Recently in West Michigan 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)

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)

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.

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)

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)

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.

106.7 The D adds some personality

Clear Channel/Detroit Classic Rock WDTW-FM 106.7 (The D) has added its first regular jocks to the lineup since changing format in November; Sheri Donovan is now hosting middays with Dahmer manning the afternoon shift.

Donovan should be a familiar voice to many rock listeners in Detroit; after starting her career at WTCM/Traverse City in 1983, she moved to rock radio at WWCK 105.5 Flint in 1985, then was on board at Oldies WKSG-FM 102.7 from 1986-88 when she also was featured in the March 1986 edition of Playboy Magazine. Behind the mic, she was perhaps best known around Detroit during her days at Rocker WLLZ-FM 98.7 from 1988-94.

Donovan then moved on to Los Angeles where her career continues today at Bonneville Radio Album Rocker KSWD 'The Sound'; she currently co-hosts morning drive on the west coast while simultaneously being heard here in Detroit on The D.

Dahmer was most recently at Townsquare Media Modern Rocker WGRD-FM 97.9 Grand Rapids.

RadioBusinessReport:

You may want to fasten your seatbelts for this one. On the surface, WHFB-FM in Benton Harbor MI is being sold for a relatively small amount of cash. But there is lot's more going on here. Just for starters, the station is considered to be part of a market in a different state. And there is a lot more money involved, a third party deal participant and an LMA that dates back to 1998.

Full story: More than meets the eye to Benton Harbor FM buy (Mon, 4/9)

Birach Broadcasting selling Washtenaw County AM

Birach Broadcasting is Spanish-formattted WSDS AM 1480 Salem Township (near Ypsilanti) for $1.45 million to Vazquez Broadcasting, pending FCC approval and closing. Birach acquired the station in 2005 for $1.5 million and changed the station's format from Classic Country to Spanish Pop 'La Explosiva' in June 2005.

WSDS' coverage area also includes much of western Wayne County.

AllAccess.com:

After just six months in the position (NET NEWS 10/4/11), TOWNSQUARE SVP/Sales MATT HANLON has abruptly resigned. HANLON joined TOWNSQUARE from CITADEL, where he last served as Pres./Midwest Region.

Full story: SVP/Sales Matt Hanlon Resigns From Townsquare Media (Tue, 4/10)

Fine Tuning

• Clear Channel/Grand Rapids Country WBCT-FM 93.7 has added Baltimore, MD based Michael J to evenings (7 p.m. - midnight) and shifted Bobby Bare to overnights (midnight - 5 a.m.).
  
  Michael J spent a number of years in Detroit (he was known then as Michael J Foxx) and was the last jock heard on what was WWWW-FM 106.7 when it changed format from Country to Rock in 1999. Michael J has been 'brought back' to Michigan on various other Country stations via voicetracking since moving to Baltimore.

 

• WBCK AM 930 Battle Creek has reportedly changed its format from Country to Sports. The station is currently owned by the Status Radio trust after being spun off by Cumulus as part of a 2007 transaction involving radio stations owned by Cumulus and Clear Channel in Battle Creek, Ann Arbor, and Canton, OH.

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

AnnArbor.com:

Student-run television station WOLV at the University of Michigan might be one of the U-M's best-kept secrets, but that could be about to change. "We are quite unknown, but we are fixing that this year," Director Lauren Blanchard said.

Full story: U-M student TV station WOLV may be small, but it provides big experience for would-be broadcasters (Fri, 4/6)

AllAccess.com:

WHFB BROADCAST ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP is selling Country WHFB-F (REAL COUNTRY 99.9)/BENTON HARBOR, MI-SOUTH BEND, IN to DOUGLAS ROAD RADIO, INC. for $20,000. With the assignment of an option to buy the station from SCHURZ COMMUNICATIONS' WSBT, INC., the latter will end its time brokerage agreement to program the station.

Full story: WHFB/Benton Harbor-South Bend Sold (Fri, 4/6)

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.

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)

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)

Crain's Detroit Business:

Will conservative-bent Detroit talk station WJR 760 AM replace the beleaguered "Rush Limbaugh Show" in the noon to 3 p.m. weekday slot with former Republican presidential candidate-turned-media personality Mike Huckabee's new show month? Right now, it's unclear but the station's parent company is sending messages that such a switch is very possible on its outlets.

Full story: Colossal Conservative Clash: Will Rush Limbaugh be replaced by Mike Huckabee on Detroit radio, or just challenged? (Wed, 3/21)

Grand Rapids Press:

Question: If a radio DJ shaves his head, does his voice change? I'm thinking of the biblical story of Samson and Delilah. Samson's strength was directly tied to his flowing locks.

Full story: WLAV's Rob Brandt to shave head to raise awareness and money for Van Andel Institute (Wed, 3/21)

WGVU Radio has been named Station of the Year by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters for 2011. WGVU Radio, a service of Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, was awarded five of seven possible Best in Category awards at the annual statewide Broadcast Excellence Awards ceremony held last week in Lansing.

Full story: WGVU radio named 2011 Station of the Year by Michigan Association of Broadcasters (Wed, 3/21)

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.

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)

Central Michigan Life:

Central Michigan University's student-run radio station Modern Rock 91.5 WHMW-FM will rebrand itself, including a name change, in the fall 2012 semester. The station's new name, "Moore Rock Radio," has been approved for change on Oct. 1. The name was proposed by executive staff members to develop a new image and encompass a broader arrangement of music, and was announced at the Student Broadcast Executive Council's Feb. 23 meeting.

Full story: WMHW Modern Rock 91.5 to rebrand, change station name in fall (Sun, 3/11)

Detroit News:

He sounds the same, but doesn't look the same. That's what the loss of 40 pounds can do to anyone. Unfortunately, that's what a second bout with cancer can do as well. Tigers' longtime broadcaster Jim Price had his adrenal glands removed in a 41/2-hour procedure at Troy Beaumont Hospital in January.

Full story: Tigers broadcaster Jim Price bounces back after second bout with cancer (Sat, 3/10)

Kalamazoo Gazette:

WIDR Week will take on a more serious tone when the heart of the annual fundraising drive of the Western Michigan University student-run radio station kicks off on Sunday. WIDR General Manager Johanna Kelly said the station, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary in September, needs to raise around $20,000 through its series of events and on-air funding campaign.

Full story: WIDR-FM's annual fundraiser WIDR Week to kick off this weekend, campaign key to independent station's future (Thu, 3/8)

WXMI Fox 17 Grand Rapids:

A handful of people held a protest in favor of radio-talk-show-host Rush Limbaugh early Saturday afternoon in downtown Grand Rapids.

Full story: Women, Girls Hold Protest For Rush (Sat, 3/10)

Grand Rapids Press:

When Rush Limbaugh called Sandra Fluke a "slut," he similarly attacked women like Auna Harris and Laura Woodbury, Calvin College students who believe contraception should be available under health plans. The pair were among a dozen protesters today who delivered letters to Clear Channel Communications' Grand Rapids offices.

Full story: Protesters try to run Rush Limbaugh off Grand Rapids airwaves for 'slut' comment (Wed, 3/7)

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)

Detroit Free Press:

Retired Detroit broadcasting great Dick Purtan will be back on the air for today's Salvation Army Bed & Bread Club Radiothon, but he thinks it might be the last time he's behind the mic ... Purtan is scheduled to be on the air with WJR-AM (760) hosts Paul W. Smith (7-9 a.m.), Frank Beckmann (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) and Mitch Albom (4-6 p.m.) before joining all of the show's on-air hosts from 8 to 10 p.m.

Full story: Names and Faces (Fri, 2/24)

Charlotte (NC) Observer:

Brenda Matthews, the new midday host on WKQC-FM ("K" 104.7), grew up in suburban Detroit in the Motown era, surrounded by great music coming from the radio. Once a week, she'd run down the street to a nearby record store to get the radio station hit lists when they came out. But it was still strange she chose a career in radio - she was shy as a kid.

Full story: Host on 'K' beat shyness for radio work (Fri, 2/24)

WNEM-TV Ch. 5 Bay City:

Old time radio lovers will be happy to hear about a big event going on in Lansing this weekend. On Saturday, Feb. 25, the Michigan Historical Museum welcomes all those interested in the Golden Age of radio, and particularly those who have an antique set on hand that needs a little TLC. The Michigan Antique Radio Club will be at the museum for "Radio Rescue" beginning at 1 p.m. Club members will be available to discuss the history of radio and its effect on Michigan. Visitors are invited to bring in their cherished, time-worn radios for personalized advice on repair and restoration.

Full story: Celebrate Golden Age of radio in Lansing Saturday (Fri, 2/24)

Grand Rapids Press:

Another Friday, another update on the Rock Paper Scissors challenge. It was a pretty slow week. I didn't get too many matches tossed my way. But it's a long, long road to 1,000 wins and I'm sure there will be busier weeks.

Full story: Gravy from 105.3 HOTFM the next challenger for the citywide Rock, Paper, Scissors challenge (Fri, 2/24)

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.

 Cumulus Broadcasting has started regular operations of FM translator W273AR 102.5 in the Kalamazoo market with a Country format and 10,000 songs in a row as "102.5 Great Country - The 90s to Now". The 250 watt translator provides the immediate Kalamazoo area with coverage of the new format.

The translator rebroadcasts the HD2 channel of Cumulus' WKFR-FM 103.3 - those with digital radios will have two options to receive the new offering on either WKFR-HD2 or the analog 102.5 translator.

The country format in Kalamazoo had previously been provided primarily by Clear Channel's WBCT-FM 93.7 from Grand Rapids and Midwest Communications' WNWN-FM 98.5 from Coldwater/Battle Creek until yesterday's startup of Great Country.

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)

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)

Jeff Murri, FOX 2 General Manager, has died

 FOX-owned WJBK-TV Ch. 2 (Fox 2) is reporting this afternoon that Jeff Murri, the station's General Manager, has died. No other details were revealed when the information was first released.

From the station: "It is with an extremely sad heart that we report the news that WJBK Fox 2 General Manager Jeff Murri has died. We knew him as a wonderful, energetic and giving person. We are deeply saddened and shocked by his loss. Right now our entire staff at the station simply sends our collective thoughts, love and prayers to his family."

Full story: Jeff Murri, General Manager of WJBK Fox-2, Has Died (Thu, 2/2)

WSJM-FM/AM St. Joseph:

The sound of a radio tower hitting the ground could be heard in the city of South Haven on Wednesday. AM 940 went off the air for good early this month, and now its two towers in the marshy Celery Pond have been taken down. Midwest Family Broadcasting engineer Terry Green told us that it takes some preparation to remove a couple of 220 foot towers.

Full story: South Haven Radio Towers Demolished (Wed, 2/1)

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)

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 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)

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)

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)

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)

Plymouth-Canton's WSDP-FM 88.1 flips to pop

On the afternoon of New Year's Eve, WSDP-FM 88.1 Plymouth wrapped up its stunting and officially took on a pop/Hot AC format, becoming Plymouth and Canton's Hit Music and inviting listeners to come up with a name for the station - and be entered for a chance to win a $100 gas card. Visit the web site for more information and to listen to the station live at TheNew881.com.

Musically, the relaunched station will feature artists such as Adele, Maroon 5, Kelly Clarkson, Journey, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, The Fray and Bon Jovi.

WSDP will continue to be run by students in the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools and provide hourly community news, live broadcasts from throughout Plymouth and Canton, live school sports from Canton, Plymouth and Salem high schools, and Plymouth Whalers Hockey.

WSDP featured an alternative rock format until December 27th, when it began stunting toward its new sound. The station's staff is working on an internet only station that will continue 88.1FM's former format, known as "The Escape."

"We're excited to bring The New 88.1 to listeners in Plymouth and Canton," said Kyle Linford, Program Director, "We look forward to serving the community in the months ahead."

Southwest Michigan AM goes dark

Mid-West Family Broadcasting has taken sports WCSY AM 940 South Haven off the air permanently, electing to cease operations as of 10:40 a.m. on Monday, January 2nd. It's expected the station's two tower array will be removed at a later date.

Cumulus' Spaulding travels down US-23

RAMP reports that Matt Spaulding has exited Cumulus' Ann Arbor, MI cluster (WWWW-FM / WQKL-FM / WTKA AM / WLBY AM) and has been named as VP/Market Manager for the company's Toledo/Monroe operations (WRQN-FM / WXKR-FM / WMIM-FM / WKKO-FM / WWWM-FM / WLQR-FM/AM).