In this week’s issue… Alhart sets end date – WNBC’s Scarborough hits 50 – Garabedian relaunches WJIB – Rogers rebrands in Toronto – One less “Nash” in PA – Albany meets “Zoey”
By SCOTT FYBUSH
*Nothing in broadcasting lasts forever, but it sure looked like Rochester’s Don Alhart was coming close.
The 6 PM news anchor at WHAM-TV (Channel 13) was recently recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-serving TV news anchor in the world, having joined the ABC affiliate (then WOKR) straight out of Ithaca College back in 1966 and moved from the weather board to the anchor desk a few years later.
Alhart, who recently turned 80, has gradually scaled back his role at the station, dropping the 11 PM newscast and taking long vacations to his beloved Aruba. He’d been hinting about retirement, and last week he made the official announcement.
To nobody’s surprise, Alhart’s last day at the station will be June 6, 58 years to the day after he started (yes, that was 6/6/66), and we’re sure he’ll have a sendoff in style. It’s not just longevity that’s made Don a beloved figure here; he’s also been a constant presence all over the community with leadership roles in Rotary, the ARC of Monroe and the Al Sigl Community of Agencies.
He’s also been a supporter of the broadcasting community here in town, working with the late Danny Guilfoyle to host the annual holiday luncheon that brings us all together every December.
In today’s TV landscape, there will never be another Don Alhart – careers are much shorter and more itinerant. (As a point of comparison, the Rochester anchor with the next-longest tenure is WHEC-TV morning anchor Lynette Adams, who’s been there 30 years.)
Looking to get into station ownership? Our StationSale division has some great new listings for you, including a turnkey profitable FM/AM/translator small-market combo that’s ready for a new owner, and a very successful multimedia combo including radio/digital/print in one of the finest small markets in the region. Drop me a line at scott@fybush.com and I’ll set you up with an NDA and all the details…
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.
And whatever you’re using right now for automation playout, scheduling, archiving, remote connectivity, apps and streaming, I can help you do it better and probably less expensively now that I’m the US representative for Myriad broadcast software. It’s the best software package you haven’t heard of… yet. Let’s talk!
In this week’s issue… TEGNA deal consolidates Hartford, Scranton, Buffalo stations - CBS to close radio newsroom - Buffalo's Snyder to retire - New FM cancels amidst allegations - Erie's Stehlin retires - New LPTVs on the way
In this week’s issue… Hall sells WCTK, WNBH - Remembering NY's Anastos - WMEX sale withdrawn - Saga moves in western Mass - TikTok Radio launches on iHeart subs
In this week’s issue… Cumulus bankruptcy roils radio - BTPM announces Buffalo format shuffles - WMEX moves newer, ditches Justice - Sliwa returns to NYC AM - Denis to step down at CHUM
In this week’s issue… Student radio survives, thrives at IBS - Kerr extends contract - WSAR sale falls through - WIVB GM departs amidst merger talk - WGR expands east
