Clearing Up Columbus

As it turns out, the rumors (clearly marked as such in an item below) about layoffs at the Clear Channel Columbus compound were a bit overstated.

In this day where large numbers of employees are let go for financial/budget reasons at clusters all over America, we're "happy" (cough) to report that only three workers have actually been let go from the hallways at Clear Channel's Columbus operations.

OMW has confirmed that talk WTVN/610 newsman Stuart Osborne is indeed gone from the building for a second time, after being laid off a year ago (and returning a couple of months later).

Soft AC WLZT/93.3 "Lite 93.3" midday personality Amy Donovan and top 40 WNCI/97.9 part-timer "Fluffer", who is also a promotions assistant, also exit. A new part-time personality will be hired to replace Donovan.

OMW hears that a number of other staffers at CC Columbus shift duties or change air shifts, in some cases either slightly trimming or lengthening their shifts.

Among them, veteran WNCI midday host Andy Clark exits that role after 24 years, but continues as the morning driver on sister WLZT. Country WCOL/92.3 afternoon drive host Joe Boxer adds the WNCI midday shift to his duties.

At least it's on two different stations. We hear that Clear Channel Cleveland staffer Daune Robinson now occupies 10 AM-7 PM on the schedule of hot AC WMVX/106.5 "Mix 106.5", in addition to 7 PM-midnight on oldies WMJI/105.7 "Majic 105.7", along with midday voicetracking work on Canton market sister AC station WHOF/101.7 "My 101.7". We half wonder if her voicetracks ever end up with station name mentions like "My Majic Mix 101.7".

Back to Columbus, where two staffers - including WTVN reporter/anchor Scott Gerfen - move into new roles in the company's online content arena.

And there's one new job opening, where we hear WTVN is actually looking for a production director. Dean Haid, who's been in the role for a year now, moves up to concentrate on imaging for the company's two AM outlets, WTVN and sister talker WYTS/1230 "Your Talk Station".

And some moves involve the Columbus cluster's newest occupant, the soon-to-be-former WMRN-FM/106.7, set to launch a format this week rumored to be an adult rock/AAA-style format similar to Cincinnati's "Radio 94.1". The station moved in from Marion has been running TV theme songs stunting as "Television 106.7". (Yes, folks, we're well aware that the TV theme format is a stunt.)

The most notable move tabs rock WBWR/105.7 "The Brew" program director Laura Lee to add similar duties at 106.7 in its new format.

That would lend credence, in our eyes, to the prospect of "Television 106.7" launching a some sort of adult-oriented rock/AAA format - though we don't know Ms. Lee or her background before her current PD gig...