Current Mailbag - Mailbag Archive Index - DCRTV Front Page - Support DCRTV DCRTV Mailbag - July 24 to July 31, 2009 Latest messages listed first..... \/ July 31 Messages \/ Congratulations to Dan Gaffney and his staff at WGMD for being #1. By the way this was without Don G. He started after the book. (7/31/09) Observations of the first two weeks of 106.7 The Fan. Junkies are the same with more sports and are better than before. Wise is coming along. LaVarr isn't that bad. Junkies are competitive if not better than WTEM's Mike and Mike in the Morning. Wise is local which is better than Cowherrd but its not better than WTEM's Sheehan who is now teammed up with Thom Loverro for an underrated and very knowledgeable sports show. LaVarr is competitive with Thompson and Doc although Doc is best during football season and more plugged into the Redskins. LaVarr's show can't compare yet to Czaban and Pollin's Sports Reporters show. WTEM's hosts have much more experience and it shows. Lots of time for The Fan to grow and get better but those are just some early observations. One more observation. The Fan is a much better destination at night. They have local sports talk while WTEM runs Orioles games. (7/31/09) don't you people listen! katie powers is all over the new 1067 Duh Fan. She must do the voiceover on half dozen commercials now airing on the station. hey i called don geronimo the other day(this is just to annoy you) and heck he picked right up and i was on the air, i thought i'd be put on hold and listen to the show for a few minutes, he told me to eff off and hung up on me, ah man the good old days. Is Allison Starling going to be on the Regis show as a co-host? Was watching an old 70's movie on the THIS channel over the air 50.2 the other day that had susan Sarandon in it. She seemed to be flat chested. What gives? Local connection, didn't she go to Catholic University? (7/31/09) Virtual channel numbers..... Is that anything like virtual reception of the VHF DTV stations? HAha! Oh our wacky FCC, just huge scam/flub after another. LOL (7/31/09) Don Geronimo:: OUCH! WGMD's Program Director Dan "the Gaff" Gaffney tweets this morning "I hate to say it but the much discussed studio chair here at WGMD seems to be breaking! It's only been a few weeks! Can you say DJ Diets ? " [We] say, Mike Sorce, mix-in a salad. You may not get fired in six weeks but your $12.00 per hour pay should be docked by management for a new chair. With your resume, nothing like your local PD calling you out as F A T. Makes [our] day. LOL (7/31/09) Is WPGC-FM sounding like it's coming through a metal can to anyone else? Sounds like a super compressed MP3. Songs, Commercials and DJs all sound terrible. Maybe the CBS engineers can fix it? But from what I've heard of the Engineers by the onair staff at WJFK that's a big MAYBE. (7/31/09) The problem for Mike Wise is that he serves two masters. Objectifying of women on WJFK can reflect badly on him back at the Washington Post. The balance has to be a difficult one for him. Everett W. (7/31/09) (Where's Channel 4 DC?) I noticed it last night, too. Today, it's back to 4-1, 4-2., 4-3 today. Anybody know what happened? Also, what's happened to MHz 30-1 - 30-10 electronic program guide? It's been missing for at least 3 days now. (7/31/09) 48 is the actual RF channel that WRC broadcasts on. As part of the ATSC standard for digital television, there are bits of data that describe the various data streams encoded and their contents. One piece of data is the virtual channel, contained in a table known by the acronym PSIP. Per FCC requirements (regulations? I dunno), the virtual channel is supposed to be a station's old analog channel. DTV receivers use this data to allow you to tune to the channel number you are used to (and saves stations the need to rebrand themselves if they are now on a different RF channel). For WRC, their PSIP encoder had apparently gone down, so DTV tuners now do not know what channel to map to other than the actual RF channel. Regards, Dave Loudin (7/31/09) WRC-HD is having trouble with its PSIP encoder, the thing that tricks your tuner into thinking its tuned to channel four when its actually on channel 48 (since digital transition, WRC is actually broadcast on ch. 48). Once the PSIP is fixed, the station will once more display as channel 4-1. This is going to happen from time to time since most stations in the area are using "virtual channel numbers" so that they appear to be on the same channel you've always known them by. Howie (7/31/09) The Washington Times posted an article today from Green & Glover with 'scoop' from their 'sources' about The Real World DC cast. However, this information was stolen from the writers at Vevmo.com, almost word-for-word. See vevmo.com for details. (7/31/09) You would think with all the time WMAL spent on Gates & Crowley, WMAL would devote one minute or so to commenting on the Cambridge Police Officer that referred to Dr. Gates as a “banana-eating jungle monkey” in a mass email that also went to the editorial board of the Boston Globe newspaper. Wait a minute. Why would Grandy comment on a white cops being racist? Grandy only condemns cops when they are Black, or from the district or Prince George’s county. (7/31/09) (Where's Channel 4 DC? It was switched to 48-3,4,5 last night (7/30) without any explanation on the website or the news.) I don't understand what this means. Can somebody explain? (7/31/09) Dave's response: Don't ask me..... Sometimes I think this board is populated largely by old fogeys and ugly bra burning feminists. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the sports talkers talking about babes once in a while. Sportstalk is aimed at a male demographic after all. I will agree that the stations should spend less time on Redskins mania (especially given that the team is mediocre and the owner is a fool) and more time on the Nats, Caps, etc. But this concept that somehow it is wrong to talk about women is nonsense. And Wise is a wuss for expressing discomfort in doing it. (7/31/09) Don't know if this has been mentioned before regarding Tony Perkins filling in as an anchor..But, I understand that Al Roker is co-anchoring during the 9am Today show..So, maybe FOX5 is trying to follow NBC's lead in giving Tony Perkins anchoring duties..I must admit that yesterday, Tony was quite good in interviewing Mayor Fenty..However, that was an exception to his usual anchoring..Usually, he looks quite awkward in that role. (7/31/09) Dave: Mike in Fairfax is basically right on the money. No, I wasn't expecting WJFK to dominate the scene and totally shutdown ESPN980. However, and I've been saying this for nearly a year, the talent pool in our market is slim to none. Mike Wise was a great get for WJFK but they didn't help things by hiring people like Chris Johnson. Here's one blanket statement that's true for sportstalk radio and that's both WJFK and ESPN980 don't know how to hire people with respectable and proven backgrounds. Yes, you can tell by the on-air product what kind of staff a station has working-on its product. Dan Patrick's successful because of his strong producers!! In addition, what does it say about afternoon drive-time being used as Czaban's platform for airing his anger and hatred toward women and outright people he dislikes. Where's management to reel-in Czaban and Pollin and steer the boat back to sportstalk. Well, guess what? nothing's going to change. (7/31/09) Where's Channel 4 DC? It was switched to 48-3,4,5 last night (7/30) without any explanation on the website or the news. Called the newsroom this morning and they were clueless. Guess no one cares anymore about over the air signals except those who receive them. Pat (7/31/09) What do both Brian Bolter and FOX5 suits have up their butts that got them so out of shape regarding the pic that Bolter himself publicly posted??..I guess FOX5 only wants their staff to interact with the public via their OWN website??..I know they sure push that website hard enough..And like another person said, when you post something publicly, you put yourself out there for it to be copied, forwarded and in this case posted on another website..And Brian Bolter couldn't have been so naive not to know this..I used to think Bolter was pretty cool, but in the past year or so, to me he's come across as being quite arrogant and into himself..Bolter, if you don't want people to tap into your pics, videos, etc., get off Facebook and any other public websites.. (7/31/09) Dave's response: If a local TV or radio personality wants to post stuff on a publicly-available website like Twitter or Facebook or My Space or YouTube or Vimeo or a blog or their own site and then someone wants to comment on it, criticize it, and even forward images, that's entirely "fair game" for the Mailbag. Bolter should know that if you don't want it made public then don't post it anywhere on the web. Golly, you'd think people would know that by now..... Wow! I was mentioned in the same sentence with Lou Scally. How cool is that! It's like a Little Leaguer meeting Mickey Mantle. Thanks for making my Friday, mystery mailbagger! :0) Al McGilvray (7/31/09) This will effect the night time Line-up for WJFK.... TONY BRUNO JOINS JT “THE BRICK” AS FOX SPORTS RADIO DELIVERS HEAD-TURNING, ONE-TWO PUNCH TO ITS EVENING LINE-UP – The FOX Sports Radio Network announced today that beginning Monday, August 10, Tony Bruno, one of the top sports talk radio hosts in the U.S., will rejoin the network line-up in the 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. ET/7 - 10 p.m. PT time slot. Produced by The Content Factory, Into the Night with Tony Bruno will feature Bruno’s entertaining, informative and candid takes on the day in sports, as well as popular culture, lifestyle and more. His trademark, no-holds-barred approach to radio will continue to captivate listeners across the country. As part of this addition, JT “The Brick” will shift to the 1 - 6 a.m. ET/10 p.m. - 3 a.m. PT timeslot. The move gives JT one hour of AM drive time on the east coast to entertain commuters on the drive into work. The back-to-back positioning of these programs will create eight hours of the most compelling, live, interactive, evening programming in sports radio (7/31/09) The more I read Mike Wise's writings, view him on television and now listen to him on the radio…the more I think he is the total package of what a true "class act" really is. Sure, I can imagine there was some newsroom and media tensions as he entered the market as the "new Kornheiser," but he really is not. Tony K. was the man for decades. If he does a truly local radio show, he will still be extremely funny. However, Mike Wise is the first Mike Wise, not second Tony K. He brings different takes, different humor, different insights etc. and in a very humble and simple manner. Hopefully the Post will be able to hold on to him and not lose him to corporate Sports tv/national radio. In a world where local media results in very few career people who stay around (Jim Vance etc.), Mike Wise may well be a throwback to those kinds of guys. - Bob from College Park (7/31/09) "Interesting snapshot take on DC's two sports talkers, taken at about 1:45pm today: on 94.3FM they were talking about Redskins training camp, which had wrapped up its first day about an hour earlier. On 106.7FM they were debating which female celebrity has put on the most weight in the last few months." One snapshot doesn't necessarily paint a fully accurate picture of the two stations and their programming philosophies. As a counterexample I could point out that late in the 4 PM hour on Tuesday, WTEM's Andy Pollin and Steve Czaban were taking calls on "the physical attribute that most turns you off in a woman" (not only blatantly sexist but mean spirited as well) while WJFK's LaVar Arrington show was interviewing Skins wide receiver Santana Moss. So both stations are guilty of going out of their way to pander to the lowest common denominator. Interestingly, Mike Wise remarked on the air that neither he nor his co-host Bill Rohland were too keen on doing that female celebrity topic but the show's producer Chris Johnson insisted on it. Is this the same Chris Johnson who was once part of a short-lived program on 980 that tried to rip off the Junkies but fell flat on its face? The same Chris Johnson who used to ridicule the Capitals and make jokes about how small their fan base supposedly was? Just four days into the Sports Fix show with Kevin Sheehan and Thom Loverro, it's obvious that WTEM's letting Loverro be Loverro while WJFK's not really allowing Wise to be Wise. Instead, they seem to be trying to push him in a tabloid direction clearly outside his wheelhouse or comfort zone. Not that Wise is entirely the victim here - a few days ago he gave short shrift to the Nationals' efforts to sign highly touted pitching prospect Steven Strasburg (their first round draft pick) saying the topic didn't interest him that much. What he fails to realize is that it's not just about what a particular host may or may not personally care about - he or she should be obligated to give any major issue involving one of the local teams its just due. One of the big problems with sports talk radio in Washington over the years has been too many hosts thinking they can address just the issues involving the Redskins and get away with it. Mike, Fairfax (7/31/09) Don Geronimo & Brian Bolter:: The Six Degrees of Mike Sorce. It they really want to have a hard-on, all Fox 5 WTTG has do is connect the dots between BFF's Mike Sorce & Brian Bolter to know that the very public and multiple pictures of Bolter have existed on Sorce's Twitter account long before the controversy erupted over Bolter's Facebook page. Sorce posts them to try to show he has at least one media friend. Bolter poses for them for publicity. Here, pompous ass Bolter is shown with Jan, former spinster and wife number 3 of pompous ass Sorce. FYI. The Six Degrees of Mike Sorce is a media trivia game that rests on the assumption that any media personality can be linked through his or her contact and subsequent bad Karma to Mike Sorce within six steps. Run Brian run. Your only on Step 2! (7/31/09) /\ July 31 Messages /\ \/ July 30 Messages \/ Re: Martinsburg Journal & Winchester Star....the reason why a lot of newspapers are going from offering free content to paid accounts is 90% money. Newspapers have to do such things to make money in this economy. Now as far as not allowing content to be viewed outside the markets they serve, I don't know. Could be a legal thing, sort of like the reason why WGN-TV doesn't show its Chicago Morning News on WGN America. Also there is the issue of changing demographics. Time was when people move away, chances are they still kept in touch with the towns and cities they had left behind such as reading the newspaper from their former towns by having it come to them through the mail and in the early days of the net, perhaps logging on to those radio & TV stationsfrom their former towns too. Today the trend is pretty much when one moves away, they really do move away as in cutting all ties other than a quick phone call/email to family and close friends. My 28 year old sister is like that. Recently her job had transfered her from Hagerstown, MD to Salt Lake City, Utah. She would be the first one to admit that while she misses Hagerstown she has NO desire to log onto WHAG's website nor the Hagerstown Herald-Mail newspaper site either for that matter, nor does she have any interest in listening to Lou Scallys WJEJ-AM House Party or any of Al McGilvray's WRNR radio newscasts out in Utah either. As she says "..I live for TODAY...not yesterday !!". (7/30/09) Did somebody say "Calling the city “wired” is not quite accurate"? The NY Times story is very accurate actually. Over the years, the term "wired" has come to mean not actually physically wired, but meaning connected to the internet in general from a variety of sources, both over the air and via physical wire or fiber optics. "Copper" wiring is a "horse and buggy" term these days. I would think that someone reading a tech story would get this, but I guess a lot of people who don't read tech sites often don't know this yet and people in the media often are very tech-stupid, among other things, but I won't go there. Yes it's true, Baltimore is one of the most wired cities in the country because it is a test market for Sprint's 4G cell / high speed internet network, the first such in the country, if I'm not mistaken, not to mention WIFI access. However, there's other factors too: Baltimore doesn't have as much of the NIMBY factor as Washington and some other larger cities, so it's much easier and cheaper to roll out such newer high speed services and test them and get them up and running quickly. Similarly, Verizon got quick approval to wire Baltimore county and FIOS is available in lots of places around Baltimore county already now. That's a truly wired service, but once again, not copper. How is that going around DC? Probably mired in NIMBY red tape and zoning, etc in many places I would bet. Yep, that's what I figured. Btw, this is not the first time or place I've read this either. This is only confirmation of a previous study that I read on a tech site. And I have to admit, I was circumspect when I read the first study, but it's true. So, sorry snobby DC, read it and weep......... Signed: Wired to FIOS, copper, 3G, & WIFI in Bmore! (7/30/09) It's Ed Walker's day to drive for the carpool! www.washingtonpost.com (7/30/09) RE: [ " Let me get this straight...some stalkerish dweeb snaps a pic of a local newsreader in his bathing suit, posts it online" ]....... The pic of Brian Bolter is a pic originally posted by Brian Bolter HIMSELF online publicly, only I'm told by the person who sent it to me that his 3 yr old child was edited out. BIG DEAL! If you post PUBLIC pics & video of yourself snowboarding and doing all kinds of things and you're in the media, do you have the right to expect that no one is going to view or use the PUBLIC pics? If it was a paparazzi pic, you'd have a point, BUT IT WASN'T! It's Brian Bolter's OWN PIC POSTED PUBLICLY! C'mon, like Brian Bolter only expected his RELATIVES would see that pic? Yeah right. YOU NEED TO GET A LIFE. It was a cheap joke, laugh at it, then get over it and your pompous ass self. And I'd give the same advice to Brian Bolter too, although, from his previous blogs and online posts, I doubt he was all that upset. The uptight dumbass suits at WTTG FOX 5 were apparently though, go figure. Guess who ELSE needs to get a life. End of the Brian Bolter Controversy of 2009, SHEESH! I'll return you to your previously scheduled Silvie vs. Jeff argument. :-) (7/30/09) well, the new 106.7 The Fan is just another radio station we dont need, just like 94.7 Fresh FM. thank you CBS, for killing off two great radio stations in less than 4 months. we need to have Albie Dee, Cerphe, BO and TMOS back on the air! i can just hope they can all land new gigs whenever their contracts expire. with both WTGB and WJFK switching to shit formats this year, CBS is officially the dumbest radio company ever. why cant DC have at least ONE decent rocker/classic rocker? 94.7 wasnt half bad and when they left town i switched to WJFK fulltime and then the fan came. i have switched away from DC terrestrial radio. ROT IN HELL CBS RADIO!!! -Travis (7/30/09) According to a piece in the NY Times, Baltimore one of the most wired cities in the country, since a company called Clearwire introduced WiMax service last winter. Calling the city “wired” is not quite accurate because, HBO series aside, WiMax has little to do with copper; it delivers the Internet through radio signals broadcast from cellphone towers. www.nytimes.com (7/30/09) Dave's response: I have relatives near Martinsburg WV who get their internet via cell phone service and they complain that, yes, it's faster than dial-up, but still a lot slower and less reliable than cable TV broadband..... www.CSNWashington.com in my opinion is a dumb desperate move by Comcast to suckup to the DC market that will fail. It pigeonholes the network now strictly to the DC market alone. People in Baltimore, PA, southern VA, DE, & the Carolinas will now relate even LESS to CSN and probably never go to that website anymore and I wouldn't be surprised if it hurts ratings as well. At least MASN is an all-encompassing name that relates to the entire mid-atlantic region and has pretty much equal coverage of 2 of the area's teams. How dumb and narrow minded of Comcast to pigeonhole themselves. Of course Comcast OWNS most of the cable systems from Philly to almost the Carolinas so I guess they don't have to care. It's not like the channel will ever be removed from any cable systems now that its a "DC-ONLY" channel. But, let's face it, you ARE how you market yourself and less and less people will be interested in CSNWashington.com. I'm surprised Comcast doesn't just sell the damn channel to Danny Snyder anyway. It's gotta be a money loser and Dannyboy never passes up a money losing opportunity. LOL Geez, that's pretty much all they cover anyway. CN8 was already removed from the Baltimore area's basic cable (that was CSN's overflow channel, which they no longer need since they cover so few area sporting events of interest). This is a clear sign that CSN is in trouble. (7/30/09) Let me get this straight...some stalkerish dweeb snaps a pic of a local newsreader in his bathing suit, posts it online with braindead comments included, and then is surprised that the newsreader and his employer have a problem with it? Christ almighty, how childish can you be? There's a reason some people are IN the industry while others stand on the sidelines, slobbering all over themselves and thinking they can insinuate themselves into it. "LOL" over that -- and then work on getting yourself a life. (7/30/09) Dave, Inside Radio is reporting the Bonneville is making cut backs at all its radio properties. Story here. www.insideradio.com (7/30/09) Dave's response: Looks like no more of those infamous Bonneville rowdy booze blast Christmas parties for those TOPers. Wah..... Here we go again! Another O’meara/Geronimo frenzy. Can’t you figure it out YET! They will NEVER re-join..EVER NEVER EVER. That’s good for O’Meara, he is fully competent as a solo act. For God’s sake. You have to keep in mind he took a terrible beating just working with Geronimo. I’m sure his self esteem suffered being smothered by the fat bastid. A bit of rest, an evaluation of his personal talents and you watch. Mike will fly…(from my lips to God’s ears) WOW (7/30/09) FOX 5's Brian Bolter posted a rant on Facebook about that beach pic of him on DCRTV, hehe. I'm not gonna give out the complete text of it because technically that's private info and not public, but it appears the FOX powers that be were not amused by the pic and he took some heat over it so he's no longer posting personal pics of himself online he says! LOL :-) (7/30/09) Interesting snapshot take on DC's two sports talkers, taken at about 1:45pm today: on 94.3FM they were talking about Redskins training camp, which had wrapped up its first day about an hour earlier. On 106.7FM they were debating which female celebrity has put on the most weight in the last few months. Conclusion: 94.3FM may be bending over for the Redskins, but at least they're on topic; WJFK is a bad joke. (7/30/09) I can report the below snippet which I just received via a replay to a "cold" email to someone at AM1580. "Alex, you will be happy to know that we are keeping Lou Dobbs, we will be moving him to 6p and Dr. Laura will be going away. Thanks for listening and spread the word!" (7/30/09) What do you know of this? I just heard a promo for Miller on 1580 starting next week from 3p-6p, which is where Lou is now. Is he being FDed out for his birther stance? Is he leaving 1580 entirely or changing times? Who is going into the two split Miller slots (8p-9p, 1a-3a on 570) as I assume he won't be on both stations at once? Ex-630 local talker Chris Plante has been guesting for Laura Ingraham as of last week, might he be showing back up on the dial at 570? Thanks for any news! (7/30/09) "Your update post about the O'Meara show, what about Katie? Mike in Alexandria" Whooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Cares? She was by far the worst part of what was an awful show. (7/30/09) (Syndication One News-Talk Network's talk show host Al Sharpton debates Right-Winger Ann Coulter (photo attached) tonight on CNN's Larry King show.) You have got to be kidding me. Must be a slow news night to have these two fools "debating." Shawn in DC (7/30/09) From TVNewser: On his radio show Wednesday, Glenn Beck explained why he called Pres. Obama a "racist" on Tuesday's Fox & Friends. He also described the media coverage of the flap: "The Today show was bashing me this morning, along with the rest of the mainstream media...liberal blogs as well, although I don't really see the difference there." "The media is asking me to explain why I think the president is a racist. Okay!" And so he did... (7/30/09) A new piece about the Post salons is up on Washingtonian.com: www.washingtonian.com: “What would Len have done?” That question was put to Post executive editor Marcus Brauchli as he met with reporters in July to explain why the paper had planned “salons” that would bring its journalists together with government officials and lobbyists, whose companies would have sponsored the off-the-record evenings. .... “It’s on my shoulders,” Brauchli tells Post Watch. But would Downie have killed the salon idea? One Post reporter says of Brauchli and Weymouth, “They are under enormous financial pressure. You can’t say what anyone would have done.” (7/30/09) So at about 2:07 this afternoon, both Jack-FM and Lite-FM are playing "Waiting on the World to Change" about 15 seconds apart. What are the odds that out of all of the songs on a respective station's playlist, that the exact same recordings are "randomly" playing that close to one another? In the immortal words of Rev. Jim Ignatowski, "gotta be at least 3-to-1" (7/30/09) Don Geronimo did a segue on the "Joy Boys" Ed Walker and Willard Scott this morning. He talked about great both of them are and how Ed Walker deserves to be in H.O.F. He played old clips from their last show, it was great! He also played some clips from his WBBM-Chicago days. It was a lot of fun hearing the old days of radio. -Micahel Popovec (7/30/09) I totally miss The Mike O'Meara Show already. . .there is now a huge void on the radio dial for straight up variety show styled entertainment. For me, sportstalk is an occassional thing only, if something huge happens in sports I'll tune in for awhile to check the chatter. But not on an everyday basis. BO&D and the MOM show brought something fresh and fun everyday. Now its just more sports with less interesting personalities simply repeating the same topics on 3 different shows. 106.7 The Fan: not much there. . . (7/30/09) BA McBride is back in NC. Joe is reportedly shining up his resume and working on putting old Joe Radio shows on a podcast site soon. Katie is still at JFK. I think you can follow all of them on Facebook. (7/30/09) According to KCJJ's facebook, Robb Spewak will be doing his own show, from DC, for the station beginning in the fall. (7/30/09) Syndication One News-Talk Network's talk show host Al Sharpton debates Right-Winger Ann Coulter (photo attached) tonight on CNN's Larry King show. Rev. Al Sharpton states: "Tonight's debate on CNN's Larry King show with Right-Winger Ann Coulter is important because we have an opportunity to show what America is thinking in 2009. From the beginning of the Obama campaign, announced in the land of Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois a few years ago, outright hardcore racism has raised its gly head in the media, the streets of America, and in our American Institutions. We must stop and come together as one nation to fight the hate. We need both Larry King and Ann Coulter to see what we are working on to bring about a race-less America" - Kirk Tanter (7/30/09) The Hill rag makes the front webpage of today's NY Times. (7/30/09) Enjoyed the quick rundown of where the O'Meara crew is at professionally... Wonder if you have something on Oscar Santana? (7/30/09) Dave's response: Haven't heard any more about the Big O other than he's doing something for CBS sister PGC..... Comcast SportsNet (Mid-Atlantic) has completely relaunched its Website with a new Web address: csnwashington.com. (7/30/09) the "V" followed by a number atop the post's front page to the right indicates which press in the springfield, va., printing plant produced that copy of the newspaper. edition designations on page one are found on the left side immediately to the right of "YEAR" and "No." from earliest to latest, these designations range from R (regional) to S (suburban) to M followed by a number. on other section fronts, they are at the upper right. on inside pages, the edition designation is to the right of the date atop even-numbered pages and to the left of the date atop odd-numbered pages. (7/30/09) Your update post about the O'Meara show, what about Katie? Mike in Alexandria (7/30/09) Dave's response: Doesn't she work part-time at Borders books in Fairfax? Micheal Jackson's doctor shouldn't have given Jacko Diprovan to put him to sleep, he should have just played a loop of Mike Wise on the radio. that will put anyone to sleep! someone give Mike Wise some coffee. (7/30/09) Its obvious that Don and Mike have had some kind of horrible falling out that is being kept under wraps. I seriously doubt Mike has what it takes to host a national show...at least from anywhere of importance. It's pretty sad to see that some people just don't know when it's time to move on. Mike had a sweet deal riding shotgun with a guy like Don for 25 yrs. Yet when Don bailed, he dissolved like a house made of sugar in the rain. I can't wait for the real story to come out. Something BAD went down between them and I'm sure if anyone can or will find out it will be dcrtv. Keep up the great work Dave. Clay, Falls Church (7/30/09) So what you gonna do Ravin? KARMA! (7/30/09) Anyone who likes to listen to oldies will enjoy www.Billsparks.org. There you will find old radio shows as well as any oldies you wish to request. To listen to oldies, click on the Legend and then select a player. Enjoy. CC (7/30/09) Now is the time for Don and Mike to get together and write the book they always talked about with all the behind the scenes things that went on at WJFK, things they could never tell us. CC (7/30/09) Major changes coming to HOT 99.5 Sarah Fraiser, who is on the Kane Show every morning is getting her own show from 10 - Noon starting Monday. I don't know what they are doing to Raven... (7/30/09) Re: This just in-Ed is blind. Ed doesn't mention it on air, but I think I recall a situation where one of his characters referred to it. The character said his nerves were worn to a frazzle and, when asked why, said that it was "Walker's morning to drive the carpool." I don't remember if that was a Joy Boys thing or something from one of his later stops. Howie (7/30/09) from TVNewser... Tuesday, Jul 28 - FNC Responds to Glenn Beck Calling Pres. Obama a "Racist" (7/30/09) Dear Dave: Out here in Virginia, we've noticed some changes here as well insofar as the Post editions are concerned. Often times, we get the V4 edition here in Ashburn during the week, and the V2 editions on the weekends, and we've noticed the difference in the game stories we get depending on the edition. But of late, that has been haphazard. Tuesday night's game between the Nats and Brewers ended at just before 11:00 PM (I know because I was watching the game). The next morning, I received the V2 edition of the paper and there was no game write up. Last night's game ended around 11:05 PM. This morning's paper was the V4 edition, a later edition. Again, no write up. Funny thing is that this morning's paper had the game story of the Tuesday night game. Also missing the past two days in what I received was any game story discussing Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle retiring the first 17 Minnesota Twin batters he faced Tuesday night (a game which ended before 11:00 PM), giving him a new Major League record 45 consecutive batters retired going back two starts, which included the perfect game he threw last week. But the paper had no problem including several stories about the Redskins starting training camp (with a large pic of George Haynesworth) or the latest tripe from Lisa de Moraes. Look, I know that some will say "just surf to our web site." In my mind, that's laziness. Also, my breakfast table, where I read the paper over cereal and coffee at 5:30 before the rest of the family wakes up, doesn't have a computer, nor is proper place for one. And good luck to Ed Walker on the voting for the Radio Hall of Fame. Had the chance to meet him about 25 years ago while he was doing some weekday afternoon work at WAMU. My Dad and I went up to the studios (where we also met our good friend and sometime DCRTV poster Max from Mild Western Arlington County) to watch Ed work and, based on what I've observed hanging around radio studios all these years, Ed can "run the board" better than some on-air staff I've seen who do have their eyesight! The man is an immense talent, a great radio guy, a pleasant person to talk to, and I enjoy tuning in to listen to his Sunday night WAMU show. He certainly deserves a spot in the Hall. Again, Dave, a great site! Sincerely, Joe Kasell (7/30/09) Once Congress and the FCC gave away serve-the-public broadcast stations to serve-yourself-big-corporate interests, there became no space on the dial for anything but the latter. The race-to-the-bottom has gotten us Leno in a strip weekday nights (where, formerly, there were reasonably good comedies and dramas), and tarted up Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts clones, which progenitor aired during the early 1950s, nearly sixty years ago. It goes against Republican Principles, but wouldn't it be interesting to establish an alternative radio (and TV, perhaps) band for broadcasters who serve the public interest? We got public radio and public TV, but they are run by megalithic bureaucracies. It would be nice to have a place to air peoples' tastes other than brokered programming, religious programming, right-wing "entertainers," and focus-group-tested all-hits rock-and-roll. Ah, it'll never fly. Nobody with money pushing for it. (7/30/09) Perhaps iBiquity has bought enough Congresspersons so that HD Radio will soon be mandatory. (7/30/09) Jack Bowden formally of Channel 2 WMAR Baltimore also was the newscaster on the news journal early in its existence. I just have to correct my grammatical error. The previous sentence should say Jack Bowden formerly of Channel 2 WMAR also was the newscaster of the news journal early in its existence. When I saw this I realized how old I'm getting and need to be more careful in my proofreading. Sorry about that!! Marshall (7/30/09) The anonymous poster about Channel 6 Digital is right. There is a proposal put out by interested parties vocalized by RadioWorld Magazine to take frequencies below 87.7, lower than TV Channel 6, and use those frequencies to move the undead zombie AM radio stations there in all-digital FM mode, IBOC all-digital, Digital Radio Mondial, or otherwise. This will allow those of us who live in areas whose entire AM reception is obliterated by local interference. Wake up, FCC!! We need to move AM to 87.7 FM and lower TODAY and resurrect this market. I need to tell RadioWorld to give this band a fancy name like "The New AM" or something. -Chainsman (7/30/09) Why do stations make websites so long? Why not just go with wjfk.com and leave it at that? The longer the web address the more likely it is that someone will screw it up and wind up at some porn site...not that there's anything wrong with that. Same thing with WMAL; why 630wmal.com? Just WMAL.com works, it's easier to say, remember and type. (7/30/09) Shouldn't iBiquity be making their bundle from royalties by now? Is that the business plan? They gave me $50 when I bought my 99.99 JVC HD/MP3 car radio last year. Did those "long-term investors" just supply more rebate money? (7/30/09) Josh Lewin? The same Josh Lewin who left WBAL and went on to broadcast Chicago Cubs games alongside Harry Caray? The same Josh Lewin who called major league games on Fox? The same Josh Lewin who became the main play by play voice of the Texas Rangers? The same Josh Lewin who is also the voice of the San Diego Chargers? That Josh Lewin? Yep, his career sure went downhill after he left Baltimore...sheesh. (7/30/09) /\ July 30 Messages /\ \/ July 29 Messages \/ With the FCC completely FUCKING UP the DTV switch and tons of stations not even being receivable, wouldn't it be a good idea if the FCC got off their lawyer/lobbyist asses and moved these land/mobile services and other stuff from channels 17, 18, & 19 to like channels 2-5? It would probably only take a maximum of 3 additional UHF channels to solve the reception problems in most if not all markets in the entire U.S. The FCC deliberately shrank the TV band and caused this problem. The FCC needs to get off its collective ass and FIX IT! Either expand up from 51 or open up 17, 18, 19 (the better option since they are strong low end UHF frequencies). I mean this is a ridiculous technological fuck-up by the FCC! And speaking of tech f'ups, why are all these companies investing money in the already FAILED HD-RADIO? Why do they just want to dump money into something that's already a proven failure on almost every level. #1 Poor Signal coverage, #2 Sound Quality worse than an iPOD, #3 Nobody's buying the over-priced radios. The FCC needs to put a fork in this failed technology and create a new ALL-DIGITAL FM BAND on the mostly vacated CHANNEL 6. The combination of these 2 suggestions to our stupid-ass FCC would basically solve both the DTV and HD-Radio problems, but guess what? It will fall on deaf lawyer/lobbyist ears as usual. (7/29/09) An Idyllic Time ....on the 25ft sailboat anchored in Bell's Cove off the Yeocomico watching the otters play, reading an early Grisham novel and listening to the early Mr Tony show and Uncle Allie's Yard Sale. (7/29/09) "Then at 6pm it was Sportsline" Have always thought Josh Lewin"s career went downhill after hosting Sportsline from ???? to ????. He was so creative, figured he had to have burned out. (7/29/09) Not sure if you saw it or not but there is a death notice in todays Washington Post fopr a local DJ that passes away. It says that he was 99.5 (7/29/09) Jack Bowden formally of Channel 2 WMAR Baltimore also was the newscaster on the news journal early in its existence. Then I believe Dave Durian took it over before moving to the morning show replacing Jones and West. I would love to see WBAL turn into an all-news station 24 hours a day but I don't think that will happen at all. I just don't believe that the demographics of Baltimore would support such a station. I would love to be wrong about that but I just don't see it happening. Unfortunate for a lot of people who crave news more and more since the downsizing of newspapers and the expected ultimate demise of the print media. I hate to see the end of newspapers but it's very obvious where we are headed with the smaller editions of the Baltimore Sun and the "dumbing down" of the paper itself. Getting rid of all the good writers is a sure sign of the end coming relatively soon. Marshall (7/29/09) A good move by WBAL to begin all news in the mornings. Since WTOP is not available on AM, this fills the void for all news during morning drive time, Like other posts, I believe this is just the beginning of a 24/7 all-news operation. Burt in Denton (7/29/09) Before becoming 98 rock WIYY was all news. (7/29/09) Dave's response: Yes. It was Baltimore's affiliate of NBC's News & Info Service, a short-lived all-news radio network that was also heard in DC via 980, WRC. When that service died, 98 Rock was born on 97.9..... The 4-6pm slot in which all are referring to was called the "WBAL News Journal". In fact I believe Dave Durian hosted that first before he took over for Jones and West in the morning. I know John Patti was on there a lot and hosted at times (might have alternated hours with Patti hosting and doing news) I think he hosted full time after Durian went to mornings. Then at 6pm it was Sportsline. -Michael Popovec (7/29/09) Why would a local radio station compare itself to a daily newspaper as to how quick it can cover a highway accident? A really juvenile, small potatoes approach. Very small. (7/29/09) Quote: "Bernard McGguirk, Imus's sidekick, filled in for Joe Scarborough this morning on WMAL." Wow, I didn't even know it was him -- I heard Mika referring to "Bernard this, Bernard that" this morning, but I didn't put two & two together. Yes, he was awesome on-air filling in for Joe - let's hope they make him a permanent Joe sub in the future. -Silvie- (7/29/09) "This Just In: Ed is Blind"..True but then again how just many people outside the Washington area broadcast circle know that Ed Walker is blind? I have heard Walker on the radio over the years and he doesn't mention it ( then again he shouldnt have to anyway ), and I can remember seeing Ed Walker on channel 7 back in the 70s wearing dark glasses the exact same kind the great late Roy Orbison was wearing at the time and Roy wasn't blind and I bet chances are many of those viewers who saw Ed Walker didn't knew he was blind either. In other words Ed Walker does his job so well that I wouldn't be at all surprised that many people just don't know that he has a handicap. Very similar to Boston's Ken Myer. For years he did the overnight show on their local WBZ-AM 1030. Like Ed Walker, Ken Myer was blind but despite that, he did one hell of a show. However Ken Myer did have this "issue" with people who didn't know his handicap even though Key Myer didn't bring up his blindness very often on his show. Like the one night I can remember when Myer was going off on the air about how some "stupid jerk" from Baltimore had wrote him a fan letter. Ken kept going on and on about how "everyone in Boston knows that I can't read letters..I AM BLIND DAMNIT". Ok maybe everyone in Boston knew that but not everyone in Baltimore. To me that was a bit tasteless on Ken Myer's part. (7/29/09) Good rant today, Dave. Do you notice that whenever Glenn Beck runs video on Fox News of Obama, the picture is distorted and fuzzed out. And when Rush Limbaugh runs audio of Obama, the speed is increased, making the prez sound like a munchkin. This tells you something very important about the propagandistic righties. Beware. (7/29/09) WBAL Radio should check on the whereabouts and availability of Tom Clendening for its revitalized news coverage. He was one of the best Baltimore had to offer when he was here. (7/29/09) Bernard McGguirk, Imus's sidekick, filled in for Joe Scarborough this morning on WMAL. He wasn't bad. I do remember that once in a blue moon he would run Imus's show when he was sick. (7/29/09) (regarding a previous post) "I am pretty sure Ed Walker had heard us but he didn't even look our way, my sister felt Ed's reactions as to the lack of looking at us was very rude since I am sure he could had seen us, he had too as we were only 10 feet away." This Just In: Ed is Blind. (7/29/09) Found my Sports Radio solution from 2:00-4:00: From ESPN980's web page you can go to ESPN1000 Chicago and listen to an hour of Scott Van Pelt's show and an hour of the Sports Saloon afterwards. (7/29/09) (WTOP is crowing that it got its first news update out at 7:16, beating the Washington Post by eight big minutes) It may not seem like much – but eight minutes can be enough time for me to decide not to join those that are parked on the beltway by taking an alternate route. If it were any story other than traffic (or severe weather) I’d agree that it was stupid to tout an eight minute scoop. (7/29/09) DX: As of 4 PM today, I am receiving 90.3 Minnesota Public Radio (Moorhead/Fargo) clear as a bell in lovely downtown Burke VA. In fact it is coming in stronger than most of the local signals. All Things Considered is playing at the moment, but they do have local breaks for sponsorship and local news weather. -- Mark in Burke (7/29/09) This piece about Post women lambasting Sarah Palin in print—and then getting loads of hate mail for it—is now online at washingtonian.com... (7/29/09) I suspect that this doesn’t affect many reading DCRTV, but nevertheless the Website TVB is reporting today ,” The federal government’s digital-to-analog converter subsidy program is reaching its sunset. Friday is the last day to apply for the $40 coupons good for certified DTV converter set-top boxes. The program, administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, has shelled out more than $1.5 billion for coupons so far. As of July 22, 34.4 million households were approved for up to two coupons each, and more than 63 million had been mailed. Of those, 25 million expired and 33.6 million had been redeemed. Another 4.4 million coupons remained active--far more than the most recent estimate of households with no TV reception whatsoever. Nielsen estimated that as of mid-July around 1.5 million homes remained TV free after the June 12 transition to all-digital broadcasting. “ The web address to the article is televisionbroadcast.com (7/29/09) The former WJFK now 106.7 the Fan is sad. The new line up stinks except for the Junkies. Just because someone was an athlete it does not mean that they will be good on radio or even TV. The Lavar Arrington Show is a good example of that. It is horrendous . Lavar can't put a thought together. Chad Dukes is trying to hold the whole show on his shoulders. We all know that Chad Dukes is suffering because he knows that this is a train wreck. It is so hard to listen to. (7/29/09) Re: "Awww, Brian Bolter looks way too lonely in that beach photo... can I get into a cage match with him instead?!? Love that guy! -Silvie-" Oh, oh, looks like poor loony Silvie has found somebody else to stalk now. Poor Brian. Lucky Chris. People with that perverse fascination with media folks just can't help themselves. Me thinks it's time for another therapy session for ya, dear Silvie, but apparently your prior ones haven't helped you much. /s/ Dr. Phil (7/29/09) Re: Dave's rant about the Obama administration tightening an imaginary FCC "noose" around Murdoch properties because of Beck calling the President a racist *** Dave's response: I wasn't saying that it SHOULD happen, I was just pointing out a scenario that MIGHT happen..... *** Yes, Dave... but, you pointed it out with all the giddiness of a little schoolgirl telling "the other kids" that a little boy is "gonna get it." Were you rubbing your hands together and jumping up and down in your Mary Jane's when you wrote that? Talk about creepy! You really ARE a bloated, unprofessional hack, aren't you? (7/29/09) Dave's response: I may be an unprofessional hack, but I'm NOT bloated. And "noose" is your term, not mine..... Come celebrate "PPM WEEK" at All The Excess! A week so important we even dedicated our masthead to it. In depth reporting on all things PPM, plus the latest tips on where to bid for your own black-market Arbitron PPM equipment, usable or not! All at one simple site - All The Excess! www.alltheexcess.com (7/29/09) I really enjoy listening to Ed Walker on WAMU and count me in among those who want to see Ed in the Radio Hall of Fame event hough some years back I tried to talk to Ed Walker and he wouldn't say a word nor look at me. My sister and I were at the old Hechts store at Fair Oaks Mall, as we were walking out, Ed Walker walks in. I yelled "Hey Ed..Ed Walker"..he said nothing. Then I said "Ed..LOOK AT US !! We are FANS of yours !!". I am pretty sure Ed Walker had heard us but he didn't even look our way, my sister felt Ed's reactions as to the lack of looking at us was very rude since I am sure he could had seen us, he had too as we were only 10 feet away. Well it is America and we all have of our "private days" including Ed Walker so maybe he just wanted to be left alone. I can respect that. Best of luck to you ED. (7/29/09) What, you missed more time with JC and Howard Bernstein or Kim Martucci? (Which is it nowadays? They keep rearranging the deck chairs on the good ship WUSA.) You make is sound like less of the noon program is a bad thing. I did see Jessica Doyle anchoring the noon other day and she was looking pretty fine. (7/29/09) Can we stop seeing "guys" in their underwear hawking $$$$ for your site????? It scares me! Feel like I need to wash my hands after seeing your site. Ew. (7/29/09) Dave's response: You've gotta admit, it's better than G. Gordon Liddy in a Speedo..... WUSA/9 has truncated noon news for five minute commercials at least once or twice before now, it's nothing new. The obvious economic reasons are in play for this. Everett W. (7/29/09) Looks like "LOCALS ONLY" on the NBC O & O sites is gone. NBC has revamped the web, again. (7/29/09) Just watched channel 9 news at noon while eating lunch. It ended at 12:22 and a six minute informercial on dental implants filled the rest of the half hour. Is this something new? (7/29/09) maybe I am missing something but why all the focus on the use of Ch.17. Is there some reason why WBAL (and WZJ, and WUSA and WJLA) could not find homes ELSEWHERE on the UHF spectrum? (7/29/09) Dave, thanks for finally ending the “cat-box” bull from the two children. One is obsessed, the other is obsessed. Neither one is issuing anything relevant-WOW (7/29/09) WTOP on Twitter www.wtop.com (7/29/09) Dave(I know that your site is a media site and not a political site),but Glenn Beck Is a Idiot Obama simply stated a fact SOME white law enforcement does racial profile black males not all but SOME Its just a fact. Obama pointing this out does not make him a racist. I do not think that the situation with the professor was about race SOME black males are thugs however they are a small portion of the black male pop thought its sad when you look at the news and see some black men arrested or killing people ,but there are a lot of black men who work everyday and want to be safe from crime just like everyone else. The "stupid" comment was a bad one but racial profiling is a real issue in law enforcement(i work in law enforcement) conservatives want to act as if race is a non-issue however if race is a factor in how people are being treated it needs to be confronted that is the only way to deal with this issue. (7/29/09) Thanks to the poster for reminding me that WBAL ran that news block from 4-6 PM. I had fogotten that. Ron ran his show 1-4 and 12-1 was "Lunch with Allan", "the Thursday tiff twixt Prell and Smith" and "Honest Al's yard sale". When Rush was added, he took 12-3 and Smith ran 3-6. Howie (7/29/09) Awww, Brian Bolter looks way too lonely in that beach photo... can I get into a cage match with him instead?!? Love that guy! -Silvie- (7/29/09) Dave, Just on a whim, mind you, I thought I'd listen to what 106.7 The Fan had on in the morning. Tuned in at about 7:15 or so. Heard within seconds that "...Lakeforest Mall has become too ghetto..." "...there's a Pollo Campero there, so it brings in the wrong types...". Sounds not too far from "...nappy-headed 'ho's..." to me. I don't need racist xenophobic crap in AM drive, CBS. I suppose their target demographic is the kind of jackass that yells in bars all night about this stuff, and somehow they think we all want to hear the same shit first thing in the morning. This screaming-over-each-other zoo format crap is the reason FSR on XM-141 has lost me in the 7-10pm slot, with the equally horrific Petros and Money. Belligerent, boorish, ill-mannered jocks screaming stupidity at each other is not radio, at least not for me. I quickly went back to FSR and was pleasantly surprised to hear Chris Moore sitting in for Czaban. I like Czabe's show very much, but Moore is a great broadcaster, and provides good radio. With either Czabe or Moore, the effect is that you are part of the conversation; with the crap on 106.7, you're stuck in a very small room with 3 loud obnoxious morons who just don't know how or when to shut-the-fuck-up. Thanks for the soapbox. Uncle Frank in Arlington (7/29/09) I can't believe you would advocate censorship of Fox by the Obama administration because they criticize the president. It would be beyond unfair and unconstitutional for them to do so and it is irresponsible for you to advocate such. Thanks, David Peterson (7/29/09) Dave's response: I wasn't saying that it SHOULD happen, I was just pointing out a scenario that MIGHT happen..... “WBAL 1090 also did an all news block from 4:00-6:00pm back in the last century.” Yes, back in the late 80s and early 90s, WBAL ran The WBAL News Journal from 4 PM until 6 PM. This was when Allan Prell was on in the mornings and Ron Smith would have his show middays. This changed when Rush Limbaugh came onto the station. Ron was moved to nights and Rush was tape delayed from 1 PM until 4 PM. I cannot quite remember when The News Journal ended but that is when Ron took over the drive time spot. (7/29/09) Glen Beck's nothing. HOWEVER, I heard Holly Morris has created her own jihad band of empty headed, annoying blondes with great breasts, roving the countryside insulting anyone with a I.Q. over 50. OK...I watch too much Monty Python. Paul (7/29/09) re: “but why are channels 17, 18, and 19 off-limits in the DC area” - Those UHF channels fall in the range of what’s sometimes called “T-Band” land mobile, 490 – 512 mHz. Only some areas have had this band authorized due to frequency shortages in the regular UHF (450 – 470 mHz) band. DC’s one of them. (7/29/09) Okay I understand that Channel 37 is reserved for radio astronomy and there is no legitimate reason to use it, but why are channels 17, 18, and 19 off-limits in the DC area, anyway? Is there a land-mobile radio or some military reason? Thanks. -Chainsman (7/29/09) Dave's response: It's the CIA Network, channels 17-19 and AM 1640..... RE: [ " Dave's response: OK, this thread is cooked. Done. Finito. Jeff and Silvie can go out to the old 104.1 transmitter site out there in Waldorf and "go at it"..... " ]....... I was thinking last week of recommending a DCRTV sponsored CAGE MATCH between Jeff and Silvie to raise money for a good charity. Why not? Or maybe those oversized sponge kids' bats would be better so they don't kill each other. Although getting them to agree on which charity might be a problem too now that I think about it, hehe. -- Joe in Essex :-) (7/29/09) Dave's response: Round 2 - O'Meara and Bicknell..... "Maybe the FCC can now 'carefully review' those petitions of license renewal denial." Dave, have you morphed into Charles Colson? Early in the Watergate scandal, several persons long associated with Nixon did in fact challenge the licenses of two WashPost-owned TV stations in Florida. At the time, Colson told a WashStar reporter that the White House was going to get rough with the Post, claiming that the paper would wish it never heard of Watergate. (7/29/09) Silvie - Tuesday 8:00 PM: "before anyone here accuses me of being a 'Birther' - I am not, so don't even go there." Silvie - Wednesday 7:45 AM: "I’m not saying Obama was not born in Hawaii -- frankly I don’t know and I don't care to know." Silvie - Wednesday 8:15 AM: "the State of Hawaii actually issued a press release on 10/31/08 stating that the birth certificate was not fraudulent. This came about 6 days before the election. I was satisfied." Gee....it sounds to me like you are all over the place on this one, Silvie. Let's clear the air. For once and for all, please tell us - Do you, or do you not actually believe that the sitting President of the United States might be an illegal alien, and seeing that you did actually once believe in such a silly notion, who "Plante-d" that ridiculous idea in your head? What is it, Silvie? (7/29/09) Dave's response: OK, this thread is cooked. Done. Finito. Jeff and Silvie can go out to the old 104.1 transmitter site out there in Waldorf and "go at it"..... Speaking of FOX 5, Brian Bolter sure is looking a bit down on his luck lately and little beach bummish (see pic, I cropped out the 40oz, just kidding, hehe)... (7/29/09) WBAL 1090 also did an all news block from 4:00-6:00pm back in the last century. (7/29/09) RE: [So, do you keep a file on all my mailbag posts? Who's the real nutjob, Jeff?] Heavens no, Silvie. You are not worth it. All one need do is google "Silvie" and "Wrong AGAIN!". When you do, over 1,600 hits come back in 0.38 seconds. - Jeff in Bowie (7/29/09) Glad to see once all the broadcasting news dies down in the mailbag that the political nuts turn it into their soapbox again. (7/29/09) Here's a wild thought. Why not make 97.9-- WBAL FM all news, all the time? You could keep the talk image on AM 1090 and tie the stations, including WBAL TV together for complete news coverage. It would also fit in well with the Ravens coverage. (7/29/09) Dave's response: I wouldn't be surprised if Jeff Beauchamp had that very dream once in a while. With CBS putting its Baltimore FMers "up for sale" last year, just as the economy was tanking, there was some talk that Hearst might buy one for BAL-FM. But Hearst only owns two radioers in the whole country, Baltimore's WBAL/WIYY, and it doesn't look like the firm is interested in expanding its radio properties..... (I would e-mail them as to why the President has spent close to $1million to fight access to his birth docs, and why he established an Executive Order during his first days in >>office sealing his childhood records, birth cert, college, law school transcripts, etc. Silvie.) Can you please provide us with the Executive Order about this? I can't seem to find it, and I think you are full of poop. If you are going to site something, please provide with proof... (7/29/09) Dave, WTOP says "follow us on Twitter." I typed in "WTOP" and nothing came up but a stupid collection of watercooler stories and they have a sports section as well. I see YOU have more than 2,500 followers, by the way! (7/29/09) Dave's response: Whoopie! Still just a small fraction of the 35,000-ish unique visitors DCRTV gets each and every day..... After the real News/talk version of WCBM folded in 1986, 'CBM did resurrect a kind of morning news program with Sean Casey during the wonderful Elick Seymour era (1987-88). WBAL also did parttime "All News" blocks, I believe at noon, until the powers that be decided that we should be getting our news from Rush at that hour. Howie (7/29/09) Well Jeffy, that mailbag post from me was indeed from 10/29/08, two days before the State of Hawaii actually issued a press release on 10/31/08 stating that the birth certificate was not fraudulent. This came about 6 days before the election. I was satisfied by this, yet here are still questions from several news organizations to this day, including 'mainstream' Lou Dobbs on CNN, about this. But not from me. So, do you keep a file on all my mailbag posts? Who's the real nutjob, Jeff? -Silvie- (7/29/09) Okay, if you have a beef with some of Hannity's shows from last fall and having Corsi as a guest and the whole Obama birth certificate issue, you need to take it up with WABC and not with WMAL, dude. I also don't know where on earth you get the idea that Chris Plante ever discussed this issue on-air. If Plante discussed anything relating to this, it was because it was brought up by callers. I was one of the first ones to rally him and producer Geoff Holtzman about this matter until I turned blue in the face, and they would not touch it with a ten-foot pole. I would e-mail them as to why the President has spent close to $1million to fight access to his birth docs, and why he established an Executive Order during his first days in office sealing his childhood records, birth cert, college, law school transcripts, etc. I’m not saying Obama was not born in Hawaii -- frankly I don’t know and I don't care to know. But it defies reason that someone would spend $1million on litigating this issue unless he had something to hide and I think that as citizens we have a right to know. -Silvie- (7/29/09) Sorry "birthers", but not only do your accusations come across as lame, they don't make good radio; not one little bit. How many times can hosts and guests regurgitate the same fluff? How many times can Joseph Farah appear on radio talk shows and claim he was the first to report this? How many trees will get cut down to print books on the topic that no one will buy? And most importantly, how many times does someone in authority have to come forward and report they have examined the relevant documents and are satisfied as to their authenticity? Please let this whole thing die down and go away. Radio is in enough trouble without this kindergarten waa-waa crap clogging up the dial. (7/29/09) It's OK to call President Obama racist, but don't you dare call WMAL's righty talkers racist. That's pretty much the "logic" exhibited by WMAL morning blabber Fred Grandy, who actually defended Fox Newser Glenn Beck's comments yesterday. We all have a certain degree of racism in each of us, Grandy said in defending Beck's comments. Would Fred also say that about WMAL's Hannity, Limbaugh, and Levin? If he did, he'd probably get canned faster than you could say "dittohead." (7/29/09) RE: [So before anyone here accuses me of being a 'Birther' - I am not, so don't even go there. -Silvie-] Um, Sil? I'm going there. Hate to be the one to slap you in the face with the historical facts, but you are clearly a "birther". I quote from your own post on the November 29, 2008 Mailbag -- "Obama's place of birth is still questionable, as he has not produced an original number-sequenced vaulted copy of his birth certificate (he's only produced what we now know to be a fraudulent Hawaii certificate of live birth.) Nothing wrong with being a Muslim, Marxist, Commie and perhaps (questionable) non-Citizen status. Just not someone who is seeking to become the next Commander-In-Chief and President in the United States of America. That's all. -Silvie- (10/29/08)" Now. please tell us, Sil....which Silvie is being truthful here - the one from November, or the one from today? For Chrissakes Silvie, Christopher Plante ranted on the topic of what he and his followers believed to be some ethereal and mysterious supposed difference between a "Birth Certificate" and a "Certificate of Live Birth" for two freaking days, repeatedly questioning the authenticity of the document. You yourself referred to the birth certificate Obama's campaign produced as "fraudulent". Clearly, in November, you were unwilling to recognize the legitimacy of the document, and you were unwilling to recognize the fact that a "Birth Certificate" and a "Certificate of Live Birth" are legally the same freaking thing! Now, do you somehow think that today, magically, just because you bury fingers in your ears and loudly proclaim that something never happened means that it never actually happened? Face it: Evidence to the contrary proves that you are not telling the truth here! What a NUT! - Jeff in (How often these fools get skewered by their own words) Bowie (7/29/09) /\ July 29 Messages /\ \/ July 28 Messages \/ Starting August 8, 2008, Hannity had on Jerome Corsi on three times to discuss the "fake birth certificate,' and to plug his book, which made no mention of it. Levin read from a NRO article claiming Obama was born in Kenya. Plante devoted two days to discuss the differences between a "certificate of live birth," and a "birth certificate" (as commented here on DCRTV, the discussion was "fascinating, BULLSH&T, but fascinating"). Sylvie, WMAL ran with the crap. They need to set the record straight. The crap of Hannity, Levin,, and Limbaugh, can be heard on WMAL. (7/28/09) Jim Bohannon's show has not missed a beat with Dan "Danimal" Scanlan filling in. (7/28/09) They should rename 106.7 the Duce...or the Dump...That's exactly what I want to take after listening to the awful show on after the Junks...Its shit...pure shit...WB Centreville, VA (7/28/09) Channel 17 UHF has been used for two way communications in the metro area for many years. I don't think that has changed with DTV. Bob Fairfax (7/28/09) (regarding Dave's response) "It’s funny how some new shows either ‘click’ with you, or they don't." I think the reason "Mad Men" clicked with me is that one of my heroes has always been legendary ad man, David Ogilvy. His books "Ogilvy On Advertising" www.amazon.com and "Confessions Of An Advertising Man" www.amazon.com are classics and many advertising types today could learn a thing or two about their craft from this old master. Most TV ads today suck and radio ads are even more wretched than TV spots! In an interview once, Ogilvy mentioned that his Shell ads were the first he knew of that actually talked about the gasoline. Ogilvy’s Shell with Platformate ad www.youtube.com. This one sure did! Here’s some video ‘The Pope of Modern Advertising’ video.aol.com... (7/28/09) The only real local media connection here is that Gene Weingarten is an enormous douche.. he wrote today in his chat: "There is one bit of evidence out there that is irrefutable. It ends the discussion: The Honolulu Advertiser had the birth announcement on Aug. 6, 1961. It's right there! It's in the clips." The citizenship laws were different then and a foreign born kid with a mother that young had an additional hoop or two to jump through for U.S. citizenship. Of course you'd place an ad to build a case that your mixed-race baby was a citizen; not so he could grow up to be president, but so he could be treated as a citizen. Facts have never troubled our dou... uh, our Gene. Interesting to note that the "Advertiser" was apparently the newspaper of record in Hawaii. That'll make my ad in the Blade telling about my adventures with Gene in the pit at the Eagle all the more believable. Rough, sweaty, hairy times, I don't mind telling you. --- ThePenIsMightier (7/28/09) Does anyon know were to find a comcast channle guide for an LCD tv with no caqble box for annapols md (7/28/09) I disagree with the person who said Harry Truman was one of our greatest Presidents. To be frank, he was a wimp for not letting me nuke North Korea to oblivion while I had the chance. Now look at things in North Korea. It didn't have to be this way. Signed, Douglas MacArthur (7/28/09) I knew something was up at the Post. I live in Columbia. For years, we got the midnight edition during the week and the 10:00 pm edition on Sundays, which gave us decent sports coverage. Unless a team was on the West coast, we almost always had a game story. Now it seems like we're getting a 9:00 pm edition. The only time we get the Nats' game story is when they play during the day or late afternoon. (7/28/09) The last time Baltimore had an all-news program in the morning was in the early 1980’s on WCBM. The station had 2 news anchors, weather from Accu-weather, traffic, local sports and commentary. It also had 4 reporters (working beats, unheard of today in broadcasting) and, a large off the air support staff, and News Director Bob Shilling who was always heard covering what we call today “breaking news”. The one thing WCBM didn’t have was a strong signal, which WBAL does have. Certainly Baltimore deserves and all-news format, particularly in the morning. The one thing it will need to survive is a strong audience and the support of advertisers. Such programs continue to be market leaders in cities such as Washington, New York, Dallas. The one difference is these stations are all-news all the time…not just in the morning. The question then is will the morning news on WBAL be the precursor to all news all the time in Charm City? Mark Miller, the News Director at WBAL, will lead this effort and he has been the person responsible for all the national awards won by that station, in particular the Edrward R. Murrow Awards from the RTNDA, Radio Televisions News Directors Association. He will need the support of the Hearst Corporation as well. (7/28/09) For my money, one of the best dramas on TV today is "Mad Men" (which kicks off Season 3 on August 16th) on AMC. www.amctv.com... At the Washington Post website, there's a Q/A segment today, with Rich Sommer, who plays Harry Crane in the series about a NYC advertising agency in the early 1960s. Here's the link to that www.washingtonpost.com... And, here's a recent item from the Baltimore Sun about the premiere episode of the series' new season weblogs.baltimoresun.com... (7/28/09) Dave's response: It's funny how some new shows either "click" with you, or they don't. I have tried watching "Mad Men" and just can't "get into" it. Ditto with HBO's new "True Blood." Yet, I do find that I like HBO's new "Hung" and Showtime's new "Nurse Jackie." Strange, huh..... Looking forward to again setting a button for AM 1090 KHz where 50,000 watt WBAL will make a nice newsy drive into town. Meantime, WJLA's decision to dump that streaming newsroom on its weather channel will further cut the few people that can find and hear their signal toward Baltimore. (7/28/09) Dave's response: I've always thought that WTOP should take 1500, which puts a city grade signal to the northeast from its Wheaton transmitter, toward Baltimore, and turn it into a Baltimore-oriented all-newser. Make it a totally separate station from WTOP, but use WTOP's resources to give Baltimore its first 24/7 all-newser..... The PPM week that came out today was the week that all WJFK shows were on best of, and presumably right after they had been told that the station was flipping. It was probably arranged that they would all be on best of that week to minimize the on air discussion of the impending format flip. (7/28/09) One week without WJFK and I know how addicts feel. I miss my shows, BO&D, Mike O'Meara and Beth-Ann's Cans of Love, and Loveline. But I'm standing strong. I will not listen to that station any more. Passionate listeners? Who needs'em? I wish the Junkies and Chad and the other friend all the best in their next jobs, but Lavar (who I'm sure is a good guy, and a sewer rat may taste like pumpkin pie but I'll never know) and ALL THE NEW PEOPLE CAN JUST GO SCREW. EFF CBS Management in the A with a big rosebush. --- ThePenIsMightier (7/28/09) WOW = MOM upside-down. So, WOW is most likley a woman, or someone who wants to be. Could it be Silvie's mother? Dr. Hook (7/28/09) Dave's response: Dr. Hook? Wasn't that "Sylvia's Mother"? Gawd, haven't heard that in a while..... Paul Duckworth as nothing to apologize for. WMAL never once had any of its hosts discuss the issue of the President's birth certificate prior to Election Day 2008. And, if there were any indications or discussions on-air about this matter, it was either brought up by a caller or by the host as he was referring to other matters about Obama's parents, childhood, etc. In recent weeks, the matter has been brought up by certain hosts simply for the fact that it's making news again and again, by way of several lawsuits being filed against the President (by fellow Democrats, mind you) for not providing the original, valuted, sequenced-number copy of this birth certificate, and it also made news when a soldier refused to be sent to Afghanistan weeks ago because he wasn't sure that the President was born in the United States. The soldier has since been sent elsewhere. Robert Gibbs brought up this issue yesterday, when asked by a reporter in the daily WH briefing. So before anyone here accuses me of being a 'Birther' - I am not, so don't even go there. I'm merely just providing the facts as they relate to WMAL's past coverage on this issue. -Silvie- (7/28/09) Is this legal? cgi.ebay.com (7/28/09) "His act is tiresome and stale. What exactly were his numbers at WTEM and WTOP?" Tony was never on WTOP. (7/28/09) Dave's response: Tony was most-recently on WTWP and WWWT, not WTOP..... What a dynamite move by WBAL 1090. Hearst saw WTOP-FM's numbers and with a little money they could do the same thing.This is only the beginning. I see WBAL Expanding the All-news format to the afternoon drive, and to the rest of the day. People want 3 things in the morning,Time, Traffic and weather. CORY (7/28/09) Dave's response: Exactly. Put Ron Smith on from noon to 3 PM, and do an afternoon drive all-news block from 3 PM to 6 PM..... Oh boy! Wow learned how to Google! Two questions: (1) Who gives a shit? and (2) What on earth does this have to do with radio and TV? (7/28/09) Everything old is new again…In the early salad days of FM, many of the co-owned FM'er's simulcast their AM feeds until the FCC required original programming on the FM side along about 1966-67 or so. Think WOR-AM and FM in NYC back in the day. Even WQXR and WFLN, the NYC and Philly classical stations which continued to simulcast so much of their programming, changed commercials and broadcast schedules on the FM station so that they could get around the rules and keep their dual outlets going. As far as talk radio going to FM…before 9/11, there was a growing chorus in the industry that AM talk would migrate to FM, with AM becoming primarily localized foreign language and niche programming (most music going to satellite or perhaps HD). If WMAL migrates Rush, et.al. to the FM side of things, this would only prove that those rumblings of long-ago presaged a natural progression of things. Oh, and by the way, this life-long Republican wishes that Sarah Palin would go away. I like her, I find her appealing, but she strikes me as the 21st Century Republican version of Adlai Stevenson; excites the base, makes a good soundbite, but an electoral disaster. Okay, now back to the worship of all things Obama… Genghis ("Get Off My Lawn You Little Bastards!") Cohen, staying home to oil his guns in hot and humid Prince Wiliam County (7/28/09) Another snippet(“Obama graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School where he was president of the Harvard Law Review.”(Jimmy Carter-Georgia Southwestern College, 1941-1942; Georgia Institute of Technology, 1942-1943; United States Naval Academy, 1943-1946 (class of 1947); Union College, 1952-1953-A bit of a struggle doncha know! AND he was the worst President ever!Sarah Palin (Palin attended Hawaii Pacific College in Hilo, Hawaii, in 1982 she majored in Business Administration, and transferred in 1983 to North Idaho College for the 1983-1984 school year. After winning a scholarship, she transferred to Matanuska-Susitna College in Alaska before transferring back to the University of Idaho the following year where she finished out her college education and received a Bachelor of Science degree in communications-journalism from the University of Idaho in 1987, where she also minored in political science. Do ya see a parallel?-She coulda been President too.Harry Truman-Education: Attended the University of Kansas City Law School did not graduate. One of our greatest! Nuff said. I’m outta here!-WOW (7/28/09) Not that it really matters, but here are the demos as WJFK for the 2nd week of July. It was still the old line up then I think. 18-34: Junkies 14th, Big O And Dukes 12th, Mike O'Meara 16th... 25-54: Junkies 13th, Big O And Dukes 11th, Mike O'Meara 10th... (7/28/09) (Millions of people were (ARE) still wondering. Presenting a birth certificate is not that difficult, especially if you’re in a position of power ie: President of the once most powerful nation on the globe.) Okay all you doubters: post on this site your birth certficates, drivers' licenses, tax returns, medical records, and give me a power of attorney so I can access any of your documents that I want so I can get the originals. If Dave won't post them I'll gladly give you my e-mail address. Shawn in DC (7/28/09) Dave's response: Now now now, we're getting off-topic..... ("Ok, so yesterday I noted that 1067thefandc.com directed me to a godaddy.com page, and now today for the past 20 minutes, all I am receiving from their "live" web feed are a constant stream of commercials.") I was thinking the same thing Incredibly they played commercials on the live stream for over an hour instead of Chris Russell's show yesterday. What shiiite. Hopefully Russell will get a permanent show in addition to covering the Skins. (7/28/09) Egads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! An idiot is DEMANDING an apology from WMAL. Now THAT’S funny! I don’t know who the poster is that is DEMANDING, BUT, Methinks if you check Globally, that’s GLOBALLY!!!! WMAL was not the Lone Ranger on the issue of whether or not Obama was a US citizen. Millions of people were (ARE) still wondering. Presenting a birth certificate is not that difficult, especially if you’re in a position of power ie: President of the once most powerful nation on the globe. Some of you posters are unequivocal idiots. I know, let’s blame just Rush, Hannity, Plante and of course WMAL! …..blah, blah, blah. Not another soul on the planet doubts the authenticity of the certificate, come on!!!!-WOW (7/28/09) Good move by WBAL. Now do the same with afternoon drive, and get politics off the air in favor of local flavored talk. The station should be informative, entertaining, and locally important to listeners. Then, put it on FM. Radio is easy. Ed Graham (except for that FM thing) (7/28/09) Hey, "Wow" -- Obama graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School where he was president of the Harvard Law Review. It took Palin six years to earn a BS from the University of Idaho. Also, the "bailout trillions" that ultraCons try to pin on Obama was begun by the Bush administration after Bush et al drove the economy into the ground last year. Remember? Now how about we get back to DC radio and television before you further embarass yourself? (7/28/09) ("He left MNF on his own steam. As to whether or not he succeeds on Danny Snyder's station, that's a whole 'nother question. Wasn't able to succeed on 3WT which had great signal coverage (1500 + 107 + 820). 980 and the pygmy sisters are not a great platform. Tony is very talented but will people be able to find him on the radio?") When Kornheiser left MNF no one shed a tear, least of all the viewers who had to listen to his inane drivel. His act is tiresome and stale. What exactly were his numbers at WTEM and WTOP? The question is not the ability of listeners to find him on the radio but more importantly, whether anyone cares about finding and listening to him. (7/28/09) Dear Mr. Duckworth; Today, officials from the State of Hawaii confirmed, again, President Obama does have a Hawaiian “Birth Certificate,” and was born in Honolulu. It is clear again that WMAL wasted a lot of time with Plante, Hannity, Levin, and Rush all claiming Obama may not have been born in this country. WMAL needs to go on the air NOW, and all day today, and set the record straight for all the loonies that mistake your “entertainment” as “news.” As we all know, WMAL acted as an irresponsible catalyst, allowing this birth certificate rumor to bubble uncontrollably. Therefore, WMAL needs go on the air immediately, make a correction/clarification, and apologize if you created any confusion. Also, Mr. Duckworth, did you see the piece on News Hour Friday that featured your friends Rush and Sean? I hope you did. If not, here is a link; www.pbs.org. WMAL is in DC, and the President is in DC. We don’t want any of your angry white listeners to take matters into their own hands over this birth certificate nonsense (just like those other Sean Hannity fans did), now do we? APOLOGIZE NOW AND SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT, MR. DUCKWORTH, YOU HAVE A MORAL AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY TO GOD AND YOUR COUNTRY TO DO THE ETHICAL AND RESPONSIBLE THING. Please forward copies of this post to anyone you know at WMAL; we can’t let them off the hook on this one. (7/28/09) To the individual that(snippet) “because I would prefer someone with an above-room-temperature IQ to be leader of the free world?”(End of snippet) Did you ever try to calculate Obama’s IQ. It ain’t off the charts either. Common sense have none of the current LEADERSHIP (I USE THIS WORD AS A JOKE) As for worse…it is worse…to the tune of “trillions”. Remember Congress and the Senate approved this disaster! Now THAT’S worse. In six months he’s got the entire country debt ridden to an extent that is disgraceful to say the least. Biden…..”another one bites”. WOW (7/28/09) "The fact is, if the term “President Palin” DOESN’T scare you you’re a fool. Not saying that the current set-up is ideal, or even effective, but as we’ve seen it CAN be worse." you're right. the words "president joe biden" are even scarier. it's funny, during the campaign we were told that if we voted for mccain, we'd get an idiot for VP, and they were right. (7/28/09) Has anybody else noticed that The Washington Post has reverted back to using hand-staining ink again? Another cost cutting measure? (7/28/09) (This week's PPMs:) WJZW creeping up, beats both WJFK and WTEM... Air America has yet to show up on 1050a (it made it a previous timje when simulcast WTOP...) Wash Times morning show not doing anything yet... (7/28/09) [snippy] I still cannot figure out why [Palin] scares the living hell out of liberals & bloggers in the media [end snippy]. Ummm, how about because I value competent government and civil rights? And how about because I would prefer someone with an above-room-temperature IQ to be leader of the free world? The fact is, if the term “President Palin” DOESN’T scare you you’re a fool. Not saying that the current set-up is ideal, or even effective, but as we’ve seen it CAN be worse. (7/28/09) I got an email from the Broadcasting Hall of Fame this AM. Urging me to vote…I did. Ed Walker is da man….PLB:0) (7/28/09) What a difference forty years makes! Here (in three YouTube parts) is a fantastic time capsule of the ABC Radio Network News operation in 1969, shortly after the launch of the 4 Network concept... (7/28/09) Melissa Anne Teixeira has been selected as Miss Howard TV for the month of August for Howard Stern’s Howard TV On Demand channel. Melissa, who works as a car saleswoman in her Fall River, MA hometown, is known as “Hemi” to her friends because of her infatuation with the powerful engine. After battling over the title of “HemiGirl” with the show’s resident car aficionado, Ronnie Mund, Melissa treats the entire studio to a sultry story about how her friend’s car trouble led to an erotic lesbian experience. Melissa has many interests. She is a model and actress with a small role in the upcoming film “Surrogates” and is a dancer in “21” alongside Kate Bosworth. She designs clothes for the models at car shows and is studying Hebrew because she wants to be able to read the original bible. Her modeling portfolio can be found at thehemigirl.com. Melissa’s studio interview can be seen exclusively on Howard TV On Demand. She will host the monthly preview show during August. Melissa is profiled with photos, a Q&A and a blog at www.howard.tv/missHowardTV. Howard TV On Demand is a subscription video on demand channel available digital cable via all major cable systems in the United States and Canada. For more info: www.howard.tv. (7/28/09) WBAL TV stated in its emergency FCC application that there was no available UHF frequency currently. I don't know if that's true or not. I do know there are quite a few off limits frequencies for the Washington/Baltimore area. If I'm not mistaken, TV channels 17, 18, & 19 are all off limits. And of course, no one can use channel 37. The channel 37 situation will probably never change, but you would think that the FCC would consider moving some of the services on 17-19 onto other now-free frequencies, especially in the northeast where the TV band is now constrained and so many DTV stations can't even have the proper signal to be received. I thought the whole plan of moving DTV to mostly high-band VHF and UHF was for the purposes of moving fire and rescue communications to the lower VHF or other now unused TV frequencies, but apparently, the 9-11 urgency to do this doesn't seem quite there anymore. I'm not really certain who's using channels 17-19, but those TV channels really should be available for TV in such a congested TV market like DC/Baltimore or other places in the northeast. But, once again, its another one of those FCC F-Ups caused by lawyers, lobbyists, and special interest groups running the FCC instead of engineering people who would have known the DTV Switch was going to end up being a Mongolian Cluster Fck! (7/28/09) Dave's response: Dallas's KTVT is moving from 11 to 19..... COOL! Here's the link to the PPM meters themselves: tinyurl.com. If you want to encode PPM yourself, just buy this: tinyurl.com. I bet the folks in Columbia aren't happy about THIS! (7/28/09) (Kornheiser has taken a big hit with respect to his abrupt departure from MNF, regardless of whatever rationalizations his fans come up with. Something tells me that Kornheiser will be another failed Danny Boy Snyder investment.) Anybody who knows Tony (and I do) knows he hated MNF because of the plane travel and he made it clear to anybody who would listen that he would only do it for a few years 'cause the money was so good. He left MNF on his own steam. As to whether or not he succeeds on Danny Snyder's station, that's a whole 'nother question. Wasn't able to succeed on 3WT which had great signal coverage (1500 + 107 + 820). 980 and the pygmy sisters are not a great platform. Tony is very talented but will people be able to find him on the radio? (7/28/09) In some markets (Chattanooga) Citadel will run all syndication, Rush, Hannity, etc on the AM and have mostly live and local shows on the FM with common call letters to both stations. (7/28/09) The percentage of women working in local television and radio news reached a new high, according to the RTNDA/Hofstra survey of Women and Minorities in local news. The survey also showed that the percentage of journalists of color working in local radio and television news fell, led by a 10 percent drop in the number of Hispanic staff working for Hispanic television stations. The 2009 RTNDA/Hofstra University Annual Survey shows that minorities comprised 21.8 percent of local television news staff, a decrease from 23.6 percent in 2008. Asian American journalists in the broadcast news workforce increased, while the percentage of Native American journalists remained the same. African Americans working in local news decreased by half a percentage point. The percentage of Hispanics in local news fell from 10.3 last year to 8.8 this year. At non-Hispanic stations, the minority workforce was down by half a percentage point to 19.6 percent. In local radio, news was mixed with Asian American and Native American numbers up and African American and Hispanic numbers down. The percentage of minority television news directors dropped slightly in 2009 with the sharpest decline in Hispanic news directors. Measurement of minority news directors in radio fluctuates each year based on which stations complete the survey. At 41.4 percent, women in the television news workforce reached an all-time high, as did women television news directors, 29.1 percent. The number of women working in radio also increased from 22.7 last year to 28.1 percent in 2009. Women make up 27.7 percent of radio news directors. “While the increase in the number of women serving as news director is encouraging, the drop in the percentage of minorities employed in newsrooms is not,” said RTNDA Chairman Stacey Woelfel. “It is my hope the gains made in the last few years to make our newsrooms more diverse were not lost in the recent economic downturn. RTNDA is committed to working with our partners at the minority journalism associations to make sure all owners and managers know the value of putting more journalists of color in their newsrooms.” More at rtnda.org. (7/28/09) Dear Dave: I live out Laurel way, not too far from the Post's College Park plant. As a reporter, my suspicions were recently aroused when I noticed the `M,' which appeared below the masthead on the right, has been replaced with a `V' for Virginia. My hunch was right, and a very nice lady from the Post's Community Relations staff confirms it: the College Park plant, all of 10 years old, "is in the process of being closed," she tells me. "All of our operations are being shifted to Springfield." I also pointed out that the words `SUBURBAN' and `FINAL' editions, which have appeared forever on the right side of each copy in big, bold caps, are no longer. It's an empty space now, big enough to drive, well, a Post delivery van through. The nice lady didn't have a ready answer for that one, but promised to check it out. I bemoaned the current state of the ink on newsprint industry, but she reassured me that the Post is not disappearing. "We still have over 700,000 readers who pay for the paper each day," she says. (7/28/09) WXTR and WBIG were terrific oldies stations. WJZW could be one too, if they would only promote the thing. No one knows it exists. Except for Steve Allen in the afternoon, there are no local DJs, no local promotions, no local appearances, no morning show. WXTR used to take over the Prince George's Equestrian Center for a day-long, free, oldies concert. There used to be Oldies 100 ads on TV. All we hear from WJZW is nada. A little promotion and we might have a top-10 or top 15 station. The music is great; the selection of oldies is terrific. But no one knows the station exists. With the legacy DJs from WXTR, WBIG and the dear departed oldies WQSR in Baltimore, WJZW could build a terrific station. So do it, rather than bring in yet another ordinary music station or another talker. (7/28/09) I had not heard about Jim Weiskopf leaving WJFK. Very unfortunate. In 2003-04, Jim had the front office job during the buildout of WMET. One day during construction, IDT decided to drop everything they were planning on doing in DC and just run syndicated programming, and was essentially blowing out a fresh newly-hired ops staff without so much as a tip of the hat -- one woman had just relocated from Minneapolis. Jim fought like hell to get these people some kind of severance, and won. I have had an ill taste in my mouth ever since for IDT as a company, but Jim was a class act and I hope he's got something since 'JFK sent him off. (7/28/09) Ironic that the Palin haters in the mailbag and the media keep saying Palin should be dropped like a hot potato by the media, yet they themselves just cannot stop posting and blogging hatred about the woman themselves! It's like an obsession. Too funny. And for the record, Spiro Agnew was convicted of a felony and sentenced to jail, none of which has happened or will ever happen to Palin. Big difference. Geez, get lives people, let it go. I still cannot figure out why this woman scares the living hell out of liberals & bloggers in the media. If you don't want Palin to get the media attention, STOP BLOGGING ABOUT HER! DUH! LOL (7/28/09) From All Access: Know anyone in the market to buy 3 ARBITRON PPM devices? If so, they're currently "for sale" on EBAY. "3 New Arbitron Portable People Meter PPM Radio Ratings," is the headline for the meters, which have a current high bid of $51, and a WEDNESDAY, JULY 29th at 3:09p (PT) dealine to make an offer. The seller is listed as "goin-goin-gone!" and is located in GRAIN VALLEY, MO, UNITED STATES. (7/28/09) I've gotten an answer to my question of a few days ago about Priestly. He's still on MIX1065. I heard him on Sunday afternoon. I don't know if it's live or voice tracked. Ed Jones, Bel Air MD (7/28/09) Silvie, you need to go back to long-distance-learning law school. The time frame in which birth parents can "rescind" their consent forms granting the adoption of their child does vary from state-to-state. However, once an adoption is FINALIZED, it is nearly impossible to overturn that adoption. Consent of the birth parents becomes final and irrevocable once the court issues a final decree of adoption. Courts are loathe to become involved in overturning any adoption once it is finalized and do so only in the most extreme of cases which may involve coercion to sign adoption papers and the like. And there is much case law to support that. Your statement that, " In some states, the birth mother can change her mind at any time about an adoption, even when the child is in the infant-toddler stage," is so blatantly incorrect that any conservative-minded fool would get a hearty laugh from your ignorance. (7/28/09) Doug Hill's Weather Now has dramatically changed. Forecasts are now provided by AccuWeather with Super Doppler 7 only making appearances every 5 minutes or so. WTOP is gone too. 7's forecast is in the cycle. It's a big change--and dropping WTOP is a mistake. Chase (7/28/09) I'm sure neither money nor time was a deciding factor in Laura Ingraham's adoptions, but the issue is that in the United States there are far to many rights given to the birth parents that are not given in foreign countries. In some states, the birth mother can change her mind at any time about an adoption, even when the child is in the infant-toddler stage, and can demand that she be kept as part of the child's growing experience. Some adopting parents are just not comfortable with that. -Silvie- (7/28/09) I would love to see WMAL play the "Art Bell Somewhere in Time" series. I pick it up out of upstate NY on 810. They run old Art bell shows from when he did the C2C show full time. Some awesome stuff. Art Bell reading a phone book would be more entertaining than most of the drivel out there. Since WMAL used to run C2C 7 hours a night, what are the chances they could do it now? Or are they merely WABC-DC? (7/28/09) On NBC Nightly News Monday, there was a report about Sarah Palin's first big post-resignation speech. She had nothing good to say about "the media". Note to Media: Drop her like a hot potato - no more Palin coverage. While she didn't call anybody a "nattering nabob," for a while there, I thought she was channeling Spiro Agnew circa 1969! Say, wasn't Agnew a corrupt governor. too? (7/28/09) Dear Mr. Smugness - Nice try. Tammy Bruce did not air on WMAL last weekend so it would have been impossible for you to have heard her make an announcement about her discontinuing her Saturday show one way or another. The shows WMAL aired of Tammy Bruce were repeats for at least a month. - Signed KFI Fan (7/28/09) /\ July 28 Messages /\ \/ July 27 Messages \/ Ok, so yesterday I noted that 1067thefandc.com directed me to a godaddy.com page, and now today for the past 20 minutes, all I am receiving from their "live" web feed are a constant stream of commercials. Even an old 106.7 WJFK commercial. What's going on!?! Has Dan Snyder already taken over his competition. Also, on a side note it's great to see that the Fan got rid of the 6pm-7pm Junkies replay, and have started the evening show with Chris R. an hour earlier. Personally, it will be a shame when he's off the night time show and concentrates on the Skins. BTW Dave, any word on who his replacement will be? (7/27/09) Checking out the latest numbers from bpth the Hagerstown-Chambersburg * Winchester-Front Royal markets. Interesting to see that WAYZ wasn't number one otherwise not much in the way of surprises. Same with Winchester though this was the last book with Chuck Carrol before he was let go by Clear Channel some months back. Prediction...next book expect a much closer race there between Q102, WINC and WKSI. Interesting that WINC-AM had higher numbers than Rock 104.9/105.5. Also I found another interesting thing about the Winchester book..about half of the radio stations listed can't be picked up in Winchester. Makes no sense !! WACL? Good luck picking them up in Winchester. WSIG? Well for many years WSIG's Les Irby used to bitch about how "stupid and retarded" WSIG does in Winchester, a market they really could give a rats ass about ( who can blame them? ) yet they don't do much in their own town..Harrisonburg. Now I know Shenandoah County is in the Winchester market, too bad there isn't a way to split that county in half. Strasburg & Toms Brook stays in Winchester while Woodstock, Mount Jackson, and New Market goes to Harrisonburg. Thats the way it should be. (7/27/09) "Trying to make the point that you should be a fan of the home town team, Dukes tells a woman caller from Washington, who said growing up she didn't have a baseball team to root for, that she should have been a baltimore fan...if not baltimore, then Atlanta, the next closest city to DC. After another minute or so of useless talk by Dukes, Lavar asks, "so Dukes, you are saying that she should be an Atlanta fan because it is the next closest city 'demographically'"? besides butchering the English language, neither host passed 5th grade geography since Philly, NY, and Pittsburgh are all closer baseball cities." Demographically... 1 : of or relating to demography or demographics... 2 : relating to the dynamic balance of a population especially with regard to density and capacity for expansion or decline... While trying to criticize Chad and/or LaVar for neither host passing 5th grade geography you failed to realize that demographically Atlanta and Baltimore are more similar to DC than Philly or NYC or Pittsburgh. (7/27/09) Looks like WJLA has pulled the plug on WeatherNow to an extent. They have switched over to The AccuWeather Channel. That means no more WTOP in the background. That was really nice for people out in the Shenandoah Valley who have trouble hearing WTOP on 103.5 or 107.7 or just wanted a quick blip of news. Also, no more on screen Live Super Doppler 7. BAD BAD move :( Tybois Uphold (7/27/09) Mike Popovec's a.k.a.Mike Bradley post yesterday celebrating 5 years in radio shows this guy is truly a class act. His thanking of people who have helped him in the radio industry is something you don't see or hear a lot of these days, My personal congratulations to Mike as well, keep up the great work for many more years in the radio industry. Hope to see you sometime when at the beach in late August. Burt in Denton (7/27/09) Weeks ago you reported on the front page that Jim Weiskopf was removed from GSMing WFJK and also reported on Ernie Fears leaving WMAL but you never put two and two together to figure out that Fears has taken over as GSM at 106.7 The Fan. You're slipping Dave. (7/27/09) Dave's response: I thought I reported that. Musta gotten lost in the mountain of JFK shit lately..... Kornheiser has taken a big hit with respect to his abrupt departure from MNF, regardless of whatever rationalizations his fans come up with. Something tells me that Kornheiser will be another failed Danny Boy Snyder investment. (7/27/09) His royal smugness here. I enjoyed Tammy Bruce saturday show actually. I even listened to an hour last weekend and heard no mention she was discontinuing her weekend show. I wish oh lil' danny boy would put her weekday show on 570 am , she's way better than robotic Monica Crowley. And yes I do find Leo LaPorte far more informative and also entertaining regarding computer info. And I think Mr. Batchelor is a fine addtion to Saturday night. I only wish WMAL would run his entire 5 hour show on Sunday nights instead of the tiresome drum beater Bill Cunningham. and speaking as a his royal smugness I find Dave Ramsey a popmpous arse. Heard Steve Czaban blipped for first time on lil' danny's station last friday. The Sport's Reporter's were talking about the Albert haynesworth plantation in Tenn. and how Mr. Haynesworth had knocked down 27 trees on the property and Czaban started to make a jioke as to why lil' danny liked Haynesworth cause he got rid of all them pesky trees you know like lil' danny got rid of the trees on his estate overlooking the Potomac. Only as soon as Czabe emtnion lil' danny and trees it got blipped out Does WPFW have another new general manager from last year. Is Mass for Shut ins now pernmanently on channel 50 instead of channel 32 whut? And how does Lisa de Mores keep her job at WaPo? Each weak more announcements of another section biting the dust and yet the worthless column of deMoras continues. Is she related to someone in management or owenership? (7/27/09) Dave's response: I like Lisa's column, but it belongs in a TV trade pub/website and not in a local newspaper. Shit, what's done here on DCRTV is what the Post should be doing - local radio and TV news. But, what do I know? Ha ha ha..... Liberal former newsman on the Mike O'Meara show; Buzz Burbank, is now writing a column/blog for the Liberal e-rag the Huffington Post. His first can be found at www.huffingtonpost.com (7/27/09) Has Channel 7 pulled the plug on Doug Hill's Weather Now, with WTOP audio? At 7:45 this evening, 7.2 was running Stormwatch Live Super Doppler radar full screen and no WTOP. Just silence. Like what 9 runs on its 9.2, with full-screen Live Doppler 9000 HD. (7/27/09) "Congratulations to Laura Ingraham, who just came back from Eastern Europe after adopting a baby boy named Dimitri. I didn't clearly hear the country she had visited last week, but the baby also as a big sister named Maria, whom Ingraham adopted from Guatemala about 2 years ago." Adoption is a wonderful gift to a child, but for heaven's sake, there are thousands of children in the UNITED STATES just begging to be adopted. And to those who wish to argue that it is so much more time consuming and costly to adopt here than in foreign countries, I can tell you that those who have adopted children in the U.S. have found the wait and cost well worth it. And neither money nor time should ever be the deciding factor. (7/27/09) Hey, can you find out what's the deal with WTMD being out? Sucks that it was static on the way home... (7/27/09) Dave's response: 89.7's usually static down here in Reston. Anybody know what's up with WTMD? Heavy storms in the Ocean City area couldn't keep the folks away from the Memorial Service held today for Captain Jim at Shorebird Stadium in Salisbury. Great to see a lot of the former employees, dj's and members of the Hitman & Company Morning show on 99.9/100KHI and The-X (106.9) back in the 80's & 90's. Always a pleasure to see my man Brian K. Hall who is still doing that morning thing at Cat Country. There was a lot of love in the room today and I'm glad we all had a chance to get together and say goodbye to a real good man and he will be missed not only by radio and the shorebirds and the racetrack but by the folks that he cared most about, his family and his friends from the Eastern Shore. Captain I salute you. RIP. J. J. Hitman McKay - Ocean City, Maryland (7/27/09) If San Francisco's KGO can have a diversity of talent why can't WMAL. www.kgoam810.com... They are both owned by Citadel. In San Francisco they have 2 talk stations KGO wins the San Fran market with a diversity of talent. John T. Henneman (7/27/09) Looks like another area VHF DTV station is having reception problems. WWBT 12 in Richmond has filed for a major power increase claiming they've received 10,000 complaints of people no longer being able to receive the station anymore. fjallfoss.fcc.gov (7/27/09) The Mayflower vans that were used by the drunk to steal the Colts came from the Alexandria VA franchise. ALL Baltimore movers declined and Colts staffers were directed to find someone, anyone to move the team that night. The Washington Post Magazine had a long analysis of that night and an in-depth interview with the sales rep who made the quote and engineered the theft, about four or five years ago. (7/27/09) Silvie: I listened to Laura Ingraham and am almost certain she said her new baby is from Russia. She mentioned that the news would be on her home page, but I didn't bother checking until just now. I didn't see any blaring headlines about the adoption (maybe I overlooked something), but I noticed that she had tweeted about the adoption. Photo of Dmitri included! Christian twitpic.com (7/27/09) With regards to Liberty University's 89.7 annoyance in Woodbridge. I contacted Steve Yasko by email when that RF Pollution went on the air. He said he would have their FCC Lawyer check into it. Never heard anything more. I was probably the only one to complain. Maybe you could contact him and let him know there are others. I can still pick up WTMD thanks to my directional antenna but there is definitely more noise on the signal and at times it is to noisy to listen to. This was not the case before Liberty University started to mine money in Northern VA. There are places in Montgomery County where this translator causes interference to WTMD. It is only 8 watts but it is almost 300 ft above ground. Bob Fairfax (7/27/09) More deck chair arranging at the SS Post: Post is going to eliminate the standalone Extras and make them part of a new Thursday section that apparently will absorb some other special section material. The unnamed editor will report to Emilio. (7/27/09) If Rush Limbaugh IS gay, I think he should be encouraged to "come out". Self awareness and honesty help build character. Of course, all his minions and dittoheads would freak out over it, but in the long run, it would ultimately be a positive thing for all concerned. (7/27/09) Does anyone else think the Kushner guy on Saturday and Sunday sounds like El Jefe? (7/27/09) Do I hear WMAL on Mix 107.3 HD-2? I thought I did about four weeks ago. Did I imagine it? -Chainsman (7/27/09) From the unofficial website for TK (thiswebsitestinks.com) "Mr. Tony is returning to the radio airwaves, according to Message Boarder Jim Zinzi, who was able to confirm with TK himself on the beach during his vacation. TK said he will be on WTEM, ESPN 980 (Or SportsTalk 980) starting Tuesday, September 8th. No word if he'll be on Sirius/XM or even what time the show will be on." Jamie (7/27/09) (Dave's response: Interesting to hear Mike Wise's comments today about how surprised he was at how much "work" doing a radio talk show was, after his first week on 106.7. He said he thought all he'd have to do is do a casual conversation for a few hours.....) Everything I've ever seen from Wise has been half ass, his Post work, Comcast SportsNet work and even when I've heard him on other radio shows. He's one reason I stopped reading the Post Sports section. And the reason I'll never listen to WJFK when he's on the air. That comment confirms why he sucks. (7/27/09) 1) Dave, your description of Rush Limbaugh's blue wig and so-called "p*ssy" conjures images in my mind of Michael Caine's character in "Dressed to Kill". 2) Congratulations to Laura Ingraham, who just came back from Eastern Europe after adopting a baby boy named Dimitri. I didn't clearly hear the country she had visited last week, but the baby also as a big sister named Maria, whom Ingraham adopted from Guatemala about 2 years ago. Best to all, -Silvie- (7/27/09) Nan Billingsley Hurt, 90, of Lexington Park, MD died July 20, 2009. Nan Hurt was raised and educated in Fredericksburg, Va. During the years leading up to WW2, she was a writer for the Free Lance Star in Fredericksburg as well as "Miss Fredericksburg". In the 1940's she was a radio announcer at WFVA in Fredericksburg and WINX in Washington DC. (7/27/09) TK coming back to radio? Can't say I'm surprised to see Danny Boy opening up his wallet to sign a free-agent now that we have another sports-talk option in town. I liked Tony's show, but would rather see him do a show from 8:00-10:00 and leave Cowherd's show alone. Tony spends much too much time talking about his own idiosyncrasies/quirks/ADD/neurotic experiences that it ends up being less about sports and more about him, which in tern feeds his own self-hating ego. Cowherd talks sports and strikes a good balance between journalism and entertainment without being too self-absorbed. Now that football season is upon us, it's NO-CONTEST to say that Cowherd covers football better than Tony could or ever did. Tony will never talk college football unless he has to. I don't think anyone will miss the last 2 hours of Mike and Mike. If TK goes head to head with Cowherd, I'll definitely catch the Herd on the web...Sergio (7/27/09) If Mr. Tony's really coming back to WTEM -- and it's really going to be Andy Polley and Nigel and Tracee "Baby Jayhawk" Hamilton and Jeannie "Bird Lady" McManus -- I'm a very happy guy. You can criticize Mr. Tony all you want, and Lord knows a lot of the criticism is justified ("DIVA? MOI?"), but that show made me laugh more on an average day than a week of late-period D&M, and the best MONTH the MO'MS ever had. American Idol? Snack-down? Long Island geography? BRING IT ON! Sincerely, TMU (7/27/09) Passing this along... Multimedia Specialist, The Chesapeake Bay Program, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Annapolis, Maryland... Can you use a video camera and produce short segments to educate and engage people? Have you produced podcasts and managed audio files? Are you familiar with pushing multimedia content out through online sites such as YouTube, Flickr and Facebook? Do you have graphic design skills? If so, the Chesapeake Bay Program is hiring a Multimedia Specialist to produce and manage a variety of content. Candidates should have one to two years of experience in video and podcast production, online content distribution and graphic design. The ability to use cameras, microphones and programs such as iMovie, Final Cut, GarageBand and Photoshop is preferred. Applicants should be highly organized, exceptionally creative, savvy with technology and self-motivated, as well as have a strong interest in environmental issues. This is a great opportunity for recent college graduates who have hands-on experience working with multimedia hardware and software. The Chesapeake Bay Program is a federal-state partnership that works to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay and the thousands of streams, creeks and rivers in the watershed. For more information about the partnership, visit www.chesapeakebay.net. The Communications Office is administered by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Multimedia Specialist will work in Annapolis, Maryland at the Chesapeake Bay Program Office, which is located on the water and near the historic downtown area. The position pays $36,215 and includes a competitive benefits package. Please email a resume, work samples and salary requirements to Travis at tloop@chesapeakebay.net by Friday, August 7. (7/27/09) His fan boy site reports a direct contact "on the beach" with Kornheiser in which he confirms that he is WTEM bound as of 9/8... Jim Haug, Williston VT (7/27/09) If Pete Medhurst is now on WJFK on Saturdays does that mean the end of his affiliation with radio broadcasts of Naval Academy athletics? Say it ain't so. Tom in Wheaton (7/27/09) Paul is right. The Mayflower vans used to move the Colts came from the national HQ in Indiana. The Baltimore franchise had nothing to do with it. That, of course, didn't stop me from rolling down my window and booing every one I saw on the street for about ten years after the move. Howie (7/27/09) Dan Mason did some time at KIRL in St. Charles, Missouri in the 70s? (7/27/09) Have you ever tuned into a sportstalk show where the host seems enthusiastic, but the guest is lackluster, low voice, seemingly uninterested in the whole thing, waiting to go home? Yeah, I heard that show today, but here's the thing: the enthusiastic one was sidekick Bill Rohland, and the gloomy one was Mike Wise. Man, someone get that guy a Red Bull or something! You could swap Wise with Ira Glass and the show's intensity would immediately increase x100. I turned it off 10 min into the show because I want my radio to entertain me, not bore me. (7/27/09) Dave's response: Interesting to hear Mike Wise's comments today about how surprised he was at how much "work" doing a radio talk show was, after his first week on 106.7. He said he thought all he'd have to do is do a casual conversation for a few hours..... Dave, The TK thing is very interesting. The only time he could be on ESPN 980 is sometime between 8am and 11am. That would put him head to head with Mike Wise which may or may not make him happy. I would love to see it because he remains one of DC’s most bankable personalities. My guess would be Tony may only want to do a two hour show with Andy P. his long time partner. The show likely would be on from 10am till noon so he would be out in time to do PTI. I really get a kick out of these people that think TK got bounced from Monday Night Football and for some reason is being in the ESPN dog house. I know both John Skipper and Norby Williamson the two main men at ESPN and they both told me that “if we could have kept Mike, Jaws and Tony together for 20 years we would have.” The man has a terrible fear of flying one that effected him on a weekly basis and that is why HE MADE the choice not to come back to MNF. While TK was on the show they set 10 plus records for the highest cable ratings in history. Would have the show done as well? I am sure but he had high positive ratings and some negative’s. In short exactly what ESPN wanted. Hiring Chucky the former TB head coach will make the hard core fans happy but was a mistake in my mind because it will be all about football and nothing different from other shows. As for TK he remains one of ESPN’s highest paid personalities and PTI is one of the network’s most watched shows in the US and Canada. As a matter of fact you will be seeing more TK on a number of specials that the network has scheduled to use him in. His partner Michael Wilbon is also high on the networks list of must keep talent. So those who think that TK was bounced from MNF is just wishing he was gone. He will be on ESPN taking down the large cash for as long as HE wants and as someone who worked with many of the network’s top suits I would know if he was fired and I can tell you once and for all --- It did not happen. TK does not me to have his back – but sometime reality has to come into the picture. Cheers, JW (7/27/09) Roddy Freeman- "WBAL was located ... same building as the notorious Mayflower Movers." Are you referring to the Colts move to Indianapolis? This happened before I moved to Baltimore, but I think the Baltimore Mayflower franchise (at the location you mention) declined to move the team or were never asked to. I think the moving trucks came all the way from Indiana. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. -Paul R. (7/27/09) pretty underwhelming first week for WJFK the FAN. Wise is boring and slooowww to make a useful point and Dukes and Lavar say a lot of nothing. and when they try to make a point, they show dumb they are. here is an excerpt from their Friday afternoon show: Trying to make the point that you should be a fan of the home town team, Dukes tells a woman caller from Washington, who said growing up she didn't have a baseball team to root for, that she should have been a baltimore fan...if not baltimore, then Atlanta, the next closest city to DC. After another minute or so of useless talk by Dukes, Lavar asks, "so Dukes, you are saying that she should be an Atlanta fan because it is the next closest city 'demographically'"? besides butchering the English language, neither host passed 5th grade geography since Philly, NY, and Pittsburgh are all closer baseball cities. that segment was just one example of how WJFK isn't providing compelling, informative "talk" radio...two ingredients to the recipe for successful talk radio. good luck boys. (7/27/09) New NBC head of Entertainment: nbcuni.com (7/27/09) Dave's response: I'll forward it to Lisa de Moraes so that she can give us 45 paragraphs on it tomorrow in her WaPo column..... Howie Kurtz states the obvious that there cannot be "another Walter Cronkite." Last night on the Discovery Channel I watched a few chapters of an 8-part series they did with Cronkite in 1997, where he reflected on his newsgathering over the years. Great storytelling -- and that's what's missing from contemporary news coverage. Cronkite himself expressed regret and concern about the decline in meaningful coverage by the media and those we cover. He cited, in a before-and-after comparison, the first televised political convention in 1952, versus the "show" the parties put on 40 years later. He also gravely pointed out that for the archives we have only the U.S. government's portrayal of the 1991 American military action in the Persian Gulf, because independent coverage was blocked. (7/27/09) Will these four new PPM designs to make the electronic devices more desirable to carry? See them at www.alltheexcess.com. (7/27/09) Good morning, I hope you don't mind if until I have news about the future of The Q&A Cafe I continue to send you my weekly column on New York Social Diary. Today I remember my former boss and dear friend, "Old Iron Pants," Walter Cronkite. www.nysocialdiary.com... All best, Carol Joynt... PS- Please bookmark my new site: www.caroljoynt.com (7/27/09) (“Why would the fan talk about the Capitals? The Redskins are currently the only sports team that the DC area really cares about, the Nationals are currently having one of the worst seasons in baseball history and are fun to laugh at, and the Wizards are going to be broadcast on 106.7. These are the reasons all of the teams have been talked about, also people don't care about hockey and the NHL season is months away”...) Umm, maybe because they are the best team in the DC area and unlike all the other teams, made the playoffs in their last season. Also, hockey season starts less than one month after the first Redskins game, it really isn’t as far off as you made it seem. They couldn’t even bother to do 1 Capitals interview, that is pretty darn sad. (7/27/09) [Aside from that, I think that Michelle Malkin & Mary Matalin are also two others that I'd like to see on the radio at some point.] Well that pretty much says it all. Shawn in DC (7/27/09) Dave's response: While I usually disagree with Matalin, I like her and she'd be an excellent addition to MAL. As for Malkin, I'm with Chris Matthews on her. Loved that blow up on "Hardball" a while back..... Ah Rush Limbaugh..kind of curious but has anyone noticed lately at how the tabolids like "The Globe", "National Examiner", and of course the "National Enquier" are doing just about everything they can to OUT Rush? Just last week I noticed that the National Examiner had their annual "Who is Gay..Who is not" lists blasted on their front page..and right there under the word "gay" was Rush Limbaugh. The Globe did the exact same thing some months back too. Also for some reason the taboilds are doing the exact same thig with Oprah too with such headlines like "..Oprah and Gayle....just like LOVERS?". Then again recently I saw The National Enquier's Mike Walker ( remember when he had his own show on WWRC some years back?) on some TV show and he was getting bashed all over the place about how his paper The National Enquier keeps bring up Larry Sinclar and his "book" about how Sinclair and President Obama were "gay lovers" at one time several years ago and how they had done drugs together and of course, sex. Of courseit needs to be noted that Larry Sinclair had failed multiple lie detector tests about him and Obama to the point where his own family has called him " a total liar" plus there is the issue where Sinclair had spent a number of years in various mental hospitals. Oh course Walker points out its not the Enquier who does stuff about Sinclair but "..its the GLOBE !!!". Even there I am still surprised though someobdy did try to tell me that Rush had actually interviewed Larry Sinclar last year about this. Even for Rush Limbaugh, I find that hard to believe since Sinclar's people tried to get him on CNN and FOX News but..no takers so the only "TV" Sinclar could get was a clip ( filmed at a Motel 6 BTW ) was a video on You Tube. But going back to Rush and Oprah, I just don't get the taboilds "obsession" in their efforts at trying to out either one of them, as if the public would really care anyway. (7/27/09) ("According to that CBS Radio memo on the launch of 106.7 The Fan, its first week of programming featured five Redskins related interviews as well as two each involving the Wizards and Nationals. What’s glaringly missing was anything involving the Capitals - I know it’s not exactly hockey season but football hasn’t started either and basketball’s even further away...") Why would the fan talk about the Capitals? The Redskins are currently the only sports team that the DC area really cares about, the Nationals are currently having one of the worst seasons in baseball history and are fun to laugh at, and the Wizards are going to be broadcast on 106.7. These are the reasons all of the teams have been talked about, also people don't care about hockey and the NHL season is months away. (7/27/09) Watching the two sports stations battle it out is a kin to watching the two weakest kids in the schoolyard slug it out. Nobody in the school would watch the weak kids fight and nobody will listen to these anemic programming efforts. (7/27/09) Dave's response: Ha ha ha. Who will win the battle for 18th place in the DC radio ratings - WTEM or WJFK? Will either knock WMAL out of 16th? Stay tuned..... ("Uh, is anyone else receiving a godaddy.com page when trying to access 1067thefandc.com?") I was looking at something on cbssports.com and saw this banner pop up at the top of the screen...wonder if they are trying to aquire 1067thefan.com from the station in Nashville, based on the URL in the banner...? Chris (7/27/09) The addition of Times columnist Thom Loverro to Kevin Sheehan’s show on WTEM is definitely a plus - Loverro’s been a frequent guest on Sports Reporters for a number of years and his takes on the Nationals and baseball in general are almost invariably on the mark. As far as Tony Kornheiser’s concerned, I think his last three radio incarnations (at the pre-Snyder WTEM, Post Radio and 3WT) have included a replay of the show immediately following the live two hour broadcast. Maybe that’ll happen again and the entire 8 AM to noon timeslot on ESPN 980 will be given over to the wit and wisdom of Mr. Tony. By opting for his old stomping ground over its new rival, Kornheiser can reunite that 'old gang of mine' - Andy Pollin back in the sidekick chair with Marc Sterne producing the show and perhaps bringing his Nigel bit out of mothballs. According to that CBS Radio memo on the launch of 106.7 The Fan, its first week of programming featured five Redskins related interviews as well as two each involving the Wizards and Nationals. What’s glaringly missing was anything involving the Capitals - I know it’s not exactly hockey season but football hasn’t started either and basketball’s even further away. With the Caps being the team that’s created by far the most excitement in the DC area over the past two years, you’d think the station would have made a point of booking either their owner, general manager, head coach or superstar player during its debut week as a 24 hour sports talker. Maybe WJFK’s management is just like WTEM’s - stuck in outdated thinking regarding hockey’s place on the local sports radar. Mike, Fairfax (7/27/09) Dave, about the "Women of WMAL" -- yes, it's sad that Tammy Bruce is no longer on-air on Saturdays, but she's got the #1 live streaming radio show in the country during weekdays (even beating Rush's streaming audience, according to www.talkstreamlive.com) and that's good enough for her fans. I also want to add that Mika Brzezinski is actually a 'force within a force' (although I don't agree with her most of the time) and she could actually kick Joe to the curb and start her own radio thing. No disrespect to Joe, but he impedes her from expressing herself and making her point, as he runs his mouth constantly over her when she tries to make a comment. She's a smart lady with great analysis. I even told her a few weeks ago that she should start her own show with none other than -- Sarah Palin. Laugh all you want, but I think these two ladies would be great to listen to on a daily basis. Aside from that, I think that Michelle Malkin & Mary Matalin are also two others that I'd like to see on the radio at some point. -Silvie- (7/27/09) Dave's response: Regarding women on 630, with all the stories about his "pussy" on his show, Rush Limbaugh is quickly becoming the "Mrs. Slocum" of WMAL. That's an "Are You Being Served?" Britcom reference in case you don't know. I hear Rush sometimes even does his show in a blue wig..... /\ July 27 Messages /\ \/ July 26 Messages \/ Uh, is anyone else receiving a godaddy.com page when trying to access 1067thefandc.com? The interesting thing is when I go to wjfk.com I'm able to get the Fan's website. Have they decided to go with a new website? (7/26/09) Dave's response: Yeah, I get the Go Daddy page when trying to access 1067thefandc.com at 9:15 PM..... Sometimes you people are just too smug & quick to criticise. Did you ever think that Tammy Bruce is gone from her Saturday evening shift at WMAL because she stopped doing a Saturday edition of her show? That's exactly what happened. Leo Laporte's Tech Guy show is actually more informative & entertaining than Kim Kommando, and Batchelor is just down right fascinating with the topics he covers. Now can you liberal jackholes climb down off the soapbox just because WMAL doesn't pander to the "quota" system 24/7¿Geeeeesh. (7/26/09) Dave's response: Not asking for "quotas," but the occasional female or black voice on MAL might be nice now and then..... Maybe WUSA can just bag the Bloomberg-style morning news during the week (ticker overload) and air even more infomercials in that time slot. Sorry to see Tony go, but his gas bill just went way down! (7/26/09) I'm sure I speak for many when I wish Jeff Beauchamp all the best as he leaves WBAL. At 58, he has many more years to contribute to the industry he loves passionately. I had the pleasure of working for Jeff some 35 years ago at WBJC, with the likes of Leonard Roberts and the late Ken Manelis. When Jeff became our news director, he gave up his weekend gig at WCBM and was nice enough to recommend me to replace him. I didn't get the job. In fact, it was the first of three times I would be turned down by 'CBM. Almost gave me a complex. Although our time together was brief, I'm proud of the fact that I once worked with/for Jeff Beauchamp. Gary Helton, WHFC (7/26/09) Dave - - any word on the time slot Tony will be located in when he returns to DC radio in September? (7/26/09) Dave's response: No word, but I'd guess it'll be something like 9 AM to 11 AM, in order to get out of there to do his afternoon "PTI" duties..... If a translator is on a non-commercial frequency it does not have to take programming off the air so Liberty is ok on its translators that are in the non-commercial band (if they are in the commercial band then they have to get the signal off the air). However if the 89.7 is interfering with reception of WTMD (even if it is outside their protected contour area) and you used to be able to pick up WTMD then work with WTMD to get the translator knocked off the air with the FCC. It can and has been done. From: www.fcc.gov... Signal Delivery. Non-fill-in translators relaying commercial FM stations must receive the signal off-the-air, unless a waiver has been granted to feed a "white area" translator by other terrestrial means. A showing of the "white area" must be presented in the application requesting waiver of the signal delivery requirement. Noncommercial educational non-fill-in translators operating on Channels 201 through 220 which are owned by the licensee of the primary noncommercial educational FM translator station may use alternate means to receive the primary FM station's signal. Non-fill-in noncommercial educational translators on Channels 221 through 300 are prohibited from any alternative methods of signal delivery, including programming feeds by satellite. See 47 CFR Section 74.1231(b). (7/26/09) Dave's response: I used to be able to kinda hear WTMD here in Reston and now can only get religion on the 89.7 frequency. Maybe I should complain. Hmmm..... RE:" WTOP needs to find a replacement for that buffoon who does the weather on weekends, "Ron Riley" this guy is totally clueless if he is actually a "meteriologist" (fat laff) then he must've got his diploma from a matchbook cover." According to DCRTV Dave, in past mailbags, this is the "great" Ron Riley, former News Channel 8 Weather Guy. It seems Ron retired a while ago, but I guess he's back. (7/26/09) The previous post is true... Liberty University (aka Jerry Falwell et al) is doing the same FCC deal in Virginia as the church in NJ is in Maryland. I would bet that Liberty U is also not abiding by FCC regs that the translator must be able to pick up the signal locally to translate it on another frequency. I recommend anyone who hears this kind of FM "INTERFERENCE" REPORT it to the FCC ASAP! These stations are basically FCC sanctioned PIRATE RADIO! It's JUST PLAIN CRAZY that this was ever allowed in the first place! -- Joe in Essex (7/26/09) Still more bad press for Dan Synder? - Why Is Six Flags Targeting Kids with a Creepy Old Guy? - www.time.com (7/26/09) Dave's response: I still think he looks like "Uncle Junior" from "The Sopranos"..... Is La Martucci taken over the duties of the now departed Tony Pann? I had feeling that La Martucci was leaving channel 9 after the change in the mornings, especially with her forthcoming marriage. Speaking of front desk receptionist at radio stations, hasn't Miss Collette been at WJFK forever. Oh the stories she could tell huh? Does Fox 5 news have someone on staff who specializes in the music used during the "newscasts"? And has John Batchelor been added too late night Saturdays on Wmal 630 and Leo LaPorte moved up to just after Bob Brinker. I sort of liked Tammy Bruce. (7/26/09) Dave's response: Even though she wasn't local, wasn't Tammy Bruce the only woman to have her own show WMAL? Even if it was just a weekend "throw-away" slot. OK, I'm not counting Joe Scarborough's female sidekick, Ms. Brezzinnskkizznnikkki. Sometimes you just gotta think that WMAL is just so fucking out of touch with the DC market..... Enjoyed reading Brenda Bissett's post on WPOC and WCAO; I kept my ear on both of those stations..and have fond memories of WPOC in the early 80s! But I also have good memories of hearing WPOC in it's earlier days, just after they came on the air in 1974;Tom Cheche was doing news..even then as I recall! Other people I remember from that era are Pete Porter, Bill Fox; seems to me they had a guy named Bob Walker..I seem to remember that the airshifts were kind of strange back then! For instance (could be wrong but)..seems like Bob Walker's shift started at 4 P.M. and ended at either eight or nine..but I may be incorrect on that one! I will admit, however..I didn't care for the idea of WPOC playing "pop" songs..a practice that was started when Larry Clark was the PD; they played songs that (in my opinion)..had nothing at all to do with country music)..but then..nowadays, most of "mainstream country radio" plays artists who (again..in my opinion)..have nothing to do with country music! Aw..but that's a whole other topic for another time! It was a sad day when WCAO dumped it's "country" format for sure! Tom In Denton, MD. (7/26/09) Dave: Heard you anything of late about Robert "Mr. Nasty" Novak? I would have thought that, considering his announcement of his "dire" condition a year ago, that his time would have been measured in days or weeks. Maybe his condition wasn't as dire as he announced. A little hyperbole goes a long way in journalism. (7/26/09) Dave's response: No, I haven't heard any new news about Mr. Novak's condition. Although I did see his sister, Kim Novak, in an old movie on TCM this afternoon. Ha ha ha..... Speaking of FM Translators gone amuck WRVL Liberty University (Jerry Falwell Jr.) in Lynchburg, VA fits the bill. www.radio-locator.com... Can anyone check to see if all of these are legal. The one licensed to Woodbridge VA on 89.7 is causing interference to WTMD from Baltimore. I think there is another on top of Bull Run Mountain that is not listed. Bob Fairfax (7/26/09) By FCC rules, those Hope Christian Church of Marlton NJ translators MUST be translating a signal they can receive locally over the air. Obviously WVBV 90.5 is not receivable in the Baltimore region and I find it hard to believe that those translators are abiding by FCC regulations and will be investigating this seriously to file FCC complaints. I don't even think that Hope FM even got final approval for some of their translators that would link the network to NJ legally. They would need 2 signals to complete the network... www.recnet.com and www.recnet.com... The FCC is limiting translator ownership to 10 maximum and The Hope Christian Church of Marlton, NJ has clearly violated this rule according to Recnet.com, By violating FCC rules so blatantly, Hope FM's WVBV 90.5 should have its license revoked! And lets face it, no one in Baltimore wants to listen to a NEW JERSEY RADIO STATION! This is the kind of craziness you get when you let lawyers and lobbyists and religious nutjobs run amuck at the FCC! President Obama where is my FCC change ? I'm still waiting......... -- Joe in Essex PS: Nope, Thank God you cannot get either of those translators in Essex! There IS A GOD! :-) (7/26/09) Dave said: "DC TVers should just stop watching NBC4's news until it gets its HD shit together". Which is why I'm a FOX5 chick (although I enjoy Wendy Rieger's style). Speaking of NBC4 - and this might've been answered already - where is Doreen Gentzler? She's been gone for a very long time. -Silvie- (7/26/09) Dave's response: Doreen is taking the summer off to deal with family matters..... Dave, The Hope FM network, a rebroadcast of suburban Philly's WVBV-FM 90.5 in Medford Lakes, NJ is now in Baltimore on a transaltor at 97.5 and one at 104.9 somwhere north of Baltimore, but also receivable in the city. 97.5 is centrally located with a very strong signal over the entire city and most areas inside the beltway. ...Sam (7/26/09) Dave's response: Gee, I hope Joe in Essex can pick it up! 1) Watching this morning's Today Show on NBC, they showed a photo of Microsoft's Bill Gates when talking about Harvard professor Henry Gates. 2) 102.7 FM has been having mixed signals or something like that in the past two days. Example: I was listening this morning to Van Halen's "Panama", and Petula Clark's "Downtown" was coming in & out. Somebody get this fixed, por favor.... -Silvie- (7/26/09) Dave's response: Speaking of NBC, do you think they could start producing "Meet The Press" in HD? Sheesh! And what's with NBC? They put local HD news on their Hartford, Connecticut, station, but not yet here in DC?!?! DC TVers should just stop watching NBC4's news until it gets its HD shit together..... So a Kornheiser is going to WTEM fresh from what appears to be a humiliating dumping by ESPN and after a less than successful run on what was then Washington Post radio? I believe that Danny Boy Snyder will find, much to his chagrin, that Kornheiser has jumped the shark and is old news. (7/26/09) Asking a DJ at a remote if a station is going to change format is like asking an auto worker if the plant is going to close tomorrow. That DJ will be the very last to know and the very first to go. The public tends to think that DJs are somehow high up in the corporate structure,,,but nothing could be further from reality. As a veteran of many format changes, I can tell you that often the way a jock finds out the station changed format is he or she is met in the lobby and ushered to the conference room,,,if he/she is lucky,,,once everyone is in the conference room, it is then that a new jock, a staffer, maybe the CE or PD starts the new format while the air staff is sequestered...or they dont even get past the lobby but rather are shown the door and hear the new format in the elevator on the way out. I know of one format change that happened while most of the air and sales staff was at a company picnic,,,how convinent to have them away from radios or telephones. I once stepped off the elevator to find the entire station, except for the sales support folks, heading toward the elevator. Sometimes the jock will get asked to play a CD with no label at the top of the hour,,,just after they hit the CD, that's when the GM, PD or whomever comes in and hands the jock their last check. Format changes tend to involve five people at most, and never the air staff. That was the funniest post I have read in a long time. (7/26/09) Dave's response: It's like someone telling me that the WJFK receptionist says that the station isn't going sports talk. Very often, folks working at a station are the last to know about a format flip..... Dave, FMQB is a dollar short and a more than a month late with their news about WMRQ in Hartford. First off the DJ's name is spelled FISCH and secondly he and Ryan Smart have been on the station for more than a month already. Furthermore FISCH is KIDD DAVID on WMRQ's Hip-Hop sister station in New London - Jammin 107.7 and their Midday Girl Rebecca is the co-host of the morning show on WMRQ's Soft Rock Sister Station in New London - SOFT ROCK 106.5 WBMQ. Marc (7/26/09) In traveling this weekend, I had a chance to listen to legendary Virginia powerhouse WRVA-AM and was appalled and saddened to hear what was airing. The Glenn Beck playback wasnt so bad, but the 30 to 60 seconds of dead air preceding the start of each hour was amateurish and unprofessional given the heritage of this once great property. Also the weekend newscaster front-sold the wrong show at one point, and greeted listeners at 4pm with "good evening". I was also getting WIBG out of Jersey, playing Saturday oldies -- fun to hear, but audio quality was awful. I'm not quite there yet, but with each day that goes by I am convinced that AM is on its way out. None of the big-leaguers care a fig anymore about quality control. (7/26/09) I attended a remote by 105.9 yesterday and asked the DJ on site about a possible format flip. He gestured a shrug arms up (the I don't know pose) and said "oh, you've heard rumors? Q: haven't heard anything? A: I've seen the rumors, nothing that a, you know, is obvious (Chuckle). -- Charlie/Springfield (7/26/09) Those WABC changes you reported on your NYC page have affected Citadel sister station WMAL AM 630. John Batchelor is now on Sat eve. 10PM-1AM & Sunday eve. 7PM-10PM. Tammy Bruce, who was on Sat eve from 7PM-10PM is out.--Mike from SS. P.S.-- Batchelor's show is quite interesting & informative! (7/26/09) Dave's response: I remember Batchelor from his previous WMAL/WABC show. Does he still play Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" at the end of every show? /\ July 26 Messages /\ \/ July 25 Messages \/ WTOP needs to find a replacement for that buffoon who does the weather on weekends, "Ron Riley" this guy is totally clueless if he is actually a "meteriologist" (fat laff) then he must've got his diploma from a matchbook cover. He'll be babbling some incoherent nonsense like there's an "isolated" chance of rain or storms, while outside there's lightning & thunder & rain all over the place (Arlington, Sat nite), hey bozo try sticking yr head out the window. Even under normal circumstances this clownish individual often sounds dazed & confused, with bizarre rambling & non-sequiters, when attempting to "banter" with the hapless TOP anchor. I'm sure "Ron" is a great guy & all that -- wasn't he a "rock jock" at one time?? -- but he often sounds like he's one toke over the line & totally clueless when attempting to do the weather report. TOP should either get someone more competent, or just have the anchor-person read the weather report off of weather.com or Weather Underground or something.... md, arlington (7/25/09) Hi Dave.... FYI, I have been delivering the Washington Post at night for many years on the side. Turns out that at least in Southern PG (soon to be Charles Co. & other areas) home delivery customers will have to PAY EXTRA for the TV Week!!! Yes, it's true. I currently know a carrier who has about half his Sunday customers pay for the TV Week."It's an absolute nightmare keeping it straight..... The complaints are unbelievable. The Post bean counters have gone too far separating the TV Week from the comics." I serve 480 Sunday papers. I hope the public backlash defeats this senseless act of intended greed to make a few extra pennies from their home delivery subscribers. (7/25/09) Hmmm... I like Nate's thinking about $hitadel. Shows that I've counted too many beans for far too long! How about $hitadel honorably pensioning-off Grandy & Grandpa, and simulcast "Jack Diamond and Company" in AM drive on both WMAL and WRQX? I say that because I'm familiar with Harvey's show prep. He's that good because he's that thorough. And, to inflict a mid-morning talk shift after doing AM drive would be cruelty at best and the first stop on the road to burn-out at worst. If I were making the decision on which Shitadel D.C. FM I'd take talk, it would be 107.3 as it most closely replicates 630's "primary" coverage while I'd do a CHR format of some sort on 105.9. As for 630? I'd either do a sat-fed professional oldies format (Definitely *not* "True Oldies"!) or brokered religion/ethnic. Perhaps a more mature version of "El Zol"? -Unsigned Corporate Suit (7/25/09) You're probably right about Amy Robach succeeding Meredith..To me, Ann Curry is just so solemn and glum..too many times when she interviews people, she looks like and sounds like she's about to cry...Her voice is quite annoying..Kinda like Diane Sawyer, who also looks and sounds like she's going to cry when she does interviews...Just monotone and annoying...As for Shawn Yancey previously up in the traffic helicopter..True or a joke?.. (7/25/09) Dave, Thanks for the info on Tony's return to WTEM. I knew there was a real reason they cut Al Koken and B-Mitch loose. Gotta have money to pave an extra wide runway for the S.S. Kornheiser to dock! (7/25/09) I too was in shock to hear live, local programming this morning and early afternoon on WJFK. Was much better than listening to the national Fox Sports Radio feed. I can’t remember the last time I heard live, local sports talk on a weekend on WTEM (not including the Better Golf with Phil Hawes golf show). Good work WJFK. (7/25/09) (regarding a previous post) "Bill Moyers on PBS last night noted the regrettable coarsening of speech and action in our daily lives, hastened by "entertainers" like Bill O'Reilly" Unfortunately, O'Reilly represents just a small part of the problem. As noted in the segment, the lineup of Michael Savage, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Reagan, Neal Boortz, Bernard Goldberg, Randall Terry and many others, spew their hatred and bile over the public airwaves, unhindered. And, whenever anyone voices a call for rational, moderate dialogue, these radio crazies play to the paranoia of their audience by pulling the "fairness doctrine" card. All along, they feign ignorance or innocence, saying "it's just words". They try to dismiss their program content as "merely entertainment" that has no real effect on the masses. Can anyone honestly believe that the intent of these programs is for listeners to be susceptible to "calls for action" ONLY during the commercials? Here's a link to the segment in question www.pbs.org (7/25/09) Amy Robach is the natural successor to Meridith when she goes belly up [again, skipping right over Dismal Darling Ann Curry]. Also, I saw Laura Evans on Fox5 cracking smiles while that human sludge from TMZ was talking about the possibility of Michael Jackson being given an overdose of drugs. Maybe NOT the best time to be smiling. Stay classy, Fox5. Paul (7/25/09) It's almost as if WBAL 11 knew when Tony Pann's contract with WUSA 9 was gonna come up and let Neil Estano go just in time. Didn't 11 at one time have these 4 meteorologists... Pann, Estano, Tasselmyer, & Collins? The 2 new people WBAL has are not so good although Sandra Shaw had gotten better. Of course, I mean, not compared to Marty Bass, of course, but let's not go there. :-) (7/25/09) What do you know? A live, local, sports show on the weekend. WJFK had such a show this morning. Although I could not understand the name of the host it wasn't bad. (7/25/09) I too am sorry to see Tony Pann leaving Channel 9. I wonder if they’ll replace him – I imagine they will, unless they take Kim or Howard off of weekdays. Whatever they do, I’m sure it will be as cheap as possible. Good for Tony though, as he already lives in the Baltimore area and this move means he won’t be on the weekend shift anymore. Just out of curiosity, it was reported that his contract was not renewed. Is that by his choice or was it Gannett’s decision? It seems like since he already has a new gig lined up that it may have been his choice. Just wondering… Also, I saw a promo yesterday on 9 saying Dr. Oz will air at 3pm. So that squashes the rumors of him replacing their 5pm news. BG (7/25/09) Dave's response: We did confirm several weeks ago that "Dr. Oz" will be airing at 3 PM and that 9 will continue with its 5 PM newscast this fall..... Those people - even in the Citahell building - that say Jack Diamond can't make a seperate talk show work on a WMAL AM/FM simulcast without cannabilizing his Mix 107.3 morning show are missing the point. Clear Channel has done it successfully in two distinct cases. The first example is Rob Schnitt, who as "MJ Kelli" is host of the "MJ Morning Show" on WFLZ-FM in Tampa. In afternoon drive, he turns around under his real name and hosts the syndicated conservatalk "Schnitt Show" based out of sister station WFLA-AM (which started on WIOD-Miami from the Tampa cluster's studios following 9/11; he was soon simulcast on WFLA after Glenn Beck - whose show also started on WFLA - moved from afternoons to his syndicated midday slot.) Also, in Akron, Ohio, morning drive icon/'radio god' Matt Patrick - who is the long-running (for 33+ years!) co-host of WKDD-FM "Waking Crew" from 5a-9a - goes to the WHLO-AM studios next door to host a talk show of his own from 9a-12p. In my opinion, Jack can easily be added to WMAL's schedule. The most obvious spot would be Joe Scarborough's current slot of 10a-12p... sorry, but Joe and Mika are the most expendable commodity. Or, Hannity and Levin could both be scooted to evenings and Jack airs 3p-7p. Either way, the WRQX gig would be unaffected (and likely even cross-promoted), plus this would be a breath of badly needed fresh air for WMAL. - Nate from Cleveland (7/25/09) Bill Moyers on PBS last night noted the regrettable coarsening of speech and action in our daily lives, hastened by "entertainers" like Bill O'Reilly, who repeatedly raised the subject of the Kansas physician who was among the very few practitioners nationwide who agreed to perform late term abortions when medically indicated. O'Reilly claimed the physician would perform an abortion for any reason at all. Then, one day, the physician was murdered while he was acting as an usher at his church during services. Was O'Reilly responsible? "No," he says. He was simply entertaining. Meanwhile, a very angry late middle age man opened fire in another church... Adkisson targeted the church, Still wrote in the document obtained by WBIR-TV, Channel 10, "because of its liberal teachings and his belief that all liberals should be killed because they were ruining the country, and that he felt that the Democrats had tied his country's hands in the war on terror and they had ruined every institution in America with the aid of media outlets." Adkisson told Still that "he could not get to the leaders of the liberal movement that he would then target those that had voted them in to office." Adkisson told officers he left the house unlocked for them because "he expected to be killed during the assault." Inside the house, officers found "Liberalism is a Mental Health Disorder" by radio talk show host Michael Savage, "Let Freedom Ring" by talk show host Sean Hannity, and "The O'Reilly Factor," by television talk show host Bill O'Reilly. The shotgun-wielding suspect in Sunday's mass shooting at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church was motivated by a hatred of "the liberal movement," and he planned to shoot until police shot him, Knoxville Police Chief Sterling P. Owen IV said this morning. Adkisson, 58, of Powell wrote a four-page letter in which he stated his "hatred of the liberal movement," Owen said. "Liberals in general, as well as gays." www.knoxnews.com (7/25/09) If 105.9 changes format, they should flip to sports talk. That would drive Danny off the deep end. (7/25/09) So, do you get the impression that the 'new' WJFK is possibly dislocating their collective shoulders trying to pat themselves on the back for a - their words - great first week. I mean geeze - if they spent as much time making their shows interssting as they do talking about how great each day has gone they would be a powerhouse. I hear a lot of self-conscious crap on that station. (7/25/09) Tropo is very good right now from Baltimore. All of you OTA DTVers do a channel scan and see what you come with. It won't last long so don't hesitate. Bob Fairfax 8:04 AM. (7/25/09) So Dave, surely this Carol Rosenberg story deserves national attention, and has a local angle in that it involves the DOD press office. Forget about the disgusting comments on MediaBistro. What you should be calling out is the silence of the clans. How come the media is not making a big deal about this woman's actions. Have you read the complaint? If they can give attention to Henry Gates, they can certainly give attention to Carol Rosenberg. This woman appears to be the Perez Hilton of the press corps. Call out the NYT, TWP, LAT, CBS, NBC et. al for trying to keep this quiet. This is an excellent example of media bias. (7/25/09) Dave's response: Regardless, she doesn't deserve death and rape threats on a local media website's comment venue. Sadly, a lot of Mediabistro's comment venues, particularly for busy sites like TVNewser, have degenerated into a handful of regular yahoos going back and forth ad nauseum. You'll see that a story has 150 comments and when you check it out, it'll be five or six of the same people back and forth again and again over some usually off-topic thread. I sometimes see that sometimes happening here, and will usually call a halt to it. But I'll never allow a threat of physical violence to be advocated here in DCRTV's Mailbag. I agree that Miami Herald reporter Carol Rosenberg sounds unprofessional and kinda kookie, but we don't get her side of the story in the FBDC piece. Perhaps the erratic FBDC should have waited to get more of the story, at least some comments from the Herald or Rosenberg - someone to give her side of the story, before rushing it out as an "exclusive" and generating the rage of the Drudgies..... Michael Popovec (a.k.a Mike Bradley) Thanks for the love - Hitman (7/25/09) Quote from a $hitadel source in reference to a rumored Jack Diamond morning talk show on 105.9 , "Citadel would be crazy to mess with that," No they wouldn't. It would be the first smart thing they've done around here in ages. In fact, Harvey is very talented and would acquit himself as a competent morning talk host. However, they won't do that for an even smarter reason: It would seriously cannibalize ratings (and thus revenue) from WMAL. $hitadel was smart to keep Harvey under contract. If they lost him to CBS, Bonneville, or even CC, they would find the void tough to fill. And, they know it. Unsigned Corporate Suit (7/25/09) Sorry to see Tony leaving Channel 9. Gannett makes yet another boneheaded move and lets another great DC talent go. I hope this doesn't mean more of Howard Bernstein who always looks like he's about one on-air equipment failure away from going postal during each of his weather forecasts or more of Kim Martucci who has a face only Chester Gould could love. (7/25/09) /\ July 25 Messages /\ \/ July 24 Messages \/ A lot of readers probably know the answer, but the towers at the Park Heights exit of the Beltway belonged to WCAO. In fact, the side street off Park Heights next to the towers used to be Radio Tower Drive. Around 1990, the site was purchased by a developer. By that time, the ground system had seriously eroded. WCAO moved to a site a few miles north off Garrison Forest Road. WCAO's FM, then WXYV and now WQSR, whose antenna was on one of the Park Heights towers, relocated to the WBJC-FM tower at Reisterstown Road and the Beltway. Roddy Freeman (7/24/09) "And I remember those days when she was co-anchoring with Shawn Yancey on FOX5" If I'm not mistaken, she use to fly around in the Fox 5 helicopter doing traffic reports. (7/24/09) This talk about Baltimore TV transmitter sites of the past has me thinking about the four-tower inline DA I used to pass next to the Park Heights Avenue interchange on the Baltimore Beltway 30+ years ago when I was spending my weekends in Leader Heights, PA. Never bothered to get off the Beltway to see whose it was, alas. (I was always in a hurry to get up there! And, since Debbie didn't like the TR-22 under the dash of the Galaxie, she certainly wouldn't have understood my fascination for an AM transmitter site, had I tried visiting it when we weny down there. (She did have other redeeming characteristics, though...!)) The site was on the right side of the Beltway when driving on the inner loop. A few years ago, when I made my first trip to Baltimore in seemingly ages, the towers were gone. Anyone on this board know whose it was? Ahhh yhe things to wax nostalgic about on a sunny afternoon in Southern California! -JFP (7/24/09) Turned on the NBC Evening News and who do I see but Amy Robach in for Brian Williams..Talk about making the big time..And I remember those days when she was co-anchoring with Shawn Yancey on FOX5..Wonder what Shawn thinks of Amy's fame..But then again, to me it appears that Shawn would rather stay local than go national..But who knows.. (7/24/09) Today is a very proud day for me, celebrating five years in radio. I have been very blessed to do what I love and be able to survive recently in a very tough time in the industry. What started with a mini-mix board for my seventh birthday and a love of radio and wanting to be on the air has turned into a career. From reading library announcements over the P/A system in elementary school to being the announcer and DJing baseball games in high school to music radio to sports talk radio back to music radio and having an afternoon show. From remembering hearing Johnny Walker on the old WFBR to Ken Merson on WMIX Mix 106.5 to Steve Rouse, Big Don O'Brien, Brian Wilson, Bob Worthington, Johnny Dark to Don and Mike to Mickey and Amelia. It has been an absolute blast with ups and downs but a ton more ups. I have so much fun and do my best to keep personality in radio. I have been so fortunate to have the creative freedom I would not have gotten in many other places. Being an on-air personality is not being a liner card reader but having fun and being "personable" in all you do even if its reading promos or live reads or PSAs. I take the personality thing seriously. Being upbeat, local, fun, informative and throwing in my wall of sound (thank you Don Geronimo) is my M.O. I want to thank Matt Spence-WCEI for giving me my first radio job, Jeff Farrow for giving me my first full time radio job and a ton of creative freedom, Nestor Aparicio for giving me my own sports show to my current PD Karen for putting up with me lol but helping me to evolve/change/stay fresh. Also thanks to Steve Rouse, Mickey and Amelia for their advice in my new venture with a co-host, Ken Merson for his encouragement and my good radio friend Rob Long-Fox 1370 Sports Radio who has helped keep my voice on in Baltimore on his show from time to time and makes me feel right at home. Thank you all so much! -Michael Popovec (a.k.a Mike Bradley) (7/24/09) Dave's response: Congrats, Mike! Actually looking forward to Lovverro joining Sheehan. Two of the most knowledgeable sports people in town. Sheehan did a very good job solo and am actually suprised that WTEM would pay for another host. Wish they would put Loverro with Sheehan and Czaban. (7/24/09) Hi Dave, Hope all is well. Here is my UMUC commercial which features Johnny Holliday. Hope everything is going well. Steve (7/24/09) Saddened to hear Mr. Loverro might be joining Sheehan in the afternoons on WTEM. I find his appearances on the Sports Reporters quite enjoyable. But joining Sheehan is something I'll have some difficulty listening too. Just don't care for Sheehan's speaking voice and his approach to anchoring a talk show. As for Duh Fan 1067 as expected Wise is his usual pollyanna bleeding heart. All that rationalization just puts me too zzzzzzzzzz. This ain't no sport's talk station dealing with the in's and out's of sport's but the gossipization(?) of sport's yuck! Say did the same cbs dullard who promo's the new fresh 947 write the same jibber jabber for the launch of Duh Fan? Man it seems the steam for the launch didn't last too long no guests of note who weren't affiliated with Duh Fan towards the end of week. and the Joe Smoker discussion on Spork chunkies show this morn, well there you go. Yeah that Joe Gibbs interview was fascinating Holy Cripes! And now DCRTv reports the forthcoming demise of of 1059 with a simulcast of WMAL which I thought DCRTV had reported WMAL was probably coming too an end also. So the death knell is ringing quite loudly for music on the radio ain't it. And what's that hokey campaign being run on several radio stations about the efforts of music companies to get paid for music played over the air? Frankly, I think a dumb move on part of music companies but what else is new in their actions over last 15+ years. But the line in the ad about bringing an end to "new music discovery" is just a ridiculous argument to make by radio these days. Just heard Ms. Brennan on the Sports Reporters. She said Tiger Woods is a good looking guy. Really? And Ms. Brennan also mentioned she has a stalker in Toledo,Ohio but she likes to keep that on the down low. Really, she didn't mention if man or woman. Couldn't be Klinger looking for dress suggestions could it? Will Buzz Burbank's Capitol Critters show still continue early Sunday morns on Duh Fan? Come'on radio sucks and is getting worse. Oh yeah tv too (7/24/09) Here are three facts about Smokey Bear, one of which most people in DC already know: The late Jackson Weaver, of 'Harden & Weaver' fame, was the voice of the fire-fighting bear. But did you know that Smokey's image is protected by Federal law and there's a $150,000 fine for unauthorized use? Also, Smokey Bear is a $1-million-a-year-plus industry. Read all about it in this item from the Los Angeles Times www.latimes.com (7/24/09) Regarding the leaked CBS memo...Hitler had lots of good press and people wanting to talk to him..at first. (7/24/09) CBS's internal self-congratulations aside, the first week of all sports talk on WJFK was unlistenable bullshit. I heard from an awful lot of people who said they switched away from 106.7 and not one who said they liked it. Everybody seems to have given it a chance on Monday and Tuesday; now they're done and they've moved on. CBS flock of crappy stations should have a firm lock on spots 15-21 for the foreseable future. Enjoy the basement, gentlemen -- and enjoy paying the Junkies all that money to lead WJFK down "THEE" toilet. (7/24/09) Dave----Just to set the record straight on Thom Loverro. I used to be a neighbor and collegue of Thom {I was a news/sports videographer at WBAL-TV for over thirty years - recently retired :) }. I've known him to be nothing but honorable and straightforward, both personaly and professionally. The man I know would never compromise his integrity for the few sheckels the Times (or WTEM) might be paying him. Let's wait for him to do some time on the air before we pass judgment. Larry Medoff (7/24/09) DCRTV got its grubby little hands on a memo coming out of CBS Radio's DC HQ in Lanham regarding the launch this week of sports talk on WJFK, 106.7 The Fan: "We got lots of great press, huge listener response, spiking streaming numbers, and terrific debut shows from Lavar Arrington with Chad Dukes and Mike Wise with Bill Rohland. The Sports Junkies also continued to show why they belong in morning drive and even more so on THEE sports station in town! As for those who joined in….take a look at this guest list for week one: Legendary Redskins head Coach Joe Gibbs... Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell... Redskins tight end and 2009 Pro-bowler Chris Cooley... NBA All-Star Shaquille O’Neal... Redskins Defensive End Renaldo Wynn... Redskins running back Ladell Betts... Wizards Head Coach Flip Saunders... World Series of Poker contender and Celebrity Apprentice star Annie Duke... Channel 4 Sports Anchor Lindsay Czarniak... Washington Nationals All-Star 3rd baseman Ryan Zimmerman... Washington Post columnist and ESPN Pardon The Interruption host Michael Wilbon... Washington Wizard star Antawn Jameson... Washington Nationals President Stan Kasten... Hats off to C.K., our producers, and certainly our hosts who weren’t afraid to use their rolodex in securing top name guests to make the debut week on Sportsradio 106.7 The Fan something very special for listeners, advertisers, and staff!" (7/24/09) Conflict of interest? Is that like a traffic reporter working for a company while running their own service? Nah... (7/24/09) (So, how's it work? Dan Snyder's Red Zebra pays the Washington Times for the use of one of its reporters on a WTEM show. Then, the Times pays the reporter for his radio work.) No. The Times has kept it clean. The reporter does it while he is on their payroll. If he is paid anything extra, the Times pays it. No money trades hands between the newspaper and the radio station.. The newspaper in this case is happy to pay the cost because it is great promotion for the Times, which is becoming better-branded every day. That's my read. (7/24/09) On July 22, some poster mentioned Alexandra Steele as the only meteorologist on the Weather Channel who would know anything about this region- did that poster forget Mike Seidel, formerly of OC and a rare poster to the DCRTV mailbag. (7/24/09) (Just wanted to clear something up. I will be getting paid by The Washington Times, not Red Zebra, for the show. Thom Loverro) In that case, it is not only NOT a conflict of interest, this assures there will be ONE independent voice on Dead Zebra. (7/24/09) Dave's response: So, how's it work? Dan Snyder's Red Zebra pays the Washington Times for the use of one of its reporters on a WTEM show. Kind of like a broadcasting deal, right? Or some other kind of "tit-for-tat." Then, the Times pays the reporter for his radio work. So, Loverro remains a Times employee and is not directly paid by Snyder or his radio arm. It still kinda dances around the old "COI." In theory, if Loverro is "too hard" on the Skins, Snyder could simply end the deal with the Times, right? And indirectly "fire" Loverro? Dave, DC 101 moved from Silver Spring to Rockville in Spring 2001..... Can't remember when they moved to Silver Spring though. I'm guessing 1987, but I could be wrong. (7/24/09) I enjoyed Ed Graham’s comments on the PPM coming to Baltimore. High-cuming formats have been doing the best in the PPM, which augers well for Mix 106.5 and its hybrid Hot AC/CHR format. But if WCHH did flip to CHR, it might force Mix to go one way or the other, most likely to strictly Hot AC. At some point, I would not be surprised to see someone change to CHR. Roddy Freeman (7/24/09) Dave....I always enjoy reading your web site....Just wanted to clear something up. I will be getting paid by The Washington Times, not Red Zebra, for the show. Thom Loverro (7/24/09) I can answer the question regarding the original transmitter locations for the Baltimore TV stations. The poster was correct that WBAL-TV transmitted from the tower on Violet Avenue that is now used by WYPR. And the other poster is right that WMAR-TV's antenna was atop the Bank of America building, which was then called the Matheson Building. WJZ-TV had a tower behind its office/studio building on Television Hill. As I recall, WJZ's made the term "Television Hill" part of the Baltimore vocabulary. As far as studio locations, WMAR was indeed in the old Sunpapers building at Baltimore and North Charles, which was torn down for the Charles Center. WBAL was located at 2610 N. Charles Street, in the same building as the notorious Mayflower Movers. The WBAL space was later rented by WCBM before its move to the transmitter. Roddy Freeman (7/24/09) "Good Spring Book for CBS Baltimore. Sports Rules! 105.7 THE FAN is the #1 non-urban male station in Baltimore. Scott and Anita are #1 with men in Afternoon Drive. Lite FM and MIX still dominating in the top 5. I guess there’s not much to write about for all the CBS haters." ----- I am very confident in the opinion that the preceding statement was sent to Dcrtv by "Maynard" the producer of the morning show on Baltimore's CBS sports station. "Maynard" has been known to pick fights (and in my opinion often in a threatening, immature manner) on line with many forum posters and fan-site visitors. Some have been fan site forum posters who were unhappy with "Maynard's" input on the Big O and Dukes Show and here is a link to a nasty online argument he had on a some weapons forum progunprogressive.com. Could Maynard be the person who sometimes contributes to this website that is referred to as a "Baltimore Radio Guru?" Maynard if you are going to spew this unsubstantiated, cherry-picked ratings defense of your employer, at least have the balls to sign your name to your submission! (7/24/09) Gee, Anita Marks really liked that Tim Tebow story as well. Great minds think alike, I guess. Howie (7/24/09) WMAR first transmitted from the Bank of America building in downtown Baltimore. The last time I was in town I could still see the pole on which their batwing antenna was mounted at the top of that building. WJZ first transmitted from a tower in back of the station on top of TV hill. That tower is now located at 4340 Park Height Ave and was used by WMET-TV years ago. WBAL first used the tower that stands just to the west south west of TV hill and I think is used by WYPR-FM today. (7/24/09) re: "...last time I checked an employee of a newspaper that covers a pro sports team going to work for that team (or its owner) is a MAJOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST!...I think the fact that we're talking about a radio station nobody listens to, a newspaper nobody reads and a football team that can't get out of its own way makes this less of an issue than you think. Also, it's sports talk, not actual journalism. Baseball and football teams also hire the guys who cover the actual games; if you're going to start a COI war, that might be the best place to start. Or how about ESPN's practice (mostly gone now) of sponsoring lesser-known sporting events, promoting them on air and then covering the event? Beach volleyball, anyone? (7/24/09) "Or total snoozemeisters like the incredibly dim Byron Kerr on the Nats postgame show." Aren't the radio announcers picked by the team, not by Bonneville? (7/24/09) (Um, last time I checked an employee of a newspaper that covers a pro sports team going to work for that team (or its owner) is a MAJOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST!) If you feel that way, e-mail ombudsman@washpost.com. You will get an answer. (7/24/09) Dave's response: Ah, shouldn't that be sent to the ombudsman of the Washington Times? Oh, wait, it doesn't have one. Times sports columnist Thom Loverro is going to collect a paycheck from Redskins owner Dan Snyder's sports talker. So, he's covering a team that he's collecting a paycheck from. It's one thing for a reporter to do an unpaid guest shot on Snyder's sports talker, but to co-host a show there for dough? Oooookay. I see it as a conflict of interest..... Would you happen to know the dates that DC101 (WWDC) moved from their Connecticut Avenue location in DC to Silver Spring, and more recently from Silver Spring to Rockville? (7/24/09) Dave's response: Anybody know the dates? Good lord, the topic on the Mike Wise show is whether or not Florida QB Tim Tebow is still a virgin. Say what you want about excessive Redskins training camp coverage but right now I would love to hear training camp discussion over this topic. Come on! (7/24/09) For those whose aren't aware, Bob Kerly of Dover, videographer and producer for Comcast Spotlight in Fenwick Island, passed away Monday, July 20th, he was 51. Bob was a dear friend to many in the TV/Radio business on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware. He was a talented addition to our industry and will be greatly missed. He was also an accomplished musician and recording artist who's talents were a major part of the success of the band "Old School". No obituary has been published as of this writing. For those who would like to pay their respects to Bob and his family, a memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 25th at 3pm at Tolbert Funeral Chapel, 61 South Bradford Street in Dover, DE. - Thank you for being a part of our lives Bob, your spirit will live on with us. (7/24/09) There are a lot more fans like Vincent in Triangle than there are particularly knowledgeable sports talk hosts, but of course, there's no longer a premium on intelligence in that community. They're more interested in somnambulent wise asses like the aptly named Mike Wise. Or total snoozemeisters like the incredibly dim Byron Kerr on the Nats postgame show. Is this the best they can come up with? (7/24/09) Putting Lovererro with Sheehan is a good move by WTEM. Lovererro is far and away the most enteraining guest that Pollin and Czaban have on Sports Reporters and is very good on the radio. As for the conflict of interest concerns raised by one poster, that ship has sailed. Lovererro, Wise, Wilbon, Wiseman (when he worked for USA Today) have appeared for years on Sports Reporters and paid for those appearances. (7/24/09) Good Spring Book for CBS Baltimore. Sports Rules! 105.7 THE FAN is the #1 non-urban male station in Baltimore. Scott and Anita are #1 with men in Afternoon Drive. Lite FM and MIX still dominating in the top 5. I guess there’s not much to write about for all the CBS haters. (7/24/09) Thanks Al McGilvray for the WMAR info, that would explain why I don't recognize the building. I'm pretty certain The Baltimore Sun's original downtown building has long since been torn down. All the old newspaper buildings have been gone for decades except for one. Oddly enough, the old Baltimore American newspaper building still stands even though the paper has been gone since the 1960s. I believe the original building burned down during the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 www.lib.umd.edu, but it was rebuilt and amazingly is still there even though all the other newspaper buildings are gone, well except for The Sun's Calvert Street HQ, but that's not an old building. No one seems to know where WMAR, WJZ (then called WAAM), & WBAL transmitted from though in the 1940s. I think WBAL was on TV Hill on the stick now used by WYPR, but the other 2 I have no clue. Anybody know ? (7/24/09) Mike Wise has without a doubt been the worst broadcaster I have ever heard. I don't know what his show is supposed to be about, but it is terrible. Lavar and Dukes are doing well, the Junkies are the Junkies, but 10 to 2 is a disaster. The format flip is fine, but JFK needs to rethink this time slot asap. LC (7/24/09) Re: WMAR's old building - I read Jim McKay's autobio several years ago, and if memory serves me, WMAR began on one of the top floors of the newspaper building. Al McGilvray (7/24/09) Um, last time I checked an employee of a newspaper that covers a pro sports team going to work for that team (or its owner) is a MAJOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST! Oh well, more reason to listen the The Fan and not WTEM. (7/24/09) I'm surprised in a cost cutting enviornment that WTEM would add a Loverro particulary when it was seeming to be a pretty good show with Sheehan on his own. (7/24/09) It will be interesting to see how Baltimore radio reacts to the PPM survey. Actually there has been enough notice for PDs to make the required changes in presentation that are needed to keep their ratings up. I haven't noticed any tactical changes yet. What are you waiting for? You know, the PPMs measure listeners, so it is your job to make them listen longer. The dairy is dead. The tactics for impacting the recording of the dairy won't work now. No more fudging the time, no more 8-10 minute commercial breaks. No more hoping that your listeners are loyal enough to write down long TSL. You will actually have to be compelling enough to have listeners. Don't mean to scare you, but if the PD hasn't made changes yet, he doesn't have a clue. I think the WCBM-WBAL battle will be interesting. Also, the battle of the 37 sports talk stations. FM should easily take that one. Stations listened to at work will have an edge. Stay tuned. Ed Graham (7/24/09) Dave's response: Clear Channel has three FMers in Baltimore, and two of 'em - alt rock WCHH 104.3 and adult hits WQSR 102.7 - are pretty much run with no or very little air staff. The stations are cheap to operate and, with the former climbing in the ratings and the latter doing pretty good already, I don't see CC changing things - at least until we get through good half year of PPMs. Sure, CC could start a Hot 99.5-like contemp hit outlet in Baltimore, but that would cause them a bruising battle with CBS's WWMX, Mix 106.5 (tweaked to Amp 106.5?), which tends to lean in that music direction, anyway..... (The latest rumblings have Citadel putting a talk format on 105.9, possibly a full or part-time simulcast of AM talker WMAL...) That could be a smart move in tough economic times like this. But 105.9 has a very competent PD..... remember how high WBIG ratings were when that was the only station he had to run? But he has had to cope with boneheaded (Citadel) corporate decisions like having to carry Imus and imposing the cookie-cutter Scott Shannon format instead of letting him program the station himself. (7/24/09) Dave, why would 1059 flip to a talk format if they are hurting for cash? Wouldn't another piped in bland music format make more sense? (7/24/09) Dave's response: You're probably right. But we're not talking about creating a new talk format for 105.9, just relaying what's already heard over on AM 630, WMAL. If WMAL wants people below age 45 to listen, it really needs to be on an FMer..... A quick check of FCC records confirms WJZ 13 and WIYY 98 ROCK have the same antenna tower coordinates, so no, WIYY 98 ROCK does not have its own stick and would have to power down or move to an auxiliary transmitter if any work was being done on that part of the candelabra. There are other towers on TV Hill, but none that tall except for the monster FOX 45 / CW 54 / WWMX 106.5 and now WCHH 104.3 tower. I believe the 3rd tallest tower on TV Hill is used by WYPR 88.1 and originally belonged to either WBAL, WMAR, or WJZ, I can't remember which, I seem to think WBAL 11. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. Wasn't there a tower collapse of 1 or 2 Baltimore TV stations' towers or damage during a hurricane or storm in the 1950s that was the initial reason for the construction of the candelabra tower? I'm pretty sure at the time of its construction in 1959, it was the tallest free standing antenna tower on the east coast (not including buildings of course). And according to wikipedia, it was also the first candelabra tower ever constructed in the world. I'm curious if anyone knows where all the original Baltimore TV towers were located in the 1940s though. Obviously, they all started out on some other tower or building. I always suspected that at least one of the then 3 TV stations used the Bank of America building, which would have been the tallest structure in Baltimore in the 1940s (it would have then been called something else though back then). One of WMAR 2's sign-off pictures that they still frequently show overnight, even though they don't actually sign off anymore, shows WMAR studios in an old downtown building of some kind. I've never been able to identify the building though since they show the pic so quickly. Anybody know what building that might be or have more info? (7/24/09) Dave i have a question for you do you think that Clear Channel Baltimore will flip WQSR or WCHH to a CHR/top40 like HOT 995 in D.C only with a more urban slant like a hip-hop/dance/top40 combo format(chuban)? (7/24/09) Dave's response: They're gonna give the alt rock on 104.3 a good half year of the new PPMs, which just started in Baltimore. I wouldn't expect any changes on 104.3 until early next year, at the earliest. Ditto with 102.7..... I'm beginning to wonder if the soap opera genre has become a dying breed. CBS recently announcing its desire to end 'The Guiding Light'... in favor of airing a new daytime game show. I assume the new game show may be half-hour, since there appears to have been talk of CBS considering expanding 'The Bold and the Beautiful' to 1 hour. Out of the blue, The CW comes in to salvage the Daytime Emmy Awards, which ABC, CBS, and NBC showing little or no interest in recognizing daytime TV. Many soap opera viewers are concerned that 'As the World Turns'.... and 'Days of our Lives' could be next. In my opinion, NBC made a huge mistake of ending 'Another World' back in 1999. The CW demonstrated its ability to save the Daytime Emmy Awards, set to air next month (August 30th). I'm also aware that The CW is also picking up 'The Tyra Banks Show'. Hmmm? I'm wondering if The CW could and might be willing to save 'The Guiding Light' too. I'm still not willing to give up on the long-running soap quite yet... a show that I truly believe can be salvaged. I'm praying and hoping that GL is not dead, and that The CW could and might attempt to save this daytime show. (7/24/09) Pirate stations not upgrading to HD. Imagine. www.alltheexcess.com (7/24/09) Regarding Richard Marcus ("Doesn't he still work for WKHZ") Richard hasn't worked for WKHZ in nearly 3 years. You might not be able to hear KHZ in Ocean City, but it sure does sound like a local in Atlantic City... (7/24/09) WIYY has it's own stick but is directly next to the candelabra tower,2-11-13. (7/24/09) /\ July 24 Messages /\ Jump to the Mailbag Archive Index.....