ITHACA -- Q-Country 103.7 (WQNY) morning host and PD Chris Allinger is logging plenty of miles this week, as he backpacks to every town in Tompkins County. But he's not doing it for his own benefit: he's looking to see how many times he can fill that backpack with donations for the Food Bank of the Southern Tier.
UTICA -- The MPW advertising agency in Clinton, just outside of Utica, is looking for a media buyer. They sent along the following job description, complete with details on how to apply:
UTICA -- For the second time, NewsChannel 2 (WKTV) news reporter Pat Bailey is bidding farewell to his co-workers on Smith Hill. Last time, he was simply changing careers, but staying in Utica. This time, he's staying in TV but changing stations. And in other news from WKTV, some earlier promotions are now officially announced to the public.
KANSAS CITY, MO. -- Former NBC3 (WSTM) news director Peggy Philip has exited Kansas City NBC affiliate KSHB after more than three years at the Scripps-owned station. According to Bottom Line Communications, Philip's exit comes just a month after the GM announced his retirement. The site calls the change, "surprising because ratings have been the highest in years at KSHB." Philip ran the WSTM newsroom for 17 months, about five years ago.
SYRACUSE -- With many stations now operating in clusters, it's not too surprising to see on-air staff from sister stations at the same event. But two morning hosts... from different companies... in the same location during their regular timeslot? It's pretty rare, but it happened last week.
SYRACUSE -- This week, NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV) morning traffic reporter and Bridge Street co-host Kaylea Nixon announced she's leaving the station. It appears that her replacement -- at least for the morning traffic portion -- will be Caroline Gable, who's been absent from local TV since exiting Utica's WUTR in March.
SYRACUSE -- Although Sinclair Broadcast Group and Dish Network failed to agree on a new "permanent" retransmission deal before the old one expired overnight, Fox 68 (WSYT) and My43 (WNYS) remain available on the satellite provider's lineups. The two sides have extended the old deal for two weeks as they continue to hash out a new contract.
UPDATED 8/16 -- Blackout averted temporarily; click here for newer story. SYRACUSE -- As of Wednesday evening, management at Fox 68 (WSYT) and My43 (WNYS) say they're pretty certain both channels will be pulled from Dish Network's lineup at midnight tonight. That's when a contract allowing the satellite provider to retransmit the two channels will expire -- and with less than an hour to go, there's still no new contract in place.
SYRACUSE -- Doug Logan isn't leaving his job as Director of Time Warner Cable Sports, but he's adding a new role to help shape the future of a local hospital. Meantime, Karin Franklin-King, one of Logan's former co-workers, has a new job of her own.
UTICA-ROME -- Several CNYRadio.com readers tell us Mary Jo Beach was relieved of her duties as General Manager and Vice President of Townsquare Media's four station cluster today. Multiple sources tell us the new GM will be Karen Carey, who brings GM experience from running Clear Channel's Rochester cluster. Her first day of work at Townsquare will reportedly be tomorrow.