The All-England Club is the center of the sports universe. Beginning today, the Wimbledon Championships are underway across the pond in a suburb of London.

The pomp and circumstance, complete with the royal box in the stands, sets Wimbledon apart from other premiere sporting events.

However, even with all of that prestige, the sporting event must share at least some time with on-air mistakes. Calling the championship, established in 1877, “Wimbleton,” with a “t,” is almost as old as the grand slam tennis tournament.

WINS sports anchor Marc Ernay begins his second year at the helm of a project. Ernay aims to shine a light at those in the media who make the errors, encouraging a $1 punishment for the “infraction.”

“It’s more like a ‘kangaroo court’ relying on listeners & broadcast colleagues ro report ‘violators’ in a good-natured way,” Ernay tells FishbowlNY.

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This summer marks one year for FM News 101.9/WEMP. Prior to the debut, owner Merlin Media went after its eventual competition by grabbing several WINS employees.

WEMP is at it again.

Terry Sheridan, a reporter with WINS since May 2001, has been named WEMP newsroom manager, effective tomorrow. At WINS, Sheridan covered numerous big stories, including the 9/11 attacks and the Flight 587 plane crash.

“It’s bittersweet to be leaving WINS after 11 years, but I’m excited and looking forward to the opportunity to join the team at FM News,” Sheridan tells FishbowlNY.

Before his stint at WINS, Sheridan had a three-year run as director of programming and operations at Westwood One’s Shadow Broadcast Services.

Throughout his 30-year radio career, Sheridan has also been heard on WCBS 880 and WOR.

A Fordham University graduate, Sheridan was program director at the school’s WFUV.

Last month, WEMP named California-based Mark Austin Thomas station VP/news director. The change at the top was needed, in part, because of poor ratings. The April Arbitron figures show 101.9 slipping to a .6, making it one of the lowest charting stations in New York.

The Folio Awards explore the best reporting on Long Island. Television and radio personalities were selected for their work. But make no mistake about it, this celebration of the past year had an unofficial theme–The Red Carpet is out for CBS.

As we reported last month, WCBS/Channel 2 finalized its takeover of Long Island mainstay Channel 55/WLNY, complete with several hours of new programming using Channel 2 talent. And the Fair Media Council, which oversees the Folios, is ecstatic.

The event’s printed program opens with this message:

“Congratulations, FMC Folio Winners 2012 and Welcome, CBS Long Island.”

The same sentiment was echoed in the ballroom of the Crest Hollow Country Club, where at the conclusion of the National Anthem, video screens read “Welcome to Long Island, CBS News.”

The feeling was kept close to the heart of CBS staffers who participated in the awards program. Wayne Cabot presented, alongside his WCBS 880 afternoon partner Steve Scott. Before leaving the podium, Cabot said, “More than ever Long Island is CBS territory,” to which Scott concurred.

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If there were a Mount Rushmore symbolizing the best radio reporters in New York City history, Stan Brooks would have to be on that monument!

Legendary isn’t a strong enough word for Brooks.

Not just a New York institution, Brooks is a 1010 WINS All-News original. He is celebrating his 50^th year at WINS, having been hired as news director for the Top 40 format on Labor Day 1962.  A month later, Westinghouse bought WINS. FishbowlNY will have more memories from Brooks later this year to mark the golden occasion.  But 47 years ago today, WINS made the move to All-News, with Brooks leading the charge.

He recalls when Westinghouse acquired WINS, the station was the number-one rocker in New York, with an on-air staff that featured Murray the K., Stan Z. Burns, and Jack Lacy.

“But when Westinghouse bought [WINS] they’d never had a station in New York,” Brooks remembers. “And they had a big news operation around the world.

“The headquarters of Westinghouse Broadcasting was in New York, and I guess the executives didn’t feel good about it,” Brooks says. “They kept adding news to the station. Ultimately, it was incompatible. You couldn’t have lots of news and teeny-boppers listening.”

By late 1964, Westinghouse made the decision to add news around the clock: WINS would become the nation’s first All-News station. The timing was perfect for the flip. WINS was no longer a top-rated station, now trailing powerhouses WABC and WMCA.

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John Montone is a longtime morning mainstay at 1010 WINS. He is most associated with his “person on the street” interviews that allow him some license. Montone can have some fun finding the quirky, off-beat slices of humanity.

However, without missing a beat, when developments warrant Montone gets serious, jumping into breaking news mode.

News was at its most serious on September 11, 2001, as we continue with our special series–9/11: New York Remembers.  

The biggest story prior to 8:46 a.m. was Primary Day in New York City. Montone worked that story from the Upper East Side. After going live, Montone was in the process of filing his taped reports.

He was paged by the station that a “small plane” hit one of the towers at the World Trade Center.

Even if initial reports were accurate, Montone knew it was still a big story.

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Perennial top rated Soft Adult Contemporary WLTW/Lite FM maintains its stranglehold on number one in the latest Arbitron ratings.

Clear Channel’s WLTW remained at 6.6 for a second straight month, but rival WCBS-FM battled back from a third-place tie.

“Competition is getting tighter, so we are very pleased to see CBS-FM bounce back with a 10 percent gain at number two,” Brian Thomas, WCBS-FM program director, tells FishbowlNY.

CBS-FM improves from a 4.9 to a 5.4 and sole possession of second place.

Thomas says the rumored changes for 101.9 will “most likely benefit WAXQ and WCBS-FM the most.”

Meanwhile, WKTU makes gains from last month’s 4.9, but grabs number three at 5.1.

WHTZ/Z100 keeps pace for the second consecutive survey with a 5.0.

Tropical favorite WSKQ continues to jump by leaps and bounds. ‘SKQ added .6 since April (including .3 last month).

Classic rock station WAXQ/104.3 had a slight upgrade to 4.1 for June.

WCBS-AM, despite carrying the New York Yankees, has been on a ratings freefall. After dropping .7 for May, the All-News station gave back another .3 for June. 

More from the radio ratings after the jump

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

1. Gwyneth Paltrow Goes Topless for Vanity Fair, July 1
2. Longtime WINS Traffic Reporter  Steps Away After 20 YearsJeff McKay, July 1  
3. The New York Observer Lists “Power Couples,” July 6
4. One-Time New York Anchor Fired in ChicagoSteve Bartelstein, July 5
5. Justin Bieber Vanity Fair: On Pace to Be the Worst-Selling Issue in 12 Years, July 5
6. WNET Takes Over Programming of New Jersey Network, July 1
7. Ashton Kutcher vs. the Village Voice, July 1
8. New York Post Fires Reporter Over Leaks, July 1

Keep up-to-date with the latest FishbowlNY news. Click here to sign-up for the FishbowlNY daily newsletter, bringing you our articles each afternoon directly to your inbox.

What would the Fourth of July be without the backyard barbeque? Of course, the Fourth is also associated with fireworks. 1010 WINS, once again, provides the radio simulcast of the Macy’s Fireworks beginning at 9:15 p.m.

Other stations have special holiday plans too.

• WCBS-FM/101.1 has its A to Z artist countdown (started on Tuesday).
• WAXQ/Q 104.3 gives listeners “four plays” all weekend of the biggest classic rock artists. On Sunday, the station is live in Red Bank, New Jersey from 6 to 10 p.m, including fireworks simulcast at 9:15 p.m.
• WKTU/103.5 features party songs throughout the weekend and a Britney Spears ticket giveaway.
• WRXP/101.9 (recent sold to Merlin Media, and likely to flip format in the coming months) has three-song blocks from the “Great American Rock Bands” during the long weekend.
• WQHT/Hot 97 has live hip-hop mixes during the patriotic weekend.
• WOR/710 welcomes former Governor David Paterson, who sits in for John Gambling on July 4th.

Photo courtesy of brooklynpaper.com.

It’s hard to imagine being stuck in traffic without Jeff McKay to guide you along.

But yesterday was final his 1010 WINS traffic shift. McKay left his employer, Metro Networks, one week shy of 20 years.

Crys Quimby, Metro Networks New York VP, Programming and Operations told her staff that where McKay is headed remains a mystery.

“He gave two weeks notice, but is not at liberty to talk about his new position yet, so we agreed to hold off on this announcement,” Quimby said.

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At it’s annual dinner the New York State Broadcasters Association distributed Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting.

WCBS/Channel 2 was the big winner last night among New York City television stations, with five honors.

WCBS won awards for Outstanding Spot News (CBS 2 News at 11: Gas Explosion), Outstanding Hard News Story (Staten Island Bias Attacks), Outstanding Feature News Story (Robo-Tripping), Outstanding Locally Originated Newscast (CBS 2 News at 11: Tornados Hit NYC), and Outstanding Sportscast (Road to Glory: Feud in Foxborough).

WXTV, the Univisión owned-and-operated Channel 41, earned a nod for Outstanding Promotion Announcement or Series (X-Final), while WPIX/Channel 11, won for Outstanding Locally Produced TV Show (PIX Presents 2011 N.Y. International Auto Show).

A look at the radio winners after the jump

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