Long-time Norm Hitzges sidekick and 1310 AM The Ticket assistant program director Mark Friedman confirms this afternoon that he has left the station to take a similar role with rival sports-talk station 103.3 FM ESPN Radio. Friedman will next week begin his new role as ESPN’s APD and producer for The…
A man of his word, Clear Channel’s Dallas market manager J.D. Freeman did in fact call back with some news concerning programming changes at the San Antonio-based conglomerate’s Dallas properties. As mentioned earlier, two KDMX-FM (Mix 102.9) on-air personalities were part of the mass layoffs today: midday host Lisa Thomas…
We’ve tried all morning to get Dallas Clear Channel execs on the phone all morning to discuss layoffs there, which began at 7:30 this morning as expected (and our condolences to the departed, who include someone near and dear to Unfair Park). No luck so far — and I don’t…
I would not recommend reading SMU’s Daily Mustang for your inauguration coverage. The university sent “a group of SMU communications and journalism students” to D.C. to cover the inauguration. Said last week’s media release, “They will have an up-close view of the Presidential Inauguration.” Um. Um. This is the most…
The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post are reporting today that as early as next week, Clear Channel Communications will “begin implementing a massive restructuring plan that seeks to cut $400 million in costs at the company.” Both stories say the layoffs are to begin on Tuesday; says…
Tuned into KTCK-AM (1310) this a.m. for its “big station announcement,” which, all things considered, was relatively enormous after all: The station is “the new radio flagship home for Dallas Stars hockey for the next five seasons,” said morning-show co-host Craig Miller. The deal starts next season and runs through…
Just because I’m dabbling on 105.3 The Fan doesn’t mean I’m going to neglect or be conflicted about my sports media duties. Not at all. In fact, just this morning I was driving the kid to school and listening to “Muse in the News” on 1310 AM The Ticket’s Dunham & Miller Show when it…
Remember that Denny’s Super Bowl ad casting call last month? The one looking for “authentically weathered, tough, rugged” cowboys from Dallas? Right. That one. Anyway, today we get a peek at the ‘pokes Denny’s rustled up for its first-ever Super Bowl spot, which Denny’s spokesperson Cori Rice tells Unfair Park…
Known it for a while, but yesterday the head honchos at our two local dailies made it official: Beginning next month the newspaper sports war competition is over. The former rivals are now shaking hands, sharing headlines. It’s happening all over the place, with even super powers like the Washington…
KXAS-Channel 5 has wisely — nay, brilliantly — posted the entirety of Jane McGarry’s sit-down with President Bush. You know how sometimes, 10 minutes isn’t long enough? This is one of those times. A question, though: What is she saying at the start of the video? And what does it…
As we speak, 105.3 The Fan is in the middle of a 30-day negotiating period with the Cowboys to steal the team away from 1310 AM The Ticket and become Dallas’ official flagship station. The new sports-talk station has also hired Dallas’ Only Daily columnist Tim Cowlishaw for a regular role…
A.H. Belo hopes you think so, because The Dallas Morning News just posted the following notice: Starting Feb. 9, The Dallas Morning News will increase the newsstand price of its Monday-through-Saturday newspapers to one dollar from the current level of 75 cents. The News attributed the price hike to continued…
Say what you will about Russ Martin – and, believe me, I’ve said a lot – the guy deserves credit for keeping his Listeners Foundation up and running even though his gig at Live 105.3 got axed. In keeping with a promise he made upon establishing the foundation after 9/11,…
Once upon a time, ours was a three sports-page town. There were enough readers – enough advertisers – for the Dallas Morning News, Dallas Times Herald and Fort Worth Star-Telegram to not only survive, but thrive. Shoot, one of my first jobs at the FWS-T in the late ’80s was to…
Way back in Two Thousand and Eight I alerted you that radical radio ratings changes were on the horizon. Well, they’re heeere. As of Dec. 31, the data from Arbitron’s new Portable People Meters is certified as legit radio currency in Dallas-Fort Worth. Diaries have officially gone the way of the…
Twice today I’ve been asked about several posts on The Latest Word, one of our sister blogs out of Denver, referring to layoffs and pay cuts taking place throughout the Village Voice Media chain. The Dallas Observer, of course, is among the 15 papers in the chain, formerly known as…
On Page 13A of Your Morning Paper is Dora the Explorer, crying all over a full-page ad that screams: “Time Warner Cable is Taking Dora Off the Air Tonight! Along with 19 of your favorite channels!” Which is a bit of a stretch. Spike? Please. MTV? Since when? 1985? TV…
For those looking for some year-end reading during the slow news cycle, consider my personal favorites of the year from Observer columnist Jim Schutze. I refuse to play favorites, so the list is chronological. And since any commentary from me can’t compare to the work itself, a memorable excerpt from…
KERA-FM (90.1) didn’t take long finding shows to replace Day to Day and News & Notes, both victims of National Public Radio’s budget cuts earlier this month. Both will make their debut on Thursday. Oh, you want their names? Tell Me More and The Story. And there’s a third show…
On this decidedly slow news day during which everyone’s running out the clock before bidding 2008 good riddance, perhaps this offering from the Wayback Machine’s just the ticket: a look at the front page of the Fort Worth Daily Gazette from December 30, 1883. I stumbled across it early this…
Flickr photo: sbisson Broadcasting & Cable brings the news that Belo Corp. and Charter Communications have reached a tentative deal that will keep the Dallas-owned stations on the cable carrier in three markets: St. Louis; Norfolk, Virgina; and Charlotte, North Carolina. So far, though, there’s been no word from WFAA-Channel…
A Friend of Unfair Park points us to this announcement from WFAA-Channel 8 concerning its being dropped from Charter Cable come New Year’s Eve, and wonders, “WTF?” So happens, reports Television Broadcast today, that the local brouhaha is part of a larger battle between Belo and Charter, which is likewise…
