Detroit Television’s NextGen TV development was highlighted this week (4/1) in Broadcasting and Cable. NextGen TV has been on the air in Detroit for more than three years. At this point, not too many people are tuning in, but broadcasters there are using the market as a laboratory, testing features and getting ready for when more viewers are paying attention.
Nexstar Media’s WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids) has announced the hiring of Amber Krycka as a main evening anchor. Kyrcka co-anchors with award-winning journalist Brian Sterling weeknights on News 8 at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
After more than 40 years on the air, Hillsdale radio icon will hang up his microphone at the end of the week. Bob Flynn is retiring from McKibbin Media’s WCSR-AM/FM. Bob’s radio career began as a part-timer during the summer of 1978 with WCSR.
Terri Ray, Program Director and midday talent at Midwestern Broadcasting Company’s WKLT-FM (Kalkaska/Traverse City) is celebrating 40 years at the station. Named one of the best program directors in the nation by Radio Ink magazine, Ray started at the station (known locally as ‘KLT The Rock Station) in 1984.
Michigan State University’s student-run radio station WDBM-FM (Impact 89FM) has been recognized for its work with national awards in the Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Competition and the Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts.
The Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, announced the winners of a statewide contest encouraging high school students to create public service announcements that discourage tobacco use through vaping at the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Michigan Student Broadcast Awards Luncheon & Career Fair, held March 18 in Lansing.
Every year at about this time, with April Fools’ Day right around the corner, we need to play our role as attorneys and ruin any fun that you may be planning by repeating our reminder that broadcasters need to be careful with any on-air pranks, jokes or other on-air bits prepared especially for the day. While a little fun is OK, remember that the FCC has a rule against on-air hoaxes, and there can be liability issues with false alerts that are run on a station.
MAB FCC Washington Counsel David Oxenford reports that the FCC last week released its first EEO audit notice for 2024. The FCC’s Public Notice, audit letter, and the list of stations selected for audit is available here. The stations selected appear at the end of the release and your MAB notes 13 Michigan call letters associated with this audit.
Marc Ryan has been named network pregame, postgame and weekday fill-in host of Audacy’s WXYT-FM (97.1 The Ticket) in Detroit, beginning April 1. He joins the station after his run at co-owned WORD-AM (The Fan Upstate) in Greenville, SC where he hosted “Offsides with Marc Ryan,” the station’s afternoon show.
The Sanilac Broadcasting Family (Sandusky) is mourning the loss of one of its most popular and familiar voices. Paul Osentoski, who has worked with the company since 1980, passed away on March 12, 2024 at the age of 70.