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Modell group about to take over WWWE and WDOKBy KEN GOTTLIEBC-T TV WriterThe sale of Cleveland radio stations WWWE-AM and WDOK-FM to a group that includes Cleveland Browns principal owner Art Modell is expected to be approved any day now by the Federal Communications Commission.The Modell group, known as Lake Erie Radio Co., currently owns WJW-AM and will sell that station before taking over WWWE and WDOK. Much of the news and talk programming now heard on WJW is expected to be switched to WWWE, while .WDOK is expected to retain itseasy-listening music format.The Modell group has not said when it will begin the programming changeover, but a source close to the situation said WJW general manager Art Caruso has already begun making plans for program and personnel changes at WWWE.Caruso is expected to replace John Gutbrod as general manager of WWWE and WDOK. Gutbrod concluded his tenure at the stations Friday and is leaving Gannett Co., Inc., the stations’ current owner.The jobs of several WWWE air personalities, including eon-AET MODELLtroversial sportscaster Bruce Drennan, could be in jeopardy because of the switch.Drennan is a friend of Gut-brod's from their days working together in the Chicago area. With Gutbrod in charge, Drennan was given the daily morning sportscasts, a weekend sports talkshow, and a role in the Cleveland Indians pre-game show.Wacky morning disc jockey Fig Newton would also be likely to go when the changeover occurs.One man who will almost certainly stay is sports talk host Pete Franklin, who had been threatening to leave town in November when his contract expires.Franklin was a frequent critic of both Gannett and Gutbrod, and says he is pleased with the prospect of new ownership.In addition to its news and talk programs, the “new” WWWE will have broadcast rights to Indians baseball, Cleveland Cavaliers basketball, and Browns football.The Browns footbali rights were awarded to Lake Erie Radio earlier this year. When the changeover occurs, those rights will be switched to WWWE.* * *CHANNEL 19 MISSING — Itseems not everyone got to see the sign-on last Sunday of WOIO-TV Channel 19, the new Cleveland television station.Cable systems in Lorain and Elyria were unable to make required technical adjustmentsin time for the sign-on.A spokesman for Continental Cablevision in Elyria said this week the system would haveChannel IS on sometime in June.Erv Davis, manager of Lorain Cable TV, said his system will not be able to get the station on until late August.In most cases, the cable systems have had to shift existing program services off low-numbered channels to make room for Channel 19. Generally, local broadcast stations have to be carried on the low-number channels so they can be included in the system’s basic service package. The situation at Lorain Cable was further complicated by the need to order new equipment for the switch.Other area cable systems were able to fit the new station in without much juggling and were there for the sign-on Sunday morning.Making the switch in time were Group W Cable of North Ridgeville, West Shore Cable of North Olmsted and Westlake, and Cox Cable of western Cuyahoga County.Cable subscribers whose systems don't yet carry the new station can still see it by temporarily disconnecting theTV newsShannon Jewell, editorcable hook-up from the back of their set and attaching the old rooftop antenna lead-in wire.The people at Channel 19 are not too thrilled about the delays — federal regulations require all local systems to carry the station — but they are exercising patience.“We have designated sign-on dates with most of the systems,” said Channel 19 general manager Hubert Payne. “Everyone has given us a reasonable time frame.“The reaction of cable operators has ranged from extreme cooperation to those who really have a problem (making room for the station).”* * *RUN IT AGAIN, SAM —WKYC-TV Channel 3 has come up with a novel idea that should interest local runners who participated in last weekend’s Revco-Cleveland Marathon and 10-Kilometer Race.The station will air a half-hour race recap show tonight at 7, and a 90-minute edited highlight show Sunday afternoon at 1:30.The Sunday extravaganza will conclude Channel 3’s 5Vi hours of race coverage, which included a three-hour live telecast of the races last Sunday.* * *FOR MOVIE BUFFS — WCLQ-TV Channel 61’s 9 p.m. movies this week feature winners of the Academy Award for best actor.Monday, it’s “Boys Town,” starring Spencer Tracy; on Tuesday, it’s “Philadelphia Story,” with James Stewart; Wednesday has “All The King’s Men,” starring Broderick Crawford; on Thursday, it’s “Goodbye Mr. Chips,” with Robert Donat; and Friday appropriately brings “The Lost Weekend,” with RayMilland.
Newspaper Details
The Chronicle Telegram
Elyria, Ohio, US
Sat, May 25, 1985
Page 24
Full Page
Clipped by
Nathan O.
OH, USA 12 Oct 2021
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