, Country, and Classic Rock formats since first signing on in the late 1980s.

Crain's Detroit Business:

Last week's retirement of sports anchor Don Shane is the latest in a series of departures of longtime on-air talent from ABC affiliate WXYZ-Channel 7 over the past 18 months, taking what industry insiders say is more than $1.3 million in salaries off the Southfield station's books.

Full story: Turnover of longtime talent a win-lose for local TV (Mon, 3/5)

Jackson Citizen Patriot:

Rush Limbaugh lost sponsors and created a national furor with recent comments, but reaction at the Jackson radio station that airs his show has been mixed.

Full story: Rush Limbaugh reaction mixed at Jackson's WKHM radio (Sat, 3/3)

Grand Rapids Press:

It's with mixed emotion that I admit how many times I've passed on stories about anniversaries, commemorations, reunions and families who can show up for a photograph that includes five generations.

Full story: Former TV weatherman Buck Matthews puts his storytelling talents to use for Marne church (Sat, 3/3)

TVSpy.com:

Hired as news director at WADL, Matt Stevens took extra precautions when meeting with station management on the day he was terminated because he feared he "might never be seen again."

Full story: Fired News Director Worried WADL Management Would Make Him 'Disappear' (Mon, 3/5)

Fine Tuning

• The simulcast of News/Talk WMKT AM 1270 Charlevoix on FM translator W221BQ 92.1 has ended. The translator is moving to the non-commercial portion of the dial as W219DR on 91.7 with reduced power.
• Two Lansing-area FM translators (W237BY 95.3 and W240CG 95.9) owned by Educational Media Foundation have switched back to rebroadcasting that organization's Contemporary Christian 'Air One' format. Earlier this year they were heard carrying Cornerstone University's WCSG-FM.

Antenna TV to offer weekend Davy Jones tribute

Tribune Broadcasting DT subchannel network Antenna TV will offer a tribute to Davy Jones, front man for 60s group The Monkees who died yesterday at age 66 from a heart attack.

From 1 - 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 4th the network will show the Monkees' 1968 movie Head, followed at 5 p.m. by a marathon of all 58 thirty minute episodes of The Monkees TV series that will run through 10 p.m. Sunday. Head will then re-air at 10 p.m.

There are three Antenna TV affiliates in Michigan: WADL Ch. 38.2 Detroit, WXMI Ch. 17.2 Grand Rapids, and WZMQ Ch. 19.3 Marquette.

Detroit News:

Cracking wise up to the very end, retired radio host Dick Purtan did his duty Thursday morning, stepping up to a mirror behind a Bed & Breakfast truck outside the Salvation Army in Detroit, and shaving his iconic 42-year-old moustache off.

Full story: Dick Purtan takes it off for the Salvation Army (Thu, 3/1)

Michigan residents were bombarded with $7.6 million in broadcast TV political advertising in the first two months of 2012 by the Republican presidential candidates, President Barack Obama, super PACs and nonprofit groups running issue-specific ads.

Full story: Michigan primary brought $7.6M in TV ads to state (Thu, 3/1)

Detroit Free Press:

Dick Purtan is saying so long to a beloved fuzzy friend he's had since 1970. While cohosting the Salvation Army's annual Bed & Bread Club Radiothon last week, the retired local radio legend told Frank Beckmann of WJR-AM (760) that he'd shave off his signature moustache if listeners pledged $100,000 during a one-hour segment of the radiothon.

Full story: Names and Faces (Thu, 3/1)

WZZM-TV Ch. 13 Grand Rapids:

Andy O'Riley, the very popular radio personality on WMRR in Muskegon and 101.3 the Fox in Grand Rapids, has left the airwaves.

Full story: Radio personality Andy O'Riley takes new gig (with video) (Thu, 3/1)

Holland Sentinel:

When spring blooms in Saugatuck and Douglas, the production of the first Michigan Hometown Stories documentary series on WGVU public television will begin to grow as well. "It's an ongoing project. It's going forward," said Jon Helmrich on Monday.

Full story: WGVU documentary work picks up as season warms up (Wed, 2/29)

Fine Tuning

• Detroit's WDIV-TV claims February ratings win: PR Newswire

 

• Yesterday's fundraiser hosted by three of Ann Arbor's Cumulus-owned stations raised over $75,000 for the United Way of Washtenaw County. Stations taking part were Sports WTKA AM 1050, Country WWWW FM 102.9, and Adult Alternative WQKL FM 107.1.

WXYZ-TV Ch. 7 Detroit:

 After more than 38 years interviewing sports celebrities and covering every major sporting event from the Super Bowl to the NBA finals, 7 ACTION NEWS Sports Director Don Shane will retire from WXYZ in March. Before joining WXYZ-TV in 1989, Shane worked at WBZ-TV in Boston, WMAQ-TV in Chicago and WDIV-TV in Detroit. He has received numerous awards for his reporting including 23 Michigan Emmy Awards, a best sports anchor honor, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Silver Circle Award, as well as awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and the Associated Press.

Full story: 7 Action News Sports Director Don Shane announces he will retire after 23 years at WXYZ (Wed, 2/29)

Shiels exits "Michigan's Morning Show"

Michael Patrick Shiels has exited "Michigan's Morning Show", heard from 5:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. on nine radio stations across the state. The program originated at Cumulus' WJIM AM 1240 Lansing and is produced and syndicated by the Cumulus-owned Michigan Talk Network. A series of guests will fill in temporarily while the search is on for a new permanent host.

Shiels leaves after hosting the program for the past seven years. "The fact of the matter is I decided to leave Cumulus Broadcasting. It was an amicable parting and I'm hoping I'll get the opportunity down the road to re-connect with my Michigan listeners," commented Shiels.

Detroit News:

Local PBS affiliate WTVS-TV (Channel 56) has a lot to be proud of as of late. The station's production of "Il Volo Takes Flight," which features the amazing trio of young Italian tenors, is going national. Detroit Public Television partnered with the Michigan Opera Theatre, using the Detroit Opera House and MOT's 49-member orchestra, for the October concert. It was broadcast locally in December and will air nationally beginning this weekend as a part of PBS' national fundraising drive.

Full story: WTVS-TV expands locally and takes flight nationally (Wed, 2/29)

Fine Tuning

• Today's Real Detroit Weekly celebrates its 'Best Of Detroit' issue. Best Media TV and radio winners include Huel Perkins, FOX 2 News, ClickOnDetroit.com, Jay Towers, Jay Hudson, Drew and Mike, Valenti and Foster, 89X, Glenda Lewis, and Dan Miller.

 

• Listeners of Cumulus' Contemporary Hits WIOG-FM Bay City/Saginaw helped raise $64,128 during last week's Radiothon for Flint's Hurley Medical Center.

Toledo Blade:

A Toledo television station has officially informed the state that it plans to lay off 63 employees this spring when the station is sold. The Blade reported in January that WUPW, Channel 36, was being sold to American Spirit Media. The layoffs are expected to take place between April 24 and May 8, according to a letter from LIN Media, which owns WUPW, to Ohio's Office of Workforce Development.

Full story: Toledo TV station WUPW plans to lay off 63 employees (Wed, 2/29)

TVSpy.com:

After his very public termination as a WADL consultant, Kevin O'Brien is firing back at the independent station and its owner Kevin Adell. Today an attorney representing O'Brien circulated a press release defending him against the "defamatory" press release WADL sent out last week announcing his dismissal.

Full story: Abruptly Fired by WADL, Kevin O'Brien Shares His Side of the Story (Tue, 2/28)

After firing consultant Kevin O'Brien last week, WADL issued a press release stating only that the former Meredith executive had violated "numerous corporate policies." Now a clearer picture of O'Brien's termination is starting to develop. NewsBlues recently obtained a copy of the letter WADL sent to O'Brien, outlining his dismissal.

Full story: Letter Reveals WADL Fired Temporary President for Trying to Land Another Job (Tue, 2/28)

Flint Journal:

The entire country could have known Cleodia Myles, but Flint got to keep him for itself. The local radio legend known for his all-night jazz shows at Flint radio stations died Feb. 21 at age 76. Family members and friends remember him as a hard-working guy with one of the most popular radio shows--and smoothest voices--around.

Full story: Flint radio legend Cleodia Myles remembered for deep voice, deeper commitment to Flint (Mon, 2/27)

TVSpy.com:

Trying to make a name for itself in news, Detroit independent station WADL is making a lot of news of its own. A month after launching a 9 p.m. newscast, WADL fired recently hired news director Matt Stevens on his first day, today.

Full story: WADL Fires News Director on His First Day (Mon, 2/27)

The Oakland Press:

Barry Sanders has filed for a divorce from his wife of more than 10 years, Lauren Campbell Sanders. Court records show that the former Detroit Lions running back filed the complaint Friday in Oakland County Circuit Court ... Lauren Sanders is an anchor on WDIV-Channel 4.

Full story: Lions great Barry Sanders files for divorce after more than decade of marriage (Mon, 2/27)

Crain's Detroit Business:

The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit's annual Bed and Bread Club Radiothon raised over $1.7 million Friday with a little help from an old friend.

Full story: Salvation Army raises $1.7 million in Dick Purtan's return to Bed and Bread Club Radiothon (Mon, 2/27)

Radiothon raises nearly $1.8M

A very successful Salvation Army Bed & Bread Club Radiothon wrapped up at Oakland Mall yesterday evening with a final tally of $1,733,977 in pledges, surpassing last year's mark of just over $1.5M.

The sixteen-hour event was broadcast live on News/Talk WJR AM 760 in Detroit and featured special guest Dick Purtan along with WJR personalities Paul W. Smith, Frank Beckmann, Mitch Albom, Warren Pierce, Steve Courtney, Ken Brown, and many others. Some of the former crew of Purtan's People also chipped in this year with Rebekah Rhodes and Big Al Muskavito offering up big contributions to the very worthy cause.

The Bed & Bread Program serves 5,000 meals to the hungry each day. That's nearly 1.7 million meals every year to men, women and children that would otherwise go without. In addition, The Bed & Bread Program provides nearly 500 homeless individuals shelter each night. That's nearly 167,000 nights of shelter annually.

This year's Radiothon was the 25th - and pushes the grand total over the years to nearly $27 million. The event will also cost Mr. Purtan his mustache, along with the $50,000 he personally donated.

Detroit News:

A contentious legal dispute over a multimillion-dollar trust left by WADL-TV owner Franklin Z. Adell has been settled quietly through mediation. Kevin Adell, son of the late Bloomfield Hills businessman, has been battling his two sisters since 2008 in Oakland County Probate Court over their father's estate, estimated at one point at $40 million, according to his attorney, Michael Alan Schwartz.

Full story: Dispute over WADL estate settled (Sat, 2/25)

We started the 25th annual Salvation Army Bed & Bread Club Radiothon on the right foot Friday at the Oakland Mall, joined by its founder, Dick Purtan, and WJR's Steve Courtney. Our special (6-11 a.m.) Paul W. Smith Show broadcast raised $500,000 (with 11 more hours to go.)

Full story: Detroiters pitch in for Salvation Army (Sat, 2/25)

Jackson Citizen-Patriot:

A "Saturday Night Live"-like variety show featuring local entertainers? "Buzz TV Jackson," which will be something in the way of that idea, is coming to the Lansing/Jackson ABC affiliate WLAJ on Friday nights beginning in early May.

Full story: 'Buzz TV Jackson,' a Jackson-based 'SNL'-like variety show, coming to WLAJ in May (Fri, 2/24)

TVSpy.com:

- Washington Post Co. Announces Revenue Decline (Fri, 2/24; Note: Washington Post Co. owns WDIV TV Ch. 4 Detroit)

- Scripps Reports 16% Decrease in Q4 Revenue, Looks to Future Following McGraw-Hill Acquisition (Fri, 2/24; Note: Scripps owns WXYX TV Ch. 7 Detroit)

- Gray Television Reports Revenue Drop in 'Off Year' (Fri, 2/24; Note: Gray Television owns WILX TV Ch. 10 Lansing)

TV38 CEO and Owner Kevin Adell Terminates Kevin O'Brien for Violation of Numerous Corporate Policies

WADL TV-38 Detroit announced yesterday that Kevin O'Brien, who had been working as a consultant for the independent station the past two months, had been terminating. The station cited that violations of corporate policies led to the termination.

Prior to O'Brien's firing, CEO Kevin Adell instructed Rich Mazzari, a retired FBI agent, to conduct a thorough investigation. Upon review of Mazzari's findings, Adell determined O'Brien's termination be immediately effective.

Adell issued the following statement: "I am deeply saddened that in this day and age this type of behavior still exists. I have zero tolerance for this, and I will personally disgorge any money paid to Mr. O'Brien as a consultant for the past two months."

TVSpy.com: WADL Fires Kevin O'Brien After P.I. Finds 'Violations of Numerous Corporate Policies' (Thu, 2/23)

Muskegon Chronicle:

Local radio personality Andy O'Riley has announced he is leaving The Rock 101.7 WMRR. The popular disk jockey, who has participated in numerous community events throughout his twelve years in Muskegon broke the news on his Facebook profile Feb. 18.

Full story: Popular Muskegon radio personality leaving The Rock 101.7 (Tue, 2/21)

TVNewsCheck:

 Matt Stevens on Monday was named news director of Adell Broadcasting's WADL Detroit (DMA 11). WADL debuted its 9 p.m. newscast on Monday, Jan. 16. Stevens has 30 years of TV news experience as a reporter, anchor, producer and manager. Most recently, he was senior correspondent at WOIO Cleveland.

Full story: WADL Detroit names Matt Stevens News Dir. (Mon, 2/20)

Grand Rapids Press:

If you're like me, the extent to which you are connected to New Orleans and Mardi Gras is pronouncing the word guarantee as "gair-ohn-tee" like ca jun chef Justin Wilson would do in his classic videos.

Full story: Gumbo contest and live music at the B.O.B. with WOOD radio and Kevin Matthews (Tue, 2/21)

AllAccess.com:

CC MEDIA HOLDINGS has reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended DECEMBER 31st, 2011.

Full story: CC Media Holdings 2011 Revenues Increase 5% To $6.16 Billion (Tue, 2/21)

Fine Tuning

• Thanks to several e-mailers who report from the Indian River area in Northern Michigan that the recently-licensed WGRL FM 95.3 Tuscarora Township isn't currently on the air. If the station has operated at all, apparently it wasn't for very long. WGRL is owned by David L. Smith.

ABC 57 South Bend, IN:

According to the Federal Communications Commission, The Benton Harbor community radio station license that was on eBay last week cannot be sold in that manner.

Full story: FCC: Benton Harbor owned radio station can't be sold on eBay (Wed, 2/15)

Jackson Citizen-Patriot:

With ingredients like bleu cheese, red wine and smoked sea salt, All-Pro Realty's winning chili recipe at last year's K105.3 FM Chili Cook-Off and Salsa Competition was anything but a tradition concoction.

Full story: Spice it up!: Annual K105.3 FM Chili Cook-Off and Salsa Competition is Sunday (Wed, 2/15)

Grand Rapids Press:

The first thing you'll notice when you meet the band The Crane Wives is their age. They are a young band. But don't let that dissuade you from thinking their music doesn't have depth.

Full story: The Crane Wives: Big winners at The WYCE 2012 Jammies (Wed, 2/15)

Michigan Radio:

A new talk radio show hits the airwaves tonight. It's called "Can U Relate?" and it's produced by and for Detroit Public School students. Ania McKoy is a junior at Detroit School of Arts, and is one of the handful of DPS students working on the new show. She says each episode of "Can U Relate?" will tackle a different topic - like teen pregnancy, bullying, homophobia.

Full story: Detroit students launch new talk radio show for teens (Wed, 2/15)

MLive.com:

The Detroit Tigers will have five games moved to FOX's "Saturday Baseball Game of the Week" regional broadcast as part of the network's regular-season coverage, FOX announced Wednesday.

Full story: FOX announces five Detroit Tigers games to be regionally televised, blackouts expected (Wed, 2/15)

Marketplace Morning Report to broadcast live from Michigan

Marketplace Morning Report, a nationally distributed business program from American Public Media, will broadcast live from Michigan Radio's (WUOM-FM 91.7 Ann Arbor / WVGR-FM 104.1 Grand Rapids / WFUM-FM 91.1 Flint) studios in Ann Arbor the week of Feb. 20. Throughout that week, the show will focus on the economy of Michigan and the Midwest, highlighting the bright spots, the struggles, and what's at stake in Michigan's upcoming presidential primary election. Michigan Radio reporters will also be contributing to this week of special coverage. The show can be heard that week on Michigan Radio at 5:50am, 6:50am and 7:50am.

Hosted by Jeremy Hobson, Marketplace Morning Report offers listeners a look at business and economic news from a global perspective, with a glance ahead to the news which will be making headlines throughout the day. In the time it takes listeners to drink their first cup of coffee, Marketplace Morning Report brings them the morning business news "for the rest of us." Marketplace programs are currently broadcast by more than 500 public radio stations nationwide across the United States and are heard by more than 9 million weekly listeners, the largest audience of any business or economics program on radio or television.

Fine Tuning:

• CBS Radio/Detroit WYCD-FM 99.5 has missed out on receiving CMA awards this year. The station had received nominations in January for Major Market Station of the Year and Major Market On-Air Personality Of The Year for the station's afternoon drivers, Chuck Edwards and Linda Lee.
• Tuesday night's Detroit Red Wings - Dallas Stars hockey game in which Detroit earned its NHL-record 21st consecutive home victory will be re-aired by FOX Sports Detroit on Thursday, Feb. 16 from 7-9 p.m.
• Public Radio WDET-FM 101.9 Detroit host Craig Fahle and Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh will take part in a "listening session" with Oakland County residents on Thursday, February 23rd from 5 - 8 p.m. at the Community House in Birmingham. More details, including ticket information, here.
• Classical/Jazz WRCJ-FM 90.9 Detroit continues its series of live Detroit Symphony Orchestra broadcasts on Friday (Feb 17) at 10:30 a.m. Pianist Emanuel Ax joins Leonard Slatkin and the DSO to perform the Mozart Piano Concerto No. 22. The DSO will also play Mahler's Fifth Symphony. WRCJ's Dave Wagner and Chris Felcyn host.
• Josh Lewin, Former FOX Sports Detroit play-by-play voice for the Detroit Tigers, has been hired by WFAN AM New York where he'll join the broadcast team for the New York Mets.

Grand Rapids Press:

The website Mother Nature Network recently took it upon itself to rank "America's hottest weather forecasters" - and it resulted in WOOD-TV 8's Matt Kirkwood getting a little extra attention.

Full story: Website ranks WOOD-TV 8 meteorologist Matt Kirkwood among 'America's hottest forecasters' (Tue, 2/14)

Fine Tuning:

• Birach Broadcasting Oldies WOAP AM 1080 (The Big 1080) Owosso is now broadcasting in AM Stereo, becoming the first station in Michigan to add the feature in a number of years.

 

• Former WWTV-TV/WWUP-TV Ch. 9/10 Cadillac-Traverse City/Sault Ste Marie morning anchor and health reporter Robyn Haines has landed in Columbus, OH at WCMH where she's taken on reporter duties. Haines left TV 9 & 10 earlier this winter.

The Oakland Press:

Radio station WRIF-FM (101.1) today announced it is partnering with Kid Rock's Clarkston-based Made In Detroit brand to create a co-branded T-shirt. The black T-shirt features the station's well known WRIF oval logo with the Made In Detroit logo replacing the "0" in 101.

Full story: WRIF teams up with controversial Clarkston-based Made In Detroit for new T-shirt (Mon, 2/13)

The Maddow Blog / MSNBC.com:

On Friday, we reported on the sale of Benton Harbor, Michigan's city-owned, low-power FM radio station. The state-appointed emergency manager has closed WBHC and listed the equipment and the license on eBay for $5,000. Under Michigan law, an emergency manager can do just about anything he or she wants, including firing elected officials and moving to abolish the town. Selling the station is just one more executive action, really, regardless of how the city feels about it.

Full story: The silencing of Benton Harbor, Michigan (Mon, 2/13)

TVSpy.com:

Funeral services were held this afternoon for Jeffrey Zaslow, the best-selling author and husband of WJBK's Sherry Margolis. Zaslow died in a car accident Friday morning in northern Michigan. WJBK, which recently mourned the loss of general manager Jeff Murri, remembered Zaslow in a long segment during its 10 p.m. newscast on Friday.

Full story: WJBK Remembers Jeffrey Zaslow, Husband of Anchor Sherry Margolis (Mon, 2/13)

WWMT-TV Ch. 3 Kalamazoo:

Newschannel 3 is finding new ways to bring you the news in West Michigan. In early February we started using a new technology to bring you live reports from the field. Live TV has always relied upon live trucks to send video back to the station, which is then rebroadcast to your television through our transmitter.

Full story: A new way to bring you the news (Mon, 2/13)

Detroit Free Press:

As a Catholic TV station based in Ferndale becomes increasingly popular around the world, church officials are trying to tell the public that the media outlet does not represent Catholicism. In two public statements, the Archdiocese of Detroit has taken the unusual step of publicly criticizing Real Catholic TV, saying "that it does not have the authorization required under church law to identify or promote itself as Catholic."

Full story: Views on provocative Real Catholic TV station anger Detroit archdiocese and others (Mon, 2/13)

Benton Harbor LPFM station offered on eBay (update: auction removed)

It appears that City of Benton Harbor has decided to get out of the low-power FM business and is offering the equipment used for WBHC-LP up to the highest bidder on eBay.

The auction starting price was $5,000 and as of Saturday afternoon, there were 2 bids that pushed the price up to $5,100 - not including what's listed as a $1,000 shipping price. The auction is scheduled to close on February 16th at about 6:30 p.m. ET.

In addition to the station's license, the auction includes the antenna, a Crown Broadcast 250 Transmitter, 3 MCA SP1 Mics / with mounting desktop stands, a Mackie 1402 14-channel mixing console, 2 professional CD players, a PBX Port Hybrid, and an Air Tool 600 broadcast audio delay unit ... and patch cords too.

Check out the auction on eBay here

Update 10:55 p.m- the auction has been removed.

Kalamazoo Gazette:

The Glenn Beck Program can no longer be heard on Kalamazoo radio. On Monday, WKZO stopped broadcasting the show from the conservative radio host. Jay Morris, Program Director for the station, said the decision was based on the decline in the show's ratings.

Full story: Glenn Beck off the air at WKZO, replaced with local news hour (Fri, 2/10)

MLive.com:

Mark Renzenbrink has been a customer of Tuttle's Select Cigars almost since the tobacco retailer opened in 1994, as Grand Rapids first cigar smoking lounge.

Full story: Two years after losing job, longtime customer decides to buy one of his favorite stores (Sat, 2/11)

TVSpy.com:

SJL Broadcasting announced today that WTVG news director Brian Trauring has been tapped to oversee news operations for all of the company's stations. Trauring will continue serving as WTVG's news director as he takes on the additional title of executive news director for SJL Broadcasting.

Full story: WTVG News Director Tapped to Oversee SJL Broadcasting's News Operations (Fri, 2/10)

Detroit Free Press:

Jeffrey Zaslow, the West Bloomfield-based author who wrote best-sellers such as "The Last Lecture" about a professor dying of pancreatic cancer and a recent book on U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' recovery from a gunshot wound to the head, was killed Friday in a car accident in northern Michigan. Mr. Zaslow, 53, was a Philadelphia native who was married to Sherry Margolis, a Fox 2 Detroit news anchor since 1987, and the father of three daughters.

Full story: Jeffrey Zaslow, West Bloomfield best-selling author, killed in northern Michigan crash (Fri, 2/10)

 Plymouth-Canton Schools' WSDP-FM 88.1 "The New 88.1" will host an Alumni On-Air Day on Saturday Feb. 11, as part of the celebration of the station's 40th Anniversary.

Alums from all decades of the station's operation will be visiting the studio.

One of the special parts of the day will be a one hour show put together by class of '73 alum Rob Milford. Rob has worked in radio news since he graduated. He is currently the morning host at News Radio 1620 in Pensacola Florida. Rob has been interviewing WSDP Alums for the past couple weeks and has put together a one hour show featuring those interviews.

The show will air as part of the Alumni On-Air Day on Saturday at 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. It will re-air on Tuesday Feb. 14, at Noon.

WSDP signed on the air Feb. 14, 1972 and can be found on the Internet at 881theescape.com.

MLive.com:

Watch out, Bill Steffen. Clips have been circulating on various social sites that show Tom Murphy, news director for Alpena-based CBS/Fox affiliate WBKB-TV, absolutely crushing a series of weather segments. Murphy, a relatively new hire at the station, peppers his weather segments with amusing references to sports and pop culture.

Full story: Does WBKB-TV in Alpena have Michigan's coolest weather man? (Thu, 2/8)

WOOD Radio's Cicchini promoted

News anchor/reporter Paul Cicchini has been named as News Director for Clear Channel news-talk combo WOOD-FM/AM 106.9/1300 in the Grand Rapids market. Cicchini has been with the stations since 2010.

Countdown to "April in the D" begins with search for next Fox Sports Detroit Girl

Winter will soon give way to warmer weather and another exciting spring sports season in Detroit which means the arrival of FOX Sports Detroit's fifth annual "April in the D" campaign.

This year the network is searching and casting for a new FOX Sports Detroit Girl to serve as a Fan Ambassador in April. The winner will help promote a lineup of more than 40 telecasts that month among the Red Wings, Pistons and Tigers, which includes the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the beginning of a much-anticipated baseball season for the reigning American League Central Division champions.

Through February 25, interested fans can go to FoxSportsDetroit.com where they can upload a video up to two minutes describing/demonstrating their affinity for Detroit sports and why they should be the next FOX Sports Detroit Girl. Five finalists will be selected by the network, with online voting from March 1-15 to help determine the winner. The new FOX Sports Detroit Girl will be announced April 1 during that night's Red Wings telecast. Entrants must be at least 18 years of age and a Michigan resident.

The new FOX Sports Detroit Girl will be featured throughout April in on-air promos and web/print advertisements. The winner also will make personal appearances at community events and game venues throughout the month.

The current FOX Sports Detroit Girls - Allison and Lauren - were introduced last April and have proven to be popular additions to the area sports scene through their on-air promos, community appearances and social media interaction.

"We've had numerous inquiries about how one becomes a FOX Sports Detroit Girl, so this is a great opportunity," said Lauren Pober, Director of Marketing, FOX Sports Detroit. "We look forward to seeing the entries from our female fans who share our network's passion for Detroit sports."

Bloomberg Businessweek:

Broadcasters are attracting record political advertising from the Republican presidential primaries, a super-PAC-driven windfall for television stations that promises to grow even larger in the general election. The biggest winner may be Lin TV Corp. The Providence, Rhode Island-based owner of 17 stations in the 12 closely divided swing states identified by Gallup Inc. may see revenue rise 12 percent to a record $457 million this year. Hearst Corp. has 12 battleground-state outlets and CBS Corp. has 10.

Full story: Lin TV Wins Big as Swing-State Cash Spreads to Local Stations (Thu, 2/9)

Grand Rapids Press:

WOOD Radio (1300AM/106.9 FM) listeners may have been startled Thursday morning when they heard longtime competitor Kevin Matthews on the air with WOOD hosts Gary Allen and Steve Kelly.

Full story: Kevin Matthews joins WOOD Radio to host annual Fat Tuesday party at The B.O.B. (Thu, 2/9)

A federal jury on Wednesday awarded the widow of TV outdoorsman Fred Trost nearly $195,000 in her lawsuit against his son.

Full story: Federal jury sides with widow of TV outdoors host Fred Trost over his son (Wed, 2/8)

WEMU-FM 89.1 Ypsilanti:

Citing personal reasons, Dr. Arwulf Arwulf, host of the popular traditional jazz program 'The Sunday Best,' (Sundays 10a - 1p) has stepped down as host, effective immediately. 89.1 Jazz host, Nik Thompson will fill in for the short term.

Full story: 'Sunday Best' host Dr. Arwulf Arwulf steps down after 25 years (Wed, 2/8)

Bob Allison and "Ask Your Neighbor" celebrate 50 years on the air

A true radio gem is celebrating fifty years of broadcasting and Bob Allison's "Ask Your Neighbor" plans on celebrating in style this year with an upcoming documentary on Detroit's PBS TV station, WTVS-TV Ch. 56. The date and time of the TV special are expected to be announced later this year.

The radio show is currently heard weekdays from 9 - 11 a.m. on WNZK AM 690, the program's home since 1997; it's also streamed live via the show's web site at askyourneighbor.com for those outside of the Detroit area.

"Ask Your Neighbor" debuted on February 5th, 1962 on WWJ AM 950, taking the place of the NBC Radio soap opera "My True Story". After some initial controversy with listeners that were upset by the change, "Ask Your Neighbor" would wind up being the most popular radio show for a time in what was the country's fifth largest radio market. When WWJ changed its format to all-News in 1978, "Neighbor" bought airtime at a different station and began selling its own advertising. That concept has helped keep the program going strong at several different stations since the move off WWJ.

Visit 50 years of Bob Allison's "Ask Your Neighbor" a gold standard for Detroit radio for a more complete retrospective on Bob Allison and "Ask Your Neighbor".

TVSpy.com:

 Last week it was announced that Bob Simone was leaving his general manager post at Tucson's KMSB amid the aftermath of the station's shared services agreement with KOLD. Today it was announced that Simone has been named vice president and general manager of WLNS, Young Broadcasting's CBS-affiliate in Lansing, MI.

Full story: Days After Leaving KMSB, Bob Simone Named General Manager of WLNS (Mon, 2/6)

AllAccess.com:

ALL ACCESS confirms that CBS VP/Top 40 Programming DOM THEODORE has left the company. THEODORE had been PD at Top 40 WXRK (92.3 NOW)/NEW YORK, and at WDZH (98.7 AMP RADIO)/DETROIT. DOM told ALL ACCESS, "After 3 years non-stop on the road, and hundreds of naked photos through TSA security checkpoints, it was time for a change."

Full story: CBS VP/Top 40 Dom Theodore Exits (Mon, 2/6)

Muskegon Chronicle:

Muskegonites' first chance to watch TV was on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1947, when Industrial Electrical Supply hooked up an RCA model so locals could gawk at Milwaukee station WTMJ's first, short broadcast. The Chronicle was apparently underwhelmed by this momentous event, its three paragraph story omitting exactly what it was the station broadcast.

Full story: Lookback: When TV came to Muskegon (Mon, 2/6)

Flint Journal:

As millions sit down to watch Super Bowl XLVI today, many are looking for commercials, expecting to be entertained. But Becky Butcher, the president and CEO of NBC25, WEIY-TV will be watching those ads from a different perspective. She sees them as revenue.

Full story: Super Bowl the 'biggest revenue day of the year' for WEYI-TV (Sun, 2/5)

The Day the Music Died beautifully explained

Don McLean's "American Pie" is played a lot on February 3rd because that is the when many rock & roll fans feel it truly was "The Day the Music Died".

McLean's tribute was released in 1971 and it that was also about the time that Scott Westerman was a DJ on East Lansing's WVIC while a student at Michigan State University. He was known as Scott "The Hugger" Westerman and today, after a successful career in broadcasting and cable television, he heads up the MSU Alumni Association.

A couple of years ago he produced an incredible explanation of the lyrics to "American Pie" and it will change the way you hear the song from now on. It's been posted under "Airchecks" on the new Motor City Radio Flashbacks site (www.mcrfb.com). Listen directly by clicking here.

Grand Rapids Press:

Kevin Matthews couldn't be happier. The Grand Rapids radio icon, fired in November from WLAV-FM, soon traded broadcasting for podcasting.

Full story: Kevin Matthews, former WLAV radio personality, enjoying new career as a podcaster (Fri, 2/3)

For hunters and fishermen, Fred Trost, host of "Michigan Outdoors," and later, "Practical Sportsman," was must-see TV. Once described as the "first outdoor media star," he had a folksy, non-politically correct style, and a love for the outdoors that endeared him to Michigan outdoorsmen.

Full story: Family of outdoors host Fred Trost in fight over debts, show tapes (Thu, 2/2)

Former radio personality Todd Chance has been named the Grand Rapids Entertainment Concierege for MLive Media Group, it was announced today.

Full story: Todd Chance named Grand Rapids 'Entertainment Concierge' for MLive Media Group (Thu, 2/2)

The Oakland Press:

WJBK-TV Vice President and General Manager Jeff Murri has died. Murri, 50, of Shelby Township, died Thursday, according to a statement posted on WJBK-TV's website, myfoxdetroit.com. The death has been ruled a suicide, according to the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office.

Full story: WJBK-TV general manager's death ruled a suicide (Fri, 2/3)

Detroit Free Press:

WJBK-TV (Channel 2) vice president and general manager Jeff Murri died today at the age of 50, representatives from Fox said.

Full story: Jeff Murri, WJBK-TV general manager, dies at 50 (Thu, 2/2)

Detroit News:

WJBK-Fox 2 is mourning the loss of its vice president and general manager, Jeff Murri, who died Thursday at age 50.

Full story: Fox 2 general manager Jeff Murri dies (Thu, 2/2)

WXYZ-TV Detroit names Justin Verlander as its Newsmaker of the Year

  ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV has chosen Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander as the station's 2011 Newsmaker of the Year. Verlander will be featured on Channel 7's weekly public affairs/information program Spotlight on the News, hosted by WXYZ Editorial Director Chuck Stokes, Sunday, February 5 at 9:30 a.m. The program will feature an in-depth interview with Verlander who talks about his family, his role models, his game day superstitions and how his life has changed since his record-breaking season.

"In a year when political and economic stories were so critical in metro Detroit, focusing on a hero in the sporting world was a welcome change," said WXYZ Editorial Director Chuck Stokes. "Verlander captured our attention and really brought the region together like no one else did in 2011. Whenever Verlander pitched, people from all walks of life bought tickets and packed Comerica Park."

Spotlight on the News: Newsmaker of the Year recognizes individuals who have had significant impact on southeastern Michigan and the image of the region. Previous WXYZ newsmakers include Dennis Archer, Denise & Atanas Ilitch, Eleanor Josaitis, Peter Karmanos, Mitch Albom, Roger Penske, Max Fisher and Rick Snyder.

Verlander pitched his second no-hitter in the 2011 season. He was named the American League Cy Young Award winner by unanimous vote, and was voted the American League Most Valuable Player. It's a rare honor for a major league player to receive both awards in one season.

Houghton Daily Mining Gazette:

Well-known local radio voice and businessman Francis Samuel Locatelli has died. He was 96. Locatelli, who started WMPL radio in Hancock with two others, died Jan. 24 in New Port Richey, Fla., where he resided.

Full story: Copper Country radio pioneer dies (Tue, 1/31)

Central Michigan Life:

 Mike Sundt said he had no idea Central Michigan University had a public radio station when he moved to Mount Pleasant. "I could've just went and worked for a Big Boy, but I love the music," the Grand Rapids junior said. "Also, I acted a lot in plays in high school, so this gave me a chance to do the two things I'm best at -- talking and playing music." Sundt, a music education major, along with Matt Sumner, a Portland senior working toward a bachelor of science degree in music, can both be heard when tuning into WCMU Public Radio.

Full story: Student musicians work late nights, early mornings as jazz hosts on WCMU Public Radio (Tue, 1/31)

Detroit News:

Russ Gibb has always been good at discovering talent. After all, as the famed owner of the now defunct Grande Ballroom in Detroit, it was Gibb who gave the MC5, Ted Nugent and Iggy Pop their start. He was also responsible for bringing to Detroit rock giants like Janis Joplin, The Rolling Stones, Cream and The Who.

Full story: Aging rock legend helps mother of four find her voice (Wed, 2/1)

News and notes from Metro Detroit

• Buzz Van Houten is the new GM for the new ESPN 1090 (WCAR AM). Van Houten is a market veteran; his lengthy resume contains three decades of work in the industry and includes stops at WJR AM 760, WRIF FM 101.1 and the former WLLZ FM 98.7.

"We're very excited about the opportunity to have a veteran like Buzz to run our operations at WCAR," said Sima Birach, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Birach Holding Corp. "We believe that he will bring the creative approach that our station needs and our listeners want."

"I am very excited about the opportunity to build this station with an open slate and to bring Detroit listeners something they have long been waiting for," commented Van Houten about his new gig.

• Clear Channel WNIC-FM 100.3 signs on with TMZ Radio for features; the station becomes TMZ Radio's 75th affiliate.

• Tanner Friedman Strategic Communications of Farmington Hills announced that the firm's Co-Founder, Matt Friedman, has been added to the Hall of Fame at legendary radio station WJPZ-FM on the campus of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York.

Much of the Metro Detroit television market will be receiving a 'new' television on the air soon as Ion Television's WPXD-TV Channel 31 Ann Arbor has starting testing a new transmitter that will give the station essentially full-market over-the-air coverage of the area for the first time.

WPXD started it's tests from near I-696 and M-10 sometime earlier today- however viewers may experience service interceptions as work continues on the new facility.

Once WPXD completes testing and is on the air permanently, viewers that receive TV channels with an antenna should rescan their digital equipment so their receivers can find the new channel. The new WPXD facilities broadcast on physical channel 50 - the same virtual channel that used by CW affiliate WKBD-TV which actually broadcasts on channel 14. Digital TV receivers use mapping to display TV channels on their virtual numbers (often the same channel numbers used when the stations broadcast in analog) instead of the physical channel number, if they happen to be different.

WPXD's new transmitter is carrying all three subchannels: 31.1 is the main Ion Television broadcast in HD, 31.2 carries the children's targeted network qubo, and 31.3 is broadcasting Ion Life.

Since the station first signed on in 1981, it has broadcast from west of Ann Arbor, near Chelsea. The station's transmitter there will be turned off as soon as engineers are comfortable the new facility is operating properly and becomes licensed. Some viewers in the area west of Ann Arbor will lose their coverage of WPXD when this happens - but most will still be able to receive Ion programming on WZPX-TV Ch. 43 Battle Creek.

The eventual permanent sign on of WPXD from Southfield will make it the first full-power TV station to obtain full market reach in Detroit since WADL Channel 38 started operations from Mt. Clemens in 1986.

Dave B. Goode exits WLDR Traverse City

RAMP this morning reports that man of many hats Dave B. Goode, whose roles included morning host, Program Director, and sales representative, has left Roy Henderson's country WLDR-FM 101.9 Traverse City to head for WBTU FM 93.3 Fort Wayne, IN. He'll co-host mornings and become that country station's promotions director.

A further update on WMTE AM Manistee

Although sister station WCUZ FM 100.1 appears to have returned to the air with a news-talk format, it seems that WMTE AM 1340 Manistee remains off the air for now despite positioners heard on WCUZ that mention the AM station.

FCC files show the station was granted Special Temporary Authority to return to the air on September 30th, 2011 - however that STA was canceled in early December due to concerns from the FCC over interference and the location of where the station's broadcasts were originating. WMTE was then granted Remain Silent Authority on December 30th that lasts through June 27, 2012. As of January 27th, no further filings had been made with FCC for WMTE.

Owner Roy Henderson reportedly is also carrying the news-talk format of WCUZ on an HD side channel of WLDR (HD-4). (update 1/31: WLDR HD-4 is NOT airing WCUZ/WMTE, but instead continues to broadcast sports from Fox Sports Network).

CBS Detroit:

With your help, WWJ Newsradio 950 has raised over $282,600 in our 9th annual Winter Survival Radiothon for THAW, The Heat and Warmth Fund. With utility partner matching funds, this will translate to more than $1.2 Million in heating assistance! We took your calls for 31 straight hours, broadcasting live from The Henry Ford in Dearborn, collecting donations to keep needy Michigan families in need warm this winter.

Full story: WWJ Newsradio 950 Winter Survival Radiothon A Success! (Sat, 1/28)

Lansing-area coverage for WCSG/Grand Rapids includes second translator

A second FM translator owned by Educational Media Foundation in Lansing (95.9 W240CG, licensed to Webberville) is also reportedly airing the mainstream contemporary Christian programming of Cornerstone College's WCSG-FM 91.3 Grand Rapids, joining W237BY 95.3 Mason. Both had been rebroadcasting EMF's "Air One" contemporary Christian. A third EMF translator in the area, 91.5 W218CJ Grand Ledge, continues to rebroadcast Air One.

AllAccess.com:

GREATER MEDIA Active Rock WRIF/DETROIT got a shout-out of sorts from DETROIT RED WINGS all-star goaltender JIMMY HOWARD at FRIDAY's Media Day at the NHL All-Star Game in OTTAWA, thanking "the local radio station in DETROIT" for helping get him elected to the squad.

Full story: NHL All-Star Thanks WRIF For Help Getting Him Chosen For Squad (Mon, 1/30)

KEN EVANS joins CLEAR CHANNEL Top 40 WSNX/GRAND RAPIDS as APD/morning maven under PD ERIC O'BRIEN. EVANS has been freelancing within the CLEAR CHANNEL/WEST MICHIGAN cluster for much of 2011, and has been sitting in on the "SNX Morning After" since BILLY MACC's departure to MIAMI on JANUARY 9th.

Full story: Ken Evans Joins WSNX As APD/Morning Host (Mon, 1/30)

Broadcasting & Cable:

Gannett Co. (owner of WZZM-TV Ch. 13 Grand Rapids among other stations across the country) reported fourth quarter broadcasting revenue of $199.8 million, down 14% from the same quarter a year ago. Excluding Gannett's Captivate elevator programming network, television revenue was $192.4 million, down 13% from the same quarter a year ago. Taking out the previous fourth quarter's political spending, TV revenue was up 11.3%, thanks in large part to a "significant" increase in automotive advertising, said Gannett.

Full story: Gannett TV Revenue Down 13% (Mon, 1/30)

WHNE-LD Flint, a digital low power TV station, recently started regular operations from a broadcast tower near Holly, providing over-the-air service to television viewers in northern Oakland County and in the Flint area.

The station is now on the air 24/7 on channel 26 with directional lobes toward Flint and the south and southeast toward the Metro Detroit area. WHNE-LD would likely have better coverage in metro Detroit if not for a low powered TV station that is currently operating on Channel 26 in Windsor, ON. The station has applied to move to Channel 20 and change its broadcast location to Oak Park - if approved and constructed, WHNE-LD would then enjoy greatly improved reception across much of the metro Detroit area for viewers with antennas.

WHNE-LD currently offers 4 digital subchannels, with plans for a 5th: Retro TV (RTV) on 26.1; Jewelry TV 26.2; America One TV 26.3; Tuff TV 26.4; with Classic TV planned for 26.5.

WJR and Salvation Army set February 24th as date for annual Radiothon

The 25th Annual Salvation Army Bed & Bread Club Radiothon will take place on Friday February 24th from 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. from Oakland Mall in Troy. Newstalk WJR AM 760 will broadcast the event for the second year - and welcome back longtime host Dick Purtan who retired several months after the 2010 event.

Purtan is scheduled to join WJR hosts Paul W. Smith, Frank Beckmann, and Mitch Albom to help raise money in support of the Salvation Army's Bed and Bread program that serves nearly 5,000 meals to children, adults, and seniors and shelters 570 people every day and night of the year.

Last year's Radiothon tallied $1,546,584 in pledges.

MLive.com:

President Barack Obama says the recovery of Detroit automakers proves that America has the talent and wherewithal to remain an international leader in manufacturing. Obama, who is scheduled to speak later this morning at the University of Michigan, appeared as a guest this morning on WJR-AM 760, where he discussed rising college costs and the auto industry with host Paul W. Smith.

Full story: President Barack Obama talks auto recovery, tuition costs, UM-MSU rivalry on Detroit radio (Fri, 1/27)

Gov. Rick Snyder met with a crowd of Wayne State University students and faculty on Thursday during a taping of "Leaders on Leadership" at Detroit Public Television.

Full story: Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder quizzed by WSU students during show taping (Fri, 1/27)

Grand Rapids Press:

Doug Wentworth's smooth and reassuring voice heightened for a moment, saying, "It's a swisheroo for two by Barry Capel." That's all I needed to hear. Finally, the restlessness buzzing through my fevered 8-year-old body eased. I exhaled and sighed in relief.

Full story: Legendary football, basketball radio announcer Doug Wentworth hanging up mic after 50 years, maybe (Thu, 1/26)

Central Michigan Life:

After Michigan State University merged its public broadcasting services with the College of Communication Arts and Sciences last summer, some broadcasting professors have expressed concerns about competition in the mid-Michigan area. The merger, which happened last July, has given many competitive advantages to MSU, including the capability of paying their employees at broadcast stations WKAR-TV and Radio.

Some members of the CMU school of broadcast and cinematic arts believe they could be at a disadvantage from a recruiting standpoint, as more MSU students now have access to better facilities and opportunities.

Full story: Broadcasting department expresses concern after MSU merges broadcast, radio (Thu, 1/26)

Detroit News:

When J.J. Johnson and Lynne Woodison were let go from their morning show at WCSX (94.7-FM), one of their pet projects was abandoned.

Full story: Radio station revives Stone Soup charity effort (Thu, 1/26)

MLive.com:

President Barack Obama, who is expected to spend tonight in Metro Detroit before a morning speech at the University of Michigan, is scheduled to appear tomorrow as a guest on WJR-AM 760.

Full story: President Barack Obama scheduled to appear on WJR-AM 760 tomorrow morning in Detroit (Thu, 1/26)

WXYZ-TV Ch. 7 adds awards to its Detroit 2020 campaign

WXYZ-TV is has announced the inaugural Detroit 2020 Awards as part of the station's ongoing Detroit 2020 campaign. The awards will honor those that exemplify Detroit 2020's motto of "Unify. Inspire. Act."

Viewers are encouraged to nominate people or organizations by going to Detroit2020.com before the March 2nd deadline.

The station plans to give out three awards: A "Unify" award, which will honor an individual or organization that has worked to bring the community and people closer together in 2011; An "Inspire" award, which will honor an individual or organization that worked to motivate the community to accomplish great things in 2011; An "Act" award, which will honor an individual or organization that has made a demonstrable impact and made a difference in 2011.

"WXYZ is excited to recognize the work of those making a profound difference in our community," said Ed Fernandez, WXYZ-TV Vice President and General Manager. "With the inaugural Detroit 2020 Awards, we will honor three people and/or organizations that share our goals to unify, inspire and act."

The Detroit 2020 Awards ceremony will be held in the spring of 2012 with winners being provided cash awards to help further their efforts.

WYCD-FM 99.5 Detroit picks up two Academy of Country Music Broadcast Award nominations

CBS Radio country WYCD-FM 99.5 has been recognized by the Academy of Country Music with nominations in two categories: Major Market Station of the Year and Major Market On-Air Personality Of The Year for the station's afternoon drivers, Chuck Edwards and Linda Lee.

The ACM Awards show is scheduled to be broadcast live on CBS Television on Sunday April 1st at 8 p.m. Eastern from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Radio-Info.com:

Paul Longuski joins country WSSL Greenville, S.C., for afternoons effective Feb. 14, when he will be given a new on-air name. He arrives from Cumulus/Grand Rapids, Mich., where his primary job was the lead on WTNR (Thunder Country 94.5's) morning show.

Full story: New P.M. Driver For WSSL Greenville (Wed, 1/25)

Broadcasting & Cable:

Eight Young Broadcasting stations have agreed to affiliate with ABC's Live Well Network, with the rollout starting Jan. 30. WKRN Nashville, WRIC Richmond, WTEN Albany, WATE Knoxville, WBAY Green Bay, KELO Sioux Falls, WLNS Lansing and KLFY Lafayette (La.) bring the Live Well Network's overall market clearance to more than 58% of U.S. television households.

Full story: Young Broadcasting Stations Look to Live Well (Tue, 1/24)

Grand Rapids' Christian WCSG-FM 91.3 gains Lansing-area coverage

Educational Media Foundation FM translator W237BY 95.3 Mason/Lansing is reported as having switched from rebroadcasting that company's "Air One" contemporary Christian format to a rebroadcast of Cornerstone University's mainstream Christian WCSG-FM 91.3.

Michigan broadcast student award winners announced

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) has revealed the names of its 2012 student broadcasting award winners. A complete list of the 2012 honorees can be found on the MAB web site.

Muskegon Chronicle:

WBLV-FM (90.3) radio host Foley Schuler will present a free, three-part lecture series, "Cities of the Imagination," on the last Tuesdays of January (the 31st), February (28th) and March (27th) at the Nuveen Community Center for the Arts, 8697 Ferry, Montague.

Full story: WBLV radio host Foley Schuler to speak on 'Cities of the Imagination' (Wed, 1/25)

WTVS Ch. 56 Detroit to re-air award-winning documentary

Detroit Public Television, WTVS-TV Ch. 56 Detroit, is scheduled to rebroadcast its documentary movie "Beyond the Light Switch" in two parts. The first half will air tonight at 10 p.m. with the second half scheduled for next Wednesday, February 1st, also at 10 p.m.

The program explores the controversy of the status of the current infrastructure used to create and distribute electricity across the United States. The film won the Alfred I. DuPont/Columbia University Award last year and has aired nationally on PBS affiliates.

In an interesting marketing move, ABC affiliate WOTV-TV Channel 41 Battle Creek has decided to heavily target itself at women, branding itself as "WOTV 4 Women".

The Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo/Battle Creek television market is relatively unique in that it features two full-powered ABC over-the-air affiliates, one that essentially serves the northern and western portions in WZZM-TV Channel 13 and another that serves the southern tier of counties in WOTV (which calls itself Channel 4 due its dial position on many of the areas cable systems). WOTV is co-owned by LIN Media with the market's NBC affiliate, WOOD-TV Channel 8.

From the station's announcement:
 
 
 

WOTV 4 Women is a new ABC station for West Michigan woman by West Michigan Women. Now you can catch all of your favorite ABC shows like, "The Bachelor", "The Chew, "Modern Family" and "The Revolution" while getting great information from women just like you!

There is no other local television station like it! WOTV 4 Women features great on-air tips from West Michigan women in a variety of categories. From food to finance and family, WOTV 4 Women has information every West Michigan woman needs to know.

Want to find out how to make a power smoothie that will give you the energy you need to get through your day? Looking for information on how to relax and find your zen after a long day of work and family? WOTV 4 Women is a station dedicated to getting you quick and easy tips to make your life a little bit easier.

WOTV 4 Women launches on Monday January 30th, 2012. Be sure to come back and check out our new website that will feature great tips from our experts, celebrity interviews with your favorite ABC stars and so much more!

With the vast majority of television viewers receiving local broadcast stations via cable or satellite, the difference in on-air coverage area between WOTV and WZZM isn't nearly as large of a factor as it once used to be in terms of potential audience reach. WOTV's new approach of targeting only women is an interesting attempt at differentiating itself from WZZM and possibly trying to change viewing habits. WOTV will have an advantage over WZZM during this marketing change as it can advertise on a "rival" network, also catching NBC viewers on sister station WOOD-TV.

Detroit News:

It seems to me like we've had a mild winter, but that's a relative term. It's not that balmy when your house doesn't have heat. That's where THAW comes in, where American Coney Island comes in, and where I show up, too, at 11 a.m. today. THAW, the Heat and Warmth Fund, helped keep the furnace burning for 12,000 Michigan households in 2010-11. CEO Susan Sherer expects that number to jump this year, even as temperatures do the same.

Full story: Buy a coney, help THAW (Tue, 1/24)

WDIV-TV Ch. 4 Detroit:

Radio station 94.7 will raise money for the Children's Miracle Network by bringing back the Stone Soup Project to Detroit. The project, named after the childhood fable which tells the story of a community coming together to each add something to a soup pot, relies on the efforts of local business and listeners to help rebuild a classic car from the ground up.

Full story: Detroit-area radio station 94.7 rebuilds classic car for charity (Mon, 1/23)

Green Bay Press-Gazette:

Jim Irwin, 77, who was the radio voice of the Green Bay Packers from 1969 to 1998, died Sunday. His wife Gloria picked up the phone, unprompted, and called the Green Bay Press-Gazette on Monday. "Green Bay was such an important part of our lives, I just kind of wanted to make it a more personal story for the readers," she said, her voice quivering. The last 24 hours left Gloria drained after watching Jim succumb to metastatic cancer in hospice.

Full story: Former Packers radio announcer Jim Irwin dies at 77 (Mon, 1/23)

AllAccess.com:

MACDONALD BROADCASTING Country WKCQ (98KCQ)/SAGINAW, MI weekend overnight personality MARTIN ANTHONY has resigned to pursue part-time opportunities closer to home (metro DETROIT) or full-time positions anywhere in MICHIGAN.

Full story: Martin Anthony Leaves WKCQ (Mon, 1/23)

TVNewsCheck:

Meredith Corp. (owner of CBS affiliate WNEM-TV Ch. 5 Bay City) today reported that fiscal 2012 second quarter Local Media Group operating profit was $27 million, compared to $39 million in the year-ago period. Total revenues were $84 million, compared to $97 million, a 13.5% drop.

Full story: Meredith local media revenue down 13.5% (Tue, 1/24)

Detroit Public Television to air town hall meeting with Governor Snyder

Detroit Public Television (DPTV) has scheduled a first-ever combined broadcast and webcast MiVote Town Hall meeting with Michigan Governor Rick Snyder on Friday January 20, 2012 at 7 p.m.

The television broadcast will be available to viewers on DPTV's main channel, WTVS-TV, Channel 56. The webcast will be available at the same time via dptv.org.

Just two days after the Governor's State of the State address, more than 75 citizens who have participated in community conversations convened by the Center For Michigan and DPTV about the State's future, will comprise a studio audience that will be able to ask questions of the Governor.

Veteran news anchor Christy McDonald will host the program, along with Nolan Finley, Editorial Page Editor of the Detroit News and Stephen Henderson, Editorial Page Editor of the Detroit Free Press.

Additionally, other Michigan PBS stations plan to air the Town Hall. WKAR-TV in Lansing will show the broadcast on Sunday January 22, 2012 at 2 p.m. and WNMU-TV in Marquette will show the broadcast on Thursday February 2, 2012 at 8 p.m.

"This special MiVote Town Hall is the latest example of how we are using the power of media to connect Michigan citizens and work to solve the most important issues facing our communities and the State," said Rich Homberg, President and General Manager of DPTV. "We appreciate that Governor Snyder shares that commitment."

AllAccess.com:

BEASLEY BROADCAST Country WKIS/MIAMI adds BROADWAY to the KENNY WALKER and U-TURN LAVERN morning show, starting JANUARY 24th. Previously, BROADWAY did mornings at WSNX and evenings at WBCT/FRAND RAPIDS, MI.

Full story: WKIS Adds Broadway To Mornings (Wed, 1/18)

Grand Rapids Press:

A new TV station, just for women. That's what WOOD-TV (Channel 8) is promising in a promo airing on the NBC-TV affiliate.

Full story: WOTV Channel 41 promising a new TV station just for women coming in February (Wed, 1/18)

AnnArbor.com:

"Acoustic Cafe," the weekly, produced-in-Ann Arbor radio show that enjoys a worldwide syndicated audience, will settle in at The Ark Tuesday night for a hometown "Acoustic Cafe" live show featuring three performers familiar to Ann Arbor audiences.

Full story: Ann Arbor-based Acoustic Cafe radio show fine-tunes tour with hometown date Tuesday at The Ark (Wed, 1/18)

The Oakland Press:

WADL TV 38 President and CEO Kevin Adell announced on Wednesday that Matt Uhl will be the vice president and general manager of the television station, which is located in Mt.Clemens.

Full story: WADL announces leadership change (Wed, 1/18)

WWJ AM preps for its Winter Survival Radiothon

Although the winter of 2011-12 has thus far been milder than expected, they number of Michigan residents needing assistance in paying their energy bills is still near all-time highs as CBS Radio's WWJ AM 950 gets ready for its 9th Annual WWJ Radiothon to benefit The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW). This year's event is scheduled to be broadcast live from 5 a.m. Friday January 27th through noon on Saturday, January 28th at The Henry Ford in Dearborn.

The goal of the 31-hour effort is to help raise much-needed funds for THAW. To donate call 1-888-579-4950.

Winter is a cold and frightening time of the year for thousands of Michigan families who are struggling to heat their homes. THAW has been assisting Michigan residents facing an emergency energy crisis for 26 years and the need this year is anticipated to be greater than ever.

Heat and lights during a Michigan winter are a necessity, not a luxury. During the cold months ahead many are faced with unimaginable choices such as heating or eating, those most vulnerable in these conditions are children, seniors and people with serious medical conditions.

Last year's Winter Survival Radiothon raised approximately $431,000.

More information on the 9th Annual Winter Survival Radiothon can be found on the CBS/Detroit web site.

Detroit News:

For millions of listeners, National Public Radio's "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!" is a hilarious weekend ritual ... The wildly popular news quiz show will take to the stage of the Fox Theatre on Thursday for a live performance. Like other "Wait Wait" shows, it will be taped for national broadcast and will air locally at 10 a.m. Saturday on WDET (101.9 FM) and 11 a.m. on WUOM (91.7 FM).

Full story: Weekend quiz show gets top marks (Wed, 1/18)

TVNewsCheck:

The E.W. Scripps Co. announced that it has provided a broad outlook for the revenue performance of its television stations and newspapers in 2012. For the full year 2012, the company expects total television revenues to increase by more than 50 percent.

Full story: Scripps expects higher TV revenue in FY12 (Wed, 1/18)

Toledo Blade:

A proposed shared-services agreement between two Toledo TV stations could lead to the shuttering of one channel's news department and the creation of what media transparency advocates say is a move toward limited competition in local TV news.

Full story: Experts fear Toledo TV deal will cut competition (Tue, 1/17)

Chicagoland Radio and Media:

After finding it was too difficult to work for both WIMS-AM & WLS-FM, John Records Landecker, a true Chicago radio legend, has decided to stick with just one station: Chicago's WLS-FM. Landecker exited WIMS-AM as of Friday. Landecker had been working at WIMS-AM since the Fall of 2007 (with the exception of two weeks), doing an afternoon talk show. WIMS-AM is located in nearby Michigan City, IN, close to Landecker's home.

Full story: John Records Landecker Exits WIMS-AM, Sticks With WLS-FM (Sat, 1/14)

MI News 26 (WMNN-LD LPTV Ch. 26 Lake City/Cadillac), positioned as "Northern Michigan's 24/7 local news channel", will be added to Channel 73 on Charter Communication's lineup in northern Michigan beginning January 31st. The station will be available to all Charter digital cable subscribers.

"We're thrilled to be working with Charter to make our local news content available in more homes than ever," said Eric Wotila, General Manager of MI News 26, "Carriage on Charter will significantly expand our coverage area, and we're looking forward to bringing local news to a much wider audience than we currently reach."

Wotila, a 23-year-old Michigan broadcasting entrepreneur, launched MI News 26 in his home town of Cadillac in February 2011. At that time, the station was only available via low-power over-the-air reception and was limited to viewers in Wexford, Missaukee and northern Osceola counties.

Charter is introducing the station to customers in various northern Michigan communities, ranging from Manistee, Traverse City, Cheboygan, Petoskey, and many other communities throughout the region.

"We're excited to offer MI News 26 to our digital customers throughout northern Michigan," said Joe Boullion, the Vice President and General Manager of Charter in Michigan. "This is a unique and compelling form of local news that we feel will serve this part of Michigan with compelling programming."

For more information about MI News 26, visit www.minews26.com.

Lansing State Journal:

In one swoop Monday, WILX (Channel 10) will switch all of its weekday anchors. In recent years, the station has stuck with solo anchors -- David Andrews at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., Jason Colthorp at 11 p.m., Lauren Evans in the morning. Now, Evans moves to evening. She pairs with Colthorp at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Andrews does morning, which adds a half-hour. It will be 4:30 a.m. to 7 a.m., plus cut-ins during "Today."

Full story: WILX anchors to switch up on Monday (Sun, 1/15)

Michigan Radio:

As part of the station's ongoing efforts to cover news across the state, Michigan Radio has established a new mid-Michigan news bureau. Based in Jackson, Reporter Steve Carmody will be covering stories in that city, as well as Lansing, Battle Creek and other mid-Michigan communities.

Full story: Michigan Radio establishes Mid-Michigan news bureau (Thu, 1/12)

Toledo Blade:

A Toledo television station is on track to be sold for more than $22 million to a company that has ties to another local station. Paperwork filed with the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday states WUPW-TV, Channel 36, is in the process of being bought by American Spirit Media. The head of that company, Thomas Henson, already operates at least three other TV stations with Raycom Media, which is the parent company of WTOL-TV, Channel 11.

Full story: TV channels 11, 36 to share services; WUPW to be sold to company with ties to WTOL for $22M (Thu, 1/12)

Detroit Free Press:

Metro Detroit viewers who caught Fox's "Dish Nation" during its trial run last summer should be excited: The pop culture news-and-entertainment TV show featuring WDVD-FM (96.3)'s "Blaine and Allyson in the Morning" cohosts Blaine Fowler and Allyson Martinek will be back. Producers say that beginning in September, the show will air weeknights 52 weeks a year.

Full story: Detroit DJs to return to TV (Thu, 1/12)

TVNewsCheck.com:

Dish Nation, the half-hour entertainment news program featuring drive-time personalities from across the nation (including Blaine & Allyson from Detroit's WDVD-FM 96.3) has been sold to the Fox Television Stations. Set for a September launch, Dish Nation has also been sold to Tribune, LIN, Local TV and Cox stations.

Full story: 'Dish Nation' cleared in 55% of the country (Mon, 1/9)

Grand Rapids Press:

WOOD-TV reporter Anne Schieber is leaving journalism to become a senior investigative analyst for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

Full story: WOOD-TV reporter Anne Schieber leaving to join Mackinac Center for Public Policy (Tue, 1/10)

Radio-Info.com:

... In other news at the Clear Channel Philly cluster, on air veteran Bobby Holiday joins as morning man for the new "R&B Oldies" WDAS-AM, while creative mastermind Mark Fisher becomes the voice talent at the station. Holiday was last the PD of WDZZ Flint, Michigan, before exiting in April of 2010.

Full story: Clear Channel Urban/Philadelphia makes new hires for WUSL, WDAS-AM (Tue, 1/10)

Mario Impemba, best known as the play-by-play of Detroit Tigers baseball for FOX Sports Detroit, has been named as Michigan Sportscaster of the Year for 2011 by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA). It's the first time Impemba has won the award which was created in 1959 and won that year in Michigan by Van Patrick.

The upcoming 2012 season will be the 11th for Impemba as FOX Sports Detroit's Tigers play-by-play announcer. He's a native metro Detroiter and graduate of Michigan State University. You'll also hear Impemba doing radio and TV play-by-play announcer for Oakland University men's basketball.

Recent winners of the Michigan Sportscaster of the Year award include Ken Daniels, Jim Brandstatter, George Blaha, and Dan Dickerson. The late Ernie Harwell was a 19-time winner.

Detroit Free Press beat writer Mark Snyder claimed the Michigan Sportswriter of the Year award for 2011. He covers University of Michigan athletics for the Freep.

Love of the classics brings Dick Wallace back on the air

Longtime classical WQRS-FM 105.1 Detroit music host Dick Wallace headed up north after the station was sold and changed its format back in the 1990s. He spent the remainder of his career at Interlochen Center for the Arts' public classical station WIAA-FM 88.7 near Traverse City before retiring a couple of years ago.

The lure of the mic proved strong, even in retirement, and Wallace has returned to host a weekly specialty show on news-talk WTCM AM 580 Traverse City on Saturday evenings at 9. Titled "Pops Potpourri", the show can be heard online at wtcmradio.com or on the TuneIn Radio app on your smartphone.

"What a kick to be able to do this show, which I did for years on IPR, on WTCM!", commented Wallace on his return to the northern Michigan airwaves.

Detroit News:

The SUV was cruising along in front of them, and then in the time it took to say, "Oh, my God," it wasn't. Channel 2 news anchor Monica Gayle and her family were headed north for a week of skiing. It was two days after Christmas, a little south of Gaylord on Interstate 75. Two vehicles ahead, a Ford Expedition was towing snowmobiles.

Full story: Family's trek up I-75 turns into 'profound' experience of rescuing others (Mon, 1/9)

FOX 2 Detroit adds to weather staff

WJBK-TV Ch. 2 Detroit has hired Alan Longstreet for weekend weather work. He's a native Michigander and was previously working at WTAP in Parkersburg, WV.

AllAccess.com:

CLEAR CHANNEL CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA RPM J.T. BOSCH is on the hunt for a new PD for Top 40 WAEB-F (B104)/ALLENTOWN, as PD ERIC CHASE heads back to DETROIT for Sports/Talk duties at WDFN-A (1130 AM THE FAN). WDFN PD MICHAEL MCCOY tells ALL ACCESS, "I'm really looking forward to ERIC getting here and being able to devote the time to the station that it deserves."

Full story: B104 PD Chase To WDFN (Mon, 1/9)

CBS RADIO Country WYCD/DETROIT has added ROB STONE for weekends. ROB exited from CUMULUS Country WITL/LANSING in NOVEMBER.

Full story: Rob Stone Joins WYCD For Weekends (Mon, 1/9)

MARTZ COMMUNICATIONS Alternative WGPR (THE BONE)/DETROIT complements the recently hired BUBBLA THE LOVE SPONGS morning show (NET NEWS, 1/5) with DI DI MICHAELS for news and STORM KENNEDY for weather. Both are currently heard on MARTZ Urban WAMO/PITTSBURGH in the same capacity.

Full story: The Bone/Detroit Adds Di Di Michaels, Storm Kennedy For Bubba Wakeups (Mon, 1/9)

The Oakland Press:

Get ready for a local newscast that combines hyper-local news stories with television's immediacy when WADL TV 38 and Journal Register newspapers partner to present the "News @ 9" weekdays beginning Monday, Jan. 16.

Full story: WADL and Journal Register newspapers partner to begin weekday newscast (Fri, 1/6)

Jamie Samuelsen exits WCSX, WXYT-FM next stop?

Inside Radio reports that Jamie Samuelsen has stepped down as sports director and morning show co-host at Greater Media classic rocker WCSX-FM 94.7 and is expected to be joining CBS Radio's sports WXYT-FM 97.1.

TVSpy.com:

WPBN-WTOM anchor Diana Fairbanks is joining Buffalo's WIVB-WNLO on January 16. Fairbanks, who tells TVSpy she is "excited about the opportunity," says she will anchor the 5:30 p.m. newscast on WIVB and the 10 p.m. newscast on WNLO on weekdays. Her last day at WPBN-WTOM, the NBC-affiliate in Traverse City, MI, is Friday.

Full story: Anchor Diana Fairbanks Joining WIVB In Buffalo (Thu, 1/5)

Grand Rapids Press:

Do you follow the syndicated (and very popular) "Free Beer and Hot Wings" show on WGRD-FM (97.9)? Or do you listen to the sports talk show giant in town, better known as "Huge" -- who can be heard across the state (including WBBL-FM 107.3) and found online through his Huge Blog on Mlive.com?

Full story: Radio wars? WGRD's Free Beer and Hot Wings take on WBBL's Huge (Thu, 1/5)

Flint Journal:

Former WJRT (Channel 12) news anchor Bill Harris will soon be back on the air permanently. And he can't wait. "I feel like a 5-year-old on Christmas Eve," Harris said. NBC25 (WEYI) today announced its acquisition of Harris, a 35-year news veteran and nine-time Emmy winner. "Channel 25 is offering me what I really love to do and that's anchoring and special project reporting," Harris said.

Full story: TV news anchor Bill Harris 'like a 5-year-old on Christmas Eve' over new gig at NBC25 (Thu, 1/5)

Crain's Detroit Business:

WADL-Channel 38 will debut "News @ 9," a new weekday 9 p.m. newscast, on Jan. 16. The 30-minute newscast is being produced with Journal Register Co., a company whose holdings include The Oakland Press, The Macomb Daily, the Daily Tribune of Royal Oak, the Morning Sun in Mt. Pleasant and all the Heritage newspapers in Southeast Michigan. The newspapers will provide news reporting and streaming video.

Full story: WADL-Channel 38 to start 9 p.m. newscast (Thu, 1/5)

WEYI-TV/minbcnews.com:

NBC25 strengthens its news team and brings back a trusted news resource to viewers. Bill Harris, a 35-year news veteran and nine-time EMMY winner at the local ABC affiliate, will be the anchor of NBC25 News at 6 p.m. After parting ways with his previous station, he is very excited to be back as the face of Mid-Michigan news. He will be starting Jan. 30, 2012.

Full story: Bill Harris joins the NBC25 team (Thu, 1/5)

TVSpy.com:

Longtime WJRT anchor Bill Harris is joining crosstown rival WEYI. "Grab your remotes!" NBC-affiliate WEYI exclaimed, announcing the move. "The face of Mid-Michigan news hasn't changed, but the channel has." Harris spent over three decades anchoring the news for WJRT before being cut loose last spring. He returned to the station to do occasional special reports last year, but officially said goodbye in December.

Full story: Longtime WJRT Anchor Bill Harris Joins Rival WEYI (Wed, 1/4)