UTICA -- When we asked local broadcasters for their reflections on the past decade as part of CNYRadio.com's 10th anniversary earlier this year, many said the "biggest" story of the decade was consolidation -- which usually means job cuts. But it's a refreshing sign of a recovery this week, as a television newsroom in Utica comes back to life following an eight-year slumber. (Also inside: WUTR set shots from 2000 airchecks.)
ATLANTA -- The merger between Cumulus and Citadel is all but complete. Citadel stockholders and the FCC approved the merger today, following the Department of Justice's early termination of an anti-trust "waiting period" on Tuesday. All that's left is for the official closing of the deal -- and that's expected to happen tomorrow. Citadel owns four Syracuse radio stations. The merged company will keep the Cumulus name.
SYRACUSE -- How'd you like to be inducted to a Hall of Fame someday? How about two? Longtime local broadcaster Rick Gary, the current afternoon host at Syracuse's Sunny 102 (WZUN) and Utica's Mix 102.5 (WUMX) is already in the NYS Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame... and later this fall, he'll join the SAMMYs Hall of Fame in Syracuse.
UTICA -- After 17 years in key leadership roles at NBC affiliate WKTV, Vic Vetters is moving on. According to one national industry news site, Vetters has been named to the General Manager post at NBC affiliate WJAR in Providence, Rhode Island. He officially starts the new job October 3.
UTICA/ROME -- A problem with phone service near the Oriskany transmitter site of WUTI is to blame for recent technical difficulties at the talk station. While the station waits for Verizon to fix the problems, management says an alternate programming delivery method is in the works.
When Arbitron's fall diary ratings period begins on Thursday, many markets across the country will have new ranking numbers. That's because Arbitron has recently altered the borders of certain geographic markets -- and new borders mean new population estimates, and therefore, new rankings. Syracuse moves from #84 to #85, while Utica-Rome moves from #165 to #166. The full list of nationwide market rankings is in the new Arbitron Red Book (PDF file).
UTICA -- After several years without any local newscasts, Eyewitness News HD is set to debut on ABC affiliate WUTR and Fox affiliate WFXV today. As of this writing, that first newscast is one hour away. Traditionally, newscasts on WUTR have struggled to compete with longtime market leader WKTV, but today's launch has the support of at least three people very familiar with WKTV's inner workings.
ROCHESTER -- Our condolences to the family and friends of former local broadcaster Robert Jason Fain. He died on Friday at the age of 51. Fain, better known by his on-air name Rob Jason, worked in a number of radio and TV newsrooms across Central New York before moving to Rochester in 2002. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday in Rochester.
SYRACUSE -- Clear Channel country station B104.7 (WBBS) is once again among the nominees for the Country Music Association Awards. This year, the station is in the running for "CMA Radio Station of the Year" in the Medium Market category. Syndicated personalities carried by stations in Syracuse, Utica and Ithaca are also nominated.
UTICA -- Northeast Gospel Broadcasting's 88.1FM (WVVC/Dolgeville) has a new sister. Low-power digital TV station WVVC-LP just cleared the FCC's hurdle for final approval to broadcast on channel 33, licensed to Utica. And before you ask... no, WVVC-LP doesn't interfere with the long-running WFXV, which brands itself as "Fox 33."