Updated 3:30pm with new information from management -- UTICA -- Within the past decade, WKTV parent company Smith Media LLC owned nearly ten television stations, located in Vermont, New York, Alaska and California. Over the past few years, the company has whittled its holdings down to just four stations... and if two recently-announced deals are completed as proposed, Smith Media's portfolio will consist of just one station: WKTV.
SYRACUSE -- We know Halloween was over a week ago, but Hurricane Sandy warranted a last-minute change in our Picture of the Week scheduling. This week, we'll circle back around to Halloween festivities as we continue our record-breaking run of sharing reader-submitted photos with you every Friday.
SYRACUSE -- For about 180 weekdays every year, Sunny 102.1 (WZUN) co-host Melissa Midgley goes directly from the studio to her "day job," teaching second grade at Solvay Elementary School. But when she walks out of Sunny's Armory Square studios this Monday, she'll be heading east instead of west -- to log some on-camera time at NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV).
ITHACA -- Nearly a month after Ithaca Police Officer Anthony Augustine was shot in the line of duty, he's still recuperating. The seven stations of the Cayuga Radio Group created a larger-than-life "get well" card for Officer Augustine, and had it on display in many locations around the area over the past few weeks, gathering well wishes and donations. Earlier this week, the giant card was presented to Officer Augustine.
SYRACUSE -- First, two guys left their morning show at Cumulus Media's 95X (WAQX) and went to work across town at Galaxy's KROCK (WKRL/WKRH/WKLL). Next, Cumulus got upset and took the two guys to court. Twice. Although the two guys were banned from using phrases they coined at 95X, neither court blocked them from working at KROCK. And now, Galaxy's returning fire at Cumulus, by way of a somewhat taunting display ad that's appearing on the area's busiest local news website.
Updated 9:45pm to add link to Y94 poll -- SYRACUSE -- Less than a week after Sunny 102.1 (WZUN) made its annual switch to wall-to-wall Christmas music on November 1st, Utica-Rome sister station Mix 102.5 (WUMX) made the switch today, rebranding itself as "ChrisMix 102.5." And in Syracuse, Clear Channel's Y94 (WYYY) is giving listeners the chance to decide when it will hop on the holiday cheer bandwagon.
SYRACUSE -- The way Galaxy Communications CEO and President Ed Levine sees it, one of his competitors has "created an industry of indentured servants." But he's not all about slamming the competition; in a recent interview with one of radio's national-level trades, Levine had kind words for another competitor. He also explained why he severed his ties with radio ratings giant Arbitron a few years ago, and he shared some thoughts for his long-term plans for Galaxy. You can read Levine's insights for yourself in this week's Power Player column on AllAccess.com.
SYRACUSE -- Exactly forty years ago today, Laura Hand walked into the channel 3 newsroom for the very first time. Although much has changed in television news over the past four decades, Hand says she still hears one of the same questions that she's heard since her very first day with the NBC affiliate in 1972.
UTICA -- Last week, Bill Worden announced he'll be retiring from TV news this month, after 35 years WKTV's primary anchor. His final newscast will be November 29. Today, we finally have an answer to the big question that's been lingering since Worden's announcement: who will take over? There actually plenty of changes, including one that might come as a surprise to viewers.
ROCHESTER -- We didn't think we'd be using our "Cumulus vs. The Show" graphic again until later in the month, but according to Galaxy Communications, the legal team at Cumulus Media has made a second attempt to force Hunter Scott and Josh Grosvent off-the-air at Galaxy's KROCK. The pair has been doing mornings at KROCK for two weeks now, starting just three days after quitting the same shift at Cumulus-owned 95X (WAQX).