NERW 3/26 - MPBC Drops "Connection"

[Scott D Fybush <fybush@world.std.com>]

------------------------------E-MAIL EDITION-----------------------------
--------------------------NorthEast Radio Watch--------------------------
                              March 26, 2001

IN THIS ISSUE:

*MAINE: MPBC Drops "Connection"
*NEW HAMPSHIRE: Londonderry Pirate Busted
*MASSACHUSETTS: Big Changes at Boch's Cape Group

-----------------------------by Scott Fybush-----------------------------
-------------------------<http://www.fybush.com>-------------------------

[To our mailing list readers: Thanks for your patience during a
couple of weeks that's seen us tied up with some non-NERW business.
Remember, you can always find updated NERW information at our
Web site, <http://www.fybush.com>.  This past week's NERW will go
out to the mailing list later today to catch everyone up.]

*Is public radio more responsive to the people it serves than
commercial radio?  Ask the people of MAINE and they'll probably say
yes.

After several months of listener protests, Maine Public Radio changed
its mind this week about some of the controversial programming changes
it made last fall.  Of particular concern, at least in outlying
regions of the state where the commercial "W-Bach" network doesn't
reach, was MPB's decision to discontinue Saturday afternoon
Metropolitan Opera broadcasts.

The good news for opera fans in Calais, Houlton and Fort Kent: the
Met is back for the rest of the season, along with other opera
programming filling non-Met Saturday afternoons and a Monday evening
"Opera League of Maine" broadcast.

The bad news, at least for Boston's WBUR, is that the new Maine Public
Radio schedule doesn't include the Chris Lydon-less version of "The
Connection" still being offered to the public radio system.  Instead,
Maine listeners will get more music during the day, including a new
daily hour of music in the afternoon.  (Is the removal of "The
Connection" a sign of future defections in the public radio family?)

Also disappearing from the schedule: the weekend repeats of "Fresh
Air" and NPR's "Sounds Eclectic" and "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me."
Returning: "Pipedreams" and Friday night jazz.  

The changes took effect Tuesday (March 20).

*The big news out of NEW HAMPSHIRE is the silencing of that religious
pirate on 90.7 that's been widely heard in the Londonderry area for
several months.

FCC agents traced the signal to a house in the woods off Adams Road in
Londonderry, and on March 14 paid a visit to the young man reportedly
running the station.  No equipment was confiscated, we're told, but we
hear the agents won't be so friendly if they're called to the area for
a repeat visit.

Meanwhile up in Laconia, WLNH (98.3) has been granted a license to
cover for its power boost to 15.5 kW, so we suspect that signal's
being heard much better these days.

Some big changes at Vox's Concord group will take effect at month's
end.  Saturday (3/31) will be Dick Osborne's 35th anniversary at WKXL
(1450 Concord/107.7 Hillsborough), but it will also be his last day at
the stations, as his post of station manager gets eliminated.  Also
out at WKXL and WOTX (102.3 Concord) is sales manager Hope Lindsay
Matthews.  Whoever's left at the stations will report to a different
boss, since WKXL/WOTX general manager Jim Whedon is being reassigned
to Vox's WZSH (101.5 Marlborough) and WWSH (95.3 White River Junction)
to be GM there.  Britt Johnson, already GM at Vox's WJYY/WNHI in
Concord, will add WKXL and WOTX to his duties.  Meanwhile, we hear
Osborne is looking for new work, and we wish the best of luck to this
Granite State radio veteran.

*While those Vox stations are shedding personnel, Ernie Boch's cluster
in MASSACHUSETTS added some key management this week.  Rodney Rainey,
who's been GM of Houston's KTJM, is moving to Cape Cod to become
president of Boch Broadcasting.  Dan Endom, general sales manager at
Hartford's WTIC(AM), will be Boch's new VP for sales, while Dale
Pierce comes up from Clear Channel in Austin to be Boch's VP for
marketing and promotion and Troy Smith makes the move from Boston
(where he was music and production director at WFNX) to be operations
manager and PD at the group.

Boch is also making some call and format changes at two of the
stations, flipping oldies WYST (93.5 Harwich Port) to alternative as
WDVT "The Vault" and classic rock WWKJ (101.1 Mashpee) to hot AC as
WTWV "the Wave."  

Boch also owns talker WXTK (95.1 West Yarmouth) and AC WCOD (106.1
Hyannis), where no changes are planned.

Before we leave the Cape, we'll note that WPXC (102.9 Hyannis) has
applied to boost power from 3.1 to 25 kilowatts, from a new transmitter
site near the intersection of routes 28 and 149 in Hyannis.  The move
will reduce "Pixy"'s height above average terrain, decreasing from 141
meters to 52 meters.

Boston's overnight radio dial is getting a little less interesting.
Jay Gordon, who's been pulling the 1 to 5:30 AM shift at WODS (103.3
Boston), is leaving "Oldies 103" for a more sedate dayside existence
as a financial planner.  For the time being, WODS is going jockless
overnight; Gordon is continuing the syndicated "Elvis Only" weekend
show that he's been doing for fourteen years now.

Out west, WPVQ (95.3 Greenfield) has been granted its power increase,
going from 320 watts to 570 watts from its site high above the Pioneer
Valley.

*We're waiting for more word from VERMONT to confirm rumors of a
format switch at several of Clear Channel's Burlington properties;
details as they become available.

Meanwhile, we can tell you that religious WMNV (104.1 Rupert) has
applied for a power increase from 2.9 kW to 4.3 kW from the same
transmitter site it's been using.

*One of CONNECTICUT's finest little community AM stations is being
sold.  Michael Gerardi's Gerardi Broadcasting gets $2 million for WINY
(1350 Putnam), the lone station in its small-town market in the
northeast corner of the state.  Gary Osbrey's Osbrey Broadcasting is
the buyer.  Osbrey is the longtime morning host at WINY.

Hartford's WHCN (105.9) is getting a new program director, and he
won't have far to move.  Tom Bass comes to WHCN from WRKI (95.1
Brookfield), replacing Peter Delloro in the PD chair.

There's no rivalry like the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry, yet New Haven's
WCTX (Channel 59) is trying to have it both ways.  The UPN affiliate's
schedule this summer will include 50 Yankees games and 10 Red Sox
games.  The Sox will also get 20 games on Hartford CBS affiliate WFSB
(Channel 3), replacing last year's Connecticut affilate, WTXX (Channel
20) in Waterbury.

Speaking of WCTX, it and LMA partner WTNH (Channel 8) failed to
persuade the FCC that New York's WABC (Channel 7) and WWOR (Channel 9)
should be kicked off the New Haven cable system.  The Commission said
WCTX and WTNH failed to prove that the distant signals, whose ABC and
UPN affiliations duplicate WTNH and WCTX, aren't "significantly
viewed" in New Haven.

*Across the line in NEW YORK -- well, actually NEW JERSEY -- the
Sporting News folks are installing new calls on their Big Apple
affiliate.  WJWR (620 Newark) will become WSNR for "Sporting News
Radio," matching the new name for the former "One on One Sports."

The economic downturn took its toll at the WOR Radio Network this
week, as the net parted ways with Rich Wood, its veteran director of
syndication (and an alumnus of Boston radio, at the old WJIB among
other stops).  

Upstate, we hear WZCR is the new callsign on "Wheels 93.5," the former
WZZM-FM (93.5 Corinth) in the Glens Falls market.  The FCC gave the
go-ahead this week to move the 103.5B allocation from Cobleskill to
St. Johnsville, though we're still not clear what that will actually
mean for WQBJ's opportunity to move its antenna.

Albany Fox viewers have been out of luck if they're not hooked up to
cable; we're told heavy ice a week ago took down WXXA (Channel 23)'s
antenna in the Helderbergs, and it's been a bit of a wait for a
replacement.  WXXA is providing a microwave feed to area cable systems
in the meantime.

Way up north, St. Lawrence bureau chief Mike Roach tells us WYSI (96.1
Norwood) was just testing when he heard it simulcasting WVLF (96.7
Canton); no permanent format has been announced for the station once
it signs on for real.

It's been deleted from the FCC database, but Syracuse Community Radio
is trying to keep WXXC (88.7 Truxton) alive; it filed a petition for
reconsideration asking the Commission to reinstate the license.
You'll recall that WXXC's license was revoked amidst allegations that
SCR misled the FCC by filing for a license to cover even though the
station remained unbuilt; we'll continue to keep an eye on this one.

We're hearing about some changes pending in Binghamton radio; WINR
(680) reportedly dropped its standards format this week to simulcast
new owner Clear Channel's country WBBI (107.5 Endwell).

The revolving door of Rochester radio took another spin this week,
with Clear Channel's "Mix" WVOR (100.5 Rochester) saying "adios" to
Marc Murphee after three years of mornings.  Chuck Jones, who used to
be with San Diego's KPLN, takes over the wakeup shift there.

Across Chestnut Street, Infinity promotes WPXY (97.9 Rochester) PD
Mike Danger and his assistant, "Norm on the Barstool."  Both add the
same duties down the hall at modern rock WZNE (94.1 Brighton), which
they've been overseeing on an acting basis anyway.

Oh, about that "98PXY is Dead" stunt last weekend: Sure enough, Monday
morning brought word that "98PXY is Dead...Serious" about the Infinity
multi-market million-dollar contest.  

*Which brings us to western PENNSYLVANIA, where Infinity CHR WBZZ
(93.7 Pittsburgh) is, you guessed it, "Dead" this weekend.  Guess we
know where the contest is launching next, and when...

Across town at Clear Channel, WWSW (94.5)/WJJJ (104.7) operations
manager Chris Ostrander is leaving.  Where's he going next?  Yep, he's
going to Disney World.  No, really -- he's taking a promotions job
with the Mouse down in Orlando.  No replacement has been announced.

On the TV side in Pittsburgh, KDKA-TV (Channel 2) parted ways with
news director Joe Coscia after a short run.  No replacement has been
named at the CBS outlet.

Keymarket's stunting on WOXX (99.3 Franklin) and WXXO (104.5 Cambridge
Springs) ended Monday with the start of a new CHR simulcast called
"Kiss."  (Wonder if Clear Channel knows?)  Keymarket's also
simulcasting in the area with "Froggy" country on WGYI (98.5 Oil City)
and WGYY (100.3 Meadville).

Across the state, WCTO (96.1 Easton) is looking for a new assistant
PD, now that Ed Parreira's headed north up the Turnpike Extension to
take the PD job at Binghamton's WHWK (98.1).

We hear from Scranton that the translator for WRTY (91.1 Jackson
Township, which in turn relays Philly jazz/classical station WRTI
90.1) has moved from 105.9, where it was W290AB, to a better signal on
106.1 as W291AP.

*CANADA more than made up for last week's dearth of news with a flood
of new station applications this week.  We'll start in Ottawa/Hull,
where the CRTC's call for new applications brought forth plenty of
them, on four different frequencies.

Looking for a new signal on 88.9 are: Craig Music and Entertainment
(40 kW, smooth jazz), Newcap (27 kW, dance); "914258 Ontario" (3.2 kW,
ethnic); Telemedia (which already owns CIMF Hull) (84 kW, smooth
jazz); Fondation Radio Enfant (65 kW, children's); and Astral Radio
Group (65 kW, nostalgia, replacing the current CJRC 1150 Gatineau).
Radio 1540 Ltd., which owns Toronto's CHIN AM-FM, applied for 800
watts on 97.9 for ethnic programming, while Radio Nord (which owns
CHOT-TV and CFGS-TV in Hull) wants 97.9 with 20 kW for classical and
Standard Radio wants 35.3 kW on 97.9 for smooth jazz.  Also in the mix
for 97.9: Montreal's CIRA (91.3), whose application for 800 watts in
Ottawa touched off the call for new applicants in the first place.

Douglas Kirk, who owns Hamilton's new CIWV (94.7), wants to bring
smooth jazz to Ottawa/Hull with 27.5 kW on 99.7.  Gary Farmer, whose
Aboriginal Voices Radio holds a permit to build 106.5 in Toronto,
wants 8kW on 95.7 for the network in Ottawa, while Yves Belzile wants
2720 watts on the same frequency for a country station in Buckingham,
Quebec.

Three more applications will be on the CRTC's plate at its May 22
hearing: Cobourg's CHUC (1450) wants to add an FM outlet on 93.3 with
2100 watts, in an application that conflicts with CKOL (93.5
Campbellford)'s attempt to raise power from 50 to 1038 watts (it will
also wreak havoc on a few summer days with WBBF 93.3 across the lake
in the Rochester market, especially when WBBF moves from Avon north to
Fairport!)

Out in London, the 2001 London Alliance Canada Games wants a temporary
license for 780 watts on 107.7, to broadcast games coverage from
August 11 to 25.

Meanwhile, the CRTC's been busy approving a few more applications.
Bayshore Broadcasting gets the go-ahead to build a third station in
Owen Sound, with 31.6 kW on 93.7, playing country to complement CFOS
(560) and CIXK (106.5) up there.  Religious CHIM way up north in
Timmins gets permission to add three 1.3 watt transmitters in other
northern communities, at 92.7 in Chapleau, 92.5 in Wawa and 92.5 in
Elliot Lake.  And Telemedia gets to put a relay for its CIMF (94.9
Hull) on the air an hour east in Hawkesbury, Ontario.  The 759 watt
relay on 88.9 will keep the CIMF signal coming in once Radio-Canada
raises power on first-adjacent CBF-FM (95.1 Montreal).

Think the CRTC still isn't busy enough?  It's soliciting applications
for a new multi-cultural station in Toronto, with letters of intent
due April 23 and the full applications due May 22.  We're not sure
what frequency is still open for such a service...

Windsor's CKLW (800) ends the six-year run of Mark Elliott's "People
Helping People," one of the only radio shows aimed at recovering
addicts.  The show stays on the air in Toronto.

And in Montreal, it looks as though the Expos are in for another
season without English-language radio.  The team has been negotiating
with Standard's CJAD (800) and with CHUM Group's CKGM (990), but
neither station seems inclined to accept terms under which the station
pays the full cost of producing the broadcasts but the team gets every
penny of revenue, reports the Montreal Gazette.

CKGM, meanwhile, is staying in CHUM Group hands instead of following
sister station CHOM (97.7) into the Standard camp.  It'll reportedly
become part of the new "Team" sports network CHUM is building,
starting May 7.

*And we'll close it out this week with a few nifty Web links.  If
you've admired the WLW tower that adorns the fybush.com home page,
you'll want to check out Jim Hawkins' newest addition to his radio
pages, an entire page devoted to those Blaw-Knox diamond towers.  Find it 
at <http://www.jphawkins.com/blaw-knox.html>. Fans of dead UHF
stations, meanwhile, might want to read up on the history  
of W69AQ, among others, at Peter George's newly-revised
RadioDXer.com <http://www.radiodxer.com>.  Check it out!

-----------------------NorthEast Radio Watch------------------------
                       (c)2001 Scott Fybush
                          www.fybush.com

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