What's News? September 2011

Changes Coming To The Big 810 9-4-11
Starting in mid-September on WEUS-AM 810, "The Train Wreck Show" rolls out of the station 5 nights a week, from 8PM-10PM, moving from the Sunday 11AM slot. Also beginning in September will be “The Free Radicals”, Monday-Friday from 7PM-8PM featuring Orlando "thorn-in-the-side of the establishment" John Kurtz as well as Whit Kincaid. Both were regular guests on the “People Power Revolution” hosted by George Crossley, who passed away one year ago.

Happy Birthday! 9-4-11
Happy 50th birthday to former WMFE-FM 90.7 News Director, Pat Duggins, now News Director at Alabama Public Radio, in Tupelo. Also celebrating this week; Central Florida Radio legend, Bill Barber will celebrate number 60, on Wednesday, Sep 7 and on the 9th, an early contributor to this site Doug Douglass blows out the candles. Happy birthday to all of you.

Florida Radio Hall Of Fame 9-5-11
In 2007 John Long and Sam Hale founded the Georgia Radio Hal of Fame. Now John has founded the Florida Radio Hall of Fame. The mission of the FLARHOF is to recognize today’s Florida radio professionals as well as the pioneers who shaped radio in Florida. Membership is open to anyone, anywhere, with a personal or professional interest in radio.

WPCV "97 Country Breakfast Club" Nominated For CMA Award 9-6-11
The Country Music Association has announced nominees for the 2011 awards. In the Medium Market Personalities category, the WPCV-FM 97.5 morning team of Tom O'Brien, Roger Todd and Melissa Moran from "The 97 Country Breakfast Club", have been named finalists.

ESPN 1080 To Broadcast Bucs Games 9-6-11
Genesis Communications I announced that WHOO-AM 1080 "ESPN 1080 The Team Orlando" has won the rights to broadcast all Tampa Bay Buccaneers games throughout the 2011 NFL season. ESPN 1080 The Team reaches over 2.6 million listeners in Central Florida.

WNDB Adds PM Local News 9-7-11
John Barrett will be joining the news staff at WNDB-AM 1150. John will handle newscasts during afternoon drive on the Marc Bernier Show. John is also the 2PM-6PM weekend jock at WKRO-FM 93.1.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and Genesis Sign Broadcast Marketing Agreement 9-8-11
Genesis Communications I Radio Broadcast Company has signed a unique broadcast marketing agreement that will provide greater awareness throughout Central Florida of the nearly two million athletes, coaches and fans who compete and train at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and other sports facilities at Walt Disney World Resort. Under the agreement, Genesis’ ESPN Radio Stations, which include ESPN 1080 WHOO-AM 1080, in Orlando, ESPN 1040 in Tampa and ESPN Play By Play 1060 WIXC-AM 1060, Melbourne/Cocoa Beach, will stage regular live remote broadcasts from the Disney sports complex and other Disney locations throughout the year. A key component of the agreement is that ESPN 1080 will be the official Orlando affiliate for Atlanta Braves spring training games at the sports complex.

WRLE Slapped With A $12,000 Fine 9-8-11
Back in June of 2010, a complaint was filed with the FCC by the FAA's Jacksonville center accusing WRLE-FM 94.9 of interference to its Air Traffic Control frequency. Agents from the Tampa office went and inspected the station and found the Station "...was using a transmitter that was not certified by the FCC." The base fine amount for operating with unauthorized equipment is $5,000. The FCC found "...that the violation was particularly egregious, warranting a $7,000 upward adjustment." Owner Tony Downes will be disputing the fine.

Entravision Seeks To Build New Tower 9-8-11
The owners of WNUE-FM 98.1, Entravision Communications is scheduled to go before the Volusia County Council at today's meeting in Deland. They will request a special exception to build a new 499-foot tower in Osteen. The present tower is in Oak Hill and the move would give the Spanish Adult Hits formatted station coverage southwest to Orlando, northwest to Deleon Springs, northeast to Ormond Beach and well south of Titusville. The city of license for WNUE is Deltona.

Happy Birthday! 9-9-11
WMEL-AM 1300 owner/brothers John and Vern Harper celebrate on Sunday. Happy birthday, gentlemen.

Entravision Gets OK For New Tower 9-9-11
WNUE-FM 98.1, Deltona will get to build their new 499 foot tower off of Pell Road in Osteen. The Volusia County Council gave Entravision the approval for the new tower. The tower could also accommodate cellular or wireless Internet service in the area.

Jim Hoge Profile 9-9-11
HisAir.net has a great profile of #1 rated WPOZ-FM 88.3 station Founder/President/CEO, Jim Hoge. Read it here.

Suzanne Lynn Joins WPOZ 9-10-11
WPOZ-FM 88.3 has announced that Suzanne Lynn will be joining the station as the new evening personality. Suzanne will take over the evening show beginning Monday, September 12th from 6PM-11PM.

Black Crow Rescued 9-12-11
The TRI Newsletter is reporting that Paul Stone had provided $1.5 million in Chapter 11 "post petition" financing back in April of 2010. Now, the Georgia based, Stone will take over the assets of Black Crow Media for $20 million.

Happy Birthday! 9-12-11
Happy birthday, on Tuesday, to WRKT-AM 1300's Rick Morton.

Buddy Martin Joins The Source 9-12-11
Thanks to Mike Pietruk for making us aware that local Ocala Journalist and Broadcaster Buddy Martin is joining "The Source" WOCA-AM 1370/WCFQ-FM 96.7. Buddy's local program, "The Voice of Ocala" will be heard from 3PM-6PM, Mon-Fri.

WMFQ Line-up 9-13-11
Here's the revised line-up at WMFQ-FM 92.9. Bill Barr & Gina Jarrett-"The Q Crew with Bill and Gina"-6AM-10AM. Shane Finch from 10AM-2PM. CJ Radio 2PM-7PM, Goose from 7pm-midnight and Tom Bowers from Midnight-6AM.

Moves At WTRS 9-13-11
Just Joe has left country formatted WTRS-FM 102.3 to join Hot AC sister station WMFQ-FM 92.9. Whitney Allen takes over the 7PM-Midnight slot.

More On Moore 9-14-11
On Sep. 9 ("Where Are They Now?") we reported former WWKA-FM 92.3 morning co-host, Melissa Moore was on her way to Nashville. Melissa will be co-hosting afternoon drive at WAY-FM, the non-profit Christian syndication service based in Nashville.

Oops! 9-14-11
We'd like to wish Bob Kelley, a twenty year veteran of WLOQ-FM 103.1 a belated Happy Birthday. Bob turned 60 on September 10. Bob has also found a new home to play that smooth jazz; SmoothJazz103LOQ.com.

Florida Radio Hall Of Fame Names Advisor 9-16-11
John Long, President of the Florida Radio Hall of Fame, has announced the advisory board for the organization. The board includes; Brent Alberts, Jim Carpenter, Larry Flegle, Yulee Commander, Randy Kabrich, Leslie Kemper, Neal Mirsky and Debbie Perez.

Burke Out At WMMO, Hildi In 9-17-11
After 12 years, Shawn Burke has been let go at WMMO-FM 98.9. Hildi, formerly of WHTQ-FM 96.5 will take over afternoon drive and Elise will move to morning drive.

Robyn Walensky Leaves WDBO 9-22-11
News reporter, Robin Walensky has left WDBO-AM 580/96.5 FM and taken a job on the "Glenn Beck Program" syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks. While at WDBO she covered the Casey Anthony trial, along with other WDBO staffers and co-hosted with Dave Wahl, a daily review program titled "Casey on Trial".

Happy Birthday! 9-23-11
Happy birthday today to Paco Lopez mid-day personality at WOCL-FM 105.9.

Happy Anniversary! 9-23-11
WWKA-FM 92.3's Bobby Mitchell celebrates 19 years there today. Congratulations Bobby!

Shannon Burke Is On The Move 9-25-11
Thanks to John Hamilton for letting us know that Shannon Burke will do is last show for WEUS-AM 810 on Friday, Sep. 30. Burke is moving over to Radio IO, a subscription-based internet radio station based in Tampa for afternoon drive. "The Big 810 AM" wishes him all the best and thanks him for a great run at WEUS.

Roland Via Returns 9-26-11
Former Holly Hill Mayor and morning host at WNDB-AM 1150 has joined the fold at Goliath Radio, WELE-AM 1380. His politically based program is heard Mon-Fri from 2PM-3PM.

Easy Oldies Come To Palm Coast 9-26-11Flagler County Broadcasting owners of WBHQ-FM 92.7, WNZF-AM 1550 and WNZF-FM 106.3 have added a new station to their stable. Easy Oldies can be heard on FM 100.9, 92.7 HD3 and online at http://easyoldiesradio.com. Local news will be handled by the WNZF staff as well as CBS News on the hour.

More Heritage Stations Go Away 9-26-11
With the sale of WRZN-AM 720, Ocala is about to lose the adult standards format on Oct. 28th. Gene Martin, who has been with the station since 1992, has a web site and he hopes to continue to play his brand of music online at The Gene Martin Show.com. Also included in the sale to Marc Radio Gainesville, was WDVH-AM 980 which will drop the Classic Country format for the new talk format.

Joe Hill Passes 9-26-11WDVH-AM 980's Joe Hill passed away on Sep. 14, 2011 in Bainbridge, Georgia. In Memory

Baseball Playoffs and World Series Will Air In Orlando 9-29-11 The 2011 MLB Playoffs and World Series games will be broadcast live on WHOO-AM 1080. The schedule is: Fri., Sep. 30 Tampa @ Texas 5:07PM, Detroit @ New York (AL) 8:07PM. Sat, Oct 1, Arizona @ Milwaukee 2:07PM, St. Louis @ Philadelphia 5:07PM, Tampa @ Texas 7:07PM and Detroit @ New York (AL) 8:37PM.

Perez Heads North 9-30-11
Clear Channel has promoted Melbourne market manager, Katerina Perez to the Norfolk market manager position.