Hide Article Text (OCR)
When Ron Bilek talks, WKYC-TV Channel 3iTV newsShannon Jewell, editorBy KEN GOTTLIEB C-T TV WriterRon BiJek is a man of his word.When he became news direc-tor at WKYC-TV Channel 3 last year, Bilek said he wouldn’t stand pat with a losing hand.IN OTHER words, if the ratings of Channel 3’s news programs didn’t improve, there would be some changes.Well, the ratings haven’t improved much. And there have definitely been some changes.The latest of those came this week when Bilek announced anchorman Judd Hambrick would leave the station in mid-March to pursue his numerous outside business interests, and the 6 p.m. newscast would be expanded to one hour.THE STATION also is dropping its “5:30” magazine program and replacing it with a game show, “The $100,000 Name That Tune.”The new lineup will debut March 18.It came down to the bottom line,” Bilek said in explaining the changes. We’re in last place(in the news ratings). It's a simple fact.“The ‘5:30’ program was not getting us a good number. It was hurting our lead-in audience for six o'clock,THAT'S NO reflection on the people who were doing the show.It’s just that viewers interested in news and talk werealready tuned in at five to (‘LiveOn Five’ on WEWS-TV) Channel5.”Bilek gave no indication the station was unhappy with the work of Hambrick, who joined Channel 3 in September, 1982.Judd wants out,” he said, ‘‘because, with his outside interests, it’s more work than he canhandle.”ALSO LEAVING the station is Susan Howard, co-host of“5:39.”We offered her a prime rolein the expanded newscast,” Bilek said, but she asked to be released from her contract.“We made it clear that anytime she wants to come back, we’d like to have her.”Tom Sweeney, the other 5:30” co-host, will become weekend news co-anchor with Connie Schopmeyer, who joined the station in January.THE ONE-HOUR newscast will push NBC Nightly News” back to 7 p.m.The extra half-hour of local news, Rilek said, will consist of more in-depth coverage of stories and some feature material such as consumer reports.“You’ll see some interesting concepts,” he said.“From 6 to 6:30, we’ll have exactly the same newscast we have now. The second half-hour will be strictly in-depth and consumer reporting.You won't see us repeating the news headlines every 15 minutes.”* * *ROCKY SPEAKS — Twoweeks ago, management at WUAB-TV Channel 43 said Rocky Colavito was out of the running for the color commentator job on Indians baseball telecasts.A station spokesman said the former Tribe slugger had priced himself out of the job by demanding a high salary.Colavito, who did Indians TV commentary for WJKW-TV Channel 8 in 1972 and 1977, told his side of the story in a phone interview this week.THEIR OFFER was lower than what I made in 1977,” he said.“After they made their offer, I told them what I thought the job was worth. I even dropped it 20 percent after that.“Jack Moffitt (Channel 43 general manager) is a heck of a nice guy. And I'm interested in the job.“But at the salary they’reoffering, it wouldn't be worth it to me to leave home (and travel around the country with the team).”Moffitt denied rumors TV baseball analyists in Cleveland have usually made less money than in similary-sized cities, and that the recent tenures of Bruce Drennan and Reggie Rucker in the job were linked to their willingness to accept a low salary.* * *THAT SETTLES THAT -Cleveland Browns principal owner Art Modell, who with partner A1 Lerner purchased WWWE-AM and WDOK-FM this week, was a bit peeved by speculation he and Lerner didn’t have enough money to pull off the deal.That's absurd,” Model! said, shortly after, announcing the purchase.Pure garbage. The most ludicrous thing I’ve heard. Our collective net worth far exceeds the price of these stations.”LAKE ERIE Radio Co., owned by Modell and Lerner, is required by law to sell off itslistensBON BILEKWJW-AM before it can acquire the other two stations.Modell estimated both deals will get Federal Communications Commission approval within two or three months.At that time, the news-and-talk format now on WJW will be moved to WWWE.Some, but not all, WJW personnel will also go to WWWE.
Newspaper Details
The Chronicle Telegram
Elyria, Ohio, US
Sat, Mar 02, 1985
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Nathan O.
OH, USA 13 Oct 2021
Other Publications Near Elyria, Ohio
Elyria Reporter
Elyria Evening Telegram
Elyria Chronicle
Elyria Lorain Constitutionalist
Elyria Constitutionalist
