UTICA-ROME -- The hosts of 100.7 WUTQ's "Talk of the Town" are getting ready to celebrate another year in the studio together. Mark Piersma and Frank Elias are opening the doors to the WUTQ studios to the public for an extended "2nd Anniversary Show" tomorrow morning. Guests will enjoy "music, food... and more" according to a Facebook event posted by organizers.
SYRACUSE -- Three local television stations will soon have new owners, after the Federal Communications Commission approved two separate deals which were initially announced in February. Barrington Broadcasting is selling all of its stations -- including Syracuse's NBC3 (WSTM-TV) and CW6 (WSTQ-LP) to Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of Fox 68 (WSYT). But because FCC ownership limits forbid Sinclair from owning all three stations, the company will be shedding itself of WSYT -- at least, on paper.
ITHACA -- Several broadcasters who learned their trade at Ithaca College got together last month during the college's reunion weekend. Longtime WHCU/WYXL General Manager Rudy Paolangeli -- also an Ithaca College alumnus and former faculty member -- shared a photo from the gathering.
SYRACUSE and UTICA-ROME -- The mystery is over as to when Clear Channel's Y94 (WYYY Syracuse) and Townsquare Media's Lite 98.7 (WLZW Utica) would trade-in their usual adult contemporary formats to go all-Christmas. Both stations made the switch on Friday afternoon.
SYRACUSE -- Time Warner Cable's 24/7 local news channel, YNN, is looking for an Assignment Editor. The full-time position was posted November 8. Here's a link to the full job description and online application.
DALLAS -- Congratulations to former Syracuse TV news reporter Ray Villeda, who scored himself a 2013 Lone Star EMMY Award this past weekend. Villeda, who has been reporting at NBC affiliate KXAS for the past two years, was recognized for outstanding achievement in presenting live field reports.
SYRACUSE -- After Tanja Babich leaves NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV) in less than two weeks, she'll be headed west to Chicago. It was revealed today that she'll be working for ABC's owned-and-operated affiliate in the Windy City.
UTICA-ROME -- NPR news/talk fans in the Copper City could soon have another option for tuning-in the NPR affiliate from the Port City. The FCC has granted a construction permit for a new FM translator in Rome to simulcast Oswego's WRVO. When construction is complete, the signal at 92.3FM is expected to cover the city's center and surrounding areas.
SYRACUSE -- Baseball fans will be able to hear the Syracuse Chiefs on broadcast radio again next spring. The Triple A affiliate of the Washington Nationals said it's returning to The Score 1260 (WSKO) in 2014, after trying out an "online only" approach during the 2013 season.
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.