NorthEast Radio Watch 4/1/2024: A Week For The TV Veterans

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

Jump to: ME – NH – VT – MA – RI – CT – NY – NJ – PA – Canada

*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.)