North East RadioWatch: November 26, 1997

WILD -- Still Waiting

by Scott Fybush

• We'll have to wait a little bit longer to learn all the details of the deal between Boston urban daytimer WILD (1090) and public radio WUMB (91.9).

  WILD officials tell NERW they'll be making an announcement shortly about the deal...but they're not saying anything just yet.

  As for last week's speculation about ARS' WNFT (1150) becoming part of the deal? The folks at WILD say there's nothing to it...and now we're hearing rumors that Greater Media may be talking to CBS about grabbing all of ARS' Boston AMs (WNFT, WRKO 680, and WEEI 850), leaving CBS with its existing 1 AM-3 FM group, plus WBMX (98.5), WEGQ (93.7 Lawrence), and WAAF (107.3 Worcester) from ARS. We'll keep you posted as we learn more.

• Radio Disney is finally on the air in MASSACHUSETTS. Boston's WPZE (1260) changed hands last Friday afternoon, with new owner Hibernia unceremoniously ending the simulcast with Salem's religious WEZE (590) and throwing the Mouse on air shortly after 4:30.

  Over at CBS/Boston, veteran WBZ-TV (Channel 4) anchor Jack Williams did a turn on the radio side, filling in for WBZ (1030) talk host David Brudnoy Tuesday night in what some observers see as a test run for an expanded role for Williams at BZ radio. Down the hall at WODS (103.3), John Potter has joined the oldies station as the replacement for "Austin of Boston" in morning drive. Potter comes from a stint in Salt Lake City, with stand-up experience before that in Las Vegas.

• Up in NEW HAMPSHIRE, Capstar continues to expand its portfolio. Nashua's WHOB (106.3) is about to become Capstar's latest Granite State outlet, starting with an LMA with owner Mario DiCarlo, and ending with what NERW hears will be a $4 million sale. Capstar owns WGIR AM-FM (610/101.1) in Manchester and WXHT (95.3 York Center), WHEB (100.3), and WTMN (1380) in the Portsmouth market, with the purchase of two more FMs from ARS/CBS pending. No word on potential changes to WHOB's modern-CHR format.

  And just in time for the holidays, the FCC had a nice little present for Bob Vinikoor of WNTK AM-FM (1020 Newport/99.7 New London), granting his application for 50 kilowatts day, 500 watts night on 720 kHz. Expect construction to start in a few months on this one.

• Carter Broadcasting is changing the calls on two of its MAINE stations. Powerhouse WWMR (96.3) in Rumford is now WLOB-FM, matching simulcast WLOB (1310) in Portland, while Rumford's WRUM (790) has become WLLB.

  The shortwave station in Scotts Corners, Maine is about to go back on the air. WVHA has been purchased by Indiana-based World Harvest Radio, which is expected to return it to the airwaves within a few weeks, possibly on Christmas Day, the anniversary of the sign-on of its first shortwaver, WHRI in Indiana. WVHA has been silent for several months since its previous owner defaulted on power bills.

• Some new calls in RHODE ISLAND: Providence's 790, ex-WLKW, WWAZ, and WEAN, is now WSKO, "the Score." And 99.7 in Wakefield-Peace Dale, most recently WDGE, is now WXEX, matching its "99-7X" identity. We're still waiting for the third part of this transaction, in which the WLKW calls officially go to WPNW (550 Pawtucket), which has been using them anyway for several weeks.

• A CONNECTICUT station is about to return to the air. WMMM (1260) in Westport will be back in a few weeks, simulcasting sister station WSUF (89.9 Noyock NY) with NPR talk during the week, and simulcasting its other sister station, WSHU (91.1 Fairfield) on weekends.

  In TV news, we hear rumors that Fox affiliate WTIC-TV (Channel 61) may be about to LMA UPN station WTXX (Channel 20), with WTXX's sales staff moving to WTIC's Hartford studios. Meantime, WTNH (Channel 8) in New Haven has hired a new morning reporter. Christine Rogers joins Channel 8 next month from RNews in Rochester, NY, where she helped start the news operation seven years ago.

  And if you're wondering why Gary Lee Horn hasn't joined former colleague Mike Picozzi in his new gig at WCCC (106.9/1290) in Hartford...we're told Horn is now working in the insurance business.

• A few tidbits from NEW YORK: Syracuse's WOLF (1490) has filed for yet another frequency change. WOLF already holds a CP to move to 1510; now owner Craig Fox has applied to move WOLF to 1090, with 10 kilowatts by day and nothing at night.

  When Lowell Paxson's new PaxNet TV network opens for business next August, add Syracuse CP WAUP-TV (Channel 56) to the affiliate lineup. It's Paxson's latest purchase for the network, which will be almost entirely owned and operated by Paxson himself. Other affiliates include WAQF (Channel 51) Batavia-Rochester-Buffalo, WPXN-TV (Channel 31) New York, WHAI-TV (Channel 43) Bridgeport CT, WHCT (Channel 18) Hartford, WTWS (Channel 26) New London CT, WOST (Channel 69) Block Island-Providence, WHRC (Channel 46) Norwell-Boston, and WGOT (Channel 60) Merrimack NH.

  And finally, a second petition to deny has been filed against WPCS Pensacola's application for an 89.7 translator in Elmira. The latest petitioner is Family Life Radio, whose WCIH Elmira is on third-adjacent 90.3 MHz.

We'll be back next Thursday with a full-fledged NERW; until then, have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving -- and if you're out on the roads, don't forget to give the radio dial a spin and let us know what you heard when you get home!