Radio and theater veteran Bob Brown will be pinch hitting during afternoon drive at Sunny 102.1 (WZUN) for a few weeks while Marty Santy recovers from hip replacement surgery. Santy, who was hurt in a motorocycle accident four years ago, had the operation last week and is at home recovering.
After a nine month run, 570 WSYR has decided to drop Sam Donaldson's daily talk show, Alive in America, in favor of one hosted by conservative talk host Glenn Beck. Beck's nationally syndicated show, which is broadcast out of Philadelphia and heard on over 100 stations nationwide, airs locally from 10 a.m. - noon weekdays.
With Oswego being one of the areas hit hardest by last week's ice storm, it's no surprise that WRVO FM 90 is having a tough time getting back on the air.
Electrical power was never a problem for the public radio station thanks to a generator purchased last year with the help of listener contributions. What it causing headaches for WRVO's engineering staff are large chunks of ice that fell from the station's 300 transmitting tower on Saturday which landed on a vital piece of transmission equipment.
Friday night's ice storm in Oswego, Cayuga, and Onondaga counties which left over 125,000 utility customers without power, also kicked several Central New York radio signals off the air.
A spot check of the dial over the past twelve hours found sporadic or extended outages at WRVO FM 90, Oldies 92.1 (WSEN), 93Q (WNTQ), Radio Disney (WOLF), Sunny 102.1 (WZUN), TK-105 (WTKV), Power 106.9 (WPHR), and TalkRadio 1050 (WFBL).
93Q's afternoon drive personality, 'Big Jim' Donovan, is the new public address announcer at P&C Stadium. Donovan, who replaces Dave Perkins as the in-stadium voice of the Syracuse SkyChiefs, was selected from an initial pool of about 50 people.
Meanwhile, Syracuse University announcer Matt Park is Bob McElligott's new partner this season for SkyChiefs broadcasts on ESPN Radio 1260 (WNSS).
With J.J. Herr's move to North Carolina, K-Rock is shuffling its jock schedule.
'Silent Bob' Staffa moves from middays to fill Herr's Total Request Morning duties.
The station is also bringing back Rainman to afternoon drive, a shift he hosted from 1999-2001. "When K-Rock offered me the chance to kick itin afternoons in Central New York again, it was an opportunity I could notpass up!," he said. "I miss the listeners and can't wait to riggity ROCK with themagain!"
After spending his entire 25-year radio career at 95X (WAQX), Dave Frisina has decided that it's time for a change.
Tickets go on sale this Saturday for K-Rock's 'Spring Thing' to be held May 17 at Cole Muffler Court at the New York State Fairgrounds. Chevelle and Unloco, two bands that are part of this year's Ozzfest tour, headline the show. Also on the roster: (Hed)PE, Pacifier, Off By One, and K-Rock's house band, Thunderosa.
The latest Syracuse monthly trend numbers look good for Citadel Communications stations, particularly 93Q (WNTQ). With a .9 ratings point increase over last month's trends, the CHR station moved past 570 WSYR into second place in 12+ numbers.
It looks like they'll be rocking in Weedsport over Memorial Day weekend. Stonesour is the headliner at this year's 95X-Fest to be held at the Cayuga County Fairgrounds on Monday, May 26. Also scheduled to perform: Powerman 5K, RA, Outspoken, Slur and Doubledrive.