Radio

He’s been on the job for less than three years, but next weekend New York’s Archbishop, Timothy Dolan, enjoys the biggest moment of his ecumenical career.

Last month, Dolan was chosen by the Vatican to become a Cardinal. His elevation is scheduled for Saturday, February 18 in Rome.

Dolan won’t be making the trip alone. A contingent of TV and radio reporters is headed to Italy to cover the elevation.

• WCBS/Channel 2: Anchor Maurice DuBois and reporter Tony Aiello will be in Rome starting at mid-week. Aiello files reports on Wednesday, while DuBois begins on Thurs. Channel 2 covers the elevation ceremony live at 4:30 a.m.
• WNBC/Channel 4: Weekend anchor David Ushery leaves for Rome on Sunday to take part in the station’s coverage next week.

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Create a social media strategy, launch your campaign, and track the results in our Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting February 16. The online event and workshop will feature speakers including The Onion‘s Baratunde Thurston (left), Facebook’s Morin Oluwole, and bitly’s Tim Devane. Register now.

It was a one-year contract and Sid Rosenberg fulfilled his obligation to WINS. The sometimes volatile and self-destructive, but talented sportscaster was doing morning updates on WINS.

Rosenberg told Newsday that he wasn’t fired several weeks ago, but simply it was a mutual parting of the ways.

Rosenberg, however, did point out that WINS was not comfortable with him doing the updates from his home in South Florida, where he’s an afternoon radio sports talk host.  Additionally, Rosenberg said that he was no longer happy dealing with the logistical challenges that the early morning shift presented.

Ben Mevorach, WINS news director, tells FishbowlNY that no replacement has been named. “Marc Ernay [of Total Traffic] has been filling in until we make a final decision.”

Updating a story we reported yesterday, Dom Theodore stepped down as program director of WXRK/92.3 Now. With his departure, Internet rumors have surfaced. The online chatter involved the FM frequency flipping to simulcast one of the CBS Radio AM stations: WCBS 880, WINS, or WFAN.

However, a CBS Radio spokeswoman squelched that rumor, in saying “We will be hiring a program director to replace Dom Theodore at 92.3 Now.”

Along with running the day-to-day operation at the former K Rock, Theodore was VP of Top 40 Programming at CBS Radio. He decided to spend more time with his consulting firm and family radio business.

Dom Theodore and CBS Radio have ended their association. Theodore was initally hired by CBS Radio as the VP of Top 40 Programming. But ultimately the talented radio exec would add program director at WXRK/92.3 NOW to his resume.

He also held down P.D. duties at WDZH/Amp Radio in Detroit.

Reports say Theodore wants to focus on his consulting company and family radio business, Up North Radio.

Earlier in his career, Theodore had stops in Tampa, and Houston, along with another stint in Detroit at the Clear Channel-run station.

The wheels of the Merlin Media’s experimental All-News FM format are still coming off. As we reported over the weekend, WEMP 101.9 VP of programming Liz Aiello was fired Thursday, after just eight months with the company–six with the station firing on all cyclinders.

Updating the story today, FishbowlNY has learned that Merlin has handed the reins to veteran broadcasting exec Al Gardner, recently hired by Randy Michaels to helm a Philadelphia version of WEMP.

Sources also tell FishbowlNY that Merlin is conducting a nationwide for Aiello’s successor.

The ratings for WEMP have been abysmal, .5 in the most recent book, down .1 from the previous month.

There has been upheaval at Merlin Media in recent weeks, if not since first taking the air from Emmis’ WRXP in August.

Walter Sabo was ousted from his position as company COO before year’s end.

To say the ratings for WEMP/FM News 101.9 have been in the tank since hitting the air in August would be kind. In the latest Arbitron numbers, the Merlin Media start-up slipped from a .6 to a microscopic .5.

Those ratings indicate a failed experiment, and heads are rolling on Hudson Street.

Liz Aiello, VP of programming for WEMP, has been shown the door, FishbowlNY has confirmed. Aiello, hired by Merlin in June, had her last day Thursday.

Though she arrived with an extensive broadcasting resume, Aiello lacked any All-News experience. Aiello was a managing editor and executive producer at WABC/Channel 7. Aiello arrived at WEMP following a stint at Sirius XM Radio as SVP for Martha Stewart‘s channels. Aiello also was Howard Stern‘s one-time news director at Sirius.

Aiello’s departure comes in the aftermath of COO Walter Sabo‘s, who left before New Years.

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Here’s a look at what FishbowlNY stories made the most buzz this week.

1. Another Brilliant Businessweek Cover, February 2
2. Former Harper’s Bazaar Intern Sues Hearst, February 1
3. New Details Emerge in Greg Kelly (left) Alleged Rape Case, January 30
4. Good News: More People are Visiting Newspaper Websites, February 1
5. Veteran Jock Bob Shannon Remains a No-Show for WCBS-FM Listeners, January 31
6. And the Winner of New York’s Best Radio Team… January 27
7. Reports Say Greg Kelly Had Consensual Sex with Rape Accuser, January 27

 

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It’s all things New York Giants, as the Super Bowl kicks off in two days.

This week’s poll keeps up the Big Blue theme, as we asked your favorite Giants broadcaster.

FishbowlNY readers selected the late, great Marty Glickman numero uno, with 28 percent of the vote. Glickman a 23-year run behind the mic for Giants’ games.

At number two, the Giants current play-by-play, Bob Papa, who has served in the role since 1995. He received a hefty 26 percent of respondents.

Another longtime Giants announcer, the late Jim Gordon was selected third. Gordon, who picked up 19 percent of the vote, was in the Giants broadcast booth for 18 seasons.

Marv Albert, is forever linked with the Knicks and Rangers, but from 1973 to 1976 Albert succeeded his mentor, Glickman, as the Giants lead play-by-play man.

Photo: jewishsports.net

Phil Boyce, who enjoyed a long run as 77 WABC program director, has been named VP of Salem Communications Spoken Word Format.

One of those stations under his jurisdiction is New York’s The Apple/970 WNYM. The talk station’s morning and afternoon host, the only local weekday presence, is Curtis Sliwa.

That means Boyce will once again be connected to Sliwa. It was Boyce, who teamed Sliwa and Ron Kuby for morning drive at WABC in 1996.

Boyce, who also ran the ABC Radio and Citadel News/Talk division, according to All Access, starts in the new position today.

He was a pioneering TV host and producer, but knowing Don Cornelius as the man of Soul Train only scratches the surface. Cornelius was found dead this morning at his Los Angeles home. The coroner’s office says it appears to be a suicide. Cornelius was 75.

He created Soul Train in 1970 at WCIU in Chicago. A year later, Americans jumped on board the train for a 35-year ride.

“Mr. Cornelius capitalized on an opportunity to serve a market that wasn’t being served,” WBLS program director Skip Dillard tells FishbowlNY. “While Soul Train focused on showcasing new African American artists and bands, a much larger audience than African Americans tuned in.”  

Bob Slade, an African American fixture in New York for four decades at KISS FM, and black music historian, recalls interviewing Cornelius many years ago.

“He told me his dream was to be a disc jockey,” Slade remembers.

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