CNYRadio.com launched ten years ago -- March 1, 2001. To mark the anniversary, we reached out to dozens of local radio personalities and managers. We sent out a series of questions, figuring it would be interesting to see which ones get responses. And one question certainly did -- when we asked people to name THE biggest story from radio over the past decade, one common theme was mentioned: consolidation.
SYRACUSE -- One local radio company was specifically mentioned during Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney's State of the County address last night. Galaxy Communications received applause for helping 2010-2011 become "the most successful year on record" for the annual "Lights on the Lake" at Onondaga Lake Park.
SYRACUSE -- It was March 1, 2001 -- exactly ten years ago today -- that CNYRadio.com was born. Today, we begin a series of articles to mark the occasion. To get things started, we thought it would be fun to follow-up on the site's very first story from a decade ago: internet rumors that 93Q's Rick Roberts was dating Britney Spears. Obviously the rumors weren't true -- but to this day, parts of the story remain a mystery to Roberts and his co-workers.
SYRACUSE -- NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV) chief meteorologist Dave Longley made a surprising announcement about his personal health on tonight's newscasts: he's been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. His story is the basis for a report called "Living with MS," which aired on the ABC affiliate this evening.
UTICA/ROME -- It's a busy week at Townsquare Media's WIBX. After 76 years as an affiliate of CBS News, the station is now running Fox News Radio at the top of the hour. There's also new imaging, a new station voice, and the staffers are gearing up for the station's 40th annual Heart Radiothon this coming weekend.
UTICA/ROME -- Roser Communications Network is looking for someone to run the board for its two Bug Country (WBGK/WBUG) stations. The part-time position, mostly on weekends, involves shifts during remotes and football games.
SYRACUSE -- Dick Carr's Big Bands, Ballads & Blues is moving from the radio to the internet. Carr, the Syracuse-based producer and host of the nationally-syndicated show, says the show will only be available online starting next Sunday.
Phil Stern, a talk host who had shows on WIBX and WTLB several years ago, has published his first book. Stern says The Bull Years is about a radio talk show host. The new book is offered as a digital download for Amazon Kindle owners, or anyone who has the Kindle app on their smartphone. The price is $4.95. After Stern left the Utica-Rome market in 2002, he went on to host a talk show in Albany.
UTICA-ROME -- Former longtime WOUR personality Alison, who exited the rock station's lineup when it was sold from Clear Channel to Galaxy Communications in 2007, is now back on the radio.
SYRACUSE -- Radio versus TV... who will win? You can see for yourself tonight when local broadcasting personalities from CNYCentral (WSTM/WTVH) television take on colleagues from Galaxy Communications radio. They'll be playing basketball to raise money for Golisano Children's Hospital and for a local school teacher who's battling Lou Gehrig's Disease.