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."
SYRACUSE -- When areas south and east of Syracuse suffered extreme flooding caused by rainfall from Tropical Storm Lee this week, TV stations sent crews south to document the damage. At least one local reporter was well-prepared, walking through water a few feet deep to track down flooding victims and get the story.
NEW YORK CITY -- The countdown is on to Regis Philbin's final broadcast, capping off nearly 30 years of co-hosting the show currently known as Live! With Regis and Kelly. During yesterday's show, Philbin, who recently turned 80, announced his last day on the syndicated morning gabfest will be Friday, November 18.
AUBURN -- Private middle school Tyburn Academy is getting out of the radio business after barely getting started. According to documents filed with the FCC, Tyburn is selling its construction permit for 88.7FM (WTMI/Fleming) to Williamsville-based religious broadcaster Holy Family Communications. The pricetag: a mere $1,000.
CLEVELAND -- Former disc jockey Peter C. Cavanaugh -- whose long and successful radio career started at Syracuse's WNDR in the 1950s -- is featured in a new exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The interactive exhibit gives listeners the chance to see how radio (and its trusted personalities) helped launch the rock-and-roll genre's lasting success.
ITHACA -- A live broadcast this Friday from the Freedom Tower in New York City is just one of several ways the stations of the Cayuga Radio Group will be reflecting on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. On-air personalities will also be blanketing their listening areas on what the cluster is calling "A Day of CommUNITY."
SYRACUSE -- Three local journalists will gather tomorrow to discuss their memories of 9/11/01, and specifically, how they reacted on-the-job to the attacks. Wednesday morning's roundtable discussion at Onondaga Community College -- sponsored by OCC and the Syracuse Press Club -- will be free and open to the public.