NorthEast Radio Watch 6/11: CBS Makes Its Move

[fybush@world.std.com (Scott D Fybush)]

*Just minutes after NERW went to press last week, CBS finally
completed its $2.6 billion takeover of American Radio Systems, adding
ARS' clusters in Buffalo (WLCE, WBLK, WJYE, WYRK, WECK), Rochester
(WZNE, WCMF, WPXY, WRMM), Hartford (WTIC AM-FM, WZMX, WRCH) and
Boston's WBMX (98.5) to its existing Northeast presence in Boston
(WBZ, WZLX, WODS, WBCN, WBZ-TV) and New York City (WCBS AM-FM, WINS,
WNEW, WXRK, WFAN).  The rest of ARS' Boston-market properties (WEGQ,
WAAF, WNFT) are in a trust awaiting sale; despite persistent rumors of
a Jacor Boston buy, there's no oficial announcement of a buyer so far.

NERW notes that ARS' Rochester stations had the new "CBS" IDs on the
air as early as 6:00 last Thursday night.

*In other MASSACHUSETTS news, congratulations to the folks over at
WBZ-TV (Channel 4), who celebrated their fiftieth anniversary on
Tuesday (albeit with very little fanfare).  Two other New England
stations mark the big 5-0 this month -- WTNH (Channel 8) in New Haven
on June 16 and WHDH-TV (Channel 7) in Boston on the 23rd.  WHDH-TV
hired a new news director this week, by the way.  Mark Berryhill joins
the station from KDKA-TV (Channel 2) in Pittsburgh.

WBPS (890 Dedham) won't be Salem Media's newest property after all.
Salem subsidiary New England Continental Media asked the FCC this week
to dismiss its proposed purchase of the station.

News from the noncomms: WBIM (91.5 Bridgewater) and WSHL (91.3 Easton)
will both stay on the air 24 hours a day again this summer, relaying
the Talking Information Center's reading service for the blind.  And
WRPS (88.3) at Rockland High School is also going 24 hours, running an
automated hot AC format when no students are around.  WRPS is also now
in stereo for the first time.

Mike Adams is leaving One-on-One Sports' WNRB (1510), ending his
partnership with Jack Farrell.  The former New England Cable News
sports host is heading to WEEI (850).

Former WAAF (107.3 Worcester) afternoon jocks Opie & Anthony have
found a new home, two months after they were fired for their April
Fools' Day claim that the mayor of Boston was dead.  Their new home,
according to published reports?  CBS's WNEW (102.7) in New York, where
they'll do afternoon drive.