SYRACUSE -- After nearly a decade with Galaxy Communications, production director and on-air personality Ted Bilodeau won't be returning to the company's Walton Street headquarters for work on Monday. He's moving east to take a new radio job in his native New Hampshire.
Effective immediately, CNYRadio.com and CNYTVNews.com will be taking a summer vacation. Major breaking news will still be covered to the best of my ability... but I've decided to step back from the "routine day-to-day" types of stories for at least the next couple of months.
UTICA-ROME and SYRACUSE -- Radio and television broadcasters in both of these Central New York markets are asking viewers to help neighbors who've been devastated by unprecedented flooding over the last several days. A joint effort between multiple Utica-area stations is planned for tomorrow, and some Syracuse TV stations have been running a telethon all day today.
SYRACUSE -- NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV) didn't have to look too far away to find a replacement for Leigh Isaacson, who recently departed for a new job in New Orleans. The ABC affiliate has hired Andrew Donovan, who has been working at another "NewsChannel" -- specifically, NewsChannel 2 (WKTV), the NBC affiliate in Utica.
SYRACUSE -- Every week, we wrap up "Picture of the Week" by reminding broadcasters that "we're always in taking a look at what's going on inside local radio and TV stations." Now, Google Maps is literally giving everyone a virtual tour of some local stations, as part of a new extension to its popular "Street View" feature.
Updated 7/1 -- SYRACUSE -- Documents filed with the FCC this week show the majority owner of Galaxy Communications is cashing in its chips. Boston-based Alta Communications is selling its stake in the Syracuse-based company, which operates 8 Syracuse market radio stations, 6 Utica-Rome stations, and an FM translator near Albany. Because the changes are legally considered as a sale, one of Galaxy's Syracuse stations must be "spun off" to a separate company, per FCC regulations.
SYRACUSE -- Good news for Vince Spicola, one of at least two top-level managers sidelined in a significant staff house-cleaning at NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV) last December, right after Nexstar Broadcasting Group closed on its purchase of the ABC affiliate. Spicola has a new managerial position with one of the region's most recognizable not-for-profit organizations.
BOLTON LANDING -- Several radio and television stations from the Syracuse, Utica-Rome and Ithaca/Cortland markets were recognized for their efforts at the New York State Broadcasters Association's 47th "Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting" on Monday evening. As has been the tradition for as long as your editor can remember, winners were announced and awards were distributed at the Sagamore Resort Hotel in Bolton Landing, a little over an hour's drive north of Albany.
SYRACUSE -- Rock station 95X (WAQX) is celebrating its 35th anniversary by offering a lineup of 20 bands at the Regional Market in Syracuse in August. Tickets for "95X-Fest" are now on sale. And the first date in the station's free summer concert series is coming up this Thursday.
SYRACUSE -- Twenty local country music acts hoping to make it big will be performing next weekend, as New Country WOLF 105.1 hosts the Syracuse leg of this year's Texaco Country Showdown. In addition to the competitors, there will be a car show and a performance from national country music duo Walker McGuire.