And some more stuff floating around the OMW Pool - yes, we're heated, so come on and dive in! You'll find some familiar things in the water...
WRQK'S TRANSFER: OMW is hearing from numerous sources that the official transfer of Cumulus rock WRQK/106.9 has been "set in stone", after a number of false starts and guesses.
At 12:01 a.m. next Tuesday, January 16th, "Rock 107" goes under the control of Clear Channel in an LMA. The LMA will be in effect until the reported sale of WRQK to Clear Channel, part of a swap involving two Clear Channel clusters in Michigan, is finalized.
OMW hears that the move doesn't necessarily mean an immediate studio transfer to the Clear Channel World Domination Headquarters/Southern Command on Freedom Avenue in Jackson Township. That move may not take place until early-to-mid-February, which means WRQK will still broadcast from its current studios on Martindale Road for a few weeks.
We're also hearing some rumors about changes that may happen at WRQK as a result of the Clear Channel takeover - changes NOT including any format change for "Rock 107".
But the information comes to us totally anonymously, from someone who does not wish to identify himself or herself privately to us. So, we're not going with it.
If you do have direct information that you'd like to share, please send it to us and tell us who you are. We have a long, storied history of keeping our sources confidential. As we often say, we'd give you examples, but that'd break our streak of not revealing sources...
101.7 REDUX: While we're at 22nd and Whipple NW in Canton, virtually, OMW hears that two new antennas are officially up on that World Famous New Tower - the antennas for both WRQK/106.9 and WHOF/101.7.
We hear if you're looking for them, the WRQK antenna is the higher of the two, and that other smaller antennas - for purposes we don't know - need to be moved as well.
Considering the possibility of upcoming wintry weather, the timing couldn't have been better.
We still have no word on WHOF's debut, though. We'll keep checking our radios...
WKNR'S CHANGES: We haven't had any update on possible changes at Good Karma sports talk WKNR/850 in a while, though we've heard some interesting on-air pairings we believe are intended as auditions for future programming.
On this list is former NFL offensive lineman and Browns draft pick Jim Pyne, who teamed up with WKNR promotions director Jason Gibbs earlier this week...when Gibbs was substituting for afternoon drive host Kenny "Flying Back from Arizona" Roda.
Other listeners concur with us - perhaps the pairing was a way to see how the two clicked for something like a new weekend or evening show. But...that's just speculation on our part.
Our WKNR-connected sources will only say at this point that major changes at the sports talk outlet could happen "sometime in the next couple or three weeks"...
WEWS HD GLITCHES: We've nailed down what could be causing those graphics glitches on the HDTV broadcasts of WEWS/5's "NewsChannel 5".
A source on Euclid Avenue tells us that it's a piece of equipment that interfaces locally-generated HD content, like the newscasts and like the recordings of the HD versions of "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" - to the station's HD output to its digital transmitter. As such, the glitches are not seen at all on WEWS' SD feeds of NewsChannel 5.
Our source tells us that the WEWS engineering folks "are on it", and hoping to squash the bug soon. It's popped up and has been noticed, because the equipment in question wasn't getting a lot of use until the newscasts went HD...
WNPQ LINEUP SHIFT: Canton market CCM outlet WNPQ/95.9 "The Light" is shuffling its schedule.
Grant Holmes joins the station for morning drive, and is being paired with Katie Carr for "Breakfast with Grant and Katie".
The move shifts WNPQ program director (and OMW reader) Ed Franklin back to his regular afternoon drive perch...
UPDATE 1:07 AM 1/13/07: Our apologies to both Eds, Mssrs. Richards and Franklin, for our misidentification earlier. We'd just read a comment from Ed Richards, and his name came off the keyboard when we meant to properly identify WNPQ PD/afternoon driver Ed Franklin.
Maybe one day, when we're able to afford proofreaders...
26 comments:
I'm hearing Rock 107 will be moving to 101.7 and CC is putting a country station on 106.9.
Word is with a new stick and gear which will improve the signal, they will transition to a regional station and go after WQMX.
It's popped up and has been noticed, because the equipment in question wasn't getting a lot of use until the newscasts went HD...
Hate when that happens. You figure once it's arrived on your loading dock that Quality Control would've resolved the issue before it became a problem.
I'm hearing that rumors of Rock 107 moving to 101.7 "could be crap".
That's the real story in Canton radio....
with all the changes at WHBC/WRQK/WHOF the real story is and always has been what WNPQ is doing.
Pyne was actually pretty good, and truthfully, Gibbs is far superior to Catan, Bender, Sabo and the football post-game duo. That's not to say Gibbs could be a real ratings getter (sadly, none of KNR's current talent could garner ratings, if they could, they already would), but he certainly could host a show.
I have limited exposure to WNPQ, but from what I can tell & Heard, Ed is the best thing to hapen to that frequency in a while...like 10 years or more. Somebody is finally paying attention.
Memo to Jim Natoli.
Sell now while you can still use the money.
Memo to whoever buys NPQ.......nuke the christian stuff and go oldies 30 seconds after you take it over.
Note to NPQ:
MOVE TO DOVER! Natoli could be sitting on a nice little chunk of change, moving back to the small market. Change the format to a good oldies\local sports format. It would easily take the numbers from TUZ and JER FM would not be missed. With the extra money that could be made maybe Natoli could update some equipment to improve the sound.
Ed Richards? WNPQ?
Is this the same Ed Richards of 1220/WGAR and Country 99.5 WGAR fame?
The guy thats doing afternoons at NPQ is named Ed Franklin....not Ed Richards. Not the same guy
I thought Pyne sounded good, but I wasn't impressed at all with Gibbs. Thought he sounded like his mouth was full most of the time, maybe it was just me. Pyne would need a co-host from what I heard, but he brings his former playing expertise to the table. Of all the hosts I have heard, the only one I would keep in the long run is Roda, everybody else can be replaced with better talent.
Gotta disagree with "Bill Press." It was hard to listen to the Pyne & Gibbs show. And no, Gibbs most certainly is not superior to the others he mentioned...not even close.
To the writer who says WKNR would "already be getting ratings," the problem is SIGNAL STRENGTH. When I get out of work, it's very difficult to get WKNR tuned in, either in the car or at home, without other stations bleeding. That's the only advantage WTAM has--signal strength--because their talent is absolutely atrocious.
Natoli will not sell WNPQ or WBTC, That is his life.
OMW has posted this many times!!!
Any idea how old Natoli is? Did he get his start at the old WKYC as a camera operator? How early?
Is anyone else fascinated with this old guy?
"Any idea how old Natoli is? Did he get his start at the old WKYC as a camera operator? How early?
Is anyone else fascinated with this old guy?"
I dont know his age, but from what I have heard he insists to stay and operate the board for broadcasts. His stations are his heart and soul and his life. If something ever happens to him, it would be a loss to Tusky Cty. There are not many people around anymore that has the passion for broadcasting like he does. I just wish he would either 1 switch the format on NPQ or bring it back to New Philly.
Natoli is 91 years old.
91 years old! At that age, I hope I'm sitting in a rocking chair, drooling in my lap and hoping someone will change my Depends!
I'd move NPQ back to Dover /NP/Urichsville in a heartbeat go Oldies as Quick 96..where's Dave Robbins when you need him!
anyone know what happened to WNPQ's website? I'm out of town and usually like to catch the sports they do.
A source on Euclid Avenue tells us that it's a piece of equipment that interfaces locally-generated HD content, like the newscasts and like the recordings of the HD versions of "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" - to the station's HD output to its digital transmitter.
Sounds like an issue with an mpeg splicer/encoder. Mpeg program splicing is a touchy thing.
Notes:
We apologize for the Ed Question. WNPQ's PD is indeed Ed Franklin.
Ed Richards had posted a comment to our other item, which we read shortly before posting this - so...our mistake. It's been corrected. Mr. Richards is an OMW reader, but is not the PD of "95.9 The Light"...Mr. Franklin (also an OMW reader) is.
We'll check on the website issue as soon as we get some sleep. Ed (Franklin, that is), if you'd like to chime in here...please do.
And NPHSQuaker is correct. Just about anyone who even knows a small thing about radio in that area knows that Mr. Natoli won't sell 95.9 while he is alive.
There may even be some doubt that his heirs will sell it, but he most certainly will not...and he will not, while on this earth, allow it to be moved back to New Philadelphia as a local station for that region. While he still controls it, it will always be what it is now, aiming at Canton.
That's about as non-negotiable as it gets in radio.
Oh, and the comment above in response to the "rumor of 106.9/101.7 swapping"? The reply is correct.
Rock 107 isn't moving to 101.7 from all indications we've gotten out of both Freedom Avenue and Martindale.
Doing so would not appear to be a
smart move from this corner, either.
-The Management
you guys are hilarious.....
cc will do some streamlining at wrqk but don't look for much until prophet is installed and they are moved to the current cc building...
they are already encroaching on whbc's revenue so badly that next media would love to peddle the place ( for which they wayyyy overpaid) it would not surprise me at all if the old owners ( beaverkettle) were even approached to take it back....
Nice to see a mention of my fellow Hokie and former classmate Jim Pyne! Hell I might as well bring up some Jim Pyne trivia, Pyne was the first pick by the Browns in the expansion draft. He had played for Tampa Bay and Detroit previously. He is also represents the 3rd generation of his family to play in either the AFL or NFL. Former Bears FB Matt Suhey is the only other 3rd generation player in NFL history. Just a neat bit of trivia.
There is a history of NextMedia selling out to original owners in West Palm Beach, FL, and a couple other markets over the last five years or so..but it won't happen in Canton..Beaverkettle and the people behind it have moved on..despite what some people on South Market might wish for..
i agree..the former whbc owners HAVE moved on....
now,nextmedia must grow or sell in canton.
they need to either buy the alliance properties or sell to them..there is only room for one owner outside of cc, which has done a masterful job of creating a great cluster...
To anonymous at 10:59 p.m. (and anyone else who is interested...
It seems that they've abandoned the former website at www.wnpqfm.com. Out of curiosity, I typed in www.thelight959.com to see what happened, and indeed that is their new website (though I don't know how "new" it is).
The page does reflect the change of Ed Franklin to afternoons as reported by OMW.
Another interesting thing I saw on the page while looking at the schedule: Saturday night at 10:00 p.m. is listed as The Positive Rock Show with Josh Booth. Booth works on-air at 95.5 The Fish in Cleveland and hosts the aforementioned show on 1220 WHKW sometime on the weekend (don't ask me why it's on 1220 and not 95.5).
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