Broadcasting Industry News

Sad news out of Detroit over the weekend as WXYZ-TV announced that sportscaster Don Shane has passed away at age 70.  Shane spent 23 years at the station.

Lansing radio vet Chris Tyler moves into management at Midwest Communications’ Lansing cluster of stations. MWC Lansing Operations Manager Terry Stevens commented, “Chris is a well-known name in Lansing and we look forward to expanding his role in our cluster.”

Krol Communication’s WRSR-FM (Flint) has announced that Dan Richards, popular Mid-Michigan radio disc jockey, is moving to the station (known as 103.9 The Fox).  Richards will continue the legacy of his Sunday Night request show with a new format. The Fox Sunday Flashback with Dan Richards will feature a hybrid mix of Classic Rock and Classic Country.

Following last week’s tragic event on the Michigan State University campus, WDIV-TV (Detroit) anchor Devin Scillian took to the station’s website to share his thoughts on “how misinformation was being posted on various social media sites, and the station was being “so pushed and prodded to share disinformation.”

Barb Sheltraw, morning co-host at MacDonald Broadcasting’s WKCQ-FM (Saginaw) has retired.  Sheltraw, who has been with the company for 45 years in various roles, has been heard in AM drive with Jim Kramer since the late 90s.

Port Huron Family Radio’s WGRT-FM is thanking individuals and businesses on Alignable, who voted to make the station the 2023 Local Business Person of the Year.

Congratulations to WNEM-TV (Flint/Saginaw) Vice President and General Manager (and MAB Board Member) Ken Frierson who recently celebrated his 13 year anniversary with the station.

Midwestern Broadcasting has announced that former State Representative Jack O’Malley has returned to radio, joining the company’s WATZ-FM and WZTK-FM in Alpena at Director of Operations.

RadioInsight reports that Northern Michigan air talent Sean ‘Finster’ Finnegan has been reunited with former morning partner Steve ‘Omelette’ Normandin at Midwestern Broadcasting’s WKLT-FM (Traverse City) and its simulcast sister stations.