[NewsBriefs] Programmer Dom Theodore Exits CBS Radio

Programmer Dom Theodore Exits CBS Radio.
CBS Radio VP of Top 40 Programming Dom Theodore has exited. Theodore was also the Program Director for CHR-Top40 stations “92.3 Now” WXRK-FM, New York, and “98.7 Amp Radio” WDZH-FM, Detroit. He says he will focus on his consulting business and expanding his family’s company, Up North Radio. No replacement for Theodore is immediately named by CBS Radio which confirms his exit. Prior to joining CBS, the programmer was with Clear Channel Radio in Florida, Houston and Detroit.

Simmons Media Names Two SLC PDs.
Simmons Media makes two Program Director appointments for its Salt Lake City cluster. After serving as interim PD, Sean Demery is officially named Program Director and Brand Manager for Alternative Rock “X96″ KXRK-FM, and Simmons hires Matt Johnson as PD and Brand Manager for Hit Music “Mix 107.9″ KUDD-FM. Demery has more than 25 years of programming experience. Demery came aboard as interim PD following the exit of longtime “X96″ PD Todd Nuke’Em late last year. Johnson was most recently PD for Beasley CHR-Top40 “B 103.9″ WXKB-FM, Ft. Myers, Florida.

Moody Launches Spanish Christian Chicago AM.
Moody Radio flips Chicago religious teaching station WMBI-AM to become the market’s first full-time Spanish-language Christian station. The station had previously aired some Spanish programming on weekends. Moody Radio VP Collin Lambert says they see a growth opportunity serving the two million Hispanics in the Chicago area. Of the 16 ministries whose English-language programs have been airing on WMBI-AM, Moody says all but three will shift to sister WMBI-FM.
Moody’s announcement also says the AM station “will utilize existing ministry partners with Spanish-based teaching.”

Station Settles Play-by-Play Comments Suit.
An Oklahoma station has issued a public apology and paid an undisclosed sum of money to the Premier Basketball League (PBL) after on-air commentators made allegations of official misconduct during last year’s championship game.
This settles a lawsuit brought by the PBL against “Magic 95.3″ KMGZ-FM, Lawton, regarding “unfounded and defamatory claims” stemming from last April’s live broadcast of the final PBL championship series game between the Lawton Fort Sill Cavalry and the Rochester Razorsharks in Lawton. Play-by-play announcer Chris Needham – “a direct employee of the Cavalry” – made comments regarding “alleged misconduct on the part of officials and the PBL.” Magic President and General Manager Chuck Morgan has written an apology letter, saying that the station regrets the statements, which don’t reflect “the views or opinions of this station.” The settlement also includes an undisclosed sum of money paid by KMGZ-FM to the PBL. The station’s letter will remain on its website for a full year, as well as on the PBL and Rochester RazorSharks sites.

One Less Fox Sports Maine Station with WAEI-FM Format Flip.
Blueberry Broadcasting’s Fox Sports Maine, which has been comprised of several stations, now has one less frequency, as WAEI-FM, Bangor, flips to Adult Variety Hits “Big 104″ WBAK-FM, with music from the 1960s to 1980s. The Fox Sports format continues to originate at WAEI-AM. “Big 104″ launches with 10,000 songs in a row, after which it is expected to simulcast with sister WABK-FM, Augusta, Maine. Blueberry Broadcasting operates 17 stations throughout the state of Maine.

Mary Sneed Joins Light Media.
Light Media, “an Inspirational Media Specialist,” announces that Mary Catherine Sneed has joined its team. Sneed previously was Radio One’s Chief Operating Officer for eight years until 2006. Sneed will advise Light Media on key strategic corporate initiatives, including but not limited to sales, programming, acquisitions, and alliances. Says Light Media CEO Danny Wilson, “Light Media is excited to have Mary Catherine Sneed as a value-added member of its strategic advisory team.”

M.I.A.’s Middle Finger Has People Talking.
A lot of talk is being heard about one of British singer M.I.A.’s fingers – specifically a middle one, with which she was seen “flipping the bird” on television coverage of Madonna’s Super Bowl half-time show. The Parents Television Council is already tackling the controversy. The PTC says the NFL promised the organization a clean show despite casting performers with provocative reputations. It’s also believed M.I.A. slipped in an expletive when she joined Madonna during the Sunday night show. But the finger, seen by some 110 million viewers, is getting the main focus. “The obscene gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing and we apologize to our fans,” says Brian McCarthy, spokesman for the NFL, which produced Madonna’s halftime show. NBC spokesman Christopher McCloskey says, “The NFL hired the talent and produced the halftime show. Our system was late to obscure the inappropriate gesture and we apologize to our viewers.”

Doc Thompson Out Again.
Radio talk host Doc Thompson is out at WRVA-AM, Richmond, Virginia, only a week after he was let go from WLW-AM, Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Enquirer’s John Kiesewetter writes, “Thompson has lost his other Clear Channel job” at WRVA-AM, “where he kept doing afternoon drive after moving” to Cincinnati in October 2010. The Cincinnati media reporter says Thompson posted a message on his Facebook page Friday night: “I am no longer hosting my Richmond show. In the world of radio broadcasting… sometimes these things just happen. As I said earlier in the week it will all work out for the best and I am blessed. To the people of The Commonwealth of Virginia… You are wonderful! To the WRVA staff and listeners… Thank you!” Thompson’s Richmond termination came a week after he was fired by WLW-AM during his vacation week to honeymoon, making room for WLW-AM to rehire Eddie Fingers, and move Scott Sloan to Thompson’s 9am-noon shift.

Controversial Memphis Radio Talker Back On Air.
Memphis radio talk host Thaddeus Matthew is back on the air, after being silenced by management for about 24 hours, reports Ernie Freeman at MyFoxMemphis.com. Matthews hosts an afternoon show on Pollack Broadcasting’s WPLX-AM. Some say he went too far last week during an intense interview on his show with Republican Congressional Candidate Charlotte Bergman. She walked out during the interview after Matthews called her names and refused to shake her hand. Thursday, his listeners did not hear him, because the station’s owner, Bill Pollack, turned off the transmitter. Pollack apparently sympathized with Bergman, and told her in a letter, which she posted on her Facebook page, that he would “handle” Matthews. Pollack turned off the station’s transmitter effectively silencing Matthews. But, Friday, Matthews was back on the air, after getting a judge to issue a temporary restraining order, forcing Pollack to put the station, and Matthews, back on the air.

Jim Ladd Ready to Air Via Satellite.
“The Last DJ” Jim Ladd, who was let go by Classic Rock KLOS-FM, Los Angeles, will debut on SiriusXM, February 13. Ladd had returned to L.A. radio to say goodbye on a one-time show on KFI-AM. “Jim Ladd on Deep Tracks” will air from a studio he will describe as “high atop the Hollywood hills,” reports Gary Lycan for the Orange County Register. He writes that the early start time is so listeners across the country can hear it live in later hours. There is also a possibility the four-hour program will be repeated in the overnight hours for Ladd fans in Southern California.
Lycan notes that SiriusXM’s “Deep Tracks” features “deep Classic Rock” and “fits perfectly Ladd’s well-known format of playing only what he wants in what he calls free-form.”

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