WIII

ITHACA/CORTLAND — It’s a special edition of the locally-produced Homemade Jam this weekend on rocker I-100 (WIII).  The show will be paying tribute to Cortland native and rock star Ronnie James Dio, who died this past Monday at the age of 67.  Dio’s wife announced last November that Dio had been diagnosed with stomach cancer.

ITHACA/CORTLAND — For 12 hours tomorrow, you’ve got the chance to request virtually any song you want on any of three radio stations in the Cayuga Radio Group owned by Saga Communications.  It’ll cost you — but the money’s going to a good cause.  It’s “Tunes for Tails” to benefit the SPCA of Tompkins County.

ITHACA/CORTLAND — Stations owned by Saga Communications hold four of the top five spots in the latest public ratings data released by Arbitron. Leading the pack, Q-Country 103.7 (WQNY), posting more than a full-point gain since last spring, going from a 13.8 to a 14.9 among persons age 12+ in the Fall 2009 survey.

Less than a week after Citadel Broadcasting announced it may soon be exploring “the possibility of seeking relief through a Chapter 11 filing,” one prominent online columnist explains why he thinks Regent could be in a similar situation.  Both companies own stations in Central New York.

SYRACUSE — Former Ithaca morning show host Mark Vanness excitedly writes CNYRadio.com today: “I got a J-O-B!”  Not only did he find a way to get back into radio on a full-time basis; he’s making a rather significant market rank jump as well.

ITHACA — Saga’s Q-Country (WQNY) is still the clear leader in Ithaca, but not without taking a hit of nearly 7 ratings points from Spring 2008 to Spring 2009. And in the newly-released Arbitron Persons 12+ ratings, CHR-formatted Z95-5 (WFIZ) has flashed from non-existence to second place.

SYRACUSE — It’s not quite like before, but sidelined on-air personalities Mark Vanness and Big Jim Donovan are returning to the airwaves — on different stations both in Syracuse — and both on a part-time basis.

ITHACA — A rather unfortunate week for local radio personalities continues. Two staffers at Saga rocker I-100 (WIII) are the latest casualties of the recession that has forced radio operators near and far to trim staffing levels to save money.

When the New York Stock Exchange opens today, shares in Saga Communications stock will be worth about four times what they closed at yesterday.  But shareholders didn’t hit the lottery: they’ll own only a quarter of the number of shares.  (Sidebar inside: Updates on Citadel and Regent delisting threats)

ITHACA — Saga Communications has posted an opening for Chief Engineer of its 5-station Ithaca cluster.  We’re told the current CE is heading south to accept a similar position in warmer climes.