In this week’s issue… Bell sheds small markets, news staff – Audacy sells Boston sites – CT owner adds a signal – KDKA PD exits
By SCOTT FYBUSH
[Programming note: we’re still here, and still on an irregular schedule as we deal with more ongoing family health issues and some upcoming travel. This double issue will serve as the Feb. 12 and 19 editions, and we’ll be back, and hopefully back on a more regular schedule, on Feb. 26.]
*CANADA‘s biggest media company is about to get considerably smaller. Bell’s announcement on Thursday was a stunner: cuts of 4800 jobs across its entire workforce, including hundreds within Bell Media; the end of weekend and holiday newscasts at most of its CTV stations; the cancellation of “W5” as a standalone TV documentary news show after more than half a century – and the impending sale of most of its small-market radio portfolio, 45 of its 103 stations nationwide.
Bell’s chief legal and regulatory officer, Robert Malcolmson, couldn’t have been blunter about the radio stations when he spoke to the Canadian Press: “It’s because it’s not a viable business anymore,” he said. “This is a business that’s going in the wrong direction.”
We don’t have a cover yet (stay tuned for that reveal soon!), but we’re hard at work on an achievement we never thought we’d reach – the landmark 24th edition of the world-famous Tower Site Calendar.
It’s not just a useful wall calendar. It’s also a tribute to more than a century of radio history.
And the proceeds from the calendar help sustain the reporting that we do on the broadcast industry here at Fybush Media, so your purchases matter a lot to us here. For just a few weeks, you can pre-order your 2025 calendar at a discount price, so it’s a good deal for you, too, as postage and printing costs keep going up. Visit the Fybush Media Store and place your pre-order now for the next calendar, get a great discount on previous calendars, and check out our selection of books and videos, too!
In this week’s issue… Sterling returns, Castiglione retires - Bruins, Knicks name new voices - WNYC celebrates centennial, cuts jobs - Corey's new Canadian gig - Rock moves in VT - Zandy returns to PRO-FM
In this week’s issue… Evanov shutters Ottawa signal, two others - Quinn's new gig at WICC - New morning shows at WKTU, WAWZ - WFME lives again
In this week’s issue… NY's 98.7 enters stunt mode - Double shifting at WBLI - WICC, WFOX simulcast with talk - New country in Toronto - Big booster project in western Mass
In this week’s issue… An emotional, classy farewell to WCBS and all it meant - Beasley's Boston cutbacks - Shamrock shuffles Scranton (again) - WJTO's new dial spot - The 2025 Tower Site Calendar is coming!
