ITHACA -- Two CHR competitors are one step closer to becoming part of the same family, raising questions as to their future. In today's edition of its Daily Digest, the FCC announced it has approved the sale of Z95.5 (WFIZ) to Saga Communications, the owner of rival Hits 103.3 (W277BS, simulcasting WYXL-HD2).
CENTRAL NEW YORK -- As the year winds down to a close, it's time to begin our annual look back at 2013. We have a four-part series of Year in Review which stretches from today, right up to New Year's Eve. In part one, we recap the many changes in terms of station ownership (especially in Syracuse and Utica TV), radio station formats and other significant branding/imaging changes.
UTICA -- Jenel Boston is no longer on staff with NewsChannel 2 (WKTV), station officials have confirmed for CNYTVNews.com. Boston had been co-anchoring the NBC affiliate's morning newscasts for the past year and a half.
Updated 11pm-- SYRACUSE -- As expected, two radio stations that launched an all-Christmas format on the unusually early date of October 5 have changed their tune. The former "Holly-FM" stations 103.9 (WNDR Mexico) and 95.3 (W237AY DeWitt) are now playing non-stop Beatles tunes. And it looks WMBO 1340 Auburn is joining the two FMs in stunting for whatever's coming next.
UTICA-ROME -- Former WIBX 950 news anchor Jeanette Lenoir is reportedly suing WIBX parent Townsquare Media, after obtaining a "Notice of Right to Sue" from the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Lenoir alleges she was paid less than white colleagues, overlooked for promotional opportunities and was fired without explanation in 2012.
UTICA-ROME -- After 55 years of broadcasting in the Mohawk Valley, Hank Brown is ready to hang up his headphones for good. His final broadcast on 95.5FM WUSP will be New Year's Eve, Tuesday, December 31. This, according to a press release from WUSP's Tom Coyne today.
SYRACUSE -- This week, it's a combination of new and old -- the photo is new, but provides a look back at a blast from the past. And the timing seems appropriate, given some recent changes in the Syracuse TV landscape, and buzz about the future.
SYRACUSE -- During part of October and November, the FCC provided community-based organizations with a long-awaited chance to apply for licenses to launch new low-power FM (LPFM) radio stations. Nationwide, thousands of applications were submitted. In Syracuse, only two organizations submitted the necessary paperwork -- but earlier this week, the FCC said that's one too many.
As we prepare for our annual "Year in Review," where we recap all of the big stories of the year in local broadcasting, we once again want to ask YOUR opinion. Even though certain stories may generate a lot of views, we realize that site traffic stats don't always necessarily correlate with the significance of a particular story. Here's your chance to tell us your pick for "biggest story of 2013," and you can decide whether or not to provide your name.
Just a quick note about something you may or may not have realized already -- we've recently changed our Comment Policy (which is also available through the "About" menu at the top of the site). In addition to comments which are posted directly on individual stories, our software now automatically pulls responses in from Facebook and Twitter, and republishes them as comments.