Legendary Detroit sports broadcaster Ray Lane died at age 95 this past Saturday (9/27). Lane served as sports anchor and director on Detroit television at WJBK-TV and WKBD-TV, but is best remembered for doing play-by-play with Ernie Harwell on Detroit Tigers radio broadcasts from 1967-72.
WKAR Public Media (East Lansing) is recipient of a prestigious Public Media award from NETA, The National Educational Telecommunications Association. The winners were announced September 15 and recognize the exceptional achievements of member stations in community engagement, content, education, and marketing and communications.
On September 13, Audacy’s WOMC-FM (Detroit) personalities JoAnne Purtan and Jason Raithel joined more than 2,000 superheroes for the Corewell Health Children’s Walk for Miracles at the Detroit Zoo. Event proceeds of $116,000 will benefit Children’s Miracle Network programming at Corewell.
As it looks like the government shutdown is here for at least a while, here is an update on some of the impacts that the shutdown has on the FCC. Also, this notes that the FAA is still open and the importance of continuing to report to the FAA any issues with tower lighting or marking that may arise.
WKAR Public Media (East Lansing) has announced the upcoming premiere of the eleventh and final season of Curious Crew, the WKAR original show for kids. Curious Crew features inquisitive kids taking a fun approach to investigating principles of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Cumulus Media has announced a partnership with Michigan community and business leader Denise Ilitch for her podcast, “The Denise Ilitch Show.” The program will be heard on the company’s WJR-AM (Detroit) beginning this Saturday (9/27).
WWTV/WWUP-TV (9&10/Cadillac-Traverse City) Assistant Operations Manager Ben Scripps died September 20 at the age of 52. Scripps, who studied Broadcast and Cinematic Arts at Central Michigan University, joined WWTV/WWUP in 1996. Scripps had a lifelong dream to be on Jeopardy. In 2019 he took the online test, qualified to go to Chicago for the next step, were he was selected to be on the show.
Your MAB is sad to pass along the news that former WZZM-TV (Grand Rapids) Master Control Room Supervisor Roger Ball passed away September 7 at age 84. Ball began his career at WZZM-TV in 1962, joining the station just two weeks after it launched.
The MAB has learned of the August 8 passing of former broadcaster Jerry Rolan Crandall. Crandall began his broadcasting career during high school at WCSR-AM (then WBSE) in Hillsdale as a DJ and sports commentator. After graduating high school in 1956, Crandall attended Hillsdale College. While attending, he was the news and sports director at station WTVB-AM in Coldwater.
The E.W. Scripps Company has named veteran Scripps local media leader Gary Baxter to the role of General Manager and Director of Sales at WXMI-TV, the Scripps-owned Fox affiliate in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Baxter has been with Scripps-owned WSYM in Lansing, Michigan, for 26 years.