News

(By Heidi Raphael) Storytelling has been going on since the beginning of time. From sharing wonderful memories at the dinner table to passing on a family recipe that’s been handed down over generations, stories play an important part in our lives. They are personal and have meaning.

In a new court filing, Nielsen is asking the judge in Bubba The Love Sponge's alleged ratings tampering case to dismiss the shock-jock's claim that the ratings firm conspired with Cox Media Group to get him off the air. Nielsen says the counterclaim is nothing more than "wild and far-fetched accusations and should be dismissed as a blatant shotgun pleading." Nielsen says Bubba's counterclaim consists of page upon page of irrelevant factual allegations with the thinly-disguised purpose of slinging mud at Nielsen's reputation.

At some point soon, the long-running Mike and Mike syndication morning program will come to an end as Mike Greenberg moves over to the TV side of ESPN. Philly.com is reporting that Mike Golic has inked a new deal with the network to stay on the radio morning program.

Pam Dixon has been hosting mornings for 34 years. On Monday, she announced her retirement. Dixon is a three-time breast cancer survivor. On the station's Facebook page Dixon wrote, "It's time once again to focus on my health and 'Kick Cancer's A$$'! I just want to say thank you to KIOA listeners and my radio family for all of the love and support I have felt through the years."

It's a newly created position for Danny Lowry at Univision. He's now the VP for National Sales and will oversee sales efforts for all Univision radio stations. During his 12 years at Univision, Lowry has served as VP/GM of Univision Austin. Prior to that, he was D.O.S. for UCI’s four stations in Dallas. Christine Escobar is promoted to VP/GM and D.O.S for Univision Austin.

Beloved Los Angeles’ radio personality Rita Wilde has signed a new multi-year agreement with the station. Wilde will continue on-air weekdays from 7 p.m. to midnight, and will continue to host the popular Album Side at 11 segment, featuring the uninterrupted play of one full classic rock album side at 11 p.m.

And the news talker now owned by Entercom celebrated its big birthday on Monday by airing special programming highlighting key moments in WBT 1110 AM’s 95-year history. The celebration also included the announcement that Ray Gooding, Henry Boggan, and John Hancock will be inducted into the WBT Hall of Fame.

Mike Hartel is Alpha Media’s new Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic Region. Hartel will continue to hold the positon of SVP/Market Manager in Columbia, SC. Hartel will be working with the markets of Savannah-Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville, Fredericksburg, and Bluefield.

Sports-hungry New Englanders get another side on their plate when Andy Gresh returns to the Providence airwaves as the new 6-9 p.m. host at WPRO-AM. Gresh will talk Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins, as well as Providence College, University of Rhode Island, Brown, and Bryant.

The NAB show, set to begin later this month in Vegas, will have over 200 companies that are exhibiting for the first time. Some of the new companies to set up on the 1 million-plus square feet of exhibit floor include Google, Vimeo, and TiVo, among others. The 2017 NAB Show, April 22-27, will feature over 1,700 companies, including 751 international exhibitors.