By SCOTT FYBUSH
Two quick updates for your Tuesday morning, and both fall under the “huh?” category for us here at NERW Central:
*In Hartford, Connoisseur completed its reconstruction of WDRC-FM (102.9) with a Tuesday morning transition from classic hits to classic rock. Gone is any trace of the “DRC-FM” identity that Connoisseur had mostly dismantled when it bought the station from Buckley and ousted its established airstaff last year.
Instead, it’s now “102.9 the Whale,” with a harder-edged sound that’s very, very similar to sister station WPLR (99.1) down the road in New Haven. The stations were already sharing the morning team of Chaz & AJ, and the new lineup includes Allan Lamberti in middays, Michael Picozzi in afternoons and “Miss Klonk” at night. Klonk is an alumna of the former rock WCCC-FM (106.9), and the new “Whale” is squarely aimed at the audience that WCCC-FM once drew.
*In New York, the wait for a new morning show at iHeart’s WOR (710) was so long that most of us forgot we were still waiting. But just when most of us assumed that WOR had quietly decided to make its interim host roster permanent, the announcement came out of left field this morning: its new morning show will pair veteran sportscaster Len Berman with Todd Schnitt, iHeart’s longtime Tampa-based talent who segued from top-40 to talk a few years back.
What’s that all about? More in the next NorthEast Radio Watch…
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Looking to get into station ownership? Our StationSale division has some great new listings for you, including a very successful multimedia combo including radio/digital/print in one of the finest small markets in the region, a major market FM translator opportunity, a profitable Midwest FM, an inexpensive entry into a fast-growing Western market, and a turnkey profitable FM/AM/translator small-market combo that’s ready for a new owner. Drop me a line at scott@fybush.com and I’ll set you up with an NDA and all the details…
And if your noncommercial FM station is ready to think about translators, there’s a filing window coming this fall from the FCC and it’s the perfect time to start making plans.
In this week’s double issue… Audacy, SXM join forces - Bell swaps Kitchener signals - Ford to DC, Baltimore - ESPN cuts hit NYC's 880 - Philly hall of famers named - Tynan out at WPVI
In this week’s issue… Bills extend new radio network - New leader at NYSBA - RI morning team plans retirement - WSUC alumni gather - Cuts at Corus in Canada
In this week’s issue… After Kitchener and Halifax, what will Rogers eliminate next? - Family Life makes a bigger PA buy - Saga vs. LPFM - More NY AMs fade away
In this week’s issue… iHeart cuts leave some small markets vacant - Townsquare makes more NJ moves - Format shuffles in the Connecticut River Valley - Veteran meteorologists retire - Toronto AM seeks FM voice
