What’s News? 
Tidbits about Central Florida Radio

Do you have news about Central Florida Radio stations and/or personalities? 
Send it along to cflradio1@gmail.com

More Stations Playing Christmas Music     11-28-23
WPOZ-FM 88.3 and WNUE-FM 98.1 have joined other CFL stations playing Christmas music.

New Midday Host at Exitos 96.5   11-21-23
Cox Media Group has named a new midday host; Liliani Hernandez
joins WOEX-FM 96.5, "Exitos 96.5". Before joining 96.5 she served as co-host of a syndicated radio show for seven years. 

MRN Co-Founder Passes      11-21-23
Motor Racing Network (MRN) is saddened to announce that its co-founder and first anchor, 
Ken Squier passed away on Wednesday evening, Nov. 15 at the age of 88. Squier, also known for his time broadcasting NASCAR on the CBS Television Network, and later with TBS, had just entered hospice care earlier that day after a lengthy series of illnesses. It was Squier, a 2018 inductee into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, who was personally selected by NASCAR Founder Bill France Sr., to build a nationwide network of radio stations to cover the growing sport of stock car racing. Of course, Squier started with the obvious first affiliates- his family-owned WDEV-AM & FM/Waterbury, VT, and WNDB-AM/Daytona Beach-both of which still air MRN programming today, before going on to add hundreds more stations to air the very first MRN broadcast of the Daytona 500 in 1970.

From Leo Vargas     11-16-23
WONQ-AM1030 has reverted back to the "Romantica" name (previously used by the station from 2001 to 2003), earlier this month. It also airs on the 93.9 & 103.5 FM translators. The station airs romantic pop/rock ballads, with occasional brokered programming. It's sister station "Viva" continues with its salsa format, airing on WVVO-AM 1140 , as well as the 99.5 & 103.7 FM translators.

Dr. Titus Venessa Passes    11-14-23
Leo Vargas
informs us about the passing of Dr. Titus Venessa. The Dr. was a broadcaster for more than 30 years, including on WONQ-AM 1030, WOTS-AM 1220 and most recently WPRD-AM 1440.
In Memory

Holiday Music Is In The Air    11-12-23
3 Central Florida radio stations have begun to play Holiday music. WMGF-FM 107.7 and WLRQ-FM 99.3 both iHeart stations. WKTK-FM 98.5 an Audacy station has joined the Holiday music club.
We almost forgot, ZRadio (WPOZ) has an all Christmas channel, here

Bud Hedinger Hangs Up The Headphones     11-12-23
After 20 years at WFLF-AM 540, the 76 year old Bud Hedinger who began as the afternoon host in 2003 and moved to mornings in 2009, has retired as of Friday, November 10, 2023. Simon Conway will be taking over in the AM.

Sold: WIXC-AM 1060 in Titusville     11-9-23
MARC Radio Group, Roger W. Holler owner of WSBH-FM 98.5 in Satellite Beach and other stations, is purchasing WIXC-AM 1060/105.5 FM. The sale price is $650,000. 

Sold: WPLK And WIYD    11-4-23
Pending FCC approval, Charles Douglas, a local entrepreneur, will acquire Natkim Radio’s WPLK-AM 800/98.3 FM and WIYD-AM 1260/104.9 FM in Palatka.

Latest PPM Ratings      11-1-23
October PPM ratings are in. Read them here.

Fernando Negrón, Voice of Hispanics in Central Florida, Passes    10-31-23
Thanks to Leo Vargas for letting us know; WPRD-AM 1440 radio host and activist for the causes of the Hispanic community, Fernando Miguel Negrón died this past Saturday, Oct 28, 2023 at the age of 47 years old. Fernando is survived by his children Fernando “Nandito” and Karina, as well as his siblings  Alejandro and Viviana Michelle. In 2005, Don Miguel Negrón passed away and Fernando continued with the program that became a family project. It was broadcast on the station 1030 “La Grande” until 2019. Later, it began to be broadcast on the station La Voz 1440 AMIn Memory

Radio Years Will Be Back Soon...We hope      10-23-23
Jim Maloy's excellent website
RadioYears.com: History of Central Florida Radio Stations ...has been gotten by the computer gremlins. We're all  hoping it returns soon. 

Latest PPM Ratings      10-6-23
September PPM ratings are in, here.

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