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 Southern Pennsylvania Radio and Television New night jock at Hot 92 - 7/29 - Harrisburg-area hip-hop outlet WWKL-FM (92.1 Palmyra) has a new night jock: Zander, who comes down Route 322 from WBHV State College. Former night jock Lucas moves to PM drive and adds assistant program director duties; he's already music director for the Cumulus-owned station. High school football back on broadcast TV - 7/23 - Today's Lancaster New Era reports that WTVE-TV (51 Reading) will join the brigade of stations airing high school sports broadcasts produced by the SportsFever Television Network. Last year, Gordon Blain's outfit started airing Saturday night prime-time football games on UPN affiliate WLYH-TV (15 Lancaster). This winter, it aired high school basketball broadcasts on WGCB-TV (49 Red Lion). WLYH is scheduled to air 11 Saturday football broadcasts, with WGCB airing 12 Friday night games. WTVE will pick up the entire slate. This augments the slate of games produced by cable companies' local-original stations, such as CN8, Suscom 4 and Blue Ridge 11, as well as state-wide cable outlet PCN. Forney leaves FOX43 - 7/23 - Peter Bothum of the York Daily Record reports in today's Tuned In column that WPMT-TV (43 York) reporter Deanna Forney has left the station to become a stay-at-home mom. News director Jim DePury said Forney may return to the station at some point on a freelance basis. WOYK fine overturned - 7/22 - AllAccess reported Tuesday that the Federal Communications Commission overturned a $7,000 fine judgement against WOYK (1350 York) after the station argued the fence enclosure violation it received was not legit. Durgin featured - 7/16 - Sunday's edition of The Patriot-News of Harrisburg includes a piece on WHP (580 Harrisburg) PM drive host Bob Durgin. Click here to read the piece. Wilsbach won't be feeling any more Heat - 7/16 - The demise of the Harrisburg Heat of Major Indoor Soccer League means one less gig for John Wilsbach. Wilsbach, general manager of WMSS-FM (91.1 Middletown), Middletown Area High School's radio station, served as announcer for the Heat for their 12-year run at the Farm Show Complex. He also handles weekday traffic reports for Cumulus' Harrisburg-based stations and announces high-school football and basketball games for WMSS. Curtis leaves Channels 21, 15 - 7/9 - WHP-TV/WLYH-TV sports anchor John Curtis has left town, Peter Bothum reports in today's York Daily Record. Curtis recently moved to Florida with his wife and two daughters. In addition, weekend meterologist/reporter Melissa Cole will soon be departing for WFSB-TV Hartford. Golf tourney hits airwaves - 7/9 - The Patriot-News reported Sunday that The Golf Channel will be airing local The Reese's Cup stop on the Nationwide Tour, a developmental tour for the PGA, in mid-July. It's the first time the tournament, held in Hershey, has been televised since 1999. Eagles switching stations in Harrisburg? - 7/9 - Citadel-owned country outlet WCAT-FM (106.7 Hershey) has recently started airing promos pegging themselves as the Eagles' Harrisburg affiliate this year. The Birds haven't been on FM in the Susquehanna Valley since then-WEGK (92.7 Starview) dropped the Eagles two years back when it flipped to oldies WHBO-FM. The past two years, the Eagles have aired on WTKT (1460 Harrisburg) and WLPA (1490 Lancaster); WLPA is WHBO's sister station. Big 33 game to air on Channel 27, FOX Sports Pittsburgh - 7/9 - Television viewers across the mid-state will be able to catch the 46th rendition of the Big 33 football all-star game, pitting the best seniors in Pennsylvania against the best seniors in Ohio, Saturday, July 26, live on WHTM-TV (27 Harrisburg) as well as FOX Sports Pittsburgh and FOX Sports Ohio. No word on whether CN8, part of the network in previous years, will pick up the game. WHTM sports director Gregg Mace and former Penn State quarterback Todd Blackledge will work the booth. Comcast selling QVC stake - 7/6 - The Lancaster New Era reported Saturday that Comcast, under pressure to reduce debt acquired through its recent purchase of AT&T Broadband, is selling its 58-percent stake in West Chester-based shopping channel QVC to Liberty Media Corp. for $7.9 billion. QVC currently employs 1,200 people at its facility in West Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, and has presented proposals to the township for expanding its distribution center. No mention is made of how a sale of the network to Liberty, which currently owns 42 percent of QVC, would affect any potential construction. No Bothum column? - 7/3 - Fear not, we haven't forgot: it appears that York Daily Record entertainment and broadcasting writer Peter Bothum is out of town and/or on vacation, which is why his bi-weekly radio/TV column didn't appear either this week or last in the online edition of the YDR or in SPRTV's home-delivered copy. Viacom policy handcuffs Channel 15, Phillies fans - 7/3 - An interesting article in Tuesday's edition of The Patriot News highlights the dilemma facing WLYH-TV (15 Lancaster) as it tries to toes Viacom's new strict policy about program pre-emption. It means that UPN affiliates such as Channel 15 can only pre-empt up to 15 hours of UPN's prime-time schedule each calendar year -- meaning that old Channel 15 fixtures such as the Phillies and Orioles are getting their weeknight games shoved off the free airwaves. "I've received a mind-numbing amount of e-mail [complaints] over the last few weeks," Channel 15 general manager Matt Uhl says of the policy, which has helped reduced the station's load of Phillies' games to 32 games from last year's 43. York County Oriole fans with cable hookups have a safety valve as Suscom 4 airs any games that aren't on Comcast Sports Net -- Mid-Atlantic and aren't carried on WLYH. However, there's no such backup for Phils fans living anywhere in the Susquehanna Valley. See sports reporter David Jones' full column here. WITF-FM to shuffle lineup - 6/30 - The Lancaster Sunday News reports that National Public Radio affiliate WITF-FM (89.5 Harrisburg, with a translator in Lancaster at 99.7) is making some lineup changes. Included in the moves is the addition of the new NPR "news quiz" show, "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" to the lineup Saturdays at 11 a.m., starting this Saturday, July 5. "Whad' Ya Know?" previously aired in that time slot; it will now air at 11 a.m. Sunday. WGAL honored for public service programs - 6/23 - The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation recently presented WGAL (Channel 8) with its Service to America Award, according to Friday's Intelligencer Journal. Last year, the NAB gave WGAL its Partnership Award for its work with Millersville University on the "Learning Matters" campaign. Former Channel 8 sales manager dies - 6/17 - The Intelligencer Journal of Lancaster reported the passing of former WGAL sales executive Thomas E. McCarthy of Lancaster Tuesday. McCarthy began his career with WEST Easton and later moved on to WGAL. At the time both stations were owned by Steinman Stations (now Delmarva Broadcasting). McCarthy retired from Channel 8 in 1989. WJTL to broadcast live from Creation Fest - 6/13 - AllAccess is reporting that Christian Contemporary WJTL (90.3 Lancaster) will broadcast live from Creation 2003, the annual Christian rock music festival that organizers said this week was moving from from Mt. Union to Hershey. Creation 2003 will be held at Hersheypark Stadium and the Giant Center from Wednesday, June 25, through Saturday, June 28, and WJTL will be on hand for all of the action. Changes at WGAL - 6/10 - WGAL (Channel 8) is making some subtle changes to its news staff, Peter Bothum of the York Daily Record reports. New reporter Diane Dimoff, a former WGAL intern, comes to town to take the spot vacated by Patrice Harris in the Harrisburg bureau a couple months back. Also, new part-timers Benjamin Simmoneau and Meredith Jourgensen will split reporter Carrie Fairchild's duties while she is out on maternity leave. For more from Bothum, click here. I-105 announces concert lineup - 6/10 - Country WIOV-FM (105.1 Ephrata) announced the bill for its 12th annual Fall Music Fest at Long's Park in Lancaster. Among some of the artists on this year's bill are Joe Diffie, Rhett Atkins, Tracy Lawrence, Mark Chestnutt and Chad Brock, AllAccess reports. WHTM back on Dish - 6/5 - The Intelligencer Journal of Lancaster reports in Thursday's edition that WHTM-TV (Channel 27) owner Allbritton Communications Co. and EchoStar Communications Corp., owner of Dish Network, have resolved a disagreement over retransmission consent. The agreement was reached in time for local Dish Network viewers to see the WHTM feed of the NBA Finals' Game 1. Terms of the agreement, which also affected three other Allbritton ABC affiliates, were not disclosed. Lancaster County spots to be featured on WITF-TV, PBS - 6/4 - The Intelligencer Journal of Lancaster reports in Wednesday's edition that two Lancaster County locales will be getting some screen time on WITF-TV. The borough of Elizabethtown will be featured on WITF's "Our Town" series this month. In addition, the station is showing a documentary produced last year, when the community celebrated its 175th anniversary. Assistant borough manager Roni Ryan said that the programs will educate people about Elizabethtown, past and present. In addition, the PBS series "The New Yankee Workshop" was at Columbia's National Watch & Clock Museum last month to film a short segment and also to learn a little background on the history of American horology. Host Norm Abram will build a Mission-style grandfather clock during an episode that will air during "New Yankee's" 16th season, that begins in January; the segment on the museum will kick off the episode. ESPN Radio returns to Lancaster County - 6/4 - Out with the old and in with ... the old old? ESPN Radio programming has returned to WPDC (1600 Elizabethtown), which dropped all-sports two years ago to go with brokered Spanish language programming. This time around, WPDC will not air Infinity-syndicated Don & Mike, as it did during its last stint as a sports-talker; the show is still heard on co-owned WOYK (1350 York), also an ESPN Radio affiliate. No word on why the plug was pulled on en Enspanol. WHTM, Dish Network in retransmission dispute - 6/2 - Monday's editions of The Intelligencer Journal and the Lancaster New Era, both publications of Lancaster Newspapers, report on ABC affiliate WHTM (Channel 27) yanking its signal from Dish Network subscribers effective midnight Friday. According to Patrick Burns' story in The Intelligencer Journal (not available on the paper's website), the dispute boils down to WHTM and Dish parent EchoStar disagreeing on whether to permit out-of-market signals to be imported to local subscribers. Area broadcast pioneer dies - 6/2 - J. Robert Gulick Sr. of York, an early member of the management of what is now WOYK and later WGAL-TV, passed away Saturday at 96, The Intelligencer Journal of Lancaster reported in Monday's editions. Gulick was assistant general manager of WGAL-TV from its sign-on until retiring in 1971. He was also a sales representative and station manager at then-WORK in York and worked with the Mason Dixon Group broadcasting company. WHP lands former Channel 27 news director - 5/27 - In an attempt to upgrade its news operation, Clear Channel-owned WHP (Channel 21), the market's CBS affiliate, has lured old WHTM news director Greg Zoerb, who stepped down last September from the Allbritton station, to take over as Ch. 21's news director, according to the York Daily Record. Zoerb had been working in public relations since leaving Ch. 27. More at the Daily Record's website. Harrisburg book embargoed - 6/2 - All Access is reporting that the results from the Spring Phase 1 trends from Harrisburg have been embargoed for an unspecified reason. In addition, results are now out for the York trends at All Access. Kiss announces summer jam lineup - 5/20 - The Harrisburg Forum will play host to the KISS-FM Summer Jam Sunday, June 8, AllAccess reports. Wayne Wonder, Frankie J, DF Dub, Stagga Lee and Chingy are the announced artists on the bill. For more, log onto the web site for WHKF Harrisburg. Make-A-Wish Convoy sets new standards - 5/20 - Country WIOV (105.1 Ephrata) raised $200,000 for Make-A-Wish with its 14th annual Mothers' Day Make-A-Wish Convoy May 11. The event featured 350 tractor trailers rolling through the 25-mile convoy. Donahue adds another station - 5/14 - Jed Donahue's afternoon-drive "Speaking of Sports" program has picked up a new affiliate: WTZN (1310 Troy), an ESPN Radio affiliate. Troy is situated near the New York state line and Elmira. Donahue recently added WRSC (1390 State College) and WBLF (970 Bellefonte) as full-time affiliates. "Speaking of Sports," which focuses on everything from the pro teams to Penn State to high school sports, is heard on a number of stations in south central Pennsylvania, including WTKT (1460 Harrisburg), WLAN (1390 Lancaster), WIOV (1240 Reading) and WGET (1320 Gettysburg). Record-setters? - 5/13 - The WCAT (106.7 Harrisburg) morning duo of (Dennis) Mitchell and Michelle (Cruz) raised $55,000 for the Penn State Children's Hospital by building what the Guinness Book of Records is saying is the most amount of Hershey's Kisses ever used to put together one big Kiss -- 4 miles' worth. The event was dubbed "Kisses for Kids." Cadillac Jack back in the saddle - 5/13 - AllAccess is reporting that former WLAN (96.9 Lancaster) and WIOV (105.1 Ephrata) jock Cadillac Jack is the new afternoon jock at country WGCY Scranton. In addition to working in the Lancaster market, Jack has also worked at WAVA in the Washington, D.C., market and WIOQ Philadelphia. Bennett leaving FOX 43? - 5/8 - Sources report to SPRTV that WPMT-TV (43 York) news anchor Sandra Bennett is leaving the Tribune-owned station to spend time with her new child. Bennett, a graduate of Boiling Springs High School, has been with FOX 43 since 1997, according to the station's website. Bennett worked at stations in Allentown, Reading, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Steubenville, Oh., before coming back to the Susquehanna Valley. She's been co-anchoring the 10 p.m. newscast with Evan Forrester for four years. Reportedly, Bennett will remain at FOX 43 until her contract expires at the end of the summer (which would carry her through May and July sweeps periods). "Mad Dog" holds food drive, updates website - 5/8 - AllAccess reports that oldies WSOX (96.1 Red Lion) morning host Michael "Mad Dog" Ovadia and co-host Rudy conducted a 3-day food drive in the parking lot of the York Sam's Club last week. The York County Food Bank was the beneficiary of the 3,000 donated items and $150 in cash donations. In addition, Mad Dog has updated his website and added some recent bits: click here to take a look. WHAG joins sister-station WCHA in flipping formats - 5/2 - From DCRTV:Hagerstown's WHAG (1410 AM) has dropped the news-talk format it's offered for 20-plus years in favor of adult popular standards. The Dame Broadcasting-owned station now plugs into the satellite feed of "Music Of Your Life," joining co-owned WCHA (800 AM) in nearby Chambersburg. WHAG will still feature a live morning show as well as Hagerstown Suns minor league baseball and the ESPN "Game On The Week." A Dame suit says that the station's lowish ratings didn't justify the more expensive news talk format. Click here to read The Herald-Mail's story. WMRTV moving - 5/2 - The Western Maryland Radio and Television site has a new home. Visit the WMRTV page at www.geocities.com/westmdrtv. Flip in Chambersburg; is one coming in Starview? - 5/1 - Correspondents report that WCHA (800 Chambersburg) has curiously flipped from all-news to standards -- just weeks after Paul Harvey's show moved down the dial from co-owned WHAG (1400 Hagerstown MD). In another note, WOYK (1350 York) is proclaiming that Dan Patrick's ESPN Radio show, which 1350 dumps at 3 p.m. for syndicated Don & Mike, will soon air in its entirety (1-4 p.m.) on the station. Does that mean Don & Mike are headed for another talker in town -- perhaps the long-rumored 92.7 changeover? Buterbaugh returns to Ch. 27 - 4/8 - Dennis Buterbaugh is no longer a former WHTM news reporter. The former WGAL anchor/reporter returned to the Harrisburg ABC affiliate recently after a one-year stint in the Schweiker administration, the York Daily Record reports in its Tuned In column. Buterbaugh is holding down general assignment reporter duties. Changes in Hagerstown? - 4/8 - SPRTV's Travers Devine notes that some changes may well be on the way at news-talk WHAG (1410 Hagerstown MD), including the move of Paul Harvey's ABC Radio commentaries to co-owned all-news WCHA (800 Chambersburg PA). More updates as the news warrants. Pittsburgh site moves - 4/4 - The Pittsburgh area's equivalent of this site, Pittsburgh Radio and Television (PBRTV) is moving. The new web address is www.pbrtv.com. Check it out! Susquehanna sees revenue increase - 4/7 - York-based Susquehanna Radio announced a 17-percent increase in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2002, AllAccess reports. Susquehanna saw a nine percent revenue increase for the entire year, to $216.2 million. New imaging at WGTY - 4/4 - AllAccess is reporting that country WGTY (107.7 Gettysburg) has a new voice on its promos: Colin Hafkey, who also recently signed on to do imaging for AC WBWZ Poughkeepsie NY. WSOX purchase flagged - 3/28 - AllAccess is reporting that the FCC will do the customary review of Susquehanna's purchase of York oldies outlet WSOX (96.1 Red Lion). Susquehanna currently owns news-talk WSBA (910 York) and AC WARM-FM (103.3 York) in the market. Bond returns - 3/20 - WRKZ-FM (102.3 Carlisle) morning host Bruce Bond is back -- finally. Bond returned to the classic hits station at 7:30 this morning, after a 10-minute montage of audio celebrating his freedom from Cumulus' non-compete clause. A story in a recent edition of The Patriot-News of Harrisburg mentions that Big John, who has worked with Stretch while Bond was off the air, will potentially remain with the show in some capacity. Hot gets new MD - 3/18 - AllAccess is reporting that WWKL-FM (92.1 Palmyra) night jock Lucas is now the station's music director. Previous MD Denny Logan now focuses on his morning-host and music director duties at sister WNNK-FM (104.1 Harrisburg). Beck holding pro-American rally - 3/12 - Clear Channel syndicated talk-show host Glenn Beck (heard locally on WHP 580 Harrisburg) is holding a series of pro-American rallies throughout the nation, AllAccess reports. Included in the tour will be a stop up the road in Philadelphia Sunday. For more info, log onto Beck's website. Suscom/Comcast Sportsnet debacle continues - 3/12 - As if you hadn't heard enough of this one already ... Peter Bothum's Tuned In column in Tuesday's edition of the York Daily Record rails against Susquehanna Communications' decision not to carry Comcast Sportsnet's Philadelphia service. (Suscom does carry Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic, dating back to the network's HTS days.) Suscom officials have said in the past that Sixers and Flyers games would have to be blacked out in York County since the NBA and NHL, respectively, consider York County part of the market of the respective Washington, D.C., franchises (the Wizards and Capitols). Of course, this doesn't explain why Penguins and Pirates games have never been blacked out on Fox Sports Pittsburgh, another long-time Suscom staple. Suscom provides cable service to most of York and Adams counties. Apparently, this years-long battle isn't ending anytime soon. Martin leaving ABC27 - 3/12 - WHTM-TV (Channel 27) reporter Amanda Martin is leaving the station after three years to join KUSA-TV Denver, the NBC affiliate in her hometown (York Daily Record). Bond's banging down the door - UPDATE - 3/6 - Citadel-owned WRKZ-FM (102.3 Carlisle) is already trumpeting the return of deposed morning host Bruce Bond to its lineup March 18 at 8:30 a.m. (Is this when the injunction actually expires?) Spots have started running in recent days featuring Stretch (Bond's sidekick and the interim main man in the morning) and Big John (holding down Stretch's duties for the moment). This is in addition to the impossible-to-miss billboard ads that have been plastered on I-83 near the South Bridge. Bond has been on the sidelines for the past six months or so after his old employer, Cumulus Media's WNNK-FM (104.1), went to court to enforce a non-compete that Bond said was null and void since he was fired and he didn't quit at Wink. Stretch and the gang are still there but Bond will return to a slightly different station, one that segued from '80s new wave to a classic hits format in December. Could Bruce's return be the setting stage for more format-morphing at Z? UPDATE - 3/10 - Indeed, the reason Bond will return to the air at 8:30 a.m., as opposed to 6 a.m., is because of specifics surrounding the non-compete. In a post at Radio-Info.com's Central Pennsylvania forum, Citadel GM Mike Shannon also noted that debate over the exact time elapsed might mean Bond doesn't return until Thursday, March 20. Back online - 3/10 - An apology for lack of updates over the weekend while the editor was out of town. As of Monday night, SPRTV is back in business! WJTL holds Skifest - 3/10 - WJTL (90.3 Lancaster) held its annual Skifest at Lewisberry's Ski Roundtop this weekend, featuring several Contemporary Christian groups (All Access). KISS-FM is a good Neighbor - 3/5 - WHKF-FM (99.3 Harrisburg) raised $1,000 for the fund established to carry on the works of long-time PBS children's show host Fred Rogers, All Access reports. The Mr. Rogers Tribute Trolley, guided by PD Jason Barsky and Garfield the Trolley Driver, cruised the city Saturday and offered free rides while also accepting donations. Approximately $1,000 was raised. Donations will be given to Family Communications' "Fred Rogers Fund." More at All Access. Trends released today - 3/5 - All Access reports that Winter Phase I trends for York and Harrisburg will be released today. We'll flag you as to when they're available and we'll post them on our new ratings page, as well. Sutton inducted into York Area Sports Hall of Fame - 3/5 - From the "news that slipped under the radar screen" file: WSBA (910 York) late-morning talk show host Gary Sutton was inducted into the York Area Sports Hall of Fame at the York Area Sports Night Jan. 29. Before his current gig, Sutton was known to York Countians as a standout athlete at Northeastern High School in the 1970s; he also coached Columbia's boys' basketball team to a state championship in 1990. Handling the MC chores was former WSBA sports personality Curt Hart, who used to host a nighttime sports show with Sutton. Hart back in radio - 3/5 - Former WSBA (910 York) and WQXA (1250 York) sportscaster Curt Hart returns to the AM dial for the first time in 18 months. According to All Access, Hart launched a new Saturday morning auto-racing show on all-sports WNST (1570 Towson MD) last month. The program airs from 9 to 11 a.m. Hart spent nearly two decades with WSBA before departing in 2000. A brief five-month stint at WQXA, where he hosted an afternoon-drive sports call-in show and did play-by-play, ended in July 2001; Hart's been off the radio since, though he did have a weekly show on WGBC-TV (49 Red Lion) for some time. WNST's signal is listenable (though interference-ridden) days in southern York County. SPRTV has new editor - 3/4 - Sean Smyth is the new editor of SPRTV, taking over for Travers Devine. Sean encourages you to e-mail him at the web page's new e-mail address, SPRTV@aol.com. As always, SPRTV encourages feedback from its readers. It'd be great to hear from you! Travers has said he will remain on as moderator for the e-mail group, which allows for immediate discussion of any breaking news in SPRTV-land. Ratings moved to separate page - 3/4 - In order to help reduce the length of the news headlines segment, we've moved ratings book results to a separate page. Click here for ratings from the York, Harrisburg, Lancaster and Hagerstown/Chambersburg books. New web address for SPRTV - 3/4 - We have an easier address to remember! Effective immediately, SPRTV can be found online at sprtv.bravepages.com. As with all free web space, you're going to have to deal with a moderate amount of advertising, so please bear with us. Gradually there will be some minor alterations to SPRTV, though nothing major. Feel free to e-mail us with any comments, concerns or questions. WGBC gets NASCAR company in Hagerstown/Chambersburg - 3/4 - SPRTV's Travers Devine reports that VerStandig has added NASCAR broadcasts to two more of its Hagerstown/Chambersburg outlets. News-talk WCBG (1590 Chambersburg PA) was formerly the sole affiliate; it is now joined by classic rock station WSRT (92.1 Mercersburg PA) and WHGT (1380 Waynesboro PA). Motor Racing Network and Performance Racing Network produce broadcasts of the Winston Cup and Busch Series races. "Mad Dog" stays in town, after all - 2/26 - All Access reports today that WSOX (96.1 Red Lion) morning-show host Michael (Mad Dog) Ovaida isn't leaving the oldies outlet, as previously reported. Ovaida was to become program director and morning host at WWSO in Virginia Beach, Va., but reversed course once he learned Susquehanna Radio Corp. was purchasing the station. Susquehanna, owner of heritage York stations WSBA (910) and WARM-FM (103.3), announced it was purchasing WSOX Feb. 14. Staying with WSOX ... - 2/25 - The York Daily Record's Peter Bothum reports that, in addition to Ovaida staying at WSOX, new owner Susquehanna Radio Corp. is not planning any major changes. Former station controller Alan Brill said that was a key part to any station sale. “It was really important to me [to prevent changes], because this has just been an outstanding station. So many of the radio groups anymore are just turning (stations) into machines, and I think Susquehanna is still trying to run radio stations that are tuned to their markets." For Bothum's entire story, click here. WSOX changing hands - 2/17 - The Saturday, Feb. 15, editions of The Intelligencer-Journal of Lancaster and the Lancaster New Era report that oldies WSOX (96.1 Red Lion) has been sold to Susquehanna Radio Corp., owner of WSBA (910 York) and WARM-FM (103.3 York). Purchase price was not disclosed. The station was formerly controlled by Alan Brill of Brill Media (kept separate from the other media holdings when Brill went bankrupt) and was owned for years by Red Lion Broadcasting and Thomas Moffitt. Susquehanna now has a two-pronged AC/oldies monster to counter Hall's AC WROZ (101.3 Lancaster) and oldies WHBO-FM (92.7 Starview). Eventually, WSOX will move from its current Springettsbury Township studios into Susquehanna's Hellam Township complex. Editor Leaves - 2/17 - To all SPRTV readers, I regret to inform that I am going to have to resign being editor of SPRTV (Southern Pennsylvania Radio & TV). Due to some family issues on top of other things including school and work I can't find enough time to continue editing the web page. When I became editor of SPRTV I was in early high school and had much time to devote to the page. Now that I am in the college arena with 2 jobs I have to prioritize what I do and sadly SPRTV falls at the end of the list. In my view that isn't fair to the page and its readers. I will try to find someone else who will devote the time to SPRTV and continue the page. Until then I would like to return the page to Dave Hughes who does a great job with DCRTV in hopes an other editor will come along. I would like to thank EVERYONE who over the years has helped compile the information seen on SPRTV today! I will continue to contribute to all the DCRTV pages but for now it is best I back out of editing. Thanks very much for understanding, and forward any questions you may have to tdevine2@juno.com . As they say on the amateur bands, 73's and I'll catch you all down the road! -Travers(SPRTV editor) (2/13/03)..... Susquehanna buying WSOX - 2/17 - SPRTV hears from a reliable source that Susquehanna, owners of adult contemporary WARM 103 and news/talk 910 WSBA, have entered into an agreement with Alan Brill to buy WSOX "Oldies 96.1" This would give the company #1, #2, and #10 places in York; along with #4 and #5 places in Lancaster..... New "Wild" Website - 2/6 - The newest station in Hagerstown (really Halfway) now has a website almost up and running. Check out "The most Hip-Hop and R&B, Wild 96.7" online at www.wild967.fm..... 92.7 "The Source"? - 1/30 - I posted this awhile back on SPRTV, but the rumor is growing ever so stronger that 92.7 may go news/talk soon. The latest from some SPRTV e-mail and postings on Radio-Info.com is that WHBO may become "92.7 The Source" with major talents like Rush and Dr. Laura mixed with local talkers and sports coverage ala the Hershey Bears which 92.7 already carries. The goal of the station would be to target Harrisburg and go head-to-head with the successfull AM 580 WHP. "Big 92.7" is lagging behind WSOX "Oldies 96.1" in York and Lancaster and leads in Harrisburg only by a 0.6 share. In the latest Ratings oldies WHBO was able to pull 10th place in Harrisburg, 15th place in Lancaster, and only 19th place in York. Stay tuned..... WCAT Exit a Firing - 1/29 - About half a month ago All-Access reported that Bobby Quinn and Earl David Reed had exited "Cat Country 106.7". But the Tuned column in the York Daily Record follows up that the duo were actually fired. Before the firing the duo were the highest paid on-air personalities at the station but commercial sales were down. The story that Quinn and Reed exited the station is something that WCAT made up for the listeners, and the duo didn't take to kindly that they just walked away. They were fired from the station for "financial reasons". “Hey, I can handle the station telling people that we got fired,” Quinn said. “If we got fired, take the heat that you fired us. I just wanted to let our listeners know that we got let go. Because when you get fired, you don’t get a chance to say goodbye to your listeners.” Mike Shannon, GM of WCAT and Citadel said "yes, Quinn and Reed were indeed let go" and "that after five years of the same basic show, it was time for a change. Money wasn’t the major reason for the move, but it played a part" The station plans to extend their current lineup which now is more cost effective than before. Currently Quinn and Reed are doing standup comedy in the local circuit and hope to land another morning gig in the market. In the meantime WCAT's lineup is Mitchell and Cruz from 6 AM to 10 AM, Taylor from 10 AM to 3 PM, and McGuire from 3 PM to 7 PM. “This is the lineup that’s going to take us to the next ratings level,” Shannon said..... WITF Radio Exit - 1/23 - Classical/NPR 89.5 WITF-FM News Director Damon (Beau) Boughamer is leaving the station in February to try his hand in politics. WITF earned two PRNDI -- Public Radio News Directors Incorporated -- awards in Boughamer's three-plus years, including one national first place prize for breaking news coverage of the September 2001 attacks. The station also picked up 14 Pennsylvania Associated Press Broadcasters Association awards and a national AP citation for coverage of murder arrests related to the 1969 York, Pa. race riots. The Pittsburgh-area native Ohio University graduate also has worked for WOUB-AM/FM/TV in Athens, Ohio and WKHM-AM/FM and WIBM-AM in Jackson, Michigan. No successor has been named yet for WITF..... SPRTV Update - 1/17 - Due to some circumstances beyond my control, it has been awhile since SPRTV has been updated. To catch the page back up, below are some headlines from All-Access from the past 2 weeks: -All Access told you yesterday (1/15) that Citadel Communication's Country WCAT/Harrisburg, PA morning show duo Bobby Quinn and Earl David Reed exited the station. Following that change VP/GM Mike Shannon of Citadel's Harrisburg cluster including Active Rock WQXA-FM, Classic Country WXQA-AM, Country WCAT, 70s & 80s hits WRKZ and Oldies WHYL-AM, announced the following changes. WCAT afternoon driver Dennis Mitchell will team up with WQXA-FM middayer Michelle Cruz for wake-up duties on WCAT. Leeanne Taylor goes from just filling in on middays at WCAT to full-time and WCAT PD/MD Sam McGuire will take over afternoon drive. WQXA-FM MD Nixon can now be heard on middays at WQXA-FM and Will Althoff joins as WQXA-FM morning show producer/web master. -Top 40 WWMD (MAGIC 101.5)/Hagerstown-Chambersburg, PA announces the hiring of Brian Mo for afternoon duty. Current afternooner J.B. will segue to mornings. Brian, who is currently doing weekends at Infinity's Top 40 WBZZ (B94)/Pittsburgh, previously served as APD/MD at Top 40 WVAQ/Morganstown, WV. -Citadel Communications/Harrisburg, owners of WQXA-FM, WQXA, WCAT, WRKZ, and WHYL, announced today that five employees are receiving promotions, effective immediately. WCAT afternooner Dennis Mitchell will move to mornings and will be joined by former WQXA midday host, Michelle Cruz. Former part-time talent Leeanne Taylor will now do middays at WCAT. Also, announced was the promotion of WQXA MD Nixon to middays on WQXA-FM and Will Althoff as the morning show producer and web master. -ClearChannel Top 40 WHKF (99-3 KISS-FM)/Harrisburg, PA night slammer JB Wilde's sidekick Krazy Kraig had a near-death experience the other night, and the radio show, WILDE @ NIGHT, is now reaping the rewards of free publicity. Seems that Kraig pulled off to the side of the road on Monday night to help a stranded motorist, when chaos ensued on the icy roadways. A police officer stopped by the scene shortly after Kraig did, and just in time, as a minivan plowed into a box truck and then careened into the police car … right into Kraig's path! Kraig would have been struck by the wreckage had it not been for the police officer, who shoved the lucky sidekick out of the way in the nick of time! WILDE @ NIGHT held a live press conference on the air last night attended by TV and print reporters, and the event will be broadcast tonight on WHP-TV Channel 21 at 6p. For more info on JB and KRAIG, check out www.jbwilde.com -Regent Communication's Country WIOV-FM/LANCASTER PD Dick Raymond called All Access this morning to tell us that former morning star Jerry Murphy will be returning. Murphy did wakeups at WIOV "I-105" for over 3 years before heading to Keymarket Country WOGI/PITTSBURG a year and a half ago. He'll be replacing Cadillac Jack who exited just before Christmas and reuniting with co-host Casey Allyn. Raymond said that Murphy will start January 20th. VerStandig changes - 1/3 - All Access reports that "the reorganization of VerStandig Broadcasting in the Hagerstown, MD/Chambersburg, PA cluster is complete, with the following changes now taking hold: Classic Rocker WSRT (STAR 92.1) PD Don Brake is promoted to OM and will now also serve as PD/MD of Country WAYZ and PD of Top 40 WWMD (MAGIC 101.5). Don will take music calls Thursday from 10:30 am-12 pm. In addition to that move, Scott Edwards comes on board to assist in programming with WAYZ and WWMD, and will take on morning drive duties on WAYZ. John Beaston also recently joined the team and is responsible for MD/afternoons duties on WWMD. Jamie Hade remains PD of WCBG-AM." The new on-air lineups are as follows. On WAYZ: 5am - 10am -- SCOTT EDWARDS 10am - 3pm -- TORI ANDERSON 3pm - 7pm -- BRETT NELSON 7pm - 12am -- BRIAN AUSTIN 12am - 5am -- WES SHORE On WWMD (MAGIC 101.5) 6am - 10am -- JJ WALKER 10am - 2pm -- TROY ALLAN 2pm - 7pm -- J.B. 7pm - 12am -- ZAKK WYLDE 12am - 6am -- VALERI SUMMERS WRKZ, Fox 43, and More - 12/28 - This weeks tuned section of the York Daily Record talks about the recent switch of Carlisle's "Z-102.3" from all 80's to now hits from the 70's and 80's. WRKZ GM Mike Shannon says that the shelf life of an all 80's station is about 6 months, and this shift in programming had been planned since the beginning. YDR also talks about new faces at ABC 27 WHTM, including Kate Weidaw getting promoted to full-time reporter, Ali Lanyan who comes from WITN-TV Greenville, N.C. to become general assignment reporting slot weekdays, and two more reporters to fill in the void longtime reporter Mike Ross left. And finally the 50th anniversery programming that Fox 43 aired this past Sunday. More on these headlines at YDR.com..... WMRTV Debut - 12/20 - It is my pleasure to introduce my latest webpage, WMRTV (Western Maryland Radio & TV). The page covers the western Maryland panhandle from Hagerstown to Oakland. The idea for the page comes from the great growth of SPRTV, which right now covers over 200 miles from Martinsburg, WV to Reading, PA. By mid-January I plan to move all the Hagerstown/Chambersburg listings over to WMRTV, leaving SPRTV exclusively for south-central Pennsylvania. Visit WMRTV at www.geocities.com/wmrtv/..... Z-102.3 Tweaks - 12/17 - SPRTV hears that Carlisle's WRKZ "Z-102.3" has extended their music library from 80's only to including music from the 70's. The new moniker for the station is now "Harrisburg's Rockin' Hits of the 70's and 80's". The station has all new liners and jingles but the morning show and afternoon shows are still the same. Could any more shake-ups be coming to WRKZ? Stay tuned..... 43 Celebrates 50 - 12/17 - December 22 will mark 50 years that York's 43 has been serving south-central Pennsylvania. 43 came on the air in 1952 as WSBA-TV with CBS fare, later to become WPMT "Fox 43" in the mid-eighties. The station also celebrates the success of "Pete McTee's Clubhouse", a local childrens show that since 1991 has taught kids and earned many awards. In celebration, Fox 43 will air classic programming December 22 starting at 4:30 PM. Check out www.fox43.com for a timeline..... |