SYRACUSE -- Did you know Syracuse's first TV station set a new record the moment it signed-on? Or that the very same cameras which captured The Beatles' historic appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show would eventually be bought and used by one local station? These tidbits and many more are part of a new book about the history of Syracuse television, which goes on-sale later this month.
VERONA -- Longtime Onondaga Community College radio instructor and local sports radio broadcaster Vince "Vinny" Spadafora has died at the age of 65. His death is the result of a one-car rollover accident on Friday night.
ITHACA -- For many people, retirement provides an opportunity to pursue new interests that we couldn't realize while working full-time. So what has Rudy Paolangeli been doing since he retired from full-time duties at WHCU in 1988? More radio! This Sunday, it'll be exactly 25 years since his weekly post-retirement show started... and he's never missed a single week.
SYRACUSE -- Non-commercial radio stations and Syracuse TV stations dominated in their respective categories in the Syracuse Press Club's annual Professional Recognition Awards competition. The club released the list of winners for the contest, which was open to all media outlets within the SPC's 21-county service area.
SYRACUSE and UTICA-ROME -- Despite the odd selection of March 9 (as opposed to the seemingly more-obvious March 16) for Saint Patrick's parades in both Syracuse and Utica, crowds turned out in huge numbers. And as always, broadcasters were a big part of those parades. Today, we've got three "Pictures of the Week" submitted by local stations.
OSWEGO -- Today was the first day of WRVO's spring on-air fundraiser. While some stations devote an entire week to soliciting listener support on-air, WRVO said it was able to reduce its on-air fundraising efforts to just three days this year, thanks to the success of last month's "Foneless February" campaign.
ITHACA/CORTLAND -- Progressive Talk 1470 (WNYY) is a big step closer to gaining a presence on the FM dial. The FCC says it has approved the sale of a construction permit for a future FM translator to WNYY owner Saga Communications.
UTICA-ROME -- The syndicated "True Oldies Channel" is back in the market -- this time, at Arjuna Broadcasting's 1420 WNRS Herkimer. The format replaces a unique "split" schedule which featured a combination of sports and business talk from two different networks.
UTICA-ROME -- Less than three months after her retirement from Galaxy Communications, Mimi Griswold is returning to local radio, six days a week. The former VP of Programming for Galaxy is returning to host afternoons on 96.9 WOUR.
Updated 5:15pm -- UTICA-ROME -- After nearly 21 years with 96.9 WOUR, afternoon drive host "Genesee Joe" Trisolino handed in his notice last night. Today, it was announced he's joining the staff at 92.7 The Drive (WXUR), effective immediately.