Saturday, July 5, 2025

Industry News

CHRISTMAS DAY in Broadcast History .. Sun. 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.

Joey Boots of The Howard Stern Show dead at 49

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Joseph Bassolino, 49, was found unresponsive at his Bronx home Friday

CHRISTMAS EVE in Broadcast History .. Sat. 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 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 nearly 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.

Merry Christmas from the Honeymooners

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https://youtu.be/MapC9mBqUVk Flashing back to the early years of television comedy with the great Jackie Gleason....  

Grace Slick & Jefferson Airplane have today’s almost forgotten track

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In the summer of 1967 I hitch hiked from Victoria to Montreal for Expo…while there I met a young lady from Toronto who remains a friend to this day…

FRIDAY 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.

KOMO-TV/radio building in Seattle sold for $276-Million!!!

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The exterior of the building is used to depict the fictional hospital in “Grey’s Anatomy.”

“5 Rules for Success in 2017” by Michael Doyle

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Radio programmers worry about the methodology of Nielsen’s PPM ratings system, the size of the sample, the placement of the meters. All out of your control. Focus on the content of your stations, your websites, and your events.

THURSDAY 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 Fred Foy. ALL the milestones for Dec. 22nd INSIDE.

Fake News from CNN Fox & other Corporate Media

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Fake News Compilation (BBC, CNN, FOX, NBC, NYT)