What’s News? 

August 2011


Happy Birthday!    8-2-11
Be sure and wish WOCL-FM 105.9 afternoon host Domino a happy birthday tomorrow.

Oldies Leave Ocala     8-2-11
WMFQ-FM 92.9 in Ocala has dropped the seven year old "oldies" format. They began broadcasting hot adult contemporary format on Monday. The station will now be known as "92Q Today's Best Music"

New Station Hits The Airwaves   8-3-11
The former WLOQ-FM 103.1 now known as WHKQ-FM 103.1KQ 103”  will flip to Spanish CHR at 9PM tonight. The station will launch with 20,000 songs in a row.

WYKE Returns To The Air     8-3-11
WYKE FM 104.3, Inglis has returned to the air. The station is being operated by the Key Training Center. The new format is Fox Sports Radio. 

Happy Anniversary To Us!      8-5-11
As we begin our ninth year on the Internet, I'd like to say thank you to all the folks that have made the site what it is. As always thanks goes to my wife, Wilma, the inspiration and love of my life. Thanks to all the people who have supplied info, bios, photos and sounds and have helped in other ways with this endeavor. I believe radio is such an essential part of our lives and it should be remembered. I hope we are contributing to that in some way. More to come...stay tuned.  

Happy Birthday!     8-5-11
This weekend's birthday folks include WMGF-FM 107.7 Program Director Ken Payne and WXXL-FM 106.7's Assistant Program Director/Music Director Jana both celebrate tomorrow. 

Happy Birthday!    8-7-11 
Celebrating birthdays this week include; Doris Ashwell, who turns 85 on Monday. Larry Vee aka Dr. Larry Flegle celebrates number 63 and on Tuesday and WMGF-FM 107.7's Dave Kelly gets to blow out the candles. 

WPOZ Up For Another Award   8-7-11
The finalists for the 2011 Christian Music Broadcasters Radio Station Of The Year have been announced. WPOZ-FM 88.3 has been nominated in the large market category. The winners will be announced at the CMB Echo Awards on Sept 10th during Momentum 2011 in Orlando.

#1 Again    8-11-11
WPOZ-FM 88.3, has made number one again in the latest PPM ratings. That makes three times in a row that Jim Hoge and crew has made their station #1.

SOLD: WHNR    8-12-11
Martin Santos of G. B. Enterprises Communications, Corp. sells WHNR-AM 1360 to Francisco Arredondo of Florida Spanish Communications Corp. for $100,000 cash.

Peggy Cook Passes   8-12-11
Thanks to Dr. Larry Flegle for sending this along. Peggy Cook Witcher, the founding partner along with her husband Richard Cook of  Haines City Broadcasters, Inc. passed away on August 9 in Haines City. Peggy and Richard put WHAN-AM 930 on the air in Haines City in 1960.   

Birthdays This Week     8-14-11
Birthday greetings go out to WDBO-AM 580 Morning man, Jim Turner who turns 65 on Tuesday. On Thursday, that "Coffee Talk" lady, Liz Litterello does the birthday boogie on Thursday, Bobby Sharpe blows out the candles on Friday and Jay Waggoner celebrates number 52 on Saturday. Happy Birthday to all of you.

On The Road Again     8-15-11
Tom Benson (Benintende) host of Media Confidential, former Operations Manager/Program Director at WFLF-AM 540 and Program Director at WWNZ-AM 740 has signed on with Midwest Family Broadcasting in Springfield, Missouri. Tom becomes the new Operations Manager for the cluster as well as Program Director for KOMG-FM 105.1 and KSOP-FM 92.9.

WDBO-AM Adds FM Simulcast    8-15-11
WDBO-AM 580, the heritage station in Orlando announced that the AM programming will be simulcast on WHTQ-FM 96.5. “The decision to simulcast our 24-hour News-Talk format on FM will offer unique radio content to a wider listening audience,” said Cox Media Group Orlando Radio Operations Vice President Susan Larkin. “Many members of Orlando’s radio audience have never visited the AM dial. The simulcast of WDBO on FM allows us to penetrate twice the previously available listening audience to serve our local community as well as our advertisers.” Broadcasts are scheduled to begin on Friday at 5AM. 

WHTQ Goes On-Line   8-16-11
Former station WHTQ-FM 96.5 has gone exclusively to the web. Now known as 96RockOrlando.com all the folks from the old WHTQ have moved along as well. 

Kicks For Guns Coming    8-17-11
Now in it's 13th year, a project to get guns off the streets started by Russ Rollins and his crew on WTKS-FM 104.1, will take place Friday Aug. 19. Persons turning in guns will receive a $50 Wal-Mart gift card and there is no limit on the number of guns a person can surrender. No identification is required and no questions will be asked. The event runs from 7AM to 7PM. Real Radio 104.1 and Central Florida CrimeLine are sponsoring.

More Coffee Talk    8-17-11
Liz Litterello and her "Coffee Talk" can be heard each Sunday morning at 9AM on WEJF-FM 90.3, and if you need a coffee talk fix more often you can tune in Mon thru Fri from 11-Noon EDT here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/coffee-talk-with-liz-litterello

Fallout At WHTQ      8-18-11
With the WDBO-AM 580 simulcast replacing the rock format of WHTQ-FM 96.5 folks have left the station. Program Director Fleetwood Gruver along with mid-day host Slats (Tim Guinane) and night guy Buckley have left the building.

Y Hot Moving To FM    8-18-11
Radio Insight is reporting “Y Hot Radio” now heard on WPOZ-FM 88.3-HD2 will be joining the FM band. 95.9 seems like it will be the frequency.

Smooth Jazz Returning to Orlando      8-18-11
From Radio Insight: Two translators that Jim Hoge's Central Florida Educational Foundation had been leasing to Cox to simulcast WDBO-AM 580 on their HD2 channel at 96.5 have been returned. Cox will begin to simulcast WDBO on 96.5, on Friday at 5AM. There are also applications on file to complete moves of both translators from Winter Park to Orlando. 102.5 W273CA will now be leased to Clear Channel, who will use it to rebroadcast WMGF-FM 107.7-HD2. 107.7-HD2 will pick up the Smooth Jazz format recently dropped by the sale of WLOQ-FM 103.1. SmoothJazz1025.com has been registered by Clear Channel. Programming will come from Broadcast Architecture’s Smooth Jazz Network. 

Drew Petrimoulx Moves From WDBO To WFTV     8-19-11
WDBO-AM 580 reporter Drew Petrimoulx is leaving WDBO for a full time reporter gig at WFTV channel 9. 

Florida Radio Hall Of Fame     8-22-11
John Long has announced the formation of the Florida Radio Hall of Fame. This will be the place to "honor radio professionals either from Florida or who have worked in radio in Florida". You can also check it out on Facebook. For more info, contact Pete at theflarhof@gmail.com

Happy Birthday    8-23-11
Happy 63rd birthday to Bill Bauman on Wednesday. 

Christian Hip Hop    8-24-11
Curtis Partridge let's us know that ..."YHot"  (the Christian Hip Hop station) is being simulcast on 95.9 MHz from 88.3 HD2. They are not running any imaging for the new frequency."

Goodbye WHTQ, Hello WDBO    8-24-11
It's now official. The WHTQ call letters have been retired and replaced by the calls WDBO-FM

Classic Rock Is Back On WHOG    8-25-11
Just Plain John
let's us know "WHOG(-FM 95.7), Daytona Beach returns to Classic Rock. The Go Fish Radio Network dropped from mornings. Frank & Tracy back on mornings, Gary Meade, "The Mad Swede" on mid-days and Stephanie (who moves over from WKRO(-FM 93.1) takes over afternoons on the HOG.

Genesis Communications Announces New VP Of Sales   8-26-11
Michael Monroe has been announced as the Vice President of Sales for its Florida Cluster. Michael's experience includes 10 years successfully growing the Clear Channel Communications Tampa cluster in sales and as General Sales Manager.

Scott Harris Enters Hospice   8-28-11
Hal Bodecker from the Orlando Sentinel is reporting that veteran TV and radio broadcaster Scott Harris has entered Orlando’s Hospice of the Comforter. Scott is battling kidney cancer. His friends and family are asking people to send their thoughts and prayers to him via his Facebook page. Scott worked on a few stations in Central Florida before leaving radio for TV. Scott worked at WNFI-FM 99.9/WFKS-FM 99.9, WNDB-AM 1150, WORJ-FM 107.7 and WDBO-AM 580. We send along positive thoughts and heartfelt prayers to Scott and his family.

Happy Birthday     8-28-11
Lee Arnold of WORJ-FM 107.7 and now of worj.com celebrates on Wednesday. Happy birthday Lee! 

Scott Harris Loses His Battle With Kidney Cancer   8-29-11
Scott Harris has died from kidney cancer this morning. He was born Vincent McGough. Scott was a graduate of Edgewater High School and the University of Central Florida. Survivors include a son, Emery McGough, and three siblings: Jane McGough of New York City, Sue McGough of Central Florida and Tom McGough of Tallahassee. Details of a memorial service have not yet been announced.

Memorial Set For Scott Harris    8-30-11
A memorial for veteran Orlando TV/Radio journalist Scott Harris will be open to the public. The tribute will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at Bourne Chapel at Lake Highland Middle School, 741 N. Mills Ave. in Orlando. In lieu of flowers, Scott's family is asking for donations to be made to the Hospice of the Comforter or the Florida United Methodist Children's Home in his name.

Happy Birthday   8-31-11
Happy Birthday today, to WJHM-FM 101.9 Program Director, Victor Starr.

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