In this week’s issue… WTIC’s Dunaway to retire – TV auction for new signals – Noncomm FM window aftermath takes shape – New translators for AMs – Remembering CKLW legend Trombley
By SCOTT FYBUSH
*Few radio stations have been as stable in morning drive over the decades as CONNECTICUT‘s WTIC (1080 Hartford). Consider: since 1943, the station has had just two long-term morning hosts – the legendary Bob Steele, who held the job until 1989, and since 1992, Ray Dunaway.
Dunaway won’t quite hit the 30-year mark at the now-Audacy-owned station, though: last Monday, he announced that he’s retiring at year’s end, with his final show set for Dec. 24.
Now almost 72, Dunaway says it’s time to spend more time exploring Connecticut. He first came to the state to attend Trinity College, then moved around in a typically peripatetic radio career early on, eventually landing at Kansas City’s KMBZ, where he made a name for himself that brought him to WTIC’s attention. When he arrived in Hartford, he took over from two short-term hosts, Tom McCarthy and Arnold Dean, who had replaced Steele.
Dunaway settled in, bringing Hartford listeners a full-service morning show that had much the same appeal as the long-running Steele show, even as the rest of WTIC’s schedule began moving toward a harder-edged flavor of political talk.
Dunaway’s co-host Brian Schactman will take over the morning slot solo at the start of 2022. Can he have the same kind of staying power as Steele or Dunaway? If so, we’ll be writing our next article about a morning change at WTIC in the fall of 2051. (And no, we don’t intend to still be cranking away at NERW in what would be its 55th anniversary year!)
Behold, the 2025 calendar!
We chose the 100,000-watt transmitter of the Voice Of America in Marathon, right in the heart of the Florida Keys. This picture has everything we like in our covers — blue skies, greenery, water, and of course, towers! The history behind this site is a draw, too.
Other months feature some of our favorite images from years past, including some Canadian stations and several stations celebrating their centennials (can you guess? you don’t have to if you buy the calendar!).
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This will be the 24th edition of the world-famous Tower Site Calendar, and your support will determine whether it will be the final edition.
It’s been a complicated few years here, and as we finish up production of the new edition, we’re considering the future of this staple of radio walls everywhere as we evaluate our workload going forward.
The proceeds from the calendar help sustain the reporting that we do on the broadcast industry here at Fybush Media, so your purchases matter a lot to us here – and if that matters to you, now’s the time to show that support with an order of the new Tower Site Calendar. (And we have the new Broadcast Historian’s Calendar for 2025 ready to ship, too. Why not order both?)
Visit the Fybush Media Store and place your order now for the next calendar, get a great discount on previous calendars, and check out our selection of books and videos, too!
In this week’s issue… WBUR backs off local talk - EMF's expansion in NY, nationally - Rochester broadcasters honored - Russell finds new PA radio home - Remembering Bruce Stevens - The new calendar's here!
In this week’s issue… Remembering WNY's Palvino, Harris - Will King sell Bangor stations? - Kay moves earlier - New signal on LI - Cumulus cuts hit PA, New England - Frizzell sells in NH
In this week’s issue… Saluting a small-town radio vet - Bell moves CP24 - Scott heads west - Burlington gets Air 1, "Experimental Radio" - Family Life heads down I-86
In this week’s issue… NY TV anchor, radio historian both retiring - XPN PD to retire - More Cumulus cuts - Rogers sells FMs as Corus makes big talent cuts By SCOTT FYBUSH Jump to: ME - NH - VT - MA...
