A Closer Look...

How Central Florida Radio Handled The PULSE Tragedy

Broadcasters Provide Solace Following Orlando Massacre
At 2 a.m. on June 12, a gunman opened fire inside Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando. The gunman, who had pledged allegiance to ISIS, killed 49 and wounded 53 in what authorities have deemed the worst mass shooting in United States history. Local radio and television broadcasters in Orlando and across the country aired wall-to-wall coverage, with station groups sending news teams from other cities. "Broadcasting's importance is only magnified during moments of national tragedy," said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. "NAB salutes the radio and TV stations in Orlando and elsewhere who provided continuous updates and a source of solace in the wake of this unspeakable massacre."

CMG Orlando Went Wall-to-Wall 
By Radio Ink -June 13, 2016
WDBO is one of the country’s most well known news stations and once it was known the Orlando incident was a major national event, the station was well prepared to cover it and keep the community informed. We spoke to Cox Media Group Operations Manager Drew Anderssen Sunday about the steps his team took to get the story out on WDBO and eventually all CMG stations. What was the first thing you did to activate the coverage when you heard what had happened?
At first word, we immediately started waking members of our news team out of bed and mobilizing our resources. During that process, we coordinated with CMG-TV station WFTV Eyewitness News 9 to simulcast live coverage so that we did not experience any lag in communicating the urgent situation to listeners of our radio stations. By 5am, our entire radio news team was in place, providing reports to all CMG properties in and out of market, in conjunction with WFTV. By 10am, the morning show hosts from our CMG Orlando radio stations (Power 95.3, Star 94.5, 98.9 WMMO, K92.3, and ESPN 580) were all gathered in the WDBO studio and we began simulcasting round-table coverage, allowing listeners to react while our news team focused on gathering and distributing urgent information across our network.
What have you been hearing from the listeners?
Because we are simulcasting our coverage on our CMG-Orlando radio stations (Power 95.3, Star 94.5, 98.9 WMMO, K92.3, and ESPN 580), we’re getting very diverse calls, most from concerned listeners who want to be able to contribute in some way to the needs of the community. Many are sharing their stories from loved ones and their families/friends. We’ve also spoken with the families of loved ones, club goers, and even one of the DJs from inside the nightclub, who left prior to the shooting.
One of your people was on Fox news today. How did that come about?
That was News 96.5 WDBO’s Morning News Host, Joe Kelley. Brian Kilmeade, one of the hosts of Fox & Friends and syndicated radio show Kilmeade and Friends, reached out to me directly to secure a local contact on behalf of The Fox News Channel. Brian is an incredible talent who is always using his connections to give listeners and viewers inside perspective. Brian will be live from Orlando tomorrow morning on Fox & Friends, and WDBO will air all three hours of his syndicated radio show live tomorrow from 9a-12noon, originating from our studios in Orlando.
What are your plans for coverage moving forward?
We are going to evaluate as time progresses. We have been in wall-to-wall coverage for nearly 12 hours now. We know there is a vigil set to take place this evening in Downtown Orlando, and I’m sure we’ll be wall-to-wall through that vigil, if not longer. We are coordinating joint efforts across our CMG family of brands locally and regionally including television, radio, and newspaper, and will work together to distribute information in the fastest and most efficient way. Additionally, we have extended our radio news staffing through the evening and overnight hours to make sure that we can adequately cover new developments. For now, our entire team has been “on the grid” since the early morning hours, with no sign of slowing down. Reach out to Drew to congratulate him and his team on their outstanding coverage: Drew.Anderssen@coxinc.com

RADIO BLANKETS ORLANDO WITH COVERAGE IN WAKE OF TRAGEDY.
Updated  Jun 13, 2016

As details emerged about the worst mass shooting on U.S. soil, hosts from each of Cox Media Group’s Orlando radio stations today (June 13) participated in a live roundtable discussion about the unconscionable terror attack. The two-hour panel was simulcast on all five of the company’s Orlando stations starting at noon and video-streamed on their websites. Hosted and moderated by “News 96.5” WDBO-FM morning show host and news director Joe Kelley, Monday’s roundtable featured AJ and Ashley from country “K92.3” WWKA, “The Obie and Lil Shawn Morning Show” from rhythmic CHR “Power 95.3” WPYO, Monica May of urban AC “Star 94.5” WCFB and Denise Ryan from classic rock WMMO (98.9). Sports “ESPN580 Orlando” WDBO also carried the panel, which included Brian Kilmeade, host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends” and Fox News Radio’s “Kilmeade & Friends.” Earlier today, WDBO-FM simulcast all three hours of Kilmeade’s syndicated radio show, which broadcast live from the scene of the crime. CMG modified its Orlando station apps to give listeners “an easier way to stay engaged, to donate and to share their thoughts, prayers and raw emotions,” using the app’s Open Mic feature, said Drew Anderssen, operations manager of WDBO-FM, WMMO and WDBO. The stations streamed live video on their websites and on Facebook Live and other social media platforms, asking questions to engage listeners. Across the Orlando dial, radio continued to disseminate the latest information and direct listeners to related services. As they did on the day of the shooting at Pulse, a popular gay nightclub, stations provided an outlet for listeners to grieve and share their feelings. “We are an extension of the community and we are here for our listeners to vent, cry and share their feelings,” Dennis Martinez, PD of CBS Radio CHR “Amp Radio” WQMP and “Mix Radio 105.1” WOMX told Inside Radio. Radio networks also moved quickly to cover the tragedy. Westwood One News went live with special reports after the story broke on Sunday and has continued to do so twice per hour since, with correspondents Alan Scaia and Scott Kimbler in Orlando filing reports from the scene. CNN Newsource correspondents Dianne Gallagher and Scott McLean are also in Orlando supplementing Westwood One News coverage and offering live custom Q&As for affiliates. Westwood One News also provided additional coverage: Steve Kastenbaum was at New York’s Beacon Theatre last night as the Tony Awards turned somber when the Broadway community, known for its gay rights activism, honored the victims; Jim Roope was in Los Angeles covering the LGBT pride festival and the arrest of a man with explosives and ammunition; and Bob Costantini covered President Obama’s remarks and alerts from the nation’s capital. Beyond Orlando, the tragedy dominated news/talk radio, as many segued into full-coverage mode. Some Cumulus Media news/talk stations deployed their local news reporters to pride festivals and parades in their markets, and others, including “NewsRadio 106.7” WYAY/Atlanta, WMAL-FM Washington, and KKOB Albuquerque, offered live local talk programming with updates, guests and the opportunity for listeners to join the conversation.

iHeartMedia/Orlando Rises To The Occasion In Wake Of Pulse Tragedy
June 14, 2016 at 12:01 PM (PT)

iHeartmedia/Orlando stations came together to serve their listening community in the wake of Sunday morning's tragedy at the PULSE nightclub. Every station in the market began wall-to-wall coverage of breaking news from News/Talk station WFLF (102.5 WFLA). Regional SVP Programming Chris Kampmeier called every station PD by 8:30a to coordinate coverage. Classic Rock/TalkRadio WTKS (REAL RADIO 104.1) was on-air first with a collection of marquee talents followed by Top 40 WXXL (XL1067), Active Rock WJRR (101ONE), Spanish WRUM (RUMBA 100.3) and AC WMGF (MAGIC 107.7) with live talent all day broadcasting breaking news commercial-free. 
All iHeartMedia stations in the area banded together and sent out water, food and shade in the form of station tents to lines of people all over Orlando waiting to donate blood or in need of therapy.
Stations and media from all over the world checked in, including iHeartMedia stations in Boston, New York, Minneapolis, L.A., Detroit, San Diego and the BBC in London. On-air talents like Ryan Seacrest, Elvis Duran, Matty and MOJO were all covering the story. Elvis Duran sent FRGY to broadcast live out of the WXXL building Monday.
Starting yesterday (Tuesday), iHeartMedia/Orlando resumed live broadcasts all day on all stations, while continuing to provide water, food and shade to more locations.
Commented WXXL PD Brian Mack, "We’re still trying to get behind local efforts and vigils and more … There are still things happening, although we’re slowly starting to get back into music and commercials now."

At Black Crow Bankruptcy   6-1-10 
From Radio-Info.com
Black Crow moves further from GE Capital, closer to new lender Paul Stone
Florida-based Black Crow beat GE Capital to the punch with an emergency Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on January 12, frustrating the lender’s attempts to have a New York court appoint its chosen receiver. The jousting continues in court, but as of Friday, Black Crow has an agreement from the judge to pay GE Capital the “undisputed” amounts and thus clear the way to grant new lender Paul Stone the security interests he wants. This TRI Newsletter told you back on April 12 that Stone is offering post-petition financing to Southeastern radio operator Black Crow of as much as $1.5 million. That plus its cash on hand gives Black Crow the dough to satisfy the immediate requirements of GE Capital. Jacksonville-based Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Paul Glenn does give GE Capital “partial adequate protection” of its interests now that Paul Stone has entered the picture. Black Crow must provide GE Capital with a series of reports by 5pm each Wednesday – reports about pacing on a three-month rolling basis, plus collections and disbursements (if they’re different from the budget). Then every month, GE Capital is entitled to balance sheets, including data on capital expenditures and corporate overhead.

WELE Cleared of Criminal Wrongdoing  11-25-08   
As being reported in the Daytona Beach News Journal, Ormond Beach Police said there is no evidence that the management at WELE-AM 1380 did anything criminal when it failed to return money to listeners who purchased tickets from The Premier Travel Show. Sgt. Kenny Hayes, Ormond Beach Police Department spokesman told Lyda Longo of the News-Journal; "We saw no criminal intent on the part of the owner of the radio station." "For criminal charges to apply, police would have to prove that agents of the radio station knowingly sold packages that were worthless or knowingly misrepresented the packages which resulted in monetary gain to the business. No such proof was found in any of the cases. On the contrary, police determined that the radio station did in fact have business relationships with companies providing vacation accommodations or travel services and had good faith belief that the vacation packages were redeemable as advertised." Police said listeners who have not received refunds for their tickets could try to pursue the matter in civil court.

12-22-08 

7-3-08

10-31-08
 

10-31-08
 

11-5-08

11-24-08
 

CFNews 13 Audio Report
10-31-08

 WFTV Audio Report 
10-28-08

WESH 2 Audio Report 
10-31-08

                         Doug Wilhite on WELE 11-3-08

Gene Burns  WKIS-AM 740
Gene arrived in Orlando in 1971 for what would become his first stop in at WKIS-AM 740.  Gene headed to Philadelphia in 191 and spent 1 year there before heading back to Orlando. gene spent four more years at WKIS and then on to Boston's WRKO and then on to WOR-AM 710 in New York.  WOR would syndicate the Gene Burns Program to 162 stations across the country, including WDBO-AM 580 on  a delayed basis. Gene was heard on WDBO at 10PM.

Chris Russo  WKIS-AM 740
Chris graduated from Rollins College in Winter Park in 1982. Before WKIS-AM 740 in March, 1984, Chris worked at WEXI-AM 1000 in Jupiter and WOKV-AM 690 in Jacksonville. Chris became well known for his rapid-fire banter and vast sports knowledge.  During his stint at WKIS, when it became clear that the people of central Florida were having trouble understanding his intense New York accent and  the station sent him to see a speech therapist twice a week.  After working at WMCA-AM 570 for a little more than a year, he caught the attention of WFAN Morning Show Host, Don Imus.  Imus brought Russo on-board the "Imus in the Morning" show as the Sports Reporter.  WFAN paired up Russo with Mike Francesa, who was the co-host of the mid-day show.  2008-Chris would leave WFAN and sign with Sirius Satellite Radio.
  Here's Chris with Yankee manager Joe Torre on WFAN

Brian Thomas   WBJW-FM 105.1    WOMX-FM 105.1
Brian was the program director at WBJW-FM 105.1 "BJ105" from  1985 to 1987 and WOMX-FM 105.1 "Mix105.1" from 1988 until 1991. In 2006, WCBS-FM 101.1 New York known as "Jack-FM", named radio veteran Brian as its program director. 

Ed Tyll  WTKS-FM 104.1
Ed would leave Orlando and WTKS-FM 104.1 for KABC-AM in Los Angeles. After a few other stops Ed made it to New York and WLIE-AM 540 in Long Island. Edward Tyll is now doing stand up comedy in and around New York.

Mike Harvey     WROD-AM 1340    WSHE-FM 100.3    WEBG-FM 100.3
In the year 1964, at the age of 18,  Mike was about to make his Orlando radio debut at WLOF-AM 950. But, WROD-AM 1340  in Daytona Beach also made Mike an offer and broadcasting from Daytona Beach - hmm let's see -  the beach - girls - radio just seemed more appealing. By the time Mike was 24 it was off to New York City. Mike now has two programs in syndication; The Mike Harvey Show nightly and Super Gold on weekends. 

Bob O'Brien  WOCL-FM 105.9
From August of 1988 until September of 1989 Bob worked in New York with legend Norm N. Nite at the United Stations Radio Network's “Solid Gold Scrapbook”  as writer/producer for the syndicated 5 hour weekly oldies magazine.

Rick Stacy  WHLY-FM 106.7
In 2003, Rick would move to WNEW-FM 102.7 in New York. The station became "Mix 102.7", switching to dance hits, mainly from the 1970s and 1980s.  

At Ratings   1-25-07
In his Blog dated Jan 25, 2007 Scott Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel posted the ratings of the top 20 shows and stations for both mornings (6-10) and afternoons (3-7). The ranking is for total listeners ranked by Arbitron in the Orlando market. A reader posted the following comment.

Scott--
Great list of call letters for the top 20 stations. But, who are they? What's the name of the show, where are they on the dial? Your column is great, but you gotta get on the stick on this. Posted by: Kurt | January 25, 2007 at 07:50 PM

Scott replied
I hear ya, Kurt. unfortunately, this blog thing's not my really my day job - and Arbitron doesn't give me a way to cut and paste (and ok, to be honest, once you get past the top 10, even I'm not sure of all the show names.) but I can direct you to one place that has the call letters for every station, the lineup -- as well as pretty much the entire history of each station as well. It's a good site for local radio folks anyway, as it's all Central Florida stuff, run by a true fan who knows the biz. It's here:
http://cflradio.net/
Hope that's of some help anyway.

So we thought about doing a follow up. So here is the complete list along with call letters, programs and formats. Thanks to Scott Maxwell for the mention.