Saturday, March 14, 2026

Industry News

CHRISTMAS DAY in Broadcast History .. Tuesday Dec. 25th

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Born on Xmas Day were Rod Serling, Jimmy Buffett, WKRP’s Gary Sandy, Barbara Mandrell, Sissy Spacek, and bandleader Leighton Noble, who lived out his retirement years in Victoria BC. Trail BC got its own radio station when the experimental 10AT signed on; Milton Cross hosted the first Metropolitan Opera broadcast; Bing Crosby performed ‘White Christmas’ for the first time on NBC radio’s ‘Kraft Music Hall’; and Walt Disney made his first foray into TV. Obits this day include Dean Martin, W.C. Fields, Eartha Kitt, Joan Blondell, and the ‘Godfather of Soul’ James Brown. ALL the milestones for Christmas Day INSIDE.

Kevin Spacey Charged With Felony Sexual Assault

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The alleged assault on a male victim took place at a Nantucket bar in July 2016.

CHRISTMAS EVE in Broadcast History .. Monday Dec. 24th

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Happy Birthday to Ryan Seacrest, Ricky Martin, Canadian Steve Smith (whom you know better as Red Green), and actor Mark Valley. The BBC aired radio’s first play, ‘The Truth About Father Christmas’; the ‘Voice of Firestone’ began its 27 years of light classical music on US Monday night radio; Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’ starring Lionel Barrymore (pictured) began its long run each yuletide on the radio networks; a Midnight Mass was televised for the first time on NBC, beginning a 70 year tradition thus far; and Perry Como made his TV debut as NBC televised his ‘Chesterfield Supper Club.’ Checking out on Christmas Eve over the decades were actors Jack Klugman, Charles Durning and Peter Lawford, CBS president Frank Stanton and producer James Komack. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

Winner of CNN’s ‘Journalist of the Year’ Award Faked Stories for...

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German magazine Der Spiegel apologised to readers on Wednesday for publishing “invented stories” and content with “distorted facts” by one of its reporters

SUNDAY in Broadcast History .. Dec. 23rd

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It’s the day when Don McNeill of radio’s ‘Breakfast Club’ and James Gregory of TV’s ‘Barney Miller’ were born. As well it’s Happy Birthday to Harry Shearer, Susan Lucci, Patrick Watson and Eddie Vedder. The BBC began regular daily radio newscasts; NBC began programming its national radio network; the first complete opera (Hansel & Gretel) was televised on WRGB Schenectady; Swift Current got local TV service as CJFB signed on; the daytime soap ‘The Young and the Restless’ premiered on CBS-TV; and the ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ cartoon was televised for the first time. Obits for Dec. 23 include Dragnet’s Jack Webb, Canadian jazzman Oscar Peterson, comic pianist Victor Borge and actor Charlie Ruggles. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

CBS & NBC: their Ups and Downs After Firing Matt Lauer,...

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Momentum at “CBS This Morning,” the most buzzworthy morning show for a handful of years, stopped dead with Rose’s firing.

Paul Larsen named news director and station manager for Global Okanagan

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Paul Larsen will assume the role of news director and station manager for Global Okanagan, effective Jan. 8.

SATURDAY in Broadcast History .. Dec. 22nd

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It’s the birthdate of actors Ralph Fiennes and Hector Elizondo, Diane Sawyer of ABC News, the late announcer and game show host Gene Rayburn, and singer Jordin Sparks. Pioneer New York radio station WEAF aired the first ever broadcast of a boxing match; the first experimental TV signals were aired from the top of the Empire State Building, two decades before the TV era began; Monty Hall presided over his last ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ on ABC-TV; Archie Bunker became a grandfather on CBS-TV’s “All in The Family’; and Conan O’Brien and Jack Black (pictured) engaged in a guitar duel on TBS’ late night ‘Conan.’ Among the obits for Dec. 22nd are bigtime (old time) radio announcer Jimmy Wallington, legendary soap opera creator Irna Phillips, and the great Lone Ranger narrator/announcer Fred Foy. ALL the milestones for Dec. 22nd INSIDE.

Victoria Times Colonist Cancels Pre-Xmas Friday Paper

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Today, Friday Dec 21, the entire press run was cancelled due to a lack of power at the printing plant in Ladysmith following Thursday's wind storm.

WAB holds 85th Annual Conference in June!

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We are excited to extend a one-time special rate to NEW attendees to experience the WAB Conference in 2019