It's Official: Ronnie Duncan to WERE/1300's New Talk Format

(Thanks to OMW tipster and Radio-Info Cleveland board regular Nathan Obral for the pickup.)

The Cleveland Plain Dealer's website reports this afternoon that veteran local sports voice Ronnie Duncan will helm the new local morning talk show on Radio One urban talker WERE/1300 Cleveland. Duncan will be the local component in a new talk format aimed at African-American listeners, which will feature names such as Rev. Al Sharpton on the national end of things.

The former WOIO/19-WUAB/43 sports anchor and former WKNR talk host has been working for Village Television, a TV production company which airs a slate of programming on Adelphia cable's Channel 20. He's also been doing public address announcing work for the Cleveland Cavaliers at Gund Arena, which the PD says he hopes to continue to do. (It'd certainly be in the tradition of the Cavaliers if he does...WNIR/100.1 midday staple Howie Chizek was the team's long-time arena PA voice.)

The PD quotes Jim Davis, who continues to be operations manager of the station...saying the station believed Duncan "wanted it the most". Among his competition for the gig was WOIO/19-WUAB/43 "19 Action News" reporter Harry Boomer.

The local morning drive show on WERE will run 6-9 AM weekdays, starting next Monday.