July 2004 to December 2004

Latest items listed first.....

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December 31, 2004
People Of The Year: Walt Starling, Lopez
At the end of each year, DCRTV selects a person of the year. Someone who has deeply affected the local radio-TV community. This year we honor two area broadcast veterans whose courage, optimism, generousity, and good humor has washed over us all. Walt Starling and Lopez. Both men spent the year bravely battling cancer. We have heard countless stories about how Walt, who once flew the traffic plane over DC, came to the aid of others who were infirmed and hospitalized. Over the years, he has stepped in as "family" for area radio and TV people who didn't have their own families around to help out. We can't forget his annual Washington Quarter Century Broadcasters dinner, which reminds us that we are all just one big family. And, we select 98 Rock morning newsman Lopez as co-recipient of this year's award. Facing a frightening future with a biting wit, humor, and self-deprecation, he's taught us that joy and hope are always there as long as we focus our love and compassion on others. The DC and Baltimore broadcasting community should feel proud and honored that we have great folks like Walt Starling and Lopez among us. God bless them both.

December 29, 2004
WBIS To Move To Garrison
Business Radio 1190, WBIS Annapolis, has been granted a major modification from the Federal Communications Commission to to move its city of license from Annapolis to Garrison, which is 11 miles northwest of Baltimore. Also, the station was granted new power levels - directional 5,000-watts by day and directional 7,000 watts at night. Currently, WBIS is licensed to run 10,000-watts directionally during the daytime hours, but has been operating at only 1,000-watts since losing its tower site.

December 29, 2004
Liddy Joins Radio America
G. Gordon Liddy, who was involved the the Watergate affair during the Nixon years, leaves Westwood One as his national radio syndicator. He's jumping to DC-based Radio America. He'll remain in the 10 AM to 1 PM slot. Radio America, with downtown studios, also syndicates Michael Reagan. We assume that Liddy will continue to be heard locally on WTNT and WCBM.

December 29, 2004
Nassau Buys WARX & WARK
Nassau, with radio stations throughout the northeastern USA, is picking up the Hagerstown radio duo of oldies WARX (106.9 FM) and talk/oldies WARK (1490 AM) from Manning. The price was $18 million. Manning has owned the stations since 1982, when they were purchased from Rau. Just recently, Nassau bought Frederick adult contemporary outlet WAFY (103.1 FM). While waiting for Federal Communications Commission approval of the license transfers, Nassau will begin operating all three stations on 1/1 via local marketing agreements.

December 29, 2004
Richard Preston Dies
Richard Preston, who was a newsroom assistant at the Mutual Broadcasting System studios in Crystal City, died on 12/26. He was in his mid-50s and had recently suffered a third stroke. A friend tells DCRTV that he was known to the staff as "Dr. Love" and was reknown for his occasional "energy bombs" that would go off whenever one of the bosses was walking past.

December 28, 2004
Fine Reduced Against WPWC
The Federal Communications Commission has reduced from $22,000 to $14,000 a fine against WPWC (1480 AM) in Dumfries-Triangle. The Spanish station's owner, JMK Communications, contended that it had not violated the Emergency Alert System rules. But the FCC still slammed the station for operating at higher-than-authorized nighttime power levels and for also failing to have up-to-date ownership and community issues-programming data in its public inspection file.

December 28, 2004
Edward Spillett Dies
Edward Spillett, 58, died of complications from diabetes on 12/24 at his home in Germantown. For the past 10 years, he had been a representative of the National Association Of Broadcast Employees And Technicians and the Communications Workers Of America. Spillett had been in the TV news business for almost three decades, and once held the senior news director position at WIXT, the ABC affiliate in Syracuse.

December 21, 2004
Gordon Replaces Smiley At NPR
DC-based National Public Radio hires an African American to replace African American Tavis Smiley. Former BET news anchor Ed Gordon will host an NYC-based show for NPR. The one-hour Monday through Friday show launches in January. According to NPR, Gordon's "News And Notes" will "focus on news, trends, and topical issues of interest and importance to the African American community." No word about carriage in the DC-Baltimore area.

December 21, 2004
Washington Post Buys Slate
The Washington Post has bought internet news magazine Slate from Microsoft. No purchase price was announced in the deal, which keeps Slate's editorial staff intact.

December 21, 2004
Gurvir Signs Contract At 5
Gurvir Dhindsa has signed a contract with Channel 5/WTTG. Katherine Green, news director at Fox 5, told the staff that Dhindsa will continue anchoring the station's early morning newscast, as well as the new Sunday morning news show. Dhindsa left Gannett's Channel 9/WUSA in July, when her contract was not renewed. Since August, she has been working at WTTG as a freelancer, without a contract.

December 21, 2004
Jim Robinson Promoted
Jim Robinson, head of ABC's WRQX and WJZW, has been named president of ABC Radio Networks, reporting to ABC Radio President John Hare. Robinson will oversee ABC News Radio, ESPN Radio, and Radio Disney. He succeeds Traug Keller, who was recently given the reins to ESPN Deportes. By the way, Hare was general sales manager of WRQX in 1979, when the station flipped from album rock to contemporary hit Q107.

December 21, 2004
Sinclair Too Cozy With Cunningham
News Blues reports about Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcasting's relationship with Cunningham Broadcasting. Sinclair has local marketing agreement with Cunningham, allowing it to control two TV stations in some markets. NB reports that Carolyn Smith, the mother of Sinclair president and CEO David Smith, is a minority shareholder in Cunningham. She is also mother to Duncan and Frederick Smith, both Sinclair vice presidents, and Robert Smith, a director on Sinclair's board. The majority of Cunningham stock is owned by trusts Carolyn established for her grandchildren, according to NB. Cunningham owns six stations that Sinclair programs through LMAs. NB adds that Sinclair "skirted ownership rules by working a sweetheart deal" with Cunningham in Baltimore. The Federal Communications Commission allowed Cunningham to transfer of control of Channel 54/WNUV to a Sinclair subsidiary, Sinclair Acquisition XIV Incorporated, via a TV duopoly with Channel 45/WBFF, which Sinclair owns.

December 20, 2004
Caryn Mathes Named GM Of WAMU
American University President Benjamin Ladner has named Caryn Mathes as general manager of WAMU (88.5 FM). She comes from Detroit public radio outlet WDET, where she was general manager of station for 20 years. Her appointment is effective 3/1. It seems that WDET features more music programming than does WAMU, which is pretty much all news and talk on weekdays. Could Mathes' arrival mean a more musical WAMU?

December 19, 2004
WJTM's Sale To WYPR Approved
Even though Baltimore public radio outlet WYPR, 88.1 FM, has been relaying its signal via Frederick's WJTM, also at 88.1, since early this year, the deal to purchase the former religious outlet has only recently been approved. And WJTM will become WYPF on 12/20.

December 18, 2004
Ken Merson Jumps From QSR To LIF
Ken Merson is moving down the hall at Infinity's Baltimore radio cluster. From midday at oldies WQSR to PM drive at adult contemporary WLIF. As of 12/23. WQSR evening man Bob Worthington will move to the WQSR midday slot in the new year.

December 17, 2004
Infinity Unloads WBGR & WBMD
Infinity sells its two Baltimore religious AMers - gospel WBGR (860) and Christian talker WBMD (750) - to religious-based Family Stations for $7.5 million. Family owns 43 radio stations, including religious WFSI (107.9 FM) in Annapolis. Even with the sale, Infinity will continue to own six radio stations that serve the Charm City market, including WLIF, WQSR, WWMX, WXYV, WJFK-AM, and WHFS, plus Channel 13/WJZ, which is owned by parent Viacom/CBS.

December 17, 2004
Back To DC For Radio One
Radio One head Alfred Liggins is lobbying DC officials to support a plan to move his company's headquarters from Lanham in Prince George's County to the District, near Howard University. The owner of WKYS, WMMJ, WOL, and WYCB wants to construct a 76,000-square-foot office building at the corner of Seventh and S Streets NW for his 69-station radio group, which was founded in the District 24 years ago.

December 16, 2004
Infinity Makes Cuts In Baltimore
Rumblings of a Christmas "bloodbath" at Infinity Baltimore. At least five people got the ax Wednesday. Including WLIF's morning newser Tamara Nelson and afternoon driver Mark Thoner, WJFK-AM's Steve "Those Sports Guys" Stofberg, WWMX morning show co-host Stacy Lynn, and Eric Zink, Miles and Thrill's producer at Live 105.7, WXYV.

December 16, 2004
DesMarais To Say Adios To 45
On the "Out To Lunch" show with Miles and Thrill on Live 105.7, news anchor Jennifer DesMarais confirmed that she is leaving Charm City's Fox 45. We're being told that she is going to move to Rhode Island with her fiance, and then, in the future, they are both planning to head to Florida. Her likely WBFF replacement is Patrice Harris.

December 16, 2004
Sherman Howard Dies
Sherman Howard, whose religious broadcasts were heard on WYCB (1340 AM), has died of cardiovascular disease. He was 77.

December 14, 2004
Photog Hoertel Dies
From the Washington Post: Bruce Gardner Hoertel, 81, a retired news photographer who worked primarily for CBS News, and who later freelanced for magazines and wire services, died of renal failure 12/8 at his home in Woodstock VA. One of his most famous series of photographs came shortly after he moved to Washington in 1950, when two Puerto Rican nationalists attempted to assassinate President Harry Truman outside Blair House. Hoertel rushed to the scene and with his camera captured images of a DC police officer shooting one of the assailants.

December 13, 2004
WTOP Gives Birth To WFED
Bonneville all-newser WTOP has launched WFED, its broadcast feed of Federal News Radio, on Monday, 12/13. Via 1050 AM in Silver Spring, which had been Metro Radio's business news and Spanish WPLC. The debut of WFED was originally planned for January. For the past five years, FNR has been only available on the internet. WFED features 1,000-watts by day, but only 44-watts after sunset.

December 11, 2004
950 Goes Spanish
Potomac's WCTN (950 AM) has flipped to 24-hour Spanish programming. From studios in Northern Virginia. The former Korean Christian outlet was running older rock and soul oldies the past few weeks. Glenn Sauter's "Hits Of Yesteryear" was on at 11 this morning, followed by a final hour of Anglo tunes. Plans are for the new Spanish format to be simulcasted on WYRE (810 AM) in Annapolis.

December 10, 2004
Kamal Reaches Plea Deal In Teen Sex Sting
The Miami Herald reports that former Channel 9 weatherman Bill Kamal, who was caught in a sting involving soliciting sex with a minor, has reached an agreement with prosecutors to serve at least five years in prison. Kamal, 47, who had worked for Miami's WSVN-TV since leaving DC's WUSA in the early-1990s, was arrested in Florida in October for allegedly trying to lure what he thought was a 14-year-old boy. He had pleaded not guilty to using a computer to entice a minor into having sex, which could have landed him 30 years in jail.

December 9, 2004
1260 To Go Lefty Talk
Clear Channel will flip sports talk WWRC (1260 AM) to the lefty talk of Air America on 1/20. Including middayer Al Franken, who'll be broadcasting live from DC during President Bush's second inauguration. Also, Clear Channel plans to simulcast Don Imus's morning show on WWRC, in addition to his airing on co-owned mainly righty talker WTNT (570 AM). The new affiliate is important, Franken told the Washington Post, because "in Washington, which as you know is our nation's capital, you don't exist unless you're on." In addition to Franken, Stephanie Miller will air at 9 AM, Ed Schultz at 3 PM, Randi Rhodes at 6 PM, and Janeane Garafolo at 9 PM.

December 9, 2004
Detoxed Keith Mills Returns To 2
The Baltimore Sun reports that Charm City sports anchor Keith Mills will return to Channel 2/WMAR's airwaves Saturday after completing a 28-day rehabilitation stay for prescription drug "demons" at Father Martin's Ashley, a drug and alcohol treatment facility in Havre de Grace.

December 8, 2004
Comcast Lands Baltimore Deal
The Baltimore City Council overwhelmingly approved awarding a 12-year cable franchise to Comcast after a year of negotiations that turned contentious over funding for public access programming.

December 7, 2004
RC Allen Takes WWLG Mornings
Longtime Baltimore radio veteran RC Allen, who has been heard for some time on nostalic WWLG (1370 AM) doing weekends, has moved to morning drive upon the semi-retirement of another long time veteran, Allen Field. Back in the 1960s, RC was one of the "boss jocks" at then "top 40" WCAO and Philadelphia's WFIL. He also did a stint at WBAL radio.

December 6, 2004
GMS To Launch Opera Internet Station
In January, WGMS, Classical 103.5, will be starting VivaLaVoce.com, an internet radio station "presenting classical vocal music in all its forms, from the Middle Ages to the present." Lots of opera, choral music, and art song. Stuff too "long hair" or "high brow" for the commercial airwaves.

December 4, 2004
Tom Sileo To Tribune
Tom Sileo has been hired as morning producer at Tribune Broadcasting's DC news bureau. He comes from the CBS affiliate in Spartanburg SC. His fiancee, Lisa Fullone, is a news producer at Channel 9/WUSA.

December 3, 2004
Martucci Is New Morning Weather Gal At 9
Kim Martucci will be the new morning weather person at Channel 9/WUSA. She replaces Hillary Howard, who was let go a few weeks ago. Martucci comes from WBRE-TV in Wilkes-Barre PA. She's also worked at TV stations in Boston, Huntsville AL, Chatanooga TN, and at Buffalo's WGRZ, where she crossed paths with Darryll Green, WUSA's general manager.

December 3, 2004
WJRO Reborn As WFBR
Glen Burnie's WJRO (1590 AM) is picking up the heritage WFBR calls, which used to grace Baltimore's 1300 AM, and flipping from religious to ethnic.

December 3, 2004
Marty Edwards Dies
Marty Edwards, the DC-based former Mutual Radio news anchor, died on 11/30 after a 10-year battle with cancer.

December 3, 2004
Murray Jumps From CNBC To WSJ
Alan Murray will step down as CNBC's DC bureau chief and re-join the staff of the Wall Street Journal as assistant managing editor, effective 1/1, according to a CNBC internal memo. Matt Cuddy will oversee the DC bureau.

December 2, 2004
Craig Demchak To Tampa
DCRTV hears that Craig Demchak is leaving Channel 45/WBFF and Channel 54/WNUV for the news director gig at Sinclair-owned WTTA-TV in Tampa. We're told that Demchak "is being groomed for management within the company." He's been a news anchor and reporter for Sinclair's Baltimore stations since 1995. A Frederick native, Demchak's worked at Frederick's WFMD/WFRE radio, Hagerstown's WHAG-TV, Salisbury's WBOC-TV, plus TVers in Altoona and Harrisburg.

December 1, 2004
4 Wins November News "Sweeps"
Once again, Channel 4/WRC takes the DC news lead in the all-important November TV ratings "sweeps." Finishing ahead in the morning, plus early and late evening. Channel 9/WUSA places 2nd in the 11 PM news race, but still struggles at 5 PM and 6 PM. Its 7 PM 'cast slumps at 5th. Channel 7/WJLA shows strength in early evening. And Channel 5/WTTG does well in the morning. In the Baltimore TV news "sweeps," Channel 13/WJZ did well during the morning and at noon. And Channel 11/WBAL took the top spot at 5 PM, 6 PM, and at 11 PM.

December 1, 2004
Senior Walt Starling Dies
The father of DC radio veteran and longtime airbourne traffic reporter Walt Starling, Walter M. Starling, died in early November at age 79. The Silver Spring resident suffered from a neurological condition. The elder Starling, an aviation ethusiast and pilot like his son, owned Capitol Radio Wholesalers, a DC electronics parts business, for four decades.

November 30, 2004
WMET Adds Snow, Colmes
Gaithersburg talker WMET (1160 AM) adds the radio shows of righty Tony Snow and lefty Alan Colmes, both Fox Newsers.

November 30, 2004
"Out To Lunch" Gets Syndicated
Live 105.7, WXYV midday "Out To Lunch" guys Miles Montgomery and Steve Hill are now syndicating a "best of" show on Buffalo's WBUF. The western New York FM talker, which also carries Howard Stern and DC's Don and Mike live on weekdays, runs an "OTL" rerun from 7 PM to 9 PM on Saturdays.

November 29, 2004
Hooper To 2
Bill Hooper, president of ad sales for Infinity's Baltimore radio cluster, is leaving to head the ad sales team at Scripps' Channel 2/WMAR.

November 28, 2004
Whiteside To WLIF
Another Big 100 veteran resurfaces. DC oldies WBIG (100.3 FM) personality Kathy Whiteside will now be heard on Baltimore adult contemporary outlet WLIF (101.9 FM). She takes the midday place of Mary Anne Perry, who leaves to attend to family matters. Whiteside got canned in September, in a wave of personnel changes at Clear Channel's WBIG. Newsman Ira Mellman is now working at all-news WTOP. And, Johnny Dark now does Saturday mornings at oldies WQSR.

November 26, 2004
5 Sports Intern Killed In Shooting
Christopher Mader (left), 23, died early Thursday after being shot in Waldorf. According to the Washington Post, Mader had been a sports intern for Channel 5/WTTG, covered high school football games for the Fairfax Sports Network, and had dreamed of working for ESPN. He was planning to study broadcast journalism at the University Of Maryland.

November 26, 2004
CNN Producer Jack Lynn Dies
John Vincent "Jack" Lynn, 43, a senior television producer at CNN, died on 11/22 of lung cancer at his home in Alexandria. At the time of his death, Lynn was the senior producer of live production for CNN's DC bureau, where he had worked since 1991. He joined CNN in NYC in 1989 and, two years later, came to DC as a copy editor and producer.

November 24, 2004
Bonneville Says No To Nationals
Bonneville won't be carrying the Nationals. The firm had "at least two conversations" with Major League Baseball about airing DC's new team. But the price for the rights was too steep. Bonneville did seriously consider putting the Nationals on classical WGMS, with cross-marketing on sister stations all-news WTOP and "modern music" Z104. However, Bonneville was concerned that "core classical music listeners" wouldn't like sports on WGMS. MLB was interested in having the team on the WTOP network, but Bonneville brass wanted to keep non-stop news, traffic, and weather on 1500, 107.7, 820, and 104.3. The most likely Nationals radio candidate is Clear Channel, via WTEM, WWRC, and WTNT, our sources say.

November 23, 2004
Vic Sussman Dies
Vic Sussman, a Silver Spring-based veteran journalist who was senior editor for the public radio business program "Marketplace," died 11/22 of an apparent stroke after surgery at George Washington University Hospital. He was 65. During his varied career, Sussman worked for American University's WAMU, once country WARL (now WAVA), the Washington Post, US News And World Report, the Voice Of America, America Online, and Cahners Business Information. He authored numerous magazine and newspaper articles, and three non-fiction books. Sussman joined "Marketplace" in January 2004.

November 22, 2004
WMAL's Lisa Scoon Dies
Lisa Scoon, 39, an account exec at WMAL, died last week. She had been running at the Montgomery Blair High School track in Silver Spring when she collapsed on 11/13. She died from a brain aneurysm five days later at Bethesda's Suburban Hospital. Scoon had been selling ads for WMAL for the past two years. Says a co-worker: "She was an absolute delight, and our place is in massive mourning over her death. Her smile and humor lit up the whole station."

November 22, 2004
Radio One Deals With Tom Joyner
Lanham's Radio One has bought a controlling stake in Tom Joyner's media company for $56 million. The purchase gives Radio One an internet presence via blackamericaweb.com and ownership rights to one of the nation's top morning shows among black radio listeners. Joyner's show is carried locally by WMMJ and WWIN-FM, both Radio One stations.

November 22, 2004
JB To JFK
James Brown, "JB" of Fox Sports football coverage, will be heard on WJFK-FM at 11 AM. Replacing the "Ron And Fez" rerun (from the previous evening). Brown hosts "The James Brown Radio Show," broadcast weekdays from 10 AM to noon on Sporting News Radio. Also, he's a reporter for HBO's "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel" and a boxing host for HBO pay-per-view. Way back when, Brown was a sportscaster for DC's Channel 9.

November 20, 2004
New XMTR Site For HFS
Alternative rock WHFS is applying to move its 99.1 FM transmitter site eight miles west, northwest of the current one in Crofton. The new one will be closer to the DC market and with a taller tower, and slightly lower compensating power. The change is said to improve signal coverage to Montgomery County and Northern Virginia, with little or no degradation of the signal in the Baltimore market.

November 18, 2004
Radio Ratings
No big changes in the latest monthly Arbitrends for DC. WPGC-FM remains at the top, plus nice upswings for WASH, WGMS, and WJZW. Things are also stable in Baltimore, with WERQ at the top. And, still, WFLS rules Fredericksburg.

November 18, 2004
Reed Irvine Dies
From the Washington Times: Journalist and media critic Reed Irvine, "who relentlessly exposed the foibles of a biased press for more than three decades," died Tuesday from complications of a stroke he suffered late last year. He was 82 and had lived in the DC area. Irvine was a pioneer in his field, founding the nonprofit watchdog group Accuracy in Media (AIM) in 1969 "during an era when the content and ideological underpinnings of TV and newspaper stories went largely unquestioned."

November 17, 2004
Cox Leaving ABC Radio DC Gig
Merrilee Cox will leave her post as chief of ABC Radio's Washington news bureau in January. After 23 years with the company. A search has been launched for her replacement.

November 14, 2004
WMAL Engineer Burt Cohen Retires
After 39 years behind the knobs and faders, WMAL engineer Burt Cohen has retired. Back in the day, Cohen guested on 630's legendary "Harden And Weaver" show. And, current morning co-host Andy Parks has routinely joked about "Burt's Antenna And Skylight Service." There was a retirement party Friday evening that featured many DC/WMAL radio legends, including Ed Walker, John Lyon, Bill Mayhugh, Bill Trumbull, and Chris Core. The pic: Cohen (left) and Trumbull (right).

November 14, 2004
West & Conrad To Mornings At WFRE
Linda West and Dave Conrad are the new morning team at Clear Channel's Frederick country outlet WFRE (99.9 FM). They replace Cougar Michaels. Also, Tom Whalen has also been promoted from weekends to afternoon drive, taking West's previous spot.

November 11, 2004
Whitney To Join Blades At Z104
DC101 overnighter Whitney (right) will be Matthew Blades' female sidekick when he starts his Z104 morning show on 12/6. "Modern music" Z104 has been conducting a national search to replace former morning dude Brett Haber, who is now Channel 9's top sports anchor. Blades, who has recently been working at a Kansas City contemporary station, did evenings on Z104 a while back.

November 8, 2004
FCC Vet Ed Hautanen Dies
Federal Communications Commission attorney Ed Hautanen died 10/29 at his home in Sarasota of congestive heart failure. He was 80. A former Falls Church resident, Hautanen worked in the FCC's Office Of Opinions And Review from 1951 until 1980. Hautanen's daughter, Jane Hautanen of Washington, is an announcer at WAVA and a board operator at WJZW.

November 7, 2004
Bob Steele Out At WARW
Bob Steele was relieved of his evening post on classic rock WARW because Max Dugan, the Infinity station's program director, wanted to go "in a different direction" program style-wise. As we reported on 11/3, Jonathan "Weasel" Gilbert, a vet of co-owned alt rock WHFS, is now doing the shift. Our source tells us that Steele, who got "very solid numbers," has no ill will for his replacement.

November 5, 2004
Kornheiser Returns To WTEM
Washington Post sports columnist Tony Kornheiser will return to the DC radio waves. Kornheiser will air "live and locally" every weekday on Clear Channel's SportsTalk 980, WTEM. Starting Wednesday, 11/10. From 9 AM to 11 AM. With a replay from 11 AM to 1 PM. Kornheiser began his radio show in 1992 on WTEM, before taking it national with ESPN Radio in 1998. And giving it up earlier this year. Kornheiser will continue to do "Pardon The Interruption" with fellow Postie Michael Wilbon for ESPN TV. During the summer, there was talk of Kornheiser doing the morning show on Infinity's classic rock WARW. But that never materialized.

November 5, 2004
4 Faces Tower Battle
According to the Northwest Current newspaper, Channel 4/WRC's refusal to remove an old broadcast tower has raised the ire of residents near the NBC station's Nebraska Avenue complex. NBC built the 457-foot tower in 1955. It got permission to build a taller "replacement" tower in 1981. The new 659-foot tower went up in 1988, but the station never took down the first one. And that has been the subject of fierce debate ever since. Now, according to the Current, the old tower is rented to a variety of tenants, including various local police and fire agencies, WKYS radio, and Univision. However, the special DC zoning exemption for the old tower runs out on 12/1, and NBC is seeking a permanent renewal. Area residents fear that the electromagnetic radiation from the old tower could be a health hazard.

November 4, 2004
7 Producer Mike Bayus Dies
Mike Bayus, producer of "Good Morning Washington" and a five-year veteran of Channel 7/WJLA, died last weekend. Reports say that he suffered an aneurism. "Mike was a judicious steward of the overnight news staff, committed to putting on a solid program day after day, and he took any glitch, noticeable by viewers or not, upon himself as a personal let-down. But most importantly, he was a positive and upbeat presence in the newsroom and a genuinely good guy. He will be missed enormously," a co-worker tells us.

November 1, 2004
PGC-AM PD Adds MD Duties
Cheryl Jackson replaces Wayne Waller as music director at Infinity's gospel WPGC-AM. Jackson is also Heaven 1580's program director.

October 29, 2004
Nassau Buys WAFY
Nassau Broadcasting is buying adult contemporary WAFY in Frederick, which is owned by Barbara Marmet's Frederick Broadcasting. The rumored sale price of Key 103.1 is $16 million. This will be Nassau's first radio acquisition in the Mid-Atlantic region. The firm owns a batch of radio stations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New England. A local radio source tells us that Nassau wants "a station that shows up in the DC (ratings) book," reaching listeners in Loudoun and Montgomery counties.

October 28, 2004
Gordon Peterson Jumps From 9 To 7
Gordon Peterson (right) is making the move from Channel 9/WUSA to Channel 7/WJLA. Since summer, "news dean" Peterson, 66, has been in protracted contract negotiations with Gannett's WUSA, where he's been delivering the news for the past three decades. DCRTV's sources tell us that he'll be seen on Allbritton's WJLA during the first week of December, anchoring the 6 PM newscast with Maureen Bunyan and Doug Hill. Both Bunyan and Hill, plus reporter Mike Buchanan, are former 9ers who are now at 7. Peterson will have the "senior correspondent" title and will "field anchor" big stories. Leon Harris will continue to co-anchor WJLA's 5 PM (with Kathleen Matthews) and 11 PM (with Bunyan) newscasts. Also, we hear that Peterson's "Inside Washington" weekly political talk show, including its staff, will move to WJLA. "The whole newsroom is going nuts," a WJLAer tells DCRTV. "Somebody pinch me. I'm dreaming." Peterson tells Thursday's Washington Post: "After 35 years, I think it's time for them to try something new and it's time for me to try something new." Just recently, WUSA hired Tracey Neale and Todd McDermott to be its top anchors, resulting in what appeared to be a demotion for Peterson. The Washington Times reports that WJLA has signed Peterson to a three-year contract with a six-figure annual salary, but less than his yearly pay at WUSA, which was more than $1 million.

October 27, 2004
"Fast Jimi" Jumps From 106.5 To 102.7
"Fast Jimi" Roberts is jumping from afternoon drive on Infinity's hot adult contemporary WWMX, Mix 106.5, to a like shift on co-owned oldies WQSR, 102.7 FM. He replaces "Brian And O'Brien," which got canned on 10/13. Roberts has worked at Baltimore's once-contemporary WXYV, which used to be at WQSR's current dial position, and at DC's defunct "Jammin' Oldies" WJMO (now Hot 99.5, WIHT).

October 26, 2004
New MD For PGC
Infinity's urban contemporary WPGC-FM names Boogie D its music director. He comes from Radio One's WOMC in Charlotte, where he was program director. Boogie D replaces Sarah O'Connor, who recently jumped to Radio One's WPHI in Philadelphia.

October 25, 2004
Former Channel 9 Weatherman Arrested
Former Channel 9/WUSA weather anchor Bill Kamal (right) was fired Monday after he was arrested in Florida Sunday. Kamal is accused of arranging to have sex with a 14-year-old male. Says Robert Leider, head of Miami Fox affiliate WSVN, "We have no other alternative but to dismiss Bill Kamal for cause." Since leaving WUSA in 1992, Kamal, 47, has been the top weather anchor for WSVN. According to the Miami Herald, Kamal was arrested "when he showed up for a scheduled meeting that he had arranged via the internet with an underage person. Instead, he was met by a detective who arrested him." Kamal was being held without bond at the St. Lucie County Jail on a third-degree felony charge. According to Miami TV station WPLG, investigators said that Kamal waived his rights and admitted to having child pornography on his computer, which was seized. This was not Kamal's first run-in with the law. He was arrested twice in Florida for alleged drunken driving. In both cases the charges were either dismissed or reduced.

October 24, 2004
Radio Liberty Founder Dies
Robert Dreher, 88, died of a stroke in late September. A resident of Arlington for 30 years, he founded Radio Liberty, which broadcast to Iron Curtain countries during the Cold War.

October 19, 2004
"Big Don" Jumps To WINX
"Big Don" O'Brien is a survivor. During the past three decades, he's worked at almost every radio station in the DC and Baltimore region - some of which aren't there any longer. And a few TV stations, too. Well, O'Brien just got canned from Baltimore oldies outlet WQSR. But, he's back on the local airwaves. At Eastern Shore country outlet WINX. Doing morning drive on 94.3 FM. WINX is licensed to Cambridge, but has studios in Annapolis, with eclectic rock sister WRNR. Former WINX morning man Chris Roth moves to afternoons.

October 19, 2004
Sinclair Fires DC News Chief Who Voiced Opposition
The DC news bureau chief for Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcast Group has been fired after he criticized the company's plans to air a program critical of John Kerry's Vietnam-era anti-war activities. Jon Leiberman told Associated Press that he was canned by Joseph DeFeo, Sinclair's vice president for news, and "escorted out of the building. I was told I violated company policy by divulging information from a staff meeting to the (Baltimore) Sun in (Monday) morning's edition."

October 18, 2004
Bonneville Buys 1050 For FNR
Bonneville has reached an agreement with Metro Radio to buy WPLC, 1050 AM. Bonneville-owned all-news WTOP will use the Silver Spring station to relay Federal News Radio, which, until now, has only been available on the internet. The purchase price is rumored to be $4 million. WPLC has a 1,000-watt daytime signal, but runs only 44-watts at night. "It's a bit ironic that we started out as an internet product and now have grown to a terrestrial signal - typically the reverse is true," says TOP VP/GM Joel Oxley. "But with such rapid growth of the online product, it was the next logical step to add distribution via an AM signal. With such a large local federal community we need to be accessible whether one is sitting at their desk or in their car." Besides WTOP, Salt Lake City-based Bonneville also owns classical WGMS and "modern music" Z104. Vienna-based Metro Radio also owns Spanish WKCW in Warrenton and religious WJRO in Glen Burnie. WPLC currently airs business news talk by day and brokered Spanish at night. "Federal News Radio AM 1050" launches in early 2005.

October 18, 2004
MZQ's B&B Cut Syndication
WMZQ morning duo Ben Campbell and Brian Egan will cease national syndication of their "Ben And Brian" show by the end of 2004. The word is that B&B will "focus on local content," hoping to boost ratings on the Clear Channel country outlet.

October 14, 2004
Mellman, Segrafes Joins WTOP
Ira Mellman, who recently lost his gig as WBIG, Big 100's newsman - and only fulltime newsperson on Clear Channel's eight-station DC radio payroll) - is jumping to Bonneville all-newser WTOP. He'll do anchor fill-in work. Also, Channel 7/WJLA investigative producer Mark Segraves is also deading to WTOP. He worked with Andrea McCarren on 7's I-Team. And has done a whole bunch of investigative stories.

October 13, 2004
WQSR Cuts B&O'B
The afternoon duo of Brian Wilson and "Big Don" O'Brien has gone missing from Infinity's Baltimore oldies outlet WQSR (102.7 FM). The banter-based B&O'B did not "test well" with listeners who wanted a more "music intensive" PM drive show. "After little promotion and a short time given for ratings, WQSR gave up on them," Michael Popovec, our Charm City radio reporter tells us. Their contracts have been "terminated." B&O'B hosted a top-rated show on the old B104 "top 40" outlet in the 1980s. WQSR resurrected the team late last year.

October 11, 2004
TOP's Derrick Ward Heads To Buffalo
Derrick Ward has said goodbye to WTOP radio. He's jumping to WKBW-TV, Buffalo's ABC affiliate. Ward spent seven of the past 20 years of his radio reporting career at WTOP. Before that, he worked at WAMU and WPFW.

October 9, 2004
Rukeyser Asks CNBC To Pull Plug On His Show
Veteran financial journalist Louis Rukeyser, 71, who has been off television for a year due to cancer, has asked CNBC to pull the plug on his long-running Friday night business news show. Some 32 years ago, Maryland Public Television began producing Rukeyser's "Wall Street Week" from studios in the Baltimore suburb of Owings Mills. However, MPT gave Rukeyser the boot in 2002 in an effort to make the PBS show more appealing to younger viewers. He jumped to CNBC, which started airing "Louis Rukeyser's Wall Street." Rukeyser last appeared on his CNBC show in October 2003, and soon announced that he was suffering from cancer. The CNBC show has been airing with Consuelo Mack as substitute host and will cease production by the end of the year.

October 7, 2004
Big O & Dukes Land HFS Evening Gig
Weekenders "Big O And Dukes" will fill the evening slot on alt rock WHFS, recently vacated by Matty. The duo will continue its Saturday evening show for the interim.

October 6, 2004
Stern Signs With Sirius
With 15 months remaining on his contract with Infinity, Howard Stern told listeners that he's "ready to leave radio" and has signed a five-year, reportedly $100 million-per-year contract with NYC's Sirius Satellite Radio. "It's a done deal. I'm leaving radio. This kind of radio," Stern said. The "King Of All Media" revealed that he's grown tired of the FCC's "anti-indecency" campaign, which got him kicked off Clear Channel's stations, and corporate "fighting" with Infinity. "Satellite is the future of radio," Stern said. Not only will he host his national morning show at subscription-based Sirius, but Stern will program two additional services, including "a premium channel." He added that his show will be available to all Sirius subscribers, and will not be a pay-extra service, a la Opie and Anthony's deal with DC's XM. Stern's current broadcast radio show is carried locally by WJFK-FM and Live 105.7, both of which owned by Infinity.

October 6, 2004
Chuck Bell Joins 4
Chuck Bell, until recently a meteorologist at Sinclair's NewsCentral in suburban Baltimore, has joined the weather department at Channel 4/WRC as fill-in forecaster and graphics producer. Bell has worked at TV stations in Oklahoma City (where he covered a major tornado outbreak in 1999), Roanoke, Albany GA, and Greenville SC. In college, he was an intern at The Weather Channel.

October 6, 2004
PBS On The Move
PBS is moving its national headquarters a few stops up Metro's yellow line. From Alexandria's Braddock Place to Arlington's Crystal City.

October 4, 2004
Monz Heads From Baltimore To Milford
Steve Monz, former program director at WWMX, Infinity's hot adult contemporary outlet in Baltimore, heads east, to assume the post of operations manager at Delmarva Broadcasting's Milford, Delaware radio cluster. He'll be in charge of hot adult contemporary WAFL, oldies WNCL, and Spanish WYUS.

October 4, 2004
Former Owner Of 14 Challenges 7's License
Allbritton Communications is fighting a license challenge to Channel 7/WJLA, which was filed by Theodore White, who used to own Channel 14 back when it was known as WTMW. Allbritton labels as "frivolous" White's petition, which asks the Federal Communications Commission to deny WJLA's license renewal because of a federal investigation into possible participation in money laundering by Riggs Bank. The probe apparently extends to Allbritton head Joe Allbritton, his wife, Barbara, and son Robert, who is chairman of the bank, which was recently sold to Pittsburgh's PNC Financial. "The charges have never been adjudicated anywhere by anyone and relate to non-broadcast, non-FCC conduct that falls far short of the Commission's attention level," Jerald Fritz, an Allbritton legal eagle, tells a TV trade pub. "Enforcement of banking regulations is best left to banking regulators." Creditor Riggs was involved in White's decision to sell WTMW, once primarily a home shopping and infomercial outlet, to Univision. The station, now WFDC, airs the Spanish language Telefutura network.

October 1, 2004
Johnny Dark To WQSR
Area radio veteran Johnny Dark is heading up I-95, from DC's WBIG (100.3 FM) to Charm City's WQSR (102.7 FM). Dark, who just got canned from Clear Channel's oldies Big 100, will be doing the 7 AM to 10 AM slot on Saturdays on the Infinity-owned oldies outlet. Dark, who'll be hosting a 1960s rock oldies show, is no stranger to Baltimore. In the 1960s, he did several stints at then "top 40" WCAO (600 AM). And, Dark worked at hot adult contemporary WWMX (106.5 FM) before joining WBIG in the early 1990s.

September 30, 2004
Jory Rand Heads To Richmond
Jory Rand jumps from Hagerstown NBC affiliate Channel 25/WHAG, where he's been a sports reporter-anchor, to Richmond's Fox station, Channel 35/WRLH, to be sports anchor. Columbia MD-native Rand was a star ice hockey player at the University Of Maryland, and has worked in the sports department of Channel 7/WJLA.

September 29, 2004
Marva Williams Gone From 92Q
Marva Williams is on "the outs" with "The Big Phat Morning Show" at Charm City's urban 92Q, WERQ. She had been co-host and producer of the Radio One outlet's morning team since its 1999 debut. Marc Clarke and Troy Johnson will now handle mornings on their own. We hear that the top-rated station's suits, Program Director Victor Starr and General Manager Howard Mazer, chose not to renew Marva's contract. A budget decision? We also hear that Marc and Troy wanted to keep her around.

September 29, 2004
Bloodbath At Big 100
Big changes at Big 100. Oldies WBIG's evening man Jeff "Goldy" Gold, midday gal Kathy Whiteside, weekend veteran Johnny Dark, newsman Ira Mellman, and assistant program director and creative director Bob Karson have been canned. Gary Murphy and Jessica Cash, the morning team at the oldies outlet, and afternooner Tom Kelly are remaining - for now, anyway. Weekender Paula Kasey will fill in evenings for Gold, and newcomer Stephanie Wells will take over Whiteside's show. The culprit - a stready decline in the ratings during the past year.

September 28, 2004
Seth Warner Returns To Afternoons On MZQ
Seth Warner is the "new" afternoon drive guy for Clear Channel's country WMZQ. Warner, who has been doing weekend and fill-in work for 98.7, did the same MZQ shift in the late-1990s. He replaces Jon Anthony, who left for XM's Nashville operation in March.....

September 27, 2004
Windy City Audition For Diamond
Jack Diamond is taking the week off from his morning perch at WRQX, Mix 107.3. And DCRTV hears that he's in Chicago where he'll be doing mornings on ABC's co-owned WLS radio on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week. It's being called "an audition" by the news talk station's suits. WLS is currently without its veteran morning team of Don and Roma Wade, who are off the air, fighting with management over their contract. In the past, Diamond's done talk work at NYC's WABC radio, also owned by ABC.

September 25, 2004
4 Picks "Miss Virginia" As Anchor
Shannon Bream (right) is Channel 4/WRC's new weekend morning news anchor. She replaces Mil Arcega, who left WRC in August. She'll co-anchor with Eun Yang, who'll go on maternity leave soon. Bream's been an anchor for Charlotte's WBTV-TV and, before that, worked at Tampa's WFTS-TV. According to the Washington Post, Bream is "a longtime conservative Republican." The Tallahassee native graduated from Jerry Falwell's Liberty University in Lynchburg and studied law at Florida State. Bream was crowned "Miss Virginia" in 1990.

September 24, 2004
Lopez Ad: "Pull The Plug"
Baltimore's WIYY, 98Rock, has released a TV ad in which "KML" morning show co-hosts Kirk and Mark visit a bed-ridden Lopez (left) in his hospital room and then threaten to "pull the plug" if you don't listen to the station. Earlier this year, Lopez went public with his battle against lung cancer. Trade pub All Access reports that some Charm City TV stations have refused to run the spot. "One has to have a sense of humor when dealing with cancer. It's what keeps me going," Lopez tells AA.

September 24, 2004
PGC MD To Philly
Sarah O'Connor, music director at Infinity's urban WPGC-FM, heads to like duties at Radio One's urban WPHI in Philadelphia. That means Jay Stevens, WPGC's program director, has begun a search for O'Connor's replacement.

September 23, 2004
M&T Yanking
DCRTV's hearing rumblings that a certain former night board op for Baltimore's Live 105.7 "commandeered" the talk station a few weeks ago. We're told that he "cut out" of the scheduled syndicated show and "put on his own show." He was fired. Then, yesterday, "Out To Lunch" guys Miles and Thrill (right) mentioned the incident on their midday show. Now, rumors contend that's why the duo got yanked off the air Wednesday and replaced with a "best of." Infinity's Charm City suits are keeping quiet.

September 23, 2004
54 Goes HD
Sinclair-operated Channel 54/WNUV kicked off high-definition programming Wednesday evening. The Baltimore WB affiliate joins sister Fox affiliate Channel 45/WBFF, which also just started its HD broadcasts. WNUV's standard-def programming is found on digital channel "54.1," while the HD simulcast is featured on "54.2." WNUV uses UHF channel 40 for its digital signal.

September 23, 2004
Herzog Will Call Eagles Game
Former Redskins play-by-play man Frank Herzog will return to the NFL radio broadcast booth. But it won't be for DC's beloved team. Herzog will call the 10/24 Eagles-Browns game for the Sports USA Radio Network. The game will air on either Clear Channel's WTEM (980 AM) or WTNT (570 AM). And, plans are for Herzog to call addition games later in the season, although they have not been announced. California-based Sports USA Radio Network airs a doubleheader of NFL games each Sunday during the regular season. Herzog currently anchors a Redskins post-game show on WTEM and provides Redskins segments on WTOP.

September 23, 2004
CSN Hires Jenkins
Michael Jenkins joins Comcast SportsNet as an anchor and reporter. He comes from a six-year stint at KVUE-TV in Austin.

September 22, 2004
WBIG's Slide Continues
Adult urban WMMJ and urban WPGC-FM tie for the top spot in the latest round of Arbitrend radio ratings. Oldies WBIG continues its big slide, dropping from a 3.7 share to a 2.3 in a year. Urban WERQ keeps the lead in Baltimore. And, country WFLS holds onto its big lead in Fredericksburg.

September 22, 2004
FCC Fines CBS For Super Bowl Boob Incident
As expected, the Federal Communications Commission voted Wednesday to fine Viacom-owned CBS $550,000 for showing Janet Jackson's bare breast during last winter's Super Bowl. That includes a $27,500 penalty for each of the 20 CBS-owned stations (like Baltimore's WJZ) that aired the halftime show. However, the 200 or so CBS affiliates that aren't owned by CBS (like DC's Gannett-owned WUSA) were not fined.

September 22, 2004
Megan Glaros Heads South
Weathergal Megan Glaros (right) is jumping from Baltimore's Sinclair NewsCentral to Miami's WPLG-TV. She'll be doing weather reports and sports features for the Washington Post-owned ABC affiliate. Glaros, a former NFL cheerleader, began her broadcasting career as a morning show host and weather anchor in Parkersburg WV.

September 22, 2004
Flowe Leaves NC8
Rick Flowe has parted company with NewsChannel 8. He'd been with the local cable news net's advertising production department for the better part of a decade. He'd won a bunch of "Tellys" and Addys."

September 21, 2004
25 For Diane Rehm
American University's WAMU (88.5 FM) celebrates the 25th anniversary of Diane Rehm's talk show. Callers during the two-hour 10 AM program congratulated the influential national public radio host, who has struggled with speech problems the past few years. Her fans say that she has promoted a radio "dialogue" rather than a "monologue." When a listener asked Rehm (left) if she'd ever voted for a conservative for president, she responded: "I'm not sure I'll answer that one." A gala fundraiser took place at the Mellon Auditorium. Proceeds benefit "The Diane Rehm Fund For Public Dialogue."

September 20, 2004
Tracey Neale Debuts On 9
The last time Tracey Neale anchored a DC TV newscast was in December 2003 on Fox's Channel 5. Now, some nine-ish months later, after several rounds of protracted contract negotiations, she co-hosted her first Gannett-owned Channel 9 newscast on 9/20 at 11 PM. With newcomer Todd McDermott.

September 20, 2004
Bruno Bounced
Tony Bruno, who did the 8 AM to noon shift on DC's SportsTalk 1260, is gone. Fox Sports Radio has jettisoned the nationally syndicated talker after his contract expired.

September 17, 2004
Tornados Hit DC Area, TOP-FM Conks Out
The remnants of Hurricane Ivan hit the DC area on 9/17. From around 4 PM until 8 PM, all of the major DC TV stations - Channels 4, 5, 7, NC8, and 9 - went full-time with a batch of tornado warnings across the western suburbs, including much of Northern Virginia. National network newscasts on NBC, CBS, and ABC were bypassed by the local affiliates. While 9's Topper Shutt and 4's Bob Ryan were at their station's storm centers, 7's Doug Hill did his coverage via telephone with Joe Witte in the studio. The severe weather in Warrenton silenced all-news WTOP's 107.7 FM signal for about three hours. Meanwhile, WTOP's 1500 AM Wheaton outlet rippled with twister warnings for places like Fredericksburg, Frederick, Dulles Airport, Centreville, Manassas, and Leesburg.

September 17, 2004
Wilk Leaves 5
Wendy Wilk, a managing editor at Channel 5/WTTG, jumps to Hearst-Argyle's DC news bureau.

September 16, 2004
Haber Jumps From Z104 To 9
Z104 morning man Brett Haber is the new sports anchor at Channel 9/WUSA. Z104 will search for a new host while it holds onto morning show co-host Erica Hilary, plus producers JC Fernandez and Yianni Lolos. Haber used to be the top sports anchor at Channel 5/WTTG, before leaving for a sports anchor gig at NYC's WCBS-TV. And eventually returning to DC, and the Z104 job.

September 16, 2004
Mega's Alonso Jumps To Clear Channel
Alfredo Alonso, president of Silver Spring-based Mega Communications, jumps to Clear Channel to head the radio giant's upcoming rollout of Spanish language stations in two dozen markets. In the DC area, Mega owns Spanish outlets WBZS/WBPS (92.7 FM/94.3 FM) and WKDL (730 AM). Might CC take financially/ratings-struggling Mega's radio properties "under its wing" via local marketing agreements?

September 15, 2004
Age Discrimination At 9?
The American Federation Of Television And Radio Artists is investigating whether Channel 9/WUSA has been unfair to its older anchors and reporters. The Washington Times reports that a number of longtime on-air personalities at the Gannett station have been fired or reassigned from prime afternoon and evening reporting shifts to early mornings and weekends. The union is trying to determine whether these personnel moves represent a pattern of discrimination.

September 15, 2004
MD Gov Says No To WBAL Radio Show
The Baltimore Sun reports that Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich will no longer do a regularly scheduled show with news talk WBAL (1090 AM) because the host, afternoon driver Ron Smith, was to be replaced with Mark Miller, the station's news director. Since his election in 2002, Ehrlich has spent an hour every other week on "Stateline With The Governor," moderated by Smith, a vocal supporter of the Republican. However, last month the Sun reported that Ehrlich hired Smith's wife, June, to a new $79,771-a-year public-relations job in the state Department Of Juvenile Services. "After learning that Ron's wife had accepted this position, Ron gave us assurances that there was no quid pro quo," WBAL station manager Jeff Beauchamp told the Sun. "But we believe that even the appearance of a quid pro quo - even though we don't believe there is any - is something we should avoid."

September 14, 2004
New GM For 50
Eric Meyrowitz has been named vice-president and general manager of Tribune's Channel 50/WBDC. At only 34, he's been the station's general sales manager. He replaces Jerry Martin, who recently took a gig with a pair of Tribune stations in Indianapolis. Meyrowitz joined 50 in 2000 as local sales manager. Before that, he'd been national sales manager for Hearst's Channel 11/WBAL.

September 13, 2004
Stevens & Medley Join WARW
"Stevens And Medley" are "the new guys" at WARW. "We're very excited to be here at this legendary station," said Stevens on-air about the down-in-the-dumps ratings-wise classic rocker. Right after a way overplayed Lynyrd Skynryd tune, one of S&M's first "comedy" bits got aired: "The good news is that God has returned in the form of a 20-pound fish. The bad news is that God has been clubbed to death and eaten." S&M were formerly known as the Mark Brothers. The duo previously held the morning shift at Clear Channel classic rocker KZPS in Dallas, from where hails WARW's program director, Max Dugan.

September 12, 2004
JB McPherson Dies
JB McPherson died Friday. The Gaithersburg resident was with the WMAL station group for 38 years, the last half of that as chief engineer for WMAL-AM and FM (now WRQX). He retired in 1986. McPherson was an avid pilot and an early champion of AM stereo.

September 10, 2004
Tony Harris Joins CNN
Baltimore native Tony Harris, who used to anchor the news at Channel 45/WBFF and Channel 54/WNUV, makes the jump from Atlanta's WGCL-TV to CNN.

September 10, 2004
McHugh Joins CSN
Comcast SportsNet hires Tim McHugh as news director. McHugh will oversee all elements of the CSN Mid-Atlantic network's sports news productions, including Redskins and Ravens post-game shows, as well as "SportsNite" and "SportsRise." McHugh comes from NYC's WCBS-TV.

September 9, 2004
JFK's Leinwand To NYC's XRK
The man who fired longtime "voice of the Redskins" Frank Herzog is getting his ass out of town. Alan Leinwand will become director of advertising sales at NYC's WXRK, K-Rock, the Infinity alt rocker that hosts Howard Stern's show. Since 1981, Leinwand has worked in the sales departments of WTOP, WMAL, and WJFK-FM. Leinwand became WJFK-FM's vice-president and general manager in 2000, and has served as head of the Washington Redskins Radio Network. Infinity's DC market manager Michael Hughes will assume Leinwand's WJFK-FM and Redskins radio duties.

September 9, 2004
Pat Sajak Buys WTTR
"Wheel Of Fortune" host and Maryland resident Pat Sajak is buying oldies WTTR (1470 AM) in Westminster from Times-Shamrock for $540,000. Sajak also owns talk and adult contemporary WNAV (1430 AM) in Annapolis. He recently turned down a deal to buy once newser, now contemporary WKHZ (1590 AM) in Ocean City. Shamrock owns Baltimore area classic rocker WZBA (100.7 FM), which was WTTR-FM way back when.

September 7, 2004
WTOP Activates 104.3
WTOP, the Bonneville all-newser, is now touting on the air and via its website its new 104.3 FM low-power operation for the Leesburg and Ashburn area of Loudoun County. The calls are W282AM and it relays the signal of Warrenton's WTOP-FM, 107.7.

September 2, 2004
Mil Arcega Leaves 4
Anchor and reporter Mil Arcega has parted ways with Channel 4/WRC. Arcega had co-anchored the station's early morning weekend newscasts. He came to NBC4 in 1997 from a TV station in Calgary, Canada. No word on his plans.

September 1, 2004
New City For WKSI
Clear Channel has officially moved the city of license of rhythmic contemporary WKSI from Charles Town WV to Stevens City VA, south of Winchester. WKSI, 98.3 Kiss FM, recently moved its transmitter from Charles Town to the country WUSQ tower, west of Winchester. WKSI used to be country WXVA.

September 1, 2004
Groups Challenge Local TV Licenses
The United Church Of Christ and the Center For Digital Democracy have asked the Federal Communications Commission not to renew the licenses of Fox-owned UPN affiliate Channel 20/WDCA and Paxson's Pax network outlet Channel 66/WPXW for failing to meet their children's television obligations. The groups alleged that "Miracle Pets" on WPXW and "Ace Lightning" and "Stargate Infinity" on WDCA failed to meet the FCC's educational programming criteria. Also, the Alexandria-based Parents Television Council has asked the Federal Communications Commission to deny the license renewal applications of NBC-owned Channel 4/WRC and Fox-owned Channel 5/WTTG because of "35 indecency complaints" filed against the two stations within the past few years. They include "graphic depictions of sex including masturbation and pedophilia," according to the PTC.

August 30, 2004
Kidd To Be WWMX PD
Jason Kidd has been named program director of Infinity's hot adult contemporary WWMX, Mix 106.5. Current PD Steve Monz had cleaned out his desk. Kidd spent a few weeks programming Clear Channel's smooth jazz WSMJ last year, and has been working at an Infinity urban contemporary station in Austin, Texas since then.

August 30, 2004
Amber Theoharis Joins 45
Channel 45/WBFF's Bruce Cunningham announced Sunday night that Amber Theoharis of Sinclair's co-owned WSYX-TV in Columbus, Ohio will be the new weekend sports anchor to replace Brent Harris, who went to Comcast SportsNet. She's a Maryland native and graduated from the University Of Maryland. She used to be an intern at Channel 7/WJLA.

August 25, 2004
John Butler Does PR
Someone forwarded DCRTV a zcomm press release about Saudi Arabia pumping more barrels of oil. The contact person is listed as John Butler. Apparently, the same John Butler who resigned WMAL's program director gig in 2003 and who had also been the station's news director. Montgomery County-based zcomm's head is former ABC correspondent Rise Birnbaum.

August 23, 2004
Wolf Lands Radio Jobs With ESPN, ABC
Warner Wolf, who once did two sports anchor stretches with DC's Channel 9, will be hosting a Saturday call-in show on WEPN, 1050 ESPN Radio, in NYC, as well as doing weekday morning sports reports for ABC-Disney's co-owned cross-town radio talker WABC. Wolf got the boot from NYC's CBS-owned WCBS-TV over the summer.

August 23, 2004
Junkies Get Gig At 9
The Junkies, the morning drive team on alt rocker WHFS, are getting a TV show on Channel 9/WUSA. Starting 9/4 at 2 AM (late Friday, early Saturday), "JunksTV" will feature sports talk, celebrity interviews, plus many a "buxom babe." The show will be taped the previous Wednesday evening at the Regional Food And Drink sports bar in downtown DC.

August 23, 2004
Egypt To 50
Egypt, a Silver Spring native, joins the hosting crew of the "Home Delivery" daytime TV show, which will "travel the country from coast-to-coast to find everyday people with unique and compelling stories." It premieres on Channel 50/WBDC on 9/13 at 2 PM, replacing Sharon Osbourne's show. Egypt is a 1993 graduate of Burtonsville's Paint Branch High School. She was named "Best Urban DJ Of 2001" by Baltimore magazine for her stint on Charm City's 92Q, urban WERQ. Egypt's also done gigs for NYC's Power 105, plus BET, MTV2, and UPN.

August 21, 2004
7's Owner Under Criminal Investigation
The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation of Riggs Bank, which has already paid a $25 million civil penalty for its failures to abide by laws designed to prevent money laundering by foreign governments like Saudi Arabia. The Washington Post reports that among the people whose actions are under review are the company's largest shareholder, Joe Allbritton, and his wife, Barbara, and son Robert, who is chairman of the bank and holding company. Might the criminal controversy prompt the Federal Communications Commission to require that the Allbritton family sell its chain of TV stations, including Channel 7/WJLA? Both ABC and the Post itself have expressed interest in owning the DC area's ABC affiliate.

August 20, 2004
New Gig For Art
Former WARW morning co-host Art Mehring will now do traffic reports for Clear Channel's Atlanta radio cluster.

August 19, 2004
FCC Fines WTRI
JMK Communications' Korean-formatted WTRI (1520 AM) in Brunswick, Maryland (halfway between Frederick and Leesburg) received an $18,000 fine from the Federal Communications Commission for failing to maintain "a meaningful staff presence" on multiple occasions, for not properly enclosing one of three station antennas, and for being unresponsive to FCC correspondence. According to R&R, JMK asked the FCC to reduce or cancel the fine, explaining that WTRI's lack of staff presence was a "temporary anomaly occasioned by an unfortunate medical situation." The FCC refused, saying that WTRI's doors were locked on two separate occasions. "JMK's practice of putting a sign on a radio station door directing the public to return later or indicating that a station employee can be found down the street does not constitute the required meaningful management and staff presence at the main studio location," the FCC said. JMK recently sold WTRI to Tricaster Communications for $1.6 million.

August 18, 2004
Brooke's Back
Remember Brooke Stevens? She was Chris Core's co-host at DC's WMAL (630 AM) from 1996 until 2000. Well, she returns to radio this weekend when she joins "The Tom Moore Show," which airs Saturdays at 10 PM on Baltimore's WCBM (680 AM). Brooke's been working for a public relations firm the past four years.

August 18, 2004
AU Asks Court To Terminate Clampitt Suit
American University has asked the DC Superior Court to reject the wrongful-termination lawsuit filed in June by Susan Clampitt, who was fired last fall as general manager of the school's public radio station, WAMU. The university's decision to dismiss Clampitt was based on "legitimate business factors," according to an eight-page response that one of the school's attorneys filed with the court late July.

August 14, 2004
Chuck Leonard Dies
Chuck Leonard (right), the first black radio personality on legendary NYC "top 40" outlet WABC (770 AM), died on 8/12 of lung cancer. He was 67. Leonard started his radio career at Baltimore's WEBB (1360 AM) in 1963. He was: "Chuck Leonard, sittin' tall and cool on the squeaky chair." Leonard left WEBB in 1965 to do nights at WWRL in NYC. WABC's Dan Ingram heard Leonard and recommended him to WABC management. He was lured away by WABC just months after joining WWRL. Leonard also worked at Big Apple radio outlets WXLO, WRKS, WQEW, WJUX, and WBLS.

August 13, 2004
Changes at WARW
WARW's morning team of Mark and Art repeatedly said goodbye on Friday. Hot on the heels of Allie's bailout a few weeks ago. At about 8:45 AM, Mark Kessler said farewell "for the final time." Is this about Tony Kornheiser, by any chance? DCRTV has been reporting that the DC Post and ESPN sports commentator has been talking to Infinity about doing the morning gig at the classic rocker. On Friday afternoon, Max Dugan, WARW's program director, told All Access that Mark will stay with the station (but will he be gone from the morning show?) and Art Mehring is being cut loose. And, there was "no comment" about Tony's possible arrival.

August 13, 2004
DC Indie Music Promoter Commits Suicide
The Washington Post reports that Bill Asp (left), who managed several prominent bands and owned an independent record label during the heyday of Washington's new wave music movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s, died on 8/5 at his daughter's home in Phoenix. He was 53. According to the Maricopa County medical examiner's office, Asp committed suicide by stabbing. Three weeks earlier, his depression and bipolar disorder had been diagnosed. He had moved to Phoenix in May, after living in Arlington for 30 years. Asp helped engineer the regional, and sometimes national, success of such bands as the Insect Surfers, Tru Fax And The Insaniacs, Tiny Desk Unit, Beex, the Young Caucasians, and the Beatnik Flies. Bands that were heard on the old free-form WHFS at 102.3 FM in Bethesda. From 1976 to 1985, Asp and his wife, Debbie, ran an independent record store in Falls Church and later in Arlington called Record And Tape Exchange. Known as RTX, it became a meeting place for people captivated by the burgeoning punk and new wave music scene.

August 12, 2004
Brent Harris Jumps From 45 To CSN
Brent Harris is making the leap from Channel 45/WBFF to Comcast SportsNet. Harris will be an anchor and reporter for "SportsNite" and "SportsRise" on the regional cable sports channel. He'll also serve as CSN's primary reporter in Baltimore, and cover the Orioles, Ravens, and other local teams. Harris was a weekend sports anchor and weekday reporter for WBFF's 10 PM newscast, along with Sinclair's co-operated Channel 54/WNUV's 6:30 PM newscast. Mike Hunt will replace Harris at 45/54.

August 10, 2004
Yancy Named 5's Evening News Anchor
Channel 5/WTTG has officially named Shawn Yancy (left) as co-anchor of its weekday evening newscasts. She and Brian Bolter will be WTTG's prime anchor team. Yancy replaces Tracey Neale, who left the Fox station in late 2003. Neale is due to debut on Gannett's Channel 9/WUSA in September. Yancy had been Channel 5's early morning news anchor, and has been unofficially anchoring WTTG's 5 PM and 10 PM newscasts of late. The 5 AM slot is being filled, on a temporary basis (for now anyway), by Gurvir Dhindsa, who recently left Channel 9. Yancy joined Channel 5 in 2001, coming from a Pittsburgh TV station.

August 10, 2004
McDermott Joining 9
Channel 9/WUSA has signed Todd McDermott to be a news anchor. McDermott is a reporter and anchor at NYC's WCBS-TV and is married to Melissa McDermott, who was a news anchor at Channel 7/WJLA in the late 1990s. He worked at Channel 2/WMAR from 1997 to 2000. McDermott will be paired with JC Hayward at 5 PM, and at 11 PM with Tracey Neale, who jumped from Channel 5/WTTG and is due to debut on WUSA in September.

August 10, 2004
50's GM To Indianapolis
Jerry Martin (right), general manager of Tribune's Channel 50/WBDC, is heading to Indianapolis. While he's leaving the 8th largest TV market for the 25th, he will be managing a Tribune pair of TV stations that has a news operation. Something that WBDC doesn't. "This offers me the opportunity to get back into the news game," Martin told the Washington Post. During Martin's four-year tenure, WB affiliate WBDC saw its ratings rise above Fox-owned rival Channel 20/WDCA, a UPN affiliate, in many time periods.

August 7, 2004
Gurvir Dhindsa Joins 5
Former Channel 9/WUSA news anchor Gurvir Dhindsa has been hired at Channel 5/WTTG on a freelance basis to do fill-in anchoring. She starts Monday and will work on the morning news shift. No word, yet, if she'll be doing that on a permanent basis. Dhindsa will also anchor 5's Sunday 8 AM newscast with freelancer Karen Myers. That show debuts in about two weeks. Dhindsa left Gannett's Channel 9 in July, after her contract wasn't renewed. In other Channel 5 news, former early AM news anchor Shawn Yancy has been anchoring the Fox station's evening newscasts now that Tracey Neale has jumped to Channel 9.

August 7, 2004
Fred Gale Dies
Fred Gale, 72, died at his home in Las Vegas of natural causes. During his 45-year radio career, he worked at the DC area's WWDC, WUST, WINX, WOL, and WPIK, plus WMCA in NYC, and WNAC in Boston.

August 6, 2004
Radio One Hints Racial Bias In Quiznos Decision
Radio One, the African American owner of 68 radio stations, is angry at Quiznos for pulling ads from only urban contemporary-formatted outlets. The sandwich firm yanked its spots from stations that play mainly black artists because, according to Elizabeth Green in the Washington Times, "an internal study showed that the company should not advertise on those stations." Industry insiders said such decisions, called "no-urban dictates," are common. Mario Christino, director for sales and marketing at Lanham-based Radio One, would not comment on the Quiznos decision, but he told the Times that he's "in discussion with" at least one company with a no-urban policy, although he would not name the company. He added that when discussions with a company fail to spark a policy change, his company does not back down. Christino would not be specific about the "other avenues." He said no-urban dictates are unfair but would not comment on whether they constitute discrimination. "Marketers have the perception that African Americans aren't consumers of upscale products," Sherman Kizart, senior vice president and director of urban marketing at Interep, an urban marketing firm, told the Times. "How upscale do you have to be to buy a $2 sandwich?"

August 5, 2004
O&A To XM
DC's XM Satellite Radio officially announces the resurrection of Opie and Anthony. But there's a catch. You'll have to pay extra - a fee of $1.99 per month per radio - to hear them via a new O&A-only channel, 202. That's on top of XM's $9.99 monthly fee. The first show will air in October, live in morning drive (and be repeated throughout the day). "This is the natural next step for our show," according to a Thursday communique from the duo. "We get our freedom back to do a funny, clever, entertaining and at times (wink wink) edgy show that our fans have enjoyed for the past 10 years." O&A have been off of Infinity's airwaves (including from WJFK-FM) since that "sex in a church" stunt in 2002. XM has 2.1 million subscribers, and hopes to add another million by the end of the year.

August 4, 2004
WTRI Sold
Brunswick, Maryland's WTRI (1520 AM) has been sold to Tricaster Communications, a Maryland-based firm with no other stations. The seller was JMK Communications. The price was $1.6 million. There are rumblings that the daytime-only operation may soon drop its Korean programming.

August 4, 2004
9's News Ratings Slump
More bad news for Channel 9/WUSA. News ratings for the turmoil-plagued Gannett station's early evening newscasts plunged during the July "sweeps." The CBS affiliate, which discharged its news director on Monday, was ranked in 5th place at 5 PM. And in 4th place at 6 PM. As usual, Channel 4/WRC's newscasts took the top spot in most time periods. Channel 7/WJLA has been picking up some news ratings steam. No big changes in the TV July news ratings for Baltimore. Channel 11/WBAL leads in the early evening and late evening slots, with Channel 13/WJZ ahead in morning and at noon. Channel 2/WMAR's newscasts take 3rd, except in late evening where they rank 4th, beat by Channel 45/WBFF, too.

August 3, 2004
Bob Murphy Dead
Veteran NY Mets radio voice Bob Murphy died on 8/3 after a battle with lung cancer. He was 79. Murphy worked Baltimore Orioles games in the early 1960s.

August 3, 2004
MD Gov Dishes Out Plum To BAL Talker's Wife
The wife of WBAL-AM afternoon drive talker Ron Smith (right) lands a $79,771 per year job with the state of Maryland. The communications position was created by the administration of Governor Bob Ehrlich, who has campaigned to trim the state government's workforce. Smith has been a vocal supporter of the Republican governor. According to the Baltimore Sun: "The governor's staff installed special equipment on the second floor of the State House allowing Ehrlich to engage in banter with Smith and field generally friendly questions from him and callers." Smith fires back via wbal.com: "She didn’t seek this job. The governor sought her. It was a good hire... Are we friends of this administration? Yes, and it is hardly a secret. I make no apologies for that friendship and am confident that the state of Maryland will get exceedingly good value from employing my wife."

August 2, 2004
Roberts Out As 9's News Director
Dave Roberts is no longer news director at Channel 9/WUSA. Darryll Green, WUSA's general manager, made the announcement at a staff meeting. Randal Stanley, executive news producer at Gannett's 9, formerly of the company's Cleveland and Buffalo TV stations, has been promoted to fill Roberts' shoes on an interim basis. WUSA's been in the news ratings dumps with Roberts at the news helm since 2000. In the early 1990s, Roberts was news director at Hearst's Channel 11/WBAL before taking a like gig at a Gannett TV station in Atlanta. The news director's exit comes only a week after Susan Truitt, senior executive news producer and the number two person on the Gannett station's news staff, tendered her resignation for "family reasons." There could be more changes at 9 in the upcoming months with many contracts either already expired or expiring soon - including Gordon Peterson, Tony Pann, Topper Shutt, Dave Statter, Gary Reals, and Stacey Cohan. Gurvir Dhindsa is gone. Frank Herzog's contract won't be renewed. Former 5er Tracey Neale is expected to debut in September.

August 2, 2004
1300 Drops The "Jock"
Charm City sports talker WJFK-AM drops "The Jock" slogan and replaces it with "The Sports Station, Baltimore's ESPN Radio 1300." The change is apparent in a redesigned website for the Infinity station.

July 29, 2004
Bob Edwards Jumps From NPR To New XM Public Radio Channel
Bob Edwards will be leaving DC-based National Public Radio to host a program for DC-based XM Satellite Radio. Edwards, who was "unceremoniously dumped" as anchor of NPR's "Morning Edition" in March, will do an 8 AM program for XM starting in October. The "Bob Edwards Show" will be heard on XM Public Radio, channel 133, a non-commercial radio-type service to debut in September. It'll feature programming from Public Radio International and American Public Radio. Edwards, who's been at NPR since 1974, has recently been working as a correspondent.

July 28, 2004
FCC Fines PFW
The Federal Communications Commission has fined Pacifica's WPFW (89.3 FM) $3,000 for failing to conduct weekly and monthly Emergency Alert System tests and for the failure of WPFW’s chief operator to verify the EAS log in writing. While Pacifica did not deny that the violations occurred, it asked for a fine reduction by arguing that that the problems had been addressed and that it deserved a reduction due to its status as a small business. The FCC upheld the fine noting that Pacifica didn't provide any documentation to support the small business claim. Pacifica owns half a dozen FMers across the country, including NYC and LA.

July 27, 2004
Radio Guy Buys O's Teams From Comcast
Former Infinity Radio executive David Pearlman buys three Orioles minor league baseball teams from area cable giant Comcast. Including the Bowie Baysox, the Frederick Keys, and the Delmarva Shorebirds.

July 26, 2004
7 & 2 Launch Political Network
Allbritton's Channel 7/WJLA has launched Democratic Party convention coverage via ABC News Now. The political network will be in operation through election night in early November and will be available via WJLA's digital channel 7.2. Comcast is carrying the network in the DC area on channel 194 or 225 (81 in DC), Cox (Fairfax) on channel 807, along with Adelphia and Starpower. Baltimore's ABC affiliate, Scripps-owned Channel 2/WMAR, added the network via its digital 2.2 channel by late in the afternoon on Monday. WJLA had carried Super Doppler 7 radar on channel 7.2, and is working to update equipment to put it on another digital subchannel.

July 26, 2004
XM's Blake Lawrence Gets NYC Radio Gig
Mike Abrams, senior program director of special projects at XM Satellite Radio, adds program director duties at the DC firm's Hits and Dance channels. He replaces Blake Lawrence, who becomes program director at NYC's smooth jazz WQCD at the end of August. Abrams continues programming XM's the Blend and 90s On 9. Also, Cleveland Wheeler, XM's 60s on 6 program director, has reportedly tendered his resignation.

July 24, 2004
Sade Baderinwa Hit-And-Run Victim
Former Channel 11/WBAL news anchor Sade Baderinwa was seriously injured Friday when she was struck by a hit-and-run vehicle. She was covering neighborhood flooding in Hackensack, New Jersey at about 9:30 PM. Baderinwa was working on a report for the 11 PM newscast on NYC's WABC-TV. Reportedly, she was thrown about 10 feet into flood waters. Baderinwa was rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center. On Saturday, her condition was listed as stable. According to abclocal.go.com/wabc: "We were told late Friday that Sade was awake, conscious, and being treated at a trauma unit where she was undergoing a battery of tests... The driver reportedly was traveling at a high rate of speed, and did not stop. We are told the car was found a short time later. The driver is still at large." The car went through a barricade on a flooded street. Baderinwa, a Baltimore native, left Channel 11 last year. She once worked at Channel 9/WUSA.

July 24, 2004
WPGC, WERQ Top Ratings
According to the Arbitron spring radio ratings, urban WPGC-FM, adult urban WMMJ, and all-news WTOP took the top spots in the Nation's Capital. There were upswings for WJFK-FM's Don and Mike, WMMJ's Tom Joyner, WPGC-FM's Donnie Simpson, WASH's Loo and Lori, and news-oriented WMAL and WTOP. WJFK-FM's Howard Stern, DC101's Elliot Segal, and WRQX's Jack Diamond all saw declines. Up in Baltimore, urban WERQ, country WPOC, and news talk WBAL-AM were the kings of the hill. As usual, country WFLS dominated Fredericksburg.

July 22, 2004
5's Gauntt To Philadelphia
Holly Gauntt, assistant news director at Fox-owned Channel 5/WTTG, takes the news director gig at Fox's Philadelphia station, WTXF.

July 19, 2004
Allie Gone From 94.7
WARW's morning team of Mark, Art, and Allie is now just Mark and Art. Apparently, Mark Kessler announced this morning that Allie has left 94.7 because "she values quality of life over a paycheck."

July 17, 2004
9 Won't Renew Frank Herzog's Contract
Channel 9/WUSA is giving the boot to Frank Herzog, its main sports anchor. This comes after February's announcement that the long-time "voice" of the Redskins won't be in Infinity-owned WJFK-FM's radio booth this season. According to the Washington Times, Herzog, who'd just returned from vacation, was summoned into the office of WUSA General Manager Darryll Green (not the former Redskin) and was told that his contract would not be renewed when it expires in November. Channel 9's overall anemic ratings are said to be the culprit. The Gannett-owned station has gone through five main sports anchors since the very popular Glenn Brenner died in January 1992. First, the station brought back 1970s anchor Warner Wolf after a 16-year hiatus, then turned to Ken Broo, Jess Atkinson, Steve Davis, and Herzog, who started working at 9 some 35 years ago. In March 2003, WUSA fired weekend sports anchor Ken Mease, a 17-year station veteran. There's no word about who'll replace Herzog, who was top sports anchor at Channel 7/WJLA from 1983 to 1993. Let the speculation begin.

July 14, 2004
Former WAMU GM Sues AU
Susan Clampitt, who was fired last October as general manager of WAMU, is suing the NPR station's owner, American University, and its president, Benjamin Ladner, for wrongful termination. The Washington Times reports that she is seeking more than $12 million in damages, including $3 million for "severe physical, emotional and psychological distress." Ladner dismissed Clampitt after the DC Post reported financial and morale problems at WAMU. In a complaint filed 6/30 in DC Superior Court, Clampitt's attorneys stated that Ladner approved her "financial and budgetary recommendations" and failed to "claim any responsibility for the policies and practices that caused staff discontent." According to the Times, the document also states that WAMU host Diane Rehm "informed several individuals" in July 2003 that she intended to force Clampitt from her job.

July 14, 2004
Power Hike For WYPR
Your Public Radio plans to hike the power of its Baltimore NPR outlet, WYPR (88.1 FM), and move its Frederick relay (also on 88.1) to the north, to improve coverage of Hagerstown.

July 13, 2004
Jones Joins Radio One
Radio One announces that Zemira Jones becomes vice-president of operations at the Lanham headquarters. Jones comes from ABC's Chicago radio cluster. He once worked at ABC's WMAL.

July 12, 2004
New PD At POC
Clear Channel Baltimore country outlet WPOC has picked Ken Boesen as its new program director, replacing Scott Lindy, who went to Sirius Satellite Radio. Boesen comes form a Portland, Oregon country station, and has worked in Fresno, Boise, and Fort Collins.

July 8, 2004
Documentarian Bill Leonard Dies
From the Washington Post: Bill Leonard, an award-winning television journalist who went on to produce the landmark Visible Human Project, the world's largest database of human anatomy, died of a stroke on 6/20 at Sibley Memorial Hospital. He was 73 and lived in DC. "He was a superb documentarian and writer," said Joel Albert, former manager of news at Channel 4/WRC. "His storytelling ability was his true gift. Bill made a contribution to understanding our community." He won six local Emmy awards for documentaries and news programs at WRC-TV in the 1970s and continued to produce freelance news stories, documentaries, and information films as president of his own production company.

July 2, 2004
"Teapot Tim" Becomes Human Firework
WIHT/Hot 99.5 "Hot Morning Mess" stuntman "Teapot Tim" Coburn (left) went to "the boss's house" in North Potomac Friday morning and lit himself as a human firework. A DCRTVer tells us that a neighbor called 911. Firefighters and police showed up. News choppers from Channels 4 and 5 hovered over the scene, we hear. Authorities were called to the home of WIHT Program Director Jeff Wyatt on Pineapple Grove Drive at 8:30. They found a group of people on a lawn setting off fireworks that were strapped to the body of a radio station employee, according to Associated Press. Montgomery County Fire spokesman Pete Piringer says the person had some padding that apparently provided enough protection, so no one was hurt. But fireworks are banned in the county, so three people were given civil citations on charges of possession and discharge of fireworks, as well as reckless endangerment. It'll be up to prosecutors to decide if criminal charges are warranted, AP adds. However, one person received minor burns, says nbc4.com. Coburn's had several Hot 99.5-related run-ins with the law, including getting busted in Manassas for mooning motorists. Clear Channel owns the rhythmic contemporary station.

July 2, 2004
WOL, WYCB Gospel Preacher Dies
Ray Edwards, 58, a gospel artist and radio personality, died on 6/24 at George Washington University Hospital. He had cancer. Edwards was the Sunday afternoon voice on Radio One's WOL and WYCB for about 10 years. According to the Washington Post, he transformed a radio studio "into an electronic pulpit by delivering soul-stirring tunes, prayers and tearful testimonies. He also was a popular gospel concert host who liked to arrive at events in fur coats, tailor-made suits and fancy sports cars, the last one being a silver Jaguar." Edwards was known as "Mr. Quality Gospel Himself."

July 1, 2004
Erin Carman Joins Discovery
Former Z104 morning co-host Erin Carman has landed a gig with Silver Spring-based Discovery Communications. She'll be the host of "Garage Takeover," a new home "makeover" show scheduled to appear in early 2005 on the Discovery Channel. In April, Carmen got the boot as Brett Haber's radio partner.

July 1, 2004
WGOP Calls Gone From 700
Birach has taken the WGOP calls off its Frederick area talker (700 AM), and put them on its Pocomoke City station (540 AM). That station's WDMV calls are now on the Frederick outlet.

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