New England RadioWatch: April 5, 1996

by Scott Fybush

• First, a prominent correction to the Laquidara/Stern saga: Former WZLX morning host George Taylor Morris is *not* leaving Infinity, as was reported here two days ago. GTM moves to middays on WZLX, displacing Tom Sheridan, who reportedly will be leaving Infinity. (Now let's see if a certain leading Boston newspaper will be as fast to correct its article, which referred to "WEEI-FM 850"!) Meantime, tiny little WMOO in Derby Center VT, a stone's throw from the Canadian border, got a little publicity boost when Laquidara said he'd work anywhere Infinity tells him to, even "WMOO in Vermont." WMOO owner Tom Steele says he'd love to do an on-air exchange with Laquidara. Maybe Laquidara's folks will get the hint -- they've been quoting from this very New England Radio Watcher on-air lately!

• A few trailing notes from my Vermont/NH trip: 100.5 in Lebanon NH has inexplicably changed calls again, going back to the WNBX(FM) it had under previous owner Mike Vinikoor. I didn't even notice the change from WUVR(FM) until I went back and listened to the tape. The simulcast with WBFL 107.1 Bellows Falls VT continues. Any explanation of the call change would be welcome. Also, I omitted any mention of the Manchester VT area, which has two neat operations. WEQX 102.7 Manchester and WJAN 95.1 Sunderland both transmit from Mt. Equinox, pointing down into Albany. 'EQX is a rocker, and 'JAN does country, simulcast with WJEN 94.5 Rutland VT as "Cat Country." I drove around Manchester for an hour or so, but couldn't find the studios of either. And finally, a quick word of praise for "Oldies 99," WNNH Henniker-Concord NH...a fun oldies station owned by longtime Boston radio consultant Clark Smidt.

• Now it can be told: The first phase of WBZ's on-line presence is now available, at http://www.100th.com. This is WBZ's site for the 100th running of the Boston Marathon later this month. The full-fledged www.wbz.com is coming soon.

• A follow-up on the Red Sox: The opening-day broadcast on WABU-TV 68 actually outrated last year's opening day on WSBK-TV 38. The sighs of relief were audible all the way from Fenway Park to the channel 68 studios. For those of us who love the minors, here's where their flagships will be this year:

  AAA

  • Pawtucket Red Sox: WARA 1320 Attleboro MA (many games also on WHJJ 920 Providence)

  AA

  • New Britain Hardware City Rock Cats: WPRX 1120 Bristol (this was last season's)
  • Norwich Navigators: WVVE 102.3 Stonington CT
  • New Haven Ravens: Not sure, I think WAVZ 1300 was last year's
  • Portland Sea Dogs: WPOR 1490 was last year's

  A

  • Lowell Spinners: WLLH 1400 Lowell-Lawrence MA (team is new to the area, had been the Elmira NY Pioneers)
  • Pittsfield Mets: Not sure, I think WBRK 1340 Pittsfield MA
  • Burlington Expos: WVMT 620 Burlington VT was last year's flagship.

  Me, I'll be happily tuning in my Rochester Red Wings by way of WCMF 990 Rochester NY, which has a nice directional lobe pointed right at me!

• Those of you who are "Radio World" subscribers will find a nice little bit of New England radio on page 66 of the April 3 edition. The towers shown in the Superior Electric ad are the Talcott Mountain, Avon CT site, home to WTIC AM/WTIC FM/WFSB TV/WEDH TV. Turns out I have exactly the same photo in my scrapbook.

• And finally, a question: Why is it that every single aircheck from my trip last weekend (except for the country station) had Alanis Morrissette's "Ironic" on it? Coincidence? Or is it time to award the coveted "Hootie Memorial Overplayed Award"?