July 2001 to December 2001

Latest items listed first.....

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December 31, 2001
Multicultural Picks Up 1050 From Mega
Multicultural is buying WPLC (1050 AM) in Silver Spring from Mega for $3 million. WPLC has featured the Spanish Mexican/Central American music and talk programming of "Radio Capital," which is also heard on Mega's WKDL (730 AM) in Alexandria. Multicultural also owns WZHF (1390 AM) in Arlington, WKDV (1460 AM) in Manassas, and WKDM (1600 AM) in Rockville, all of which have brokered ethnic formats, and WKCW (1420 AM) in Warrenton, which plays traditional country. Mega owns contemporary Spanish combo WBZS (92.7 FM) in Prince Frederick /WBPS (94.3 FM) in Warrenton, along with WKDL.

December 29, 2001
Less Local TV Kiddie Programming In 2002
Look for less childrens' oriented programming on DC's "big four" commercial TV stations - WRC/4, WTTG/5, WJLA/7, and WUSA/9 - in the new year. With the elimination of WTTG's "Fox Kids" afternoon line-up, replaced with reruns of MASH, there will be no regularly scheduled weekday programs for kids on any of DC's four major VHF TV stations. Even WDCA/20 (now owned by Fox along with WTTG/5) has bounced all of its weekday morning kiddie fare in favor of paid religious shows. And Tribune's WDBC/50, likewise, has gutted its weekday childrens' morning line-up in favor of infomercials. Both 20 and 50 still air kids' programming between 3 PM and 5 PM on weekdays. And Channels 5 and 9 still run some kiddie shows on Saturday mornings, including the CBS block of "Nick Jr." pre-school fare. But 20 airs only infomercials on Saturday mornings. There's still lots of childrens' programming on local PBS outlets WMPT/22 and WETA/26, and on cable/satellite - Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, ToonDisney, and Noggin.

December 22, 2001
DCRTV Mover/Shaker Of 2001
DCRTV has selected its "Mover/Shaker" of 2001 and it is (drum roll please) Clear Channel's local radio czar Bennett Zier (right). For better or worse, Mr. Zier has had more influence on the region's radio/TV media than anyone else this past year, we think. In charge of eight DC area radio stations, and recently given control over CC's two dozen-ish stations across the Mid-Atlantic region, Mr. Zier and his company have led the way in cost cutting and in automating the radio business. And not only in robotizing overnights at his DC area FMers, Mr. Zier's been busy with lots of other things such as killing off the local "Jam'n Oldies" and "Music Of Your Life" formats, giving birth to "Dynamite Talk" and contemporary "Hot 99.5," finding DC radio homes for the Orioles and the G-Man, turning DC101 back into the region's prime rocker, boldly converting WASH to "all-Christmas" for a whole month, and keeping country WMZQ and oldies WBIG sounding good. But Mr. Zier still has work cut out for him in 2002, from finally getting the right sound at 99.5, to installing at least listenable line-ups at talker WTNT (maybe Rush?) and sports talk WTEM, and keeping the major FMers sounding fresh (and getting better numbers) even with smaller staffs. Other nominees for the prestigious Movers/Shakers award this year were: Jim Farley (who turned WTOP into a ratings-winning news steamroller in 2001), Comcast (which bought almost all area cable systems in sight along with Home Team Sports, became the largest internet service provider in the region, and then went on to merge with AT&T), XM Satellite Radio (whose DC-based operations injected lots of very welcome fresh sounds into the radio biz and much deserved fear into the hearts of conservative radio programmers), and local Radio One (which continued its mission to completely dominate urban radio in market after market including DC and Baltimore, and is now setting its sights on TV).

December 20, 2001
Jim Bohannon Comes To WWRC
It looks like Clear Channel is moving its business talk WWRC (1260 AM) to more of a mainstream talk format in the new year. DC-based Jim Bohannon, whose late evening talk show hasn't been heard in the DC market for several years (although his "America In The Morning" news program has been heard from 5 AM to 6 AM on Infinity's WJFK-FM), starts airing on WWRC on 1/2 from 10 PM to 1 AM. Bohannon's Westwood One show replaces "Online Tonight." Also, "Troubleshooter" Tom Martino, who is currently heard on CC's "Dynamite Talk" WTNT (570 AM) from 3 PM to 5 PM, starts airing on WWRC from 9 AM to noon. While business talk shows still frequent the station's daytime schedule, right-wing political talker Laura Ingraham will continue to be heard in the 7 PM to 10 PM slot. WWRC, whose after dark signal leaves a lot to be desired in the affluent suburbs west of DC, flipped to business talk after its nostalgic music format (as WGAY) was discontinued last spring.

December 5, 2001
Changes At 2, Including Noon News
The Baltimore Sun reports on all the news changes occurring at Baltimore's low-rated Channel 2/WMAR which is "trying to remake its image with a new set, a new newscast and an infusion of new staffers, including anchor Vernon Shaw," who comes from Philadelphia's Fox station. The Sun says that Mark Vernarelli, who has worked as a reporter and editor at Channel 2 for 16 years, follows five other people who have been let go by Scripps station in recent months, including anchors Stan Stovall and Mary Bubala. Also, look for a noon newscast to start on 1/7.

December 4, 2001
Weiner Leaves 45
News anchor Deborah Weiner has left WBFF/Channel 45 after the Sinclair station failed to renew her contract. According to the Baltimore Sun: "Weiner, an award-winning journalist and former network correspondent, said she made the decision to leave reluctantly. She said the dispute did not spring exclusively from the question of money and alluded to the difficulty of reconciling professional and family responsibilities. For three years as a reporter and four as an anchor, Weiner said she flourished as she helped prepare and present a newscast with a distinct feel. Fox 45, as the station is known, has prided itself on offering viewers longer stories with a more textured understanding of topical issues."

December 3, 2001
Channel 4 Wins November Sweeps
Even though Channel 4's newscasts at 5 AM, 6 AM, 4 PM, 5 PM, 6 PM, and at 11 PM, were tops in the November TV "sweeps" ratings, the NBC station saw its numbers stay flat or decline. For example, the station's 11 PM newscast plunged by about 16 percent since the same period last year. Channel 5's 10 PM news took the crown as the most watched late evening newscast, besting Channel 4's 11 PM newscast by about 1,000 viewers. Channel 4 suffered declines at 6 AM (with gains by Channel 9, see the news item further down this page) and at 6 PM. Channel 4 also took the honors as the most-watched DC area TV station from sign-on to sign-off during November. While it may not yet be back at the top of the DC TV news heap ratings-wise, Gannett's Channel 9, WUSA, is claiming that the recently completed November sweeps showed that it was attracting more viewers. The station's 6 AM newscast jumped from 3rd to 2nd place, with an almost 50 percent gain in viewers for 9's morning news block in total. WUSA also noted gains at 5 PM, 6 PM, and at 11 PM. WUSA's newscasts suffered greatly a year ago when it trimmed 90 minutes from its evening news block and made a series of personnel changes.

November 29, 2001
Weekend Sports Changes At 9
Gerald Owens has been relieved of his duties as weekend sports anchor at Channel 9. He'll be replaced by WUSA sports veteran Ken Mease. Mease, who'd been handling early morning sports anchor chores of late, returns to the weekend sports anchor position which he held before Owens, last year, made the move from early morning news anchor to weekend sports. There's no word on Owens' plans but we hear that he's still under contract to the Gannett station.

November 29, 2001
DeShazo Dies
Catherine Pendleton DeShazo, a former correspondent for WNNT (690 AM/100.9 FM) in Warsaw VA (east of Fredericksburg) died on 11/26 at age 92 after a brief illness. Starting in the mid-1950s, Mrs. DeShazo hosted "The Women's Page" and later "Community Commentary" on WNNT, both focusing on community events and civic news. She continued to work for WNNT, hosting a third radio show concerning "news and notes" until 1990. Mrs. DeShazo was also a correspondent for the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Rappahannock News, and a loyal supporter of the GOP. She was a noted collector of items that feature elephants, the Republican party mascot.....

November 29, 2001
Channel 13 Defamation Suit Dismissed
A Baltimore judge has dismissed seven of eight charges in a defamation lawsuit filed last year by March Funeral Homes West against Channel 13. According to the Sun: "The suit arose from a pair of stories broadcast by CBS-owned WJZ in October 1999 about a grieving woman's fears that her late husband's casket had been improperly handled at the gravesite. The funeral home, at the time a significant advertiser on the station, claimed the stories by reporters Suzanne Collins and Alex Demetrick blamed March for work done by a veterans cemetery staff." However, the judge ruled that the station's reporting was truthful but he left standing one count which stems from an allegation that the station illegally recorded a funeral home representative's comments to the widow at the gravesite.

November 28, 2001
Clear Channel Terminates Phil Wood
Clear Channel has officially said goodbye to sports talk host Phil Wood. Wood remained on CC's payroll up until 11/28 even though his daily talk show on WTEM (980 AM) was cancelled last January. Apart from the occasional guest spot on John Thompson's show, Wood was being paid not to show up at "Sportstalk 980." Instead, he has been doing baseball coverage for Comcast SportsNet and guest spots on other sports-oriented stations like Infinity's WJFK-AM (1300) in Baltimore. Wood tells DCRTV that he'd love to get back on DC area radio on a regular basis, but in the immediate future he'll concentrate on running his store, Bethesda Music on Rugby Avenue, and playing in his rock band.

November 28, 2001
Channel 11 Claims Baltimore TV News Crown
From the Baltimore Sun: "As the November ratings period draws to a close tonight, WBAL (Channel 11) seems to have a distinct edge for most of its news offerings, but, as ever, once-triumphant WJZ (Channel 13) is claiming its own victories. In truly head-to-head competitions, Nielsen Media Research estimates show that WBAL has the most viewers in the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and weekday 11 p.m. newscasts. (For Monday through Sunday at 11 p.m., it's coming down to the wire.) WJZ boasts the highest-rated morning show - a big money-maker - and the most viewers throughout the entire day. The CBS station also claims to be the only one in Baltimore to have increased total audience over last year's levels. Yet there's tougher news in there for both stations; WJZ has shed some viewers when compared to last November for the morning, 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. news shows, while WBAL has dipped in audience size for its late newscasts."

November 22, 2001
Cuts At WWRC
Clear Channnel has bounced just about all of the staff at its business talker WWRC (1260 AM). We hear that even board ops were shown the door. The only survivor - morning show host Jim Cuddy.

November 21, 2001
Stan "The Fan" Bounced
Stan "The Fan" Charles was canned from Baltimore's WJFK-AM (1300). He's being replaced in the 10 PM to 1 AM weeknight slot by the "Sports Asylum" with Steve Hill, Ben Unroe, and Cary Newborn, which has, until now, aired only on weekends. We hear that Infinity management at the talk/sports talk formated station is gunning for the 18-35 male crowd and that's why Stan is being shown the door.

November 14, 2001
Washington AIR Award Winners
DCRTV has received a list of the winners of the Washington Achievement In Radio (AIR) Awards which were held on November 14. Here they are: LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER: WTOP Capitol Hill Correspondent Dave McConnell..... Best News Anchor: WTOP-AM/FM, Shawn Anderson & Diane Kepley "Shawn Anderson & Diane Kepley"..... Best News Reporter (new category): WMAL-AM, Andrew O'Day..... Best Sports Play-by-Play: WMAL-AM, Tim Brant "B.B.&T. Classic"..... Best Spot News Coverage: WAMU-FM, Sarah Hughes "D.C. After the Control Board..... Best Locally Produced (Continuing) Public Affairs Long-Form: WTOP-AM/FM, Judlyne Lilly "Issues" with Judlyne Lilly..... Best Short Form News Interview: WTOP-AM/FM, Shawn Anderson, Diane Kepley "Bob Barr"..... Best News Series: WMAL-AM, Andrew O’Day "Gas Tax Gridlock"..... Best Non-English Community Service On-Air Campaign: North American La Cordinia del Radio..... Best Short Form Entertainment Interview: WASH-FM, Loo Katz, Huey Lewis, Steve Allan "Loo Katz & Huey Lewis"..... Best Long Form Entertainment Interview: WAMU-FM, David Furst " The Beat: Go-Go's Fusion of Funk"..... Best News Story on a Maternal/Infant Health-Related Issue: WTOP-AM/FM, Michelle Komes-Dolge "The Mommy Track"..... Best Sports Reporter: WTOP-AM/FM, Byron Kerr, Bruce Allen, Diane Kepley, Shawn Anderson, Judy Taub, Mitchell Miller, Mike Jakaitis "Jagr and Collins Arrive in D.C."..... Best Long Form News Interview - (TIE) WAMU-FM, Jim Rosenberg "The Man Who Keeps Watch on the Wall" and Woodrow Wilson Int’l Ctr. George Liston Seay, Karen Dale, John Tyler, Rachel Edmonds "The AIDS Crisis” Guest: Dr. Anthony Fauci"..... Best Traffic Reporter: WTOP-AM/FM, Bob Marbourg "Bob Marbourg"..... Best Talk Show Host: DC101, Elliot Segal, Diane Stupar, Craig Henderson, Bryan Schlossberg, Jared Stern "Elliot"..... Best New Talent in the Market: WIHT-FM, Mark Kaye, Kris Gamble, Ron Ross, Greg "The Urban Cowboy" Byrd, Becky “Buttrub” Froman, "The HOT Morning Mess with Mark and Kris"..... Best Fill-In Talent: WBIG-FM, Charlie Donovan, Kim Alexander, Kenny Franklin "Charlie for Tom Kelly & Goldy"..... Best Morning Drive Show: (TIE) WZHF-AM, Doug Tracht, Lex Davis "The New Greaseman Show" and WIHT-FM, Mark Kaye, Kris Gamble, Ron Ross, Greg "The Urban Cowboy" Byrd, Becky "Buttrub" Froman, "The HOT Morning Mess with Mark and Kris"..... Best Midday Show: WIHT-FM, K.T. Harris "HOT 99.5 Mid-days"..... Best Afternoon Drive Show: DC101, Jon Ballard "The Road Show with Ballard"..... Best Evening Show: WARW-FM, Tony Maddog Colter "In the Doghouse with Tony Maddog Colter"..... Best Overnight Show: WBIG-FM, Bonnie Phillips "First Timer Friday on the Early Bird"..... Best Weekend Show: WRQX-FM, Chris Roth "Retro Saturday Night"..... Best Station Event Promo: WASH-FM, Bob Karson, Randy Thomas "I Race... "..... Best Station-Sponsored Non-Charitable Event: DC101, Ann DeWig, Buddy Rizer "New Music Mart Live..... Best On-Air Audience Promotion: WARW-FM, Ed Locomb, JJ Surma, Phil Locascio, Brian James "Classic Rock 94.7 Cent Gas Promotion"..... Best Station-Sponsored Charitable Event: DC101, Ann DeWig, Buddy Rizer "Chili Cookoff"..... Best Community Service On-Air Campaign: WHUR-FM, Patrick Ellis, Emmett Young, Renee Nash, on-air staff "Boarder Babython 2001"..... Best Radio Advertising Campaign: Jerry’s Subs & Pizza/ Dana Siller, Chato Hill "Mr. X", "Rappin W", "That’s My Bubba"..... Best Commercial Spot by an Agency: Jerry’s Subs & Pizza/ Dana Siller, Chato Hill "The Weakest Dink"..... Best Commercial Spot by a Radio Station: WBIG-FM, Bob Karson, Tom Kelly, Chris Broullire "Lansdowne Fairytale"..... Best Station Image Promo: WBIG-FM, Bob Karson "Nobody Knows Motown"..... Best Continuing Programming Feature: WHUR-FM, Mo’Nique, Terry Tuff "Mo’Nique’s Moment"..... Best Special One-Time Programming Feature: WHFS-FM, Randy Scope, Wes Johnson "How the Grunge Stole Christmas"..... Best Individual Performance in a Radio Spot: WBIG-FM, Charlie Donovan, J.L. Media "American Movie Classics 9th Annual Film Preservation Festival".....

November 14, 2001
Larry Hall Dies
"Larry Hall, whose broadcast voice was heard by radio and television audiences for nearly 30 years, died Sunday (11/11) of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, at his Ruxton home," so reports the Baltimore Sun. "He was the morning drive-time announcer on AM radio stations WCBM and WCAO in the 1970s, and later recorded scores of commercials for automobile dealerships, jewelers, furniture stores and schools." Mr. Hall was 57.

November 14, 2001
Frank Messer Dies
Frank Messer, who once did radio play-by-play for the Baltimore Orioles and Colts, as well as for Virginia Tech football, died on 11/13 at age 76 in Deerfield Beach, Florida, after a long illness. Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, Mr. Messer also was the radio voice of the New York Yankees for almost two decades.

November 12, 2001
Stovall Leaves WMAR
Stan Stovall (right), a news anchor who's been in Baltimore aince 1978, and at Channel 2/WMAR since 1989, will leave the struggling Scripps station in December when his contract expires. Stovall told the Sun that he doubts he'll be staying in Baltimore since he has yet to receive offers from other area stations. WMAR, which has been plagued by poor news ratings for many years, plans to retool its "Real People, Real News" promotions. The station is also letting go weekend anchor Mary Bubala, who has been with WMAR since 1997, but will hire Vernon Shaw, from Philadelphia's Channel 29/WTXF, as an anchor and reporter.....

November 12, 2001
Baltimore AIR Award Winners
DCRTV has received a list of the winners of the Baltimore Achievement In Radio (AIR) Awards which were held in early November. Here they are: BEST NEWSCASTER: Aaron Rehkopf, WPOC... BEST NEWS COVERAGE: Aaron Rehkopf, "The Baltimore Tunnel Fire", WPOC... BEST LOCAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS: Aaron Rehkopf, "Maryland Today," WPOC... BEST NEWS SERIES: John Patti, "Tired of Truckin' Around", WBAL... BEST NEWS STORY ON MATERNAL/INFANT HEALTH RELATED ISSUE: Gayle Economos, "Pediatric Medicine", WJHU... BEST LONG FORM INTERVIEW: Charlie Michaels, "What To Tell The Children", WCBM... BEST SHORT FORM INTERVIEW: John Patti, "If These Balls Could Talk", WBAL... BEST ON-AIR AUDIENCE PROMO: TJ Roberts, "Black and Blue Weekend", WXYV... BEST STATION IMAGE PROMO: Harold Pompey, "Go Ahead, Hold On", WCAO... BEST STATION EVENT PROMO: Scott Lindy/Mark Williams, "Warren Brothers Concert", WPOC... BEST LOCAL SPORTS PROGRAMMING: WBAL... BEST CONTINUING PROGRAM FEATURE: Chip Franklin, "The Week In Review", WBAL... BEST STATION WEBSITE: WBAL.COM... BEST COMMERCIAL SPOT PRODUCED BY STATION: Scott Lindy/Mark Williams, "Big Buck Bass Tournament", WPOC... BEST COMMERCIAL SPOT PRODUCED BY AGENCY: Gary Jordan "They're Talking Right To Me", Azzam Jordan... BEST RADIO AD CAMPAIGN: Erin Hardesty, Gary Jordan, "Cal And The Kids", Azzam Jordan... BEST COMMUNITY SERVICE ON-AIR CAMPAIGN: Lexi Bartelmay, Gary Jordan, "Hopkins Child", Azzam Jordan... BEST MORNING SHOW: "The Laurie DeYoung Show", WPOC... BEST AFTERNOON DRIVE SHOW: Fast Jimi Roberts, WXYV... BEST MIDDAY SHOW: "Delmont's Diner", Bob Delmont, WPOC... BEST EVENING SHOW: Stacy Lyn, WWMX... BEST OVERNIGHT SHOW: Hawaiian Ryan, WXYV... BEST WEEKEND SHOW: TJ Roberts, WXYV... BEST SPORTS REPORTER: Art Sinclair, WCBM... BEST TRAFFIC REPORTER: Adrian "A-Dawg" Pescetto, WERQ... BEST NEW TALENT: TIE: Poet, WERQ; Gavin "The Baby Bishop" Montgomery, WWIN-AM... BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE IN A RADIO SPOT: Gerry O'Brien, "Walter G. Coal-Boomer", WQSR... BEST TALK SHOW HOST: Chip Franklin, WBAL.

November 2, 2001
New Calls For Channel 14
DCRTV hears that the WFDC call letters may soon grace Arlington's Channel 14, currently WTMW. The station was recently purchased by Univision for its youth oriented Spanish language Telefutura network, which is set to launch in early 2002. Univision is renaming all of its future Telefutura stations with an "F" and/or a "U" in the call. By the way, the WFTY identity, which used to grace DC's Channel 50 (pre-WBDC), is being assigned to the Telefutura station serving Long Island.

November 2, 2001
Shari Macias To Leave Channel 4
Channel 4 news reporter Shari Macias is leaving the NBC station at the end of November. Macias told the Washington Post that she's "relocating" and has "some family and personal matters that are important to attend to, and it seemed like now was a good opportunity to do that." She's been with WRC since 1994. Before that, Macias was an anchor and reporter at NewsChannel 8.

November 1, 2001
Tracey Neale Takes Leave From Channel 5 For Medical Reasons
DCRTV first reported on 10/31 that Fox 5's 10 PM news anchor Tracey Neale (left) will be missing for the next six weeks or so, through the crucial November TV rating sweeps. WTTG news director Katherine Green says that Neale had surgery, but declined to elaborate. "She's doing well; everything is okay and we expect her back in about six weeks," Green told the Washington Post. Green added that the Fox station has decided not to explain on-air Neale's absence. Recently, WTTG had been running those "Just You Watch This November" promos that have Neale and co-anchor Mike Landess all over them.....

October 31, 2001
Channel 45 Cans Clyatt
Channel 45 Cans Clyatt, Clyatt Fires Back - 10/31 - Channel 45 has dismissed its morning news show weatherman Kirk Clyatt "after he asked to be considered for work on the station's other news programs," according to the Baltimore Sun. The Sun adds: "Clyatt says his proposals were prompted by fears that the consistently low ratings for the still-new morning show foretold an uncertain future. Clyatt's gung-ho style at WBFF won him local Emmys and other awards." Clyatt is replaced by Steve Fertig, a chiropractor who is the chief weather forecaster at the NBC affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In a somewhat strange move, Clyatt takes Fertig's place at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre station.

October 30, 2001
Frank Ski Returns To Baltimore
DCRTV's been reporting it since last March, and now has come true. WVEE/Atlanta's Frank Ski Morning Show comes to "X105.7" in Baltimore. Ski's first day at the newly reformatted WXYV was 11/12. Charm City's 105.7 frequency flipped to urban/hip-hop in September after its previous occupant, oldies WQSR, moved to 102.7. Ski used to be heard on Baltimore's former urban outlet V103 and at reigning urban champ 92Q.

October 29, 2001
Former NewsChannel 8 Anchor Killed In Car Crash
Siani Lee (left), 39, a former news anchor for NewsChannel 8, was killed in a car accident in Chester County, Pennsylvania on 10/28. Since 1999, she'd been an anchor for Philadelphia's Channel 3, KYW, and had worked at Philly's Channel 10, WCAU, before that. Lee anchored the 9 PM news for DC area cable news operation NewsChannel 8 from 1991 to 1993. She had also worked at TV stations in Norfolk, Savannah, and at Baltimore's Channel 2, WMAR. The South Korea native received an award while in Northern Virginia for her coverage of relations between the Korean and African-American communities. According to KYW, Lee was killed when she ran a stop sign and a sport utility vehicle struck her car. "All of us at KYW-3 are deeply saddened by the untimely death of our friend and colleague," said KYW VP/GM Marcellus Alexander. "She brought a light into our newsroom and into the homes of our viewers. We will miss her every day."

October 29, 2001
Liddy Re-Signs With Westwood One
DC-based right-wing talker G. Gordon Liddy has re-signed with Westwood One as syndicator for his radio show. There was talk a few weeks ago that Liddy would be signing with someone else. Westwood One is owned by Viacom which also owns Infinity. Liddy was kicked off Infinity's WJFK-FM/AM during the summer. RBR says that he'll be doing his show from Clear Channel's "Dynamite Talk" WTNT (570 AM), which has been carrying Liddy since August. Liddy had been doing his show from the CBS News Bureau in DC since being evicted from WJFK's Fairfax studios. He's carried in Baltimore by WCBM (680 AM).....

October 29, 2001
Fox Acquires Channel 20
It looks like the moving vans will be soon heading from 5202 River Road to 5151 Wisconsin Avenue. We hear that the FCC has approved a request in which Fox, which owns DC's Channel 5, WTTG, will assume ownership of Channel 20, WDCA, from Viacom. In the deal, Viacom receives a San Francisco TV station from Fox, which gets DC's WDCA and a Houston TV station from Viacom. DCRTV first reported last year that Fox was interested in acquiring Channel 20, giving it two TV stations in the market. The deal was made public over the summer. It's still unclear what changes will be coming to WDCA under its new ownership, but we suspect that its operations will be consolidated with WTTG's management, staff, and technical facilities. We might also see some of Channel 5's early evening comedies ("Simpsons," "Friends," "Seinfeld") moving to 20 to make room for a early evening newscast on 5. For the forseeable future, Channel 20 will continue to broadcast UPN fare. By the way, Rupert Murdoch's Fox also owns Baltimore's UPN station, Channel 24, WUTB. It obtained that station a few months ago in a deal to acquire Chris-Craft's batch of TV stations. That acquisition gave Fox a second TV station in the NYC market.

October 27, 2001
Quarter Century Broadcasters Gather
The 25th anniversary dinner of the Washington Quarter Century Broadcasters took place Saturday, 10/27. It was arranged by Walt Starling, emceed by Mac McGarry, and featured "bloopers" hosted by Paul Anthony. The guests included: Martin Edwards, Fred Fiske, Willard Scott, Ed Walker, Bill Mayhugh, Yale Lewis, Stan Karas, Russ Ward, Phil Gaines, Stuart Finley, Don Richards, Ron David, Bob Duckman, "Long John" Dowling, Jerry Clark, Jerry Edwards, Ed Rodriguez, Ed Tobias, Ed Gursky, Bill McCloskey, Max Cacas, Paul Bicknell (as himself), Sean Hall, Cal Thomas, John Harter, Frank Herzog, Dennis Owens, Deena Clark, Arthur Arundel, Steve McCormick, Peter O'Reilly, David French, Lee Shephard, Lee Reynolds, Connie Lawn, Camille Bohannon, Jim Bohannon, Max Schindler, Jim Silman, Pat O'Donnell, and Tom Powers, among many others.

October 27, 2001
WZHF Adds More Spanish Programming
DCRTV hears that Multicultural Broadcasting has rechristened its brokered ethnic WZHF (1390 AM) as "Emisora Unida" ("United Broadcasting") with more secular Spanish language programming. The Arlington station still features a heavy dose of Spanish religious fare, some of which has also been heard on Multicultural's WKDV (1460 AM) in Manassas. WKDV still offers a good deal of Korean language programming, often also heard on WPWC (1480 AM) in Dumfries and WTRI (1520 AM) in Brunswick. Emisora Unida's production studios are located in the Columbia Pike area of south Arlington.

October 24, 2001
Clear Channel Cuts Hit Overnight
We're learning more about Clear Channel's plans to make cuts in its overnight operations at its DC area (and Baltimore area) radio stations. DCRTV hears that oldies WBIG's Johnny Dark will be cut back to a 10 PM to 10:30 PM countdown feature and do "fill-ins." He used to rule 10 PM to 2 AM. Former overnighter Bonnie Phillips moves up to the 10:30 PM to 2 AM slot, with 2 AM to 5:30 AM featuring the voice-tracked Charlie Donovan, while he goes from fulltime to part-time. Over at adult contemporary WASH, the all-night show becomes voice-tracked and Maureen MacClain, who moved to a day shift, will not be replaced on overnights. Overnights also become voice-tracked at contemporary WIHT and rocker DC101. As DCRTV reported earlier, country WMZQ cuts Mike Kelly back to part-time status and is now running Blair Garner's syndicated Clear Channel all-night show "After Midnight." The plan is, as previously reported on DCRTV, to build an after-hours control center where one tech can monitor all eight CC stations between 7 PM and AM drive time. Also, in this round of cuts, several support staff (sales assistants, etc.) went away. In the next round, DCRTV hears, the goal will be to reduce all 7 PM to midnight talent to part-time or to eliminate their positions and voice-track or network those hours. That goal has already been accomplished at CC's Baltimore country outlet WPOC. Plus, their program director voice-tracks the 9 AM to 11 AM shift, we hear. Also to come at CC/Mid-Atlantic - one general manager for the entire region. Look for GM positions in the Salisbury, Winchester, Frederick, and Baltimore clusters to be eliminated. Each market will then be reduced to one "director of sales," one "director of engineering," and one "director of programming." All will report to CC's DC/Mid-Atlantic radio czar Bennett Zier. He will have final say on talent hires and contracts, DCRTV hears.

October 18, 2001
McKelway Moves To 7
News anchor Doug McKelway, who left Channel 4 in July when his contract wasn't renewed, moves to Channel 7 as a general assignment reporter. He actually got his start in the DC market as a Channel 7 reporter in 1990. McKelway moved to Channel 4 in 1992, and had most recently been co-anchoring WRC's 5 PM newscast.

October 17, 2001
Fall Arbitron Ratings Released
All-news WTOP took a jump in the DC market radio ratings released on 10/17 by Arbitron. Partly fueled by the demand for news following the 9/11 terror attacks, the Bonneville station leaped from 8th place in the spring to 4th place in the latest "book." However, the area's other news station, ABC's "news/talk" WMAL, actually dropped a bit in the overall age 12+ numbers, from 11th to 12th place.

October 16, 2001
Duckman And Clear Channel Part Company
It's official. Clear Channel does indeed say goodbye to DC radio vet Bob Duckman (right). Why? We hear "consolidation reasons." Duckman, who was injured in a car accident in October 2000, used to co-host the morning show on nostalgic WGAY. But that was before his partner, Eddie Gallaher, retired, and then Clear Channel flipped the station to business talk WWRC. Duckman has recently been doing behind the scenes production work for CC and some weekend hosting on oldies WBIG (which he may continue doing). He was heard in the 1970s on Metromedia's legendary adult contemporary WASH, among many other area stations over the years.

October 15, 2001
Rush Gets New Shenandoah Valley Radio Home
Rush Limbaugh has a new home in the southern Shenandoah Valley. As of 10/15, Rush moved from his long-time Harrisonburg perch at Verstandig's news/talker WSVA (550 AM) to Clear Channel's nostalgic WKCY (1300 AM). Rush is syndicated by Premiere, which is owned by Clear Channel, which has been moving Rush to its stations in some markets. Could the DC market, where Rush is aired on ABC's WMAL (630 AM), be next? Clear Channel needs something to draw listeners to its "Dynamite Talk" WTNT (570 AM). WSVA, which aired Rush on a one hour tape delayed basis, replaced him in the 1 PM to 4 PM slot with fellow right-wing talker Neal Boortz.

October 8, 2001
Rush Goes Deaf
Rush Limbaugh has gone deaf but has vowed to continue doing his radio talk program. His afternoon radio show is heard locally on WMAL, WBAL, and WFMD. The right-wing talker said he started to experience a hearing loss in May and it has since progressed to near total deafness. Limbaugh was off the air most of last week and says he may take more time off, but maintains he will continue to do his daily noon to 3 PM show. Doctors think that the cause is an auto-immune inner ear disease and, with treatment, the radio talker may not go completely deaf. Also, Rush acknowledged that many (including some DCRTV mailbag contributors) have noticed that his voice sounds differently of late, and that could be related to the fact that he can't hear it any more. Rush just signed his eight year deal with syndicator Premiere (owned by Clear Channel) during the summer.

October 8, 2001
Stevens Gets Infinity Promo
Infinity has named Jay Stevens vice president of programming for its DC area radio station cluster. Stevens, who has been programming and operations director at Infinity's urban WPGC-FM since 1991, will continue in that role and add duties overseeing alternative rock WHFS, classic rock WARW, hot talk WJFK-FM, and gospel WPGC-AM. Stevens will also continue to work with Infinity’s new urban format launches in Hartford, Baltimore (X1057), and elsewhere. Says Infinity's DC "market captain" Phil Zachary: "Jay has had WPGC ranked number one in 36 of the last 38 Arbitron surveys. Every station he works with sounds fabulous and owns the streets."

October 1, 2001
Z104 Flips To Modern Adult Contemporary
Bonneville's contemporary hit Z104 (WWZZ 104.1 and WWVZ 103.9) flipped to an alternative or "modern" rockish hot adult contemporary mix. It seems that the move is aimed more at taking adult female listeners from ABC's hot adult contemporary "Mix 107.3" rather than attracting teenagers from Z104's previous "target" - Clear Channel's rhythmic contemporary "Hot 99.5." Z104's new logo is "More Music - Guaranteed" (it claims to be running half its normal ad load) and its new logo is at the right. No changes were made to Z104's on-air staff, including its "McDonald's Morning Drive" team of Dylan and Erin, except for the departure of nightman Matthew Blades. Z104 program director Mike Edwards tells All Access: "Based on extensive research, this is the first time we've been able to address two major complaints from our listeners. First, the tastes of 18-49 adult females are changing and we are reflecting this with our shift in core artists to feature Dave Matthews, U2, Matchbox 20, Lenny Kravitz, Sara McLachlan, Sting, and the Goo Goo Dolls. It's still top 40 music minus the teen-appeal and rhythmic textured music."

September 30, 2001
Channels 53 And 56 Change Names
Northern Virginia public stations WNVT/53 and WNVC/56 have announced that they're changing their names to "MHz Networks," with the slogan "Your World. Your Frequency." WNVC will be known as "MHz" and will continue to broadcast its international fare. WNVT will be known as "MHz2" when it carries its late afternoon and evening music programming, a mix of local stuff and a MuchMusic USA relay, and "MHz Learn" when it airs educational programs during the morning and early afternoon hours.

September 19, 2001
Giddens Dies
Charles Giddens, who was the last general manager of WPGC while it still sported a contemporary hit format in the early 1980s, died in early September in a Naples, Florida hospital after suffering a brain hemmorage. He was 57.

September 13, 2001
WKMZ And WLTF Swap Dial Positions
Martinsburg WV's classic rock WKMZ, formerly known as "The Mountain," made the move to 95.9 on 9/13, with that frequency's occupant, Williamsport MD's adult contemporary WLTF, moving to WKMZ's old, stronger signal at 97.5. The move will improve WLTF's reception in the DC area's western suburbs, and significantly reduce WKMZ's reach to the metro area. WLTF is now calling itself "Lite 97.5." Moving WKMZ from WV's panhandle fuels talk that Clear Channel may soon flip country WXVA (98.3 FM) in Charles Town WV to a rock format, most likely relaying Winchester VA's WFQX (99.3 FM). Also, the Greaseman (aka Doug Tracht) debuted his morning show on WKMZ.

September 11, 2001
Local Radio, TV React To The Terror Attacks On Pentagon And World Trade Center
Most of the DC area's radio and TV stations suspended normal programming to cover the horrendous events of 9/11. Channels 4, 5, 7, 9, and NewsChannel 8 focused on the multiple attacks of terror in NYC, DC, and elsewhere. On the radio, besides expected coverage on all-news WTOP and news/talk WMAL, many other stations dropped their normal music programming for coverage of the acts of terror involving the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The DC area's Clear Channel stations, including WASH, WMZQ, WIHT, DC101, WTEM, WTNT, WWRC, and WBIG, were relaying the audio from NBC's Channel 4. Bonneville's Z104 was relaying co-owned WTOP. ABC's WJZW was, at times, relaying sister WMAL. WJFK's Howard Stern and "Don And Mike" even broke into news coverage modes. Virtually all of the major radio stations provided coverage including also WETA, WARW, WAMU, WCSP, WPGC, WHUR, and WRQX, and to a lesser degree on WKYS and WMMJ. Many of the Baltimore TV and radio stations also suspended regular programming along with radio stations in Frederick, Winchester, and Fredericksburg. More TV info - Tribune's Channel 50 was carrying coverage from its sister WPIX in NYC and then picked up coverage from CNN. Viacom's Channel 20, for a while, relayed co-owned CBS News. Pax's Channel 66 was relaying coverage from NBC News, while Channels 14 and 30 were carrying Spanish language news coverage from Univision. Even Comcast SportsNet was providing coverage via Fox Sports Net and Fox News Channel. DC's XM Satellite Radio has postponed its scheduled 9/12 launch. Radio America has also postponed ceremonies slated for 9/12 regarding its new DC broadcast facilities. Westwood One was making all of its news services available to affiliates and non-affiliates for free, in the wake of the tragedy in NYC; among those services is WTOP. The names of the broadcast engineers most certainly killed in the World Trade Center terror attack last Tuesday are being made known. We now hear that WABC-TV transmitter engineer Donald DiFranco was in his office on the 110th floor when the building was attacked, and has not been heard from since. He joins WNET-TV's Rod Coppola, WNBC-TV's William Steckman, WCBS-TV's Bob Pattison and Isaias Rivera, and WPIX-TV's Steve Jacobson on the list of those missing and, at this point, feared dead. The above stations and others have since arranged for alternate transmitter sites in and around NYC. Karen Kincaid, 40, an attorney with the DC communications law firm of Wiley, Rein, And Fielding, was one of the unlucky passengers aboard American Airlines Flight 77, bound from Dulles Airport to Los Angeles, which crashed into the Pentagon on 9/11. Kincaid joined the firm in 1993. Previously, she'd been an attorney with the FCC's Private Radio Bureau. Also lost on that flight - Barbara Olson, 45, a DC-based legal analyst who was frequently seen on CNN. The Salisbury Daily Times reported on 9/14 that Carl Reed, half of Georgetown, Delaware's WZBH (93.5 FM) morning team, resigned on 9/11 after his on-air comments about terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center enraged listeners and station officials. According to the Daily Times, Reed griped about interrupting a song for a news bulletin about the planes crashing into the NYC skyscrapers. Reed refused WZBH management's request to immediately apologize for his remarks. He then quit his job at the rock station, the newspaper adds. WWTL (700 AM), which regularly airs Arabic language programming, has posted a message of sympathy on its website, including a quote from Abraham Lincoln, regarding the recent terror attacks. "We have suspended our website out of sympathy to the victims and families of this National tragedy. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to them," according to the station's website. According to 9/20's Radio And Records, Les Kinsolving, a host on Baltimore talker WCBM (680 AM), recently complained that Radio One's executives sympathize with terrorists because callers to the company's cross town urban talker WOLB (1010 AM) were permitted to express support on-air for Muslim ideals. "Les tried to turn it into something it wasn't," Radio One CEO/President Alfred Liggins told R&R. Lanham MD-based Radio One issued a 9/19 statement saying it is "deeply saddened" by the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and that its stations encouraged and permitted listeners to express their opinions. "A very limited number of opinions were clearly controversial," the statement added. "These opinions do not reflect the views of Radio One." By the way, Radio One plans to donate $100,000 to aid victims, surviving families, and survivors of the terrorist attacks and to assist in relief efforts.

September 10, 2001
Oldies QSR Moves To 102.7, Contemporary XYV Moves to 105.7 And Goes Urban
Baltimore Infinity former oldies outlet 105.7 is playing urban contemporary, hip-hop tunes as of 9/10 and IDing itself as "X1057." It looks like FM "hot talk" will not make it to Charm City because of fears it'll hurt the ratings of Infinity's alternative rock WHFS at 99.1 - both formats target young men. The 105.7 frequency has long been thought to be the most likely spot for the new home for Howard Stern and "Don And Mike," now heard on Infinity's increasingly sports-oriented talker WJFK-AM, 1300. Is "X1057" (with the WXYV calls from 102.7) Infinity's long-awaited challenge to Radio One's urban powerhouse "92Q," WERQ - a challenge DCRTV first reported back in March? As of 6 AM on 9/8, Infinity's oldies WQSR made the move from 105.7 to 102.7 (which puts in a better signal to the DC area), former home of Infinity's contemporary WXYV. The last XYV tune - "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday" by Boyz II Men. The air staff from Infinity's contemporary WXYV, formerly at 102.7, is making the move to Infinity's WWMX, 106.5, "Baltimore's Best Variety," also known as "Mix 1065." The new hot adult contemporary line-up: Stacy Lynn joins "Jojo And Kenny" for mornings, 10 AM - Maria Dennis, 3 PM - "Fast" Jimi Roberts, 7 PM - Hawaiian Ryan. Where did Kristie MacIntyre go? To join the "Rouse And Company" morning show, now on 102.7. By the way, 106.5's "Eight Track Saturday Night" moves to 102.7. And - over at Infinity's adult contemporary WLIF (101.9 FM), Michael and Merrie are out as of 9/5. A new morning show kicked off on 9/7 with Greg Carpenter and Tamara Nelson.

August 29, 2001
Hannity Joins WMAL
ABC's news/talk WMAL (630 AM) announced on 8/29 a major schedule change in connection with the arrival of talker Sean Hannity. Starting 9/10, the right-leaning Hannity will take over the 3 PM to 5 PM slot, replacing one hour of Dr. Laura (3 PM) and one hour of the Chris Core show (4 PM). Core's show will now air from 5 PM to 7 PM. Dr. Laura will run from 9 AM to 11:40 AM, with Paul Harvey remaining in the 11:45 AM to noon slot. Naturally, there will be no change to Rush Limbaugh's airing from noon to 3 PM. There's been recent talk that Clear Channel may pull right-wing talker Limbaugh off ABC's radio stations around the country, including WMAL. Limbaugh is syndicated by Premiere, which is owned by rival Clear Channel. In the DC market, Clear Channel could move Limbaugh to its "dynamite talk" WTNT (570 AM) - and then maybe move WTNT to a better signal elsewhere on AM (980) or on FM (99.5). That's why, some surmise, ABC just signed Hannity to a five-year, $10 million radio syndication deal - just in case it finds itself "Rush-less." Hannity, half of Fox News Channel's "Hannity And Colmes" evening talk duo, currently does an afternoon radio show on ABC's NYC blowtorch WABC. He's also been a regular substitute on Limbaugh's show.

August 20, 2001
Liddy Joins WTNT
After two weeks of being missing in his home DC market, Clear Channel has finally penned an agreement with G. Gordon Liddy's national syndicator, Westwood One, and the G-Man (left) aired on "Dynamite Talk" WTNT (570 AM) starting 8/20, from noon to 3 PM. Liddy signed off Infinity hot talker WJFK (106.7 FM) on 8/3. He was to be heard on 8/6 on WTNT, but contract snags prevented that. Westwood One - which is owned by Infinity which owns WJFK - did not want Liddy's show to originate from a Clear Channel station (WTNT). Radio Business Report quotes WTEM general manager Jim Weiskopf who says that Liddy will broadcast "from a Westwood location. We're an affiliate. It's early in the deal, so we're still not sure how and if he will use our station's name on the show. But we expect him to have a close relationship with us."

August 17, 2001
Randi Martin Out At WASH
WASH (97.1 FM) morning personality Randi Martin is history. That's what DCRTV's hearing about the Clear Channel adult contemporary station's line-up on 8/17. No word on why. We hear that Scott Brady, who'd been doing middays, will move to mornings, while current overnighter Maureen McLain takes his slot. Morning traffic/news person Victoria Ray stays on. Martin's only been doing the morning show at 97.1 for half a year. Back in January, WASH ditched its then morning team of Bill Worthington and Kim Burton, moving Martin from afternoons. In other WASH news, on 8/17 Brendan Hurley was named marketing director. He replaces Patricia Wexler. Hurley's been doing the same thing down the hall at Clear Channel's oldies WBIG (100.3 FM). He'll now oversee promotions for both stations.

August 8, 2001
Reingold Out At Channel 9
Dick Reingold, general manager of Gannett's Channel 9 WUSA, resigned on 8/8. According to the 8/9 Post: "Reingold's future seemed in question since the appointment last September of Dave Roberts as news director. Roberts replaced Reingold's hire, former WRC colleague Paul Irvin, who when brought to WUSA in spring 1999 had gotten out of the TV news business altogether and was pursuing a degree in education. Irvin failed to deliver ratings for Channel 9 and, local news sources say, Gannett named Roberts news director rather than having Reingold select Irvin's successor. Roberts proceeded to make some major changes, including ending the station's 4 PM newscast and adding a 9 AM news show." Reingold's replacement is Ardyth Diercks, a senior vice president for Gannett Television. She'll also oversee Gannett TV stations in four southern markets.

August 8, 2001
Murdoch To Acquire Channel 20
On 8/8, Viacom/CBS and Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation announced plans to swap TV stations in a deal that will give Fox network owner Murdoch control of DC's WDCA Channel 20, currently a Viacom-owned station that carries UPN programming. If the deal is approved by the FCC, Murdoch will control two TV stations in the DC market; he also owns WTTG Channel 5, a Fox station. Viacom will also hand over to Murdoch a Houston TV station, giving him a TV duopoly there. In exchange, Viacom/CBS will take control of Murdoch's recently acquired San Francisco TV station - giving it a duopoly in the Bay Area.

August 3, 2001
WJFK's Don & Mike Move To Middays, Liddy Bounced
G. Gordon Liddy has been canned from his midday slot at WJFK-FM. That move makes room for the DC-based PM drive team of "Don And Mike" to move there. After nine straight days of "best of" repeats, D&M (actually Mike Sorce and Mike O'Meara) showed up live in a WJFK-FM studio on 8/3 to officially announce that they'll be moving to the midday 11 AM to 3 PM slot starting on 8/6. D&M confirmed that they'll be physically moving to NYC to do their show at least several days per week. Their show will also air middays live on Infinity's Big Apple FM hot talker WNEW. NYC's "Opie And Anthony" (Gregg Hughes and Anthony Cumia), who do the WNEW PM drive show, debuted in D&M's former WJFK-FM PM drive slot (3 PM to 7 PM) on 8/6. We hear that D&M will continue to be aired in PM drive (via tape delay) on Baltimore's WJFK-AM (1300), for now. By the way, D&M, who'll now be up against Rush Limbaugh in many markets, promised to give the right-wing talker a ratings "colonoscopy."

August 1, 2001
Tony Pann Joins Channel 9
Baltimore TV weatherman Tony Pann (right), who left for NYC last summer, will be joining DC's Channel 9 to do the weather for its noon newscast. Pann had been handling the morning weather chores on the CBS station in NYC, and before that worked for Channel 11 in Baltimore. By the way, Channel 9's news director, Dave Roberts, originally comes from Channel 11.

August 1, 2001
Telefutura Coming To Channel 14
Arlington's Channel 14, WTMW, will become Telefutura in January. That's Univision's new youth oriented Spanish language network. Univision's primary network will remain on low-powered Channel 30, WMDO. Full-powered WTMW, which currently airs a mix of old sitcoms, infomercials, and programs from the right-leaning Renaissance Network, was recently sold to Univision.

July 30, 2001
Liddy Moves To Baltimore's WCBM
The G-Man has found a new radio home in Baltimore. Starting 7/30, G. Gordon Liddy will be heard most weekdays from noon to 2 PM on talker WCBM (680 AM). The former FBI agent and Watergate felon was bounced from WJFK-AM (1300) a few months ago (and replaced with syndicated sports talker Jim Rome) as that station gradually becomes a sports talk outlet. With Liddy joining WCBM, Dr. Laura's show moves from 1 PM to 2 PM (losing an hour).

July 25, 2001
Murdoch Picks Up Channel 24
The FCC on 7/25 approved Rupert Murdoch's $5.4 billion purchase of a batch of Chris-Craft TV stations. Murdoch's News Corporation gets control of the Chris-Craft station in Baltimore, Channel 24 WUTB, a UPN affiliate, even though Murdoch's Fox network will remain - for now - on Sinclair's Channel 45 WBFF. Murdoch already owns DC's Fox 5 WTTG.

July 23, 2001
Gray Leaves WAMU
Jerry Gray, one the two hosts who had their weekday bluegrass and traditional country music shows recently axed from American University's WAMU (88.5 FM), has decided not to accept the station's offer to host a weekend show. Post radio correspondent Frank Ahrens reports that Gray "didn't like the look of the contract WAMU offered." Ahrens adds that the other host, Ray Davis, has reached an agreement with WAMU and will do a show on Sundays from 10 AM to 1 PM. Ahrens also says that at least 72 disgruntled former WAMU bluegrass donors have demanded, and received, their $35 membership pledges back from the station.

July 21, 2001
WPTX Goes Sports Talk
Lexington Park MD's WPTX (1690 AM) was back on the airwaves on 7/21 featuring sports talk from the Sporting News (One-On-One Sports) network. The station, which used to sport a talk/oldies format, had been off the air the past few weeks while new owner, Somar, made technical improvements.

July 21, 2001
Infinity Snags U Of MD Sports
Infinity Sports Marketing, a subsidiary of Infinity Broadcasting, is about to sign a contract with the University Of Maryland to acquire the school's sports broadcast rights. The eight-to-ten year deal is said to be worth $20 million. Currently, U Of MD's sports rights are held by Learfield Communications, which has contracted with Hearst-owned WBAL (1090 AM) to air the school's games in the Baltimore market. The switch to Infinity could mean a move of U Of MD games to a station like Baltimore's Infinity-owned WJFK-AM (1300), which is assuming a sports talk format. In the DC market, U Of MD sports is carried by ABC's WMAL (630 AM); Infinity's WJFK-FM (106.7) has a hot talk format but does carry the Redskins and the evening "Sports Junkies."

July 18, 2001
WMDM Goes Oldies
WMDM (97.7 FM) was reborn with an oldies format on 7/18. The station's new slogan: "The Greatest Hits Of All Time - Oldies 97.7 - WMDM." The Lexington Park MD former country outlet resurfaced on 7/14 stunting with a looped tape announcement after several weeks off the air to allow its new owner, Somar, to make technical improvements.

July 18, 2001
New News Director For Channel 2
Channel 2's new news director Staci Feger-Childers has got her work cut out for her. According to the 7/18 Baltimore Sun, she's taking the reins of "a station whose newscasts are mired at the bottom of the Baltimore market. WMAR has an experienced and capable staff that's been demoralized by a series of short-lived, low-impact news directors. And she knows that the bottom line - the ratings and the revenue - matter more than ever to WMAR's Cincinnati-based owner, the E.W. Scripps Company."

July 14, 2001
New Owner For WJHU
Baltimore's Johns Hopkins University signed a letter of intent on 7/13 to sell its public radio station, WJHU (88.1 FM), to the local "Maryland Public Radio" group headed by WJHU host Marc Steiner. The 7/14 Baltimore Sun reports that the group has 30 days to solidify its financing to buy the station and make a specific offer. The asking price has been estimated at $5 million. Earlier this year, the university put the non-commercial, news/talk formatted station up for sale after claiming that it did not have the funds to continue its operations. A half-dozen bidders surfaced, including Maryland Public Television (MPT), along with DC public broadcasters WAMU and WETA. But, over time, most pulled out saying it would be too expensive to operate WJHU as a local entity, as opposed to simply relaying the signal of another station via 88.1. The 7/13 Sun reports that Steiner's group has borrowed most of the $5 million purchase price (raising only $750,000), and will still have to find funds to replace WJHU's aging equipment and to run the station, not to mention making program improvements.

July 7, 2001
New Morning News Voices At WBAL Radio
WBAL radio's morning news voice, Chuck Jackson, gives up the airwaves for a landscaping business. He'll be replaced by Bill Vanko, who'd been WPOC's news director and who'd also been heard before on BAL, and Mellany Armstrong who's from a Philadelphia radio station.

July 7, 2001
New News Director At Channel 11
Some behind the scenes Baltimore TV news changes. Margaret Cronan will be named news director of Channel 11/WBAL, which is owned by Hearst/Argyle. She replaces Princell Hair who's becoming the corporate director of news for CBS-owned stations, which includes 11's arch rival Channel 13/WJZ. Cronan has been news director of the Hearst/Argyle TV station in Palm Beach, Florida. Also, she'd been a news producer at Channel 13 in the early 1990s.

July 2, 2001
McAleer Dies
Charles Arthur McAleer, 82, a crime reporter and editor at the now defunct Washington Star newspaper for 44 years died on 7/2 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center of complications from diabetes. In addition to his newspaper duties, Mr. McAleer was a copy editor and substitute newscaster on WMAL radio, which used to be owned by the Star.

July 1, 2001
Gneiser Injured
Bob Gneiser, 69, who'd once been a news anchor on Channel 7 (then WMAL-TV) and on WMAL radio, was injured in a two-car crash in Bethesda on 7/1. Mr. Gneiser's wife, Carolyn, also 69, was killed in the mishap. Two others were also injured in the accident.

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