Peter Thiele, the programming director at WNYM/970 AM The Answer and WMCA/570 AM, is stepping aside. Tuned In, the new TV media blog from FishbowlNY’s former co-editor Jerry Barmash, reports that Thiele is moving to Texas to start a consulting firm.

Thiele had been the programming director for WNYM and WMCA for the past five years. He told Tuned In, “This has been such a great experience. I would not change it for the world. Time to slow things down.”

For more on this story, head over to Tuned In.

Veteran radio executive Phil Boyce is increasing his workload at Salem Communications. The one-time 77 WABC programmer has been handed the title operational VP at 970 AM/WNYM, a.k.a. The Answer, and religion-based WMCA.

Boyce was hired by Salem in February as corporate VP director of the Spoken Word Format. He’ll keep that title as well.

Boyce replaces Linnae Young, who moves from regional VP in charge of the New York cluster to the Tampa group of stations, All Access reports.

The Answer Takes a Bite Out of The Apple

The Apple/970 WNYM began running promos recently saying the “Old Apple was going away,” and to check out the station starting today for the answer.

Well, it’s just that–Salem’s owned The Apple has been rebranded as The Answer in on-air promos, top-of-the-hour IDs, and show opens.

The program schedule has been altered slightly, especially the local presence with Curtis Sliwa getting a later morning start. It’s still a three-hour block for the Guardian Angels founder, but now it’s from 7 to 10 a.m.

Nationally heard Bill Bennett‘s Morning in America takes the 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. slot.

A couple of Dennis’ –Miller and Prager get an hour earlier start time for their syndicated shows. Dennis Miller moves to 10 a.m. to noon, while Dennis Prager takes the noon to 3 p.m. block.

The other weekday programming remains unchanged: Michael Medved from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sliwa and Jeffrey Lichtman from 5 p.m to 7 p.m., and Hugh Hewitt on 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The changes were announced by Salem’s new VP and director of spoken word format, Phil Boyce, who joined the company last month.

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.

Steve Malzberg is getting some quality time with listeners this week. The former WOR host, on the radio sidelines since September when he was dropped by WOR in favor of former Governor David Paterson, will host the morning show on The Apple 970/WNYM all week from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.  The conservative talker, Malzberg fills in for his longtime friend and former WABC colleague, Curtis Sliwa, his “step-brother in solidarity.”

In other Sliwa news, reportedly his afternoon on-air partner Gerson Borrero is off the broadcast. FishbowlNY has made multiple attempts to reach the Apple program director, Peter Thiele.

According to the WNYM Website, Sliwa is listed as solo host from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

As we get ready to usher in 2012, let’s take one more look at the biggest broadcasting stories that FishbowlNY covered in 2011.

In January, Scott Clark closes out a brilliant career at WABC, retiring after nearly a quarter-century at Channel 7.

Maurice DuBois makes his debut as WCBS/Channel 2 lead anchor when he is promoted to nights opposite Kristine Johnson. Chris Wragge shifts his energy to The Early Show, but that wasn’t the last we would hear from him.

Also as 2011 began, veteran radio talk host Curtis Sliwa adds an afternoon shift to his Apple/WNYM duties.

In February, among the notable events, WNBC/Channel 4 welcomes home Shiba Russell from Boston. She was named weekend anchor with David Ushery. Russell fueled speculation that she was Sue Simmons’ “heir apparent,” as the main (if not exclusive) fill-in for the legendary anchor, who started at Channel 4 in 1980.

On the radio, Craig Allen, a veteran in his own right, agrees to a three-year extension as WCBS 880’s chief meteorologist. Two months later, Allen marked 30 years at the station.

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It’s been five weeks since WOR Radio opted to replace controversial afternoon host Steve Malzberg with former Governor David Paterson.

This morning, Malzberg fans can get their fix as he guests with former WABC colleague Curtis Sliwa on the Apple/970 WNYM. He’s scheduled to appear at 7:25 a.m.

“I love Curtis and I am so thrilled that he has reached out to me,” Malzberg tells FishbowlNY. “This should be a lot of fun.”

Since leaving WOR, Malzberg has made some fill-in hosting appearances at KLIF in Dallas. The staunch right-winger also just signed with the Garden State Journal as the paper’s leading local columnist. The new online and print newspapers launches November 15th. (See commercial with Malzberg below).

As for the possibility of getting a regular role at The Apple, a succinct Malzberg says, “We are talking to all who will listen!”

Curtis Sliwa, a workaholic to be sure, is giving up his Saturday morning show on 970 The Apple/WNYM, effective immediately.  

Sliwa is the station’s local linchpin, hosting four hours each morning and co-hosting a couple more hours in the drive home.

The opinionated Sliwa, though, is not looking to just lounge in bed. He told his listeners this morning that due to the rise of crime in New York City, he and his fellow Guardian Angels will don the world famous uniform to patrol the streets.

“He’s been so busy,” WNYM program director Peter Thiele tells FishbowlNY. “Something had to give.”

Thiele says ”maybe in the future” he’ll air taped “Best of” Sliwa segments in the 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday slot.

Thiele says Jeffrey Lichtman, a former attorney for John Gotti Jr., has been been removed from his 10 a.m. to noon show. But Thiele hopes to find a better time for the program.

Curtis Sliwa, the morning and afternoon host at AM 970 The Apple, is set to have surgery this morning for prostate cancer. He detailed the diagnosis and course of treatment with his loyal listeners yesterday morning. Sliwa, being open with his fans, said he’s hopeful for a return to the air by Monday, but doubts his doctors will concur.

Sliwa, 57, revealed that surgery is needed because of scarring from a shooting in 1992. The Guardian Angels founder said that he wasn’t a good candidate for radiation therapy or seed implant therapy.

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Beginning tomorrow, Curtis Sliwa will add afternoons to his radio work at The Apple/970 AM WNYM.

Sliwa, already helping listeners with their commute to work from 5 to 9 a.m., extends his day with a 5 to 7 p.m. show.

In the afternoon, he’ll be joined by journalist Gerson Borrero. The duo is familiar to New Yorkers for co-hosting on NY1.

“Curtis Sliwa & Gerson Borrero’s segment on TV is wildly popular and to bring this format to radio is terrific.” adds program director Peter Thiele.  “Gerson’s voice in the Latino and NYC progressive communities is without parallel and thankfully now everyone will be able to get his perspective for two hours a day in a debate format with New York icon Curtis Sliwa.  New York is the most interesting city in the world, and New Yorkers deserve a live and local talk show about the issues people really care about.”

 

 Earlier this month, we reported that Sliwa would be part of the station’s weekend lineup as well.