In this week’s issue… NYC Russian broadcaster accused of extortion – NH translator revived after long silence – Promotion for CT’s Rivers – Remembering Boston’s “Miss Jean,” B104.7’s Palmer, CT’s McDonough, Wyler
By SCOTT FYBUSH
*We don’t write much here about Russian-language radio, but “Davidzon Radio” in NEW YORK, aka WSNR (620 Jersey City NJ), is as big as it gets in that universe – and so it’s a big deal when its owner, Gregory Davidzon, is being accused of extortion.
The New York Post reports that Inna Vernikov, a New York City council member who represents a heavily Russian district in Brooklyn, is claiming that when she ran for her seat in 2021, Davidzon demanded that she hire “someone from his team” to work on his campaign, and that she spend $30,000 on advertising on WSNR. In exchange, she says, Davidzon promised to support her on WSNR and make sure she won her race.
She refused to hire Davidzon’s staffer, spent only about $3000 on the station, and still won her race in 2021. Now, she says, Davidzon is providing financial backing to run one of his own WSNR employees as a rival to her in the upcoming primary. She says that employee, Igor Kazatsker, has been benefiting from free ads on WSNR that he’s not reporting as campaign expenses.
“I don’t take well to extortion,” Vernikov told the Post; a lawyer for Kazatsker calls the claims “false and defamatory.”
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...
