media bytes for monday, june 30, 2008

Sunday, June 29, 2008 by SDRadio.

Welcome to SDRadio for Monday, June 30, 2008

Please welcome MyServer.org to SDRadio. Their ad helps keep the website on-line.
Also welcome Rich Brother Robbin! His on-line streaming site brings oldies world wide with an San Diego feel.

Doug Myrland has long been a friend of radio and television at KPBS-FM and TV. The long time general manager of the public radio and television station in the market, he has the San Diego station ahead of others in the new spectrum. One of the first television and radio stations to embrace digital transmission, Doug is also not afraid to face the folks that question decisions at the station from financial to programming.

Doug has one interest in mind; it is the listening and viewing public that make the station one of the premiere stations in the country. Serving the public interest and bringing fine programming on both spectrum’s, Doug and his staff has made the mark that other stations strive for.

At the end of December, Doug will hang up his GM hat and trade it in for a consultant duty for at least a year. Doug told Randy Dotinga at the North County Times, “”I feel strongly that people like me should move on while they’re ahead,” he said. “I’m feeling like we’ve accomplished a lot in this organization. I want people to remember me fondly or at least as someone who didn’t stay past their welcome.”

Joining the station in 1992, Doug has expanded the news operation, revamped the Radio Reading Service, added a station in Calexico, and started multicasting HDRadio that includes full time classical music. Likewise on the TV side, Doug’s oversight has brought premiere programming via high definition television and offers a full time Spanish-language public station to the area.

Thanks is not enough; you made the bar higher and yet were kind enough to take the time to answer questions about the future of the station. Thanks!

Radio Note: I know it’s Monday …. the brain trust at the HDRadio Alliance are threatening to crank up the promotion a notch. (Insert massive yawn here.) The misaligned idea that a digital standard will have listeners foaming at the mouth to buy a $300 radio is … interesting. The financial experts expect the radios need to come down in price. Where there are fine HDRadios available for about $100, the signal reliability, especially in terrain like San Diego, dampens sales and promotion. The radio group wants the HD section to have a power boost. That would help extend the coverage around the area.

Content needs to be improved. KPBS fills a need with classic music and Groove Salad. KyXy and Radio Sophie program their multicast stations very well. Some Clear Channel stations in the market has have niche programming. But in all, there is no real hook for the public. HDRadio remains a Stay Digitally Tuned item.

One Month to Fox 5: San Diego’s television horizon is changing. On August 1, KSWB-TV becomes part of the FOX TV Network. Today, the station is pleased to announce the hiring of Ms. Chrissy Russo as the weather and traffic anchor for the station’s new “Fox 5 Morning News”. Set to debut on August 1, 2008 and airing weekdays, “Fox 5 Morning News” will be a 4-hour local newscast covering all of San Diego and produced entirely in High Definition. “Fox 5 Morning News” will be joined seven nights a week by the 1-hour “Fox 5 News at Ten”.

Chrissy Russo is well known to San Diego news viewers for her distinctive style as a local weather and traffic anchor. Recognizable from her anchor six years at local station XETV, Chrissy served as morning weather and traffic anchor beginning in 2002. Chrissy brought a unique audience pleasing high-energy performance to the daily routine of anchoring weather and traffic. Since Opening Day 2006, Chrissy has also been seen locally on Channel 4 San Diego as a feature sports reporter covering Padres game day, interviewing athletes and celebrities alike.

In 2004 Ms. Russo began hosting “Global Trends”, the in flight business and trends showcase program for Continental Airlines. In 2001 Chrissy reported news for OCN in Santa Ana and also for Metro News and Traffic.in San Diego. From 1999 to 2001 Chrissy was reporter and anchor for CBS affiliate WTKR in Norfolk, Virginia, where she was known for her strong work as a live news reporter.

Ms. Russo is a graduate of Old Dominion University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Communications and minored in English and Marketing.
“”We are looking forward to Chrissy bringing Fox 5 Morning News viewers the local traffic and weather. She has a style that is just terrific, a strong all around news background and she knows San Diego”, said Rich Goldner, Fox 5 news director. “We have some fun new twists in store for our morning news and Chrissy will help bring them to life in weather and traffic.”

“Flanagan” is a 3 month old, neutered, male, West Highland/Scottish Terrier Mix. A confident blend with high self esteem and spunk! Currently “Flanagan” is 20 pounds and will grow into a compact companion of approx 35-45 pounds. Inquisitive and pert, “Flanagan” is all about fun on the run! Your heart will be in the Highlands with “Flanagan”, your determined and thoughtful pal from Helen Woodward Animal Center!

You can adopt “Flanagan” for $215. Pictured here is Mark Jagger of Magic 92.5.

All pets adopted from Helen Woodward Animal Center have been spayed or neutered, have Up-to-date vaccinations and have microchip identification.

Helen Woodward Animal Center kennels are open everyday from 11am to 6pm
(Applications accepted till 5:45pm) at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe.
For more information call 858-756-4117, option #1 or log on to www.animalcenter.org.

Slither! Trot! Hop! Meow! WooF!
SUMMER CRITTER CAMP NOW- August 22nd 2008! The ultimate day camp adventure for kids ages 4-14 years who love spending time with animals and learning how to care for them. Camps are offered as full-day, weeklong sessions from June through August.
Hop To It! Limited Spaces Still Available! Contact Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Education Department at 858-756-4117 ext. 318; 6461 El Apajo Road, Rancho Santa Fe;
Download the registration form; www.animalcenter.org; fax it to 858-756-3954

This is the last week this summer that Dave, Shelly and Chainsaw will be giving away a thousand dollars to the area needy. It is not too late to register at 101.5 KGB. See the web site for all the details.

The proceeds from the annual Best Of CD makes the Grand A Day Giveaway possible. The CD, which comes out near Thanksgiving, is the annual ritual that many fans of the San Diego show gather for their collection. It is also a good time snap of the top rated show in the market. Without the craftmanship of Dave, Shelly, and Chainsaw, the mornings would be …. a lot emptier.

San Diego 1700’s Mark Larson continues to snag the big name exclusive news maker interviews every day. In the wake of the weekend Pentagon report about what’s worked and what’s not in Iraq, the former Commander of U.S. Central Command, Gen. John Abizaid, will join Mark on his morning show this week. Mark spent several days with Abizaid in the Middle East covering Iraq and the region. He’s also been invited back to the area this year (and Afghanistan), and may link up with the locally based USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) in the Persian Gulf later this year.

Expected on Mark’s shortly after the July 4th holiday, energy billionaire T. Boone Pickens (who will soon announce a new private initiative for America) and actor Jon Voight (yes, that guy, who’s father of Angelina Jolie). Mark will also emcee the July 9th San Diego event featuring Voight, Sen. John McCain and wife Cindy. Says Mark: “If Senator McCain wants to blunt the ‘age issue’, he should have Cindy with him at every opportunity. She’s a very compelling speaker, too.”

On the other side of the spectrum is afternoon host Stacy Taylor. Not that the host is in harm’s way at the station, Stacy continues to be the voice of the other side of the house. Stacy’s show is on from 3 to 6 p.m., and offers ideas, views, and commentary not heard elsewhere in the market. Stacy is not an odd fit at the station. Program Director Mark Larson told SDRadio when the current format kicked off that this is a station that is more about San Diego than a platform; the station continues to fill news and talk from both sides. It’s good to hear Mark on Stacy’s show and likewise, for Stacy to be on Mark’s morning drive. Station owner John Lynch has encouraged Stacy and Mark to keep the talk aspect up.

There are many things that can make you go, “Hmmm”. Daily changes a the gas pump, free tacos with gas (receipt), or the quest by the San Diego Jack FM morning show. Somehow, the picture of the Man doesn’t surprise fans of the show on 100.7 FM.

Check the site out at San Diego Jack Mornings.

Thank you for making SDRadio part of your internet travels today!! See YOU on the radio today and here later this. More news as it happens and the next regularly scheduled news break is on Thursday.

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