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Year in Review 2013: The top 10 stories

December 31, 2013 by CNYRadio.com

CENTRAL NEW YORK — As per tradition here at CNYRadio.com and CNYTVNews.com, New Year's Eve is when we look through a whole bunch of server stats to determine the Top 10 Stories that appeared on this website over the past year.  We also asked readers to submit some of your own thoughts on which stories are the "biggest" in terms of importance, even if not by numbers alone.

Top 10 search terms: What readers wanted to know about the most

We’re always grateful for readers who stop by the site every day, or who keep an eye out for new stories via our RSS, Facebook or Twitter feeds. But there are plenty of readers who find the site through search engines like Google and Yahoo. Not counting searches for "cnyradio" or similar variations of the site's name, here are the top 10 search terms which brought users to CNYRadio.com and CNYTVNews.com during 2013:

  1. Dave Eichorn
  2. Tanja Babich
  3. Caroline Gable
  4. Bill Shedden WCNY
  5. Brent Axe
  6. twc.com/mychannels
  7. Bill Keeler
  8. Dave Longley
  9. Dysfunctional Family BBQ
  10. KRockathon 2013

Source: Google Analytics, 1/1/13 through 12/30/13.

Your Picks: Readers nominate top stories

While the top 10 list which appears further down this page is based strictly upon site traffic stats, we realize that sometimes, the "biggest" stories aren't always necessarily the stories that get the biggest numbers.  With that in mind, we asked readers to submit their own picks for the "biggest" story of 2013.  While there didn't seem to be a consensus on any particular story, there was agreement on a particular topic: personnel changes.

  • One reader pointed out how 92.7 The Drive (WXUR) in Utica has "completed its migration of key players" from 96.9 WOUR.  Former midday host Alison and afternoon host Jerry Kraus were let go in 2007, just before Clear Channel sold WOUR to Galaxy Communications.  Both have since picked up weekend shifts at WXUR.  "Genesee Joe" Trisolino was the lone weekday on-air staffer to survive the sale and remained with WOUR for a few more years.  But this past August March (our mistake on the date!), Genesee Joe made the jump to WXUR, joining his old co-workers once again.
  • On our CNYRadio.com Facebook page, reader Branden Jaquays commented, "I vote for the death of 'Sports Watch,' the longtime sports show on WIBX... and also, the untimely exit of WIBX's Branden Block," the former of which was an indirect side effect of WIBX hiring longtime local radio personality Bill Keeler to host mornings.  Both events took place in January.
  • Multiple readers pointed out the seemingly high number of changes on the talent roster at Syracuse ABC affiliate WSYR-TV.  One reader pointed out, just since Labor Day, at least five on-air staffers have left: morning meteorologist Chris Brandolino, morning co-anchor Tanja Babich, weekend anchor James Gaddis, weekend meteorologist Julia Weiden and "Bridge Street" co-host Caroline Gable.  On the plus side, all six left on their own -- and it seems plenty of viewers are pleased that Brandolino's exit makes it possible for NewsChannel 9 to bring former chief meteorologist Dave Eichorn back to the staff.

How did our reader picks compare to the actual site traffic stats?

Top 10 CNYRadio.com and CNYTVNews.com Stories of 2013

Without further adieu, we present to you, the ten most-viewed stories during 2013:


Joe Parker

#10: Joe Parker exits ND post at WUTR/WFXV

UTICA-ROME — Management confirms Joe Parker has exited his post as news director and anchor at the Eyewitness News operation at ABC affiliate WUTR and Fox affiliate WFXV. Parker had been news director and co-anchor since WUTR and WFXV relaunched local newscasts nearly two years earlier.[More »]


WKTV

#9: WKTV being sold to former head of Gray Television for $16 million

UTICA — According to documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission, NBC affiliate NewsChannel 2 (WKTV) will very likely have a new owner in the near future. Pending FCC approval, Utica’s oldest television station will be sold to a company headed by Robert S. Prather, Jr., who resigned from the post of President and COO of Gray Television earlier this year. The pricetag for the sale: $16 million.[More »]


Chris Brandolino and Tanja Babich

#8: Two to exit NewsChannel 9′s “Morning News” by year’s end

SYRACUSE — Two of the three primary on-air talent for “The Morning News” on NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV) will be leaving the ABC affiliate by the end of this year. Co-anchor Tanja Babich and meteorologist Chris Brandolino have new jobs lined-up outside of Central New York. Babich will be gone by the end of this month, and Brandolino will wrap up his three-year stay with channel 9 on New Year’s Eve.[More »]


Dave Eichorn

#7: Dave Eichorn returning to NewsChannel 9

SYRACUSE — Less than a day after NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV) announced a big staffing shuffle, here comes another — one that could arguably be even bigger than the rest. After five years away from TV, former chief meteorolgist Dave Eichorn will return to the ABC affiliate in 2014.  Although this wasn't the biggest story of the entire year, our stats show CNYRadio.com and CNYTVNews.com had more hits the day this story hit, than any other day in 2013. [More »]


Justin Kraemer

#6: Former Syracuse newscaster curses on TV in Wichita

WICHITA, KS — One of the cardinal rules for broadcast talent is to always remember, any microphone can be hot at any time. But it looks like Justin Kraemer, a former reporter for Syracuse’s NBC3 (WSTM-TV) and Newsradio 570 WSYR forgot that rule for a moment, just as he was wrapping up last night’s late news at NBC affiliate KSNW in Wichita, Kansas. His mic was open when he dropped an "f-bomb" over the NBC chimes at the end of the show... and a viewer posted the video on YouTube.[More »]


#5: Julia Weiden leaving NewsChannel 9

SYRACUSE — Even though Chris Brandolino announced his plans to leave NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV) last month, one of his colleagues from the Storm Team has a surprise: she’s going to beat him to the door by a couple of days. Weekend meteorologist Julia Weiden’s last day on-air with the ABC affiliate will be Sunday, December 29. Oh, and PS -- we also learned Brandolino's co-host ob "Bridge Street," Caroline Gable, has decided not to return from maternity leave.[More »]


#4: Syracuse stations flip to “Holly-FM,” with 24/7 Christmas

SYRACUSE — For the past several years, Central New Yorkers have come to expect all-Christmas music to hit the radio on November 1. This year, a new record — as of late Saturday night, October 5 — there are two FM frequencies where you can hear holiday hits around the clock. ”Holly-FM” is up and running at 95.3 in Syracuse, and 103.9 in Oswego.[More »]


#3: K-Rock unveils new location and lineup for 2013 Dysfunctional Family BBQ

SYRACUSE — Rock fans, get ready to head north. K-Rock’s Dysfunctional Family BBQ moves to the Oswego Speedway for its 7th year. In addition to that new location, the trio of modern rock stations covering the Syracuse and Utica-Rome markets announced a lineup of six bands for the May 18 concert. Tickets go on-sale this Saturday.[More »]


#2: Time Warner announces massive channel lineup shuffle

SYRACUSE — Got all the channel numbers on your Time Warner Cable lineup memorized? At least your favorites, anyway? Well, come June 18, you can forget all those numbers. Time Warner says it’s completely reorganizing its digital cable channel numbers for Syracuse and surrounding areas.[More »]


#1: KRockathon 18 (2013) lineup announced

SYRACUSE — Tickets go on sale this Saturday for Krockathon 18, which will be held on July 27 at the New York State Fairgrounds. Chevelle, Sevendust and All That Remains are just three of the 11 bands who were announced by K-Rock (WKRL/WKRH/WKLL) today, and the stations promise “more” to be announced prior to the concert date.[More »]


And there you have it, the top 10 most-viewed stories to be published in 2013 on CNYRadio.com and CNYTVNews.com!  Thanks for all the great news tips in 2013, thanks for your readership, and here's to a prosperous, healthy and happy 2014.

More 2013 Year in Review Coverage

yir-13This is the fourth and final part of our 2013 Year in Review series.  If you missed any of the other installments, here they are:

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