SYRACUSE -- Planning for an operation is no fun for anyone... especially a young child. But a 12-year-old from Oswego County got a thrill before heading into the for major spinal surgery, when classic rock station TK99 (WTKW) was able to help the boy meet one of his sports heroes.
SYRACUSE -- When an all-sports radio station has the rights to both baseball's World Series and NFL football, which game wins in a scheduling conflict? For ESPN Radio CNY, which is heard at 1200AM and 97.7FM in Syracuse, and 1440AM and 100.7FM in Oswego, the answer was a matter of splitting-up the usual simulcast. But the FMs are just translators -- legally, they are not able to originate their own programming. So, how did Galaxy Communications do it without breaking FCC rules?
SYRACUSE -- Although there are many changes in the works at the Syracuse Chiefs this off-season, fans will hear some familiar voices offering play-by-play and color commentary next spring. The team says Jason Benetti and Kevin Brown will continue their roles in the media office. Still up in the air, however, is whether the Chiefs will return to broadcast radio in 2014, after a season of webcasting.
NEW YORK CITY -- Continuing our catching-up on news from "while we were out on hiatus," former CNY broadcaster Dave Vieser checks-in to share some good news. The former Assistant PD and morning co-host of the Morning News Watch on Ithaca's WHCU is now back on WHCU -- and hundreds of other radio stations across the country -- as a correspondent for CBS News Radio.
SYRACUSE -- Your News Now, or YNN, is celebrating ten years on Time Warner Cable. The 24/7 local news channel, which started out as "News 10 Now," still has 17 of its original staff members on board, including GM Ron Lombard. Today on syracuse.com, Katrina Tulloch interviewed Lombard about his reflections on the past decade.
SYRACUSE and UTICA -- At least two former Syracuse TV reporters enjoyed victories on election night. Jean Kessner was re-elected to the Syracuse Common Council. Stefan Mychajliw was re-elected as Erie County Comptroller in his hometown of Buffalo. And in Utica, longtime WIBX "Auto Talk" host Ed Welsh was re-elected to the Oneida County Legislature.
SYRACUSE -- The early October launch of all-Christmas "Holly-FM" was accompanied by some call sign changes for a few local stations. There was some confusion earlier due to the federal government shutdown, but thanks to the FCC's monthly report of call sign changes nationwide, we can report the following:
Updated 11/4 -- ONEIDA -- From the "while we were on hiatus" backlog, longtime WMCR operations manager Joel Meltzer has exited the station--and the state. After 25 years with the station, Meltzer has reportedly decided to pursue other interests in Florida. His duties have since been assumed by someone familiar to longtime Syracuse-area radio listeners.
UTICA-ROME -- It's been a long time in the works, and the signal has been on-again/off-again several times over the past two years. Today, some sure signs of progress -- management has announced the station's eventual format, and they're taking applications for a number of job openings.
SYRACUSE -- After more than 30 years in local radio -- the last 21 as VP and General Manager of the market's Clear Channel cluster of radio stations, Joel Delmonico is ready to call it a career. He announced his retirement plans today.