Fox New Channel's Bill O'Reilly makes his national radio debut today. With a record-setting 216 stations on board, The Radio Factor, syndicated by Westwood One, is being touted as the biggest launch in the history of talk radio. O'Reilly's new show can be heard locally on WFBL 1050 AM which switches to a news-talk format today.

SportsRadio620 WHEN is set to debut a new show called Bud and the Manchild. Promos running on the station to hype the program don't provide many details, and the station's web site hints only that the new talk formatted show will feature "two forces mind-melding to create something totally unique." The show premieres Monday, May 20.

As part of WSTM TV 3's latest "Best of Central New York" viewer poll, 93Q took away top honors for best radio station. The contemporary hits formatted station edged rival Hot 107-9 which came in second, while market leader B104.7 was third.
Source (link may no longer work):
wstm.com/Global/story.asp?S=768063

The first radio format change of the year in the Syracuse market happens Wednesday when Buckley Radio's WFBL 1050 AM switches from adult standards to news-talk. Included in the new lineup are Westwood One's Bill O'Reilly, ABC's Sean Hannity, and from WOR, Dr. Joy Browne and the Dolans. Buckley Radio owns 18 stations nationwide including WFBL's sister station Oldies 92.1 and WOR in New York City.

Radio & Records is reporting that Citadel Communications "will no longer allow corporatepersonnel to talk on the record to industry trades or the general press about anyissues involving the company or its stations." The move comes on the heals of Infinity's Farid Suleman taking over leadership of the company. Citadel owns four Syracuse radio stations.

Syndicated morning show host Don Imus holds his yearly on-air charity fundraiser today and tomorrow. Money raised during the 13th annual event benefits the Tomorrow's Children Fund, the CJ Foundation for SIDS, and the Imus Ranch for children with cancer. Imus's show is heard locally on WHEN 620 AM.

Arbitron released its winter ratings for Syracuse yesterday, and the news was good for market leader B104.7. With a 1.7 increase, they are clearly at the front of the pack in terms of the 12+ audience. The battle between 93Q and Hot 107-9 is now virtually a dead heat with 93Q inching out in front by a tenth of a ratings point. Oldies 92.1 enjoyed its best ratings in almost two years, and a bit further down the list, Galaxy's WTLA/WSGO doubled their audience with a 1.4 ratings point increase. Visit our ratings section for all the details.

Veteran 570 WSYR news reporter Bill Colley is back with the station after a six-year absence. Colley was a member of the WSYR news staff from 1989-1996.

Power 106.9 has dropped Tom Joyner's syndicated morning show in favor of one hosted by Doug Banks. The move, made yesterday, prompted a few listener complaints,

In honor of ESPN Radio's 10th anniversary this week, the sports radio network has given its web site a new look. The newly designed, state-of-the-art site offers live web streaming,