November 5, 2024

NWBroadcasters

Radio and TV news

August 2023 updates from NWBroadcasters

8/31/23 – CW Network programming will move from KSTW-TV to a digital subchannel of KOMO4 Seattle on Friday. Seattle and Pittsburgh were two of eight TV markets where Nexstar Media Group was to lose a CW Network affiliate after Paramount Globalannounced it would drop CW programming from its owned and operated stations by September 1.  Matthew Keys, The Desk  Nexstar Release
   
8/31/23 – Kenny Jones has left the morning show at STAR CKSR-FM 98.3 Chilliwack. He joined the show in early 2020 after working at Vancouver stations from 2011-13 and again from 2017-19.
8/30/23 – KSTW-TV Seattle, which has been branded as CW11 when it joined the CW Network in 2006, has announced it will be now be branded as Seattle11. It will feature “shows spanning big comedies to courtroom dramas to cutting-edge true crime”.  CBS Release  TVNewsCheck
8/27/23 – KPNW-FM 98.9 Seattle adds veteran radio personality Randi Kirshbaum Sundays from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. She’s been in the business since 1970.  Radio Online 
8/27/23 – Veteran Sales Manager Sean Shannonleaves his position with Cumulus Media Atlanta after eight and a half years. He had roles in radio sales and sales management in Seattle from 1989-2013.  InsideRadio    
8/26/23 – The FCC has assigned call letters KWFV to a new Christian station at 91.5 in Aberdeen. It will operate non-directional with 1.8 kW at -40 meters HAAT at 47° 2′ 39.9″ N 123° 51′ 48.7″ W.  FCC Data  
8/25/23 – A deal is being finalized to bring CW Network programming to KONG-TV Seattle, with the official announcement expected as soon as Monday. Based on the grid, the last 10 p.m. Seattle News Now at 10 on KSTW-TV will end on August 31, indicating the CBS abandonment of the CW starts September 1.  Matthew Keys, The Desk
8/25/23 Veteran Seattle market KNKX-FM 88.5 producer/ host Jim Wilke is retiring. He has been with KNKX (previously KPLU) since 1984. Wilke will sign off with his last program of Jazz Northwest on August 27.  Carol Handley, KNKX  
8/25/23 – Former Vancouver broadcaster Ria Renouf has been named Managing Editor of the  the Burnaby Beacon. The 2015 BCIT broadcasting and online journalism graduate will also continue to manage the New West Anchor. Renouf held anchor/ reporter positions at CKNW and CityNewsfrom 2013-22 and has won three significant journalism awards.  Burnaby Beacon Release    
8/24/23 – Emily Czerwinski, who was laid off from her position at The Peak CKPK-FM 102.7Vancouver early this year, joins The Zone CJZN-FM 91.3 Victoria in middays effective September 5.  She will cover for Kirsten James, who is going on maternity leave.   
8/22/23 – Kyle Balzer has been promoted to Editor of the Glacier Media Group‘s Tri-City News, Burnaby Now and The Record. Prior to joining the company in 2021, he has been a news anchor/ reporter at Pulse 107.7 CISF-FM Surrey and host at UFV’s campus radio station CIVL-FM 101.7Abbotsford  in 2014.  X Announcement
8/22/23 – KING 5 Seattle Meteorologist Christopher Nunley is leaving his position to handle some difficult family health issues. At KING he was responsible for creating informative graphics for on-air and digital platforms.  X Posting
  
8/22/23 – CBC Vancouver reporter Rhianna Schmunk will be working as a senior writer with the national CBC digital team for the next year. She will continue to be based in Vancouver.  X Posting   
8/21/23 – KBCB-TV Bellingham has added ThisTVon its channel 24.3. It airs films primarily sourced from the library of partial owner MGM and other limited general entertainment content.
 
8/18/23 – Former FOX 13 KCPQ-TV Seattle anchor/ reporter Chynna Greene has joined KGW-TVPortland. She worked at FOX 13 for two years before leaving in May.  X Announcement
8/19/23 – Following his departure from CTV Vancouver Thursday, Jason Pires has announced he is joining Global BC this fall to co-anchor its morning show. He is taking over the position left vacant by Paul Haysom, who recently moved to CHEK-TV Victoria.  Megan Devlin, Daily Hive  Corus Release 
8/17/23 – Long-time CTV Vancouver personality Jason Pires has announced he is leaving the station. He’s been with CTV in both Victoria and Vancouver for 22 years. Pires recently moved from co-hosting CTV Morning Live to anchoring the noon newscasts. He says he will continue working in media, with more details on his next move coming soon.  X Posting  Megan Devlin, Daily Hive 
8/17/23 – After 50 years in the business, broadcaster Charles Adler who was a talk show host on CKNW AM 980 Vancouver and the Corus Radio Network from 2016-21, gives his thoughts on the demise of AM radio in Canada. He transitioned into podcasting earlier this summer with the launch of The Charles Adler Show.  Connie Thiessen, Broadcast Dialogue
8/17/23 – After a short run as a web writer/ editor at CBC Vancouver, Srushti Gangdev joins CityNews 1130 CKWX as an anchor/ reporter. She had been a reporter at the Burnaby Beacon for a couple of years and was previously a reporter/ anchor at CKNW AM 980.  
8/16/23 – KOMO-TV Seattle wins a 2023 National Edward R. Murrow Award for Birth of a Boom in the Large Market Television Sports Reporting category.  Video  KNKX-FM (in partnership with The Seattle Times) wins for The Walk Home in the Large Market Radio Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion category.  National Winners List 
8/15/23 – Veteran Whatcom County sportscaster Mark Scholten was found dead in his apartment Monday, August 14. He was 54. Scholten worked at KPUG AM 1170 Bellingham for 30 years doing prep basketball and football game play-by-play and also hosted sports discussion program The Zone on KPUG and KGMI-FM. Eric Trent, Cascadia Daily News 
8/15/23 – KING 5 Media Group Seattle Digital Account Manager Adam Sanchez moves into a new role as an Account Executive.  LinkedIn Announcement  
8/15/23 – Public Radio KNKX-FM 88.5 Tacoma/ Seattle will host an all-day open house August 26, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at its new studios at 1501 Western Ave. The move is the latest chapter in a success story that began in 2016, when listeners saved the station, formerly owned by Pacific Lutheran University and had the call letters KPLU.  Paul de Barros, Seattle Times  KNKX Release
8/15/23 – Curt Kruse and Jen Pirak will take over mornings at STAR 101.1 KPLZ-FM Seattle, replacing Moug & Angie. Kruse has been with KPLZ since 2002 and Pirak since 1994. In addition, Jeff Connell, PD/ afternoon host of K-Hits KTHI-FM 107.1 Boise, has been promoted to Regional Program Director, adding oversight of KPLZ.  RadioInsight
 
8/15/23 – STAR 101.1 KPLZ-FM Seattle morning hosts John Moug and Angie Parker have departed. They joined KPLZ from Mix 106 KCIX-FM 105.9Boise, ID in January 2022.  All Access Music Group  
8/11/23 – Alex Carrigan, who announced in May that he had joined the traffic department at CityNews 1130 CKWX Vancouver, has now advanced to full-time 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. traffic anchor at the station.  X Posting
8/11/23 – In a reorganization, Vancouver-based National Director of Talk Radio Larry Gifford is being released by Corus Communications. He was Senior Program Director at CKNW AM 980 and CKGO AM 730 Vancouver from 2016-21 before moving to his most recent position. He earlier was PD at the Bonneville Seattle radio cluster from 2011-13.  All Access Music Group 
8/10/23 – Kate Walker joins CityNews Vancouver as a video journalist. She’s been a multimedia producer and host for the last three years at the Saltwire Network in Halifax.  X Posting
8/10/23 – Corus Entertainment executive Ronnie Stanton has been promoted to Vice-President, Audio, leading the company’s Audio division and overseeing its 39 FM and AM radio stations. He has held several leadership positions in Vancouver since 2008.  Connie Thiessen, Broadcast Dialogue
8/10/23 – CTV Morning Live Vancouver weathercaster Marke Driesschen, who has been absent since he underwent successful heart valve replacement surgery in May, says he is feeling fine and will be returning to work. His first day back is scheduled for Tuesday, September 5.  X Video
8/09/23 – The Ratings Experts at Research Director, Inc. provide exclusive July ’23 PPM analysis for Seattle-Tacoma and four other radio markets.  All Access Music Group
8/09/23 – KIRO Newsradio 97.3 Seattle has announced two new shows to its weekday lineup. Jack Stine and Spike O’Neill will permanently host the noon-3 p.m. time slot. “The Jack and Spike Show” starts Monday, August 14. Jake Skorheim is now hosting “KIRO Nights”.  KIRO Release
8/08/23 – As a tribute to Red Robinson’s incredible contributions to the Pacific National Exhibition, the organization will host Red Robinson Day at the Fair August 31 on the 66th anniversary of the famed Vancouver Elvis concert. Prior to the evening’s Summer Night Concert featuring Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, a special video presentation commemorating the life and achievements of Red will be played, highlighting the many contributions to the music industry and the impact he had in promoting rock ‘n roll.  Facebook Posting  Global BC Video
8/08/23 – Long-time Vancouver broadcaster Olivia Jones joins CityNews 1130 CKWX this month as its morning co-anchor alongside News Director Terry Schintz. She hosted the midday show at QMFM (now MoveCHQM-FM 103.5 for 11 years beginning in 2011.  CityNews Release
8/08/23 – Former CTV Vancouver Island anchor/ reporter Amber Schinkel has joined the Victoria Hospitals Foundation as its Senior Media and Communications Officer. She announced her departure last month  after being with the station since 2017.  X Posting 
8/08/23 – Country The Wolf KKWF-FM 100.7increases its lead in the Nielsen Seattle-Tacoma July 2023 PPM 6+ ratings with a 7.7 share. Classic Hits The Jet KJEB-FM 95.7 moves up to second with a 6.1 share. Classic Rock KZOK-FM 102.5 dips to third with 5.8.  Radio Online
8/08/23 – Former KIRO 7 Seattle Meteorologist Claire Anderson, who departed for Washington DC in April 2022 after four years, will be joining FOX 13 KCPQ-TV. She announced in April that she was leaving FOX 5 WTTG-TV Washington DC after only one year.  X Posting  
8/07/23 – Former CBC Vancouver video operator George R. Jones passed away July 28 at age 86. He also worked for the Corporation in Yellowknife and Montreal, retiring from Hansard TV in 2001. A Celebration of Life will take place at First Memorial Funeral Services, 4725 Falaise Dr., Victoria from 2 to 4 p.m. on September 22nd.   Times Colonist Obituary
8/07/23 – Former Vancouver broadcaster Ryan Sullivan, who has been the morning show host at Surge 105.1 CKHY-FM Dartmouth/ Halifax for the past two years, has landed at Rock 102 CJDJ-FM 102.1 Saskatoon in p.m. drive. Sully was a digital host, content creator and announcer at JACKCJAX-FM 96.9 from 2019-21 and an anchor at News1130 CKWX from 2010-12.  
8/07/23 – Scott Shantz takes over as host of Weekend Mornings on CKNW AM 980 Vancouver. The show was previously hosted by Stirling Faux, who moved to p.m. drive at WAVE CIWV-FM 98.3. Shantz has produced and hosted a number of radio shows in Vancouver.
8/06/23 – Delilah Rene, the most-listened-to woman in American radio for more than 30 years, talks self-worth, faith and the loss of her sons. She broadcasts from her home studio in West Seattle, with the Delilah radio show heard by over 8 million listeners on over 150 stations nationwide. Locally, her show is heard daily on The Sound KSWD-FM 94.1 Seattle.  Maggie Dillard, The News Tribune
8/04/23 – Retired Vancouver broadcaster Jolly JohnTanner turns 80 and looks back at his many years entertaining local listeners. He hosted shows on a number of Vancouver stations from 1961-2010 and hosted shows regularly at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre for 47 years until his retirement in 2015.  John Mackie, Vancouver Sun 
8/04/23 – Former Seattle broadcaster Fitz has had his syndication partnership for Country Top 40 With Fitz renewed for another multi-year deal. The weekly program is heard on more than 240 stations nationwide. Fitz hosted mornings on The WolfKKWF-FM 100.7 from 2005-17 and The Bull KNUC-FM 98.9 (now KPNW-FM) from 2019-20 before returning to his native Texas to continue hosting the syndicated Skyview Networks Country Top 40.  Charese Frugé, All Access Music Group
8/03/23 – Global BC news anchor Sophie Lui is the 2023 recipient of the Shelley Fralic Award by the Jack Webster Foundation, celebrating a journalist concerned with making her community a better place. The foundation says Lui’s unwavering dedication to journalism, mentoring, community service, and advocacy epitomizes the legacy of the late Vancouver Sun columnist the award is named for.  Connie Thiessen, Broadcast Dialogue
8/03/23 – Former CBC Vancouver associate producer Vincent Papequash has been charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault of a minor. He is no longer an employee of the Corporation. The allegations have not been proven in court.  CBC News  
8/02/23 – Amber Eikel has been named Senior Vice President and General Manager of FOX 13 KCPQ-TV and FOX 13+ KZJO-TV Seattle. She assumes the position immediately and succeeds Sheila Oliver, who leaves to be SVP and GM of FOX’s WFLD-TVWPWR-TV Chicago. Eikel has most recently been VP and News Director of KTVU-TV/ KICU-TV San Francisco.  Mark Miller, TVNewsCheck
8/02/23 – Former FOX 13 KCPQ-TV Seattle morning anchor Liz Dueweke, who announced her departure July 14 to move to KFOX-TV El Paso as the main evening anchor, tells what she has loved the most about El Paso so far.  X Video 
8/02/23 – Former CKNW AM 980 Vancouver anchor/ reporter Toby Kerr, who left the station in October 2022, has joined the UBC Thunderbirds as their Sports Information Coordinator. He will be overseeing stats, managing a student staff and writing articles for the website.  X Announcement 
8/02/23 – A “Welcome Back” 50th Anniversary reunion for Beachcombers’ cast, crew and fans of the series is being hosted by Gibsons, B.C. September 15 to 17.  Events will include screenings of best-loved episodes, some that haven’t been aired in over 40 years. The Beachcombers, produced locally by CBC from 1972-90 was the longest running series drama in Canadian television history.  Facebook Info 
8/01/23 – Long time Seattle radio personality Bob Rivers is one of eight inducted into the 2023 Radio Hall of Fame. The inductions by the Museum of Broadcast Communications will be celebrated in a ceremony on November 2 in New York. Rivers was prominent at several Seattle stations from 1989 until his retirement in 2014, ending a 25-year run in the market.  All Access Music Group 
8/01/23 – Seattle Sports KIRO AM 710 Marinersplay-by-play announcer Rick Rizzs has returned to the air. The longtime voice of the team was in an ATV accident a couple of weeks ago, but did not suffer any serious injuries.  TV Maven, X
8/01/23 – Katie Summers has returned to the air after her maternity leave. She co-hosts Z Mornings with Katie & Ed on Z95.3 CKZZ-FM Vancouver. 
 
8/01/23 – Bustos Media has applied to the FCC to increase the power of KZGI-FM 105.7 Sedro-Woolley to 1150 watts ERP at -114.8 meters HAAT and change frequency to 96.9 MHz. Transmitter will remain at its current location.  FCC Application  Allocation Study
 

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