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Fresh start and other 2012 predictions?

OhioMediaWatch said:
Yep, it's Romona. Right down to the December 16th last day. :D

As noted in the PD, the rumor has been bouncing around the market like a Super Ball for months, but the specific end date has been rumored for about a month.

I'm not hearing what 13th and Lakeside is going to do post-Romona...but obviously, Robin is there and presumably at least an immediate option. And I wouldn't be surprised if Chris Tye goes along with her, or for that matter, if they have her solo a la Romona.

What she WANTS to do...I don't know.
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With Romona, WKYC had a lead anchor in place for their 6/11 newscasts for 15 years. Compare to the utter instability that came before her (while the station was an NBC O&O and for the majority of Multimedia ownership) and it's startling.

I don't know if WKYC can solve that with Robin, even as a stopgap. She would be a logical choice, but she's been back-and-forth between WJW and WEWS so many times, I'm not sure taking her beyond 7pm would resonate with viewers.

Perhaps: Chris Tye solo at 6/11 and Robin solo at 7? Or do they take a more radical approach and elevate Mark Nolan to 6/11 (even after he was just recently teamed up with a co-anchor on "Channel 3 Today?"

Or is Eric Mansfield even a factor in this new lineup?

Or does Gannett bring aboard someone from one of their smaller stations?

WKYC will have to do SOMETHING. Even in spite of NBC's abysmal ratings performances in prime-time for the better part of a decade, WKYC STILL has done reasonably well at 11 - mostly attributed to the stability under Romona, Jim Donovan and Betsy Kling.
 
MarquisP4 said:
There's also a possiblity of Bill Applegate (finally) retiring from WOIO/WUAB. From a except I've read in a Cleveland.com article in 2007 featuring him, he ain't planning to work until he kneels over. He was 61 at the time and he hopes to retire by either 64 or 65. He has to be near that age now.

http://blog.cleveland.com/pdextra/2007/08/tidbits_from_the_bill_applegat.html
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True. But Raycom is probably looking at WOIO/WUAB, and what both stations were doing prior to Bill, and are likely throwing everything but the kitchen sink to get him to stay.

If Bill Applegate does retire, who would succeed him? And would that person keep the tabloid style of "Action News" alive?
 
Mark D.'s article confirms (from WKYC's GM) that they are auditioning people for the Romona opening.

Haven't heard much about that, or much more than speculation about in-house candidates (Robin or anyone else).

If Robin's a possibility, maybe 6 and 7 (with Chris) and someone else solos at 11? (Eric?)

The thing is...and I used to knock people for saying this...Robin's flighty when it comes to on-air gigs. They'd have to be assured that she's at least gonna stay around a year or two.

Re: Applegate: Not hearing anything about him retiring.
 
Nathan Obral said:
MarquisP4 said:
There's also a possiblity of Bill Applegate (finally) retiring from WOIO/WUAB. From a except I've read in a Cleveland.com article in 2007 featuring him, he ain't planning to work until he kneels over. He was 61 at the time and he hopes to retire by either 64 or 65. He has to be near that age now.

http://blog.cleveland.com/pdextra/2007/08/tidbits_from_the_bill_applegat.html
Click to expand...

True. But Raycom is probably looking at WOIO/WUAB, and what both stations were doing prior to Bill, and are likely throwing everything but the kitchen sink to get him to stay.

If Bill Applegate does retire, who would succeed him? And would that person keep the tabloid style of "Action News" alive?
Click to expand...

True, Action News did have Cleveland's attention for awhile (2002-2006), but now it seems whatever 19's doing something, most people just come with the motion that it's 19 being 19. I think what Raycom (if and when Applegate retire) should do is just pull a WIAT Birmingham-like situation. Cancel news for awhile and start (almost) fresh. But with the Cleveland market being a market that prefers people they know, I don't know
if that will help or only worsen it. But they did a good move snatching Wheel/Jeopardy from WEWS.
 
WKYC will probably see their evening ratings go down after Romona leaves. She WAS Channel 3 News for 14 years. She played a huge role in helping with their success. Now after Dr. Phil and NBC primetime, a lot of channel changing will take place.

WJW and WEWS will likely gain viewers following Romona's departure. WOIO/WUAB might gain some too. There's no way many are sticking around to see Robin and Chris T. I personally like them, but a lot of viewers prefer Romona. WKYC will have to make the changes they don't want to make since management seems to like the 7PM team. There will be some instability like in the Pre-network switch years.

If Romona winds up at WJW, she would likely to solo anchor the 7PM and a brand new 11PM newscast. Tracy or someone else will likely team up with Bill on the 5PM and 10PM newscasts.

I think there will more changes at WJW as well, and at WOIO/WUAB too. With "Action News" turning ten, they need to freshen up a bit badly. WEWS won't make too much changes since a lot has been made recently.
 
I think there will familiar voices and faces coming back to Cleveland in 2012. The city loves familiarity.

WDOK will have to adjust more with The Wave possibly coming back, plus with Majic and The Lake they have to deal with. New imaging, playlist and possibly personalities are options if ratings start to go down.

Speaking of Majic, they might move more into the 80's more as time changes, thus forcing The Lake to focus on the 90's and 2000's. Speaking of The Lake, I'm guessing more of a modern rock lean, though lighter to not overlap WMMS, to pick up those disgruntled WNWV and Radio 92.3 listeners.
 
OhioMediaWatch said:
Mark D.'s article confirms (from WKYC's GM) that they are auditioning people for the Romona opening.

Haven't heard much about that, or much more than speculation about in-house candidates (Robin or anyone else).

If Robin's a possibility, maybe 6 and 7 (with Chris) and someone else solos at 11? (Eric?)

The thing is...and I used to knock people for saying this...Robin's flighty when it comes to on-air gigs. They'd have to be assured that she's at least gonna stay around a year or two.

Re: Applegate: Not hearing anything about him retiring.
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I would think Robin would like a deal like Wilma Smith has at Fox 8...Wilma works the 5 and 6p shows, and that's it.

Arrive at 3--leave at 7.

I could see Robin doing the 6 and 7p newcasts with Chris Tye, and Tye going solo at 11.

Working 4 1/2 hours a day would work for Robin I think...She'd get burned out quick if she had to do the tradtional 6 and 11p deal.
 
Robin Swoboda is very flighty. Does not last very long at most gigs. It is tenuous at best to put faith in her. She is usually good for 1 or 2 years before the need "to be with the family" arises. Don't think she is going to get the gig.
 
CleveFan said:
Speaking of Majic, they might move more into the 80's more as time changes, thus forcing The Lake to focus on the 90's and 2000's. Speaking of The Lake, I'm guessing more of a modern rock lean, though lighter to not overlap WMMS, to pick up those disgruntled WNWV and Radio 92.3 listeners.
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Well, seeing as how right now "The Lake" is simply the Clear Channel Premium Choice Variety Hits jukebox with "Lake" liners, I dont think there will be any music tweaking. And IIRC, Majic takes Premium Choice in overnights and some weekend dayparts, so again, the 'tweaking' of music logs on CC stations that run Premium Choice may be difficult
 
If Triv continues to turn out total duds of shows (like his pathetic mocking of Colt McCoy yesterday), I can see Alan Cox actually gaining serious ground against Triv next year... running a strong #2 against him, if not overtaking altogether.

Mind you, 2012 will be an election year, and WTAM will get boosts anyway from the Indians and the upcoming Presidential election. But Triv is clearly on the decline.
 
Nathan...agree with you on Alan Cox. Unlike Rover, who just seems to try to do a Howard Stern style show, Cox will dip into politics, religion, current events, as well as T&A radio. He's one of the better finds for a talk show host in Cleveland. And, much more listenable than Trivisonno, IMHO.
 
vjm said:
Kristi Capel would be the odds-on favorite. She's stepped out of the chopper in the past to fill-in for Schafer and McCool in the past, so this wouldn't be something completely foreign to her.
Click to expand...

And as I type this at 4:30 AM, Kristi is indeed at the desk on "Fox 8 News in the Morning", filling in the soon-to-be-no-longer-Tracy-McCool position.

And as I noted in another thread, a birdie tells me that ex-WEWS/5 "Good Morning Cleveland" traffic reporter Patty Harken is heading to Dick Goddard Way/South Marginal after the first of the year...
 
My guess is The Maxwell Show will resurface online here in town.

Alan Cox has proven to be a great talk show host, and has taken the genre to a new level after he arrived. He'll be around for a while.
 
Anybody want to predict the demise of a notable AM radio station or two in 2012? There are many AM radio 'doomsday dullards' out there. You see them pop up on a number of boards here at Radio-Info. I'm not making that prediction. Please note I said 'notable'. Dumps like WJTB or coverage-hindered facilities with very low ratings and revenue do not apply.
 
Good question, jb. Let's go through some possibles:

WEOL/930: May be on life support, but ELB has some cash as soon as they cash the check from Rubber City. But the newspapers are in far worse shape, and could drag the whole thing down. Are they making enough in Sandusky to stave that off? Do they even hang onto those stations?

WHKW/1220-WHK/1420: Depends on Salem's financial condition. So far, I see no indication that Salem is dying, though they've certainly tried to sell all their local stations to everyone but the head librarian at the Cleveland Public Library.

WJMO/1300-WERE/1490: Ditto with Radio One.

WKNR/850-WWGK/1540: Not going away any time soon, unless Craig peels off 1540 to a separate owner.

WABQ/1460: Depends on how long Gary LMAs it.

WELW/1330: As long as polka is king and the current owners are in place, they're not going anywhere.

WCCD/1000: Presumably well supported by the congregation at New Spirit.

Did I miss someone? (I purposely did not mention the North Ridgeville House of AM Noise, as instructed.)
 
OhioMediaWatch said:
Did I miss someone? (I purposely did not mention the North Ridgeville House of AM Noise, as instructed.)
Click to expand...

Well you did miss 1260 WMK....??? (I forget the friggin calls and I don't feel like lookin it up.)

IMO..Not going anywhere, although Disney did sell off a couple of Radio Disney O&O's is small markets, they weren't anywhere near as large a Cleveland. So unless Cleveland drops 100 spots in the Arbitron rankings I think Radio Disney will keep the 12-13 year olds tuned to 1260 on the AM dial.
 
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