CENTRAL NEW YORK -- As per tradition, we observe the last day of the year with a look back through our traffic stats to find out which topics were the most-searched, and which stories received the most views during 2011. With this being the first full year for CNYRadio.com and CNYTVNews.com being merged as one website, we wondered if any TV-related stories might make the top 10. Without further adieu, let's get to the countdowns!
Updated 12/31 -- SYRACUSE -- Longtime local rock radio personality Dave Frisina was fired by Galaxy Communications after his airshifts today on Syracuse's TK99/TK105 (WTKW/WTKV) and Utica's 96.9 WOUR. After he broke the news on his own Twitter feed, local media outlets quickly picked up the story. Frisina started his radio career over 33 years ago at 95X (WAQX) and made the move to TK99 in 2003.
CENTRAL NEW YORK -- Tomorrow, we'll tally up our web server stats and countdown the top 10 stories of the year, as ranked by number of page views. First, we're adding something new to our "Year in Review" coverage this year: earlier this month, we put out an open call for YOUR opinions on the biggest stories to impact broadcasting in the CNYRadio.com and CNYTVNews.com coverage areas during 2011.
SYRACUSE -- It's pretty routine to see sports announcers like "Voice of the Orange" Matt Park along the sidelines during TV coverage of Syracuse University men's basketball games. But if you were paying attention just after SU finished its 75-49 trampling of Seton Hall on Wednesday night at the Carrier Dome, you might have spotted another local radio personality who hammed it up for the TV camera.
Updated 12/30 -- SYRACUSE -- FM Newsradio 106.9 and 570 WSYR is on the hunt for a new news director / morning drive news anchor. PD Jason Furst tells CNYRadio.com that current ND Chris Barnes is leaving on "good terms." He has accepted a new job in the nation's capital. We have the details on that, along with Furst's official job posting to replace Barnes, and for some other opportunities under his watch.
Updated 12/31 CENTRAL NEW YORK -- While most media outlets use this week to look back at all the general news from 2011, we're using these last few days of the year to look back at all the news from within those media outlets. On New Year's Eve, we'll countdown our "top 10" stories based on our server stats. But first, our annual month-by-month "debriefing" of the most notable stories we covered in 2011.
Updated at 10:00pm UTICA/ROME -- Nearly eight months after his morning show on WUTQ/WADR was replaced by an extension of the station's "Talk of the Town" program, Hank Brown is returning to radio. While a local newspaper was first to report Brown's announcement, we discovered something on the FCC website which seems to indicate Brown's new radio home may not be legal, after a construction permit expired earlier this month.
SYRACUSE -- Longtime NewsChannel 9 (WSYR-TV) anchor Rod Wood and former longtime WSYR radio talk show host Jim Reith were among many local and national broadcasters to receive write-in votes in Onondaga County this past Election Day. Other names to receive votes include TK99 morning co-host Glenn "Gomez" Adams, and national TV stars like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.
SYRACUSE -- Chalk it up as another benefit of DTV multicasting: Syracuse viewers looking to turn their sets into virtual fireplaces this Christmas will have at least two choices. WSYR-DT 9.2 and WCNY-DT 24.4 will each broadcast their own burning yule log video non-stop starting at noon on Christmas Eve. If your TV has picture-in-picture, all the merrier!
SYRACUSE -- Years before the practice of radio stations "going all-Christmas" became a popular trend across the country, there was Big Mike's Christmas Broadcast. Every year, Sunny 102's Big Mike Fiss invites dozens of local musicians to perform holiday favorites live on the air. This year was particularly notable -- it was the 30th year Fiss has staged his popular Christmas special.