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).
NEW YORK CITY -- When Hurricane Sandy arrived in New York City earlier this week, one team from Central New York was there to cover it live. Using some relatively new ENG technology, CNY Central meteorologist Matt Stevens and photographer Lewis Karpel were able to send live images to Syracuse without a big truck or having to book any satellite time.
SYRACUSE -- Galaxy Communications CEO and President Ed Levine will join a select group of Syracuse University alumni next weekend, when he's inducted to the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communcations Professional Gallery. Levine and the rest of the induction class of 2012 will be honored on Saturday, November 10.
UTICA -- After nearly 50 years in broadcasting, Bill Worden is ready to call it a career. The Herkimer native, who has anchored WKTV's 6pm and 11pm newscasts since 1977, is retiring, and his last day with WKTV will be Thursday, November 29. Worden made the announcement tonight on NewsChannel 2 at Six. Station management says new anchor assignments will be revealed next week.
SYRACUSE -- With the last part of October (before the hurricane, of course) bringing us a few mild days with temperatures in the mid 70s, it's easy to forget winter is just around the corner. But, like clockwork, the arrival of November once again means the arrival of wall-to-wall Christmas music on at least one local radio station.
SYRACUSE -- More than three months after Newport Television announced plans to sell NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV) and eleven other TV stations to Nexstar Broadcasting, the deal has obtained the last required level of approval from the Federal Communications Commission. If both sides hold to their original sales contract, the sale should close any day now.