Harford County (April 11, 2003) -- As predicted nearly a year ago, corporate giant Infinity Broadcasting has carved out a new local home for radio's resident miscreant Howard Stern. WXYV-FM (105.7) abandoned its hip-hop music format for "hot talk" effective March 10. Radio's original "shock jock," Howard Stern is idolized by some and reviled by others. Also making the move to Baltimore's FM airwaves are Don & Mike, Tom Leykis, George Noorey's "Coast to Coast" overnights, and "Out to Lunch with Bill and Thrill." All were formerly heard on Infinity's WJFK-AM (1300) which, with the moves, becomes ESPN-based "AM 1300-All Sports, All The Time," a far cry from its days as local powerhouse WFBR. While many applaud the changes, to me they only represent the loss of another local station, since both now feature nationally syndicated programs and personalities. No word on the fate of Frank Ski and other former 105.7 on-air personnel.

	Advertisement
	Bel Air's WHFC-FM (91.1) goes 24/7 with New Age music overnight except Sundays, when classic radio shows will air from midnight to 7:00 am Monday morning. Remember, there's more to life than shock jocks, incendiary babble, endless commercials, and the same old songs over and over again.

Veteran WJZ-TV (13) newscaster George Baumann died suddenly April 8th. The Timonium resident suffered an apparent heart attack a week after undergoing angioplasty to repair a blocked coronary artery. He retired in 1998 after 38 years with WJZ, where he served as principal anchorman until the arrival of Jerry Turner in 1963. Prior to joining Channel 13, Baumann worked in radio at Baltimore's WBMD-AM (750) and the former WFBR. I worked with George for a year when I interned at WJZ during 1973 and '74. I found him to be a quiet professional who went about his business without a lot of chatter or small talk. George Baumann was 74.

Former WBFF-TV (45) sportscaster Steve Davis, whose departure last year for WUSA-TV (9) in Washington was hardly mourned by viewers and co-workers, has already been demoted by that DC station. Davis, who is reported to be "difficult," was relieved of his weekday sports anchor duties and bounced to the weekends in favor of Frank Herzog, the radio voice of the Washington Redskins. The word is that Davis just couldn't fit in with his new co-workers. There's a big surprise.

Closer to home, former WJZ sportscaster John Buren continues to wait for the phone to ring. Buren, who recently appeared on Sports Pulse on WHFC-FM (91.1), remains out of work nearly a year after being canned by Channel 13 in favor of former WBAL-TV (11) sportscaster Mark Viviano.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned WBAL-TV has ended its association with Metro Traffic, and instead has initiated "Traffic Pulse 11" featuring Maryland State Troopers dispensing on-air traffic reports, apparently free of charge. Thus far, the quality of the troopers' presentations are severely lacking, and questions have been raised about the appropriateness of public servants providing a free service to one station, while all the others must contract with Metro. WMAR-TV (2) general manager Drew Berry recently opined on the subject in The Baltimore Business Journal. And I might add, in view of the German Autobahn mentality of many drivers on I-95, is it wise to have highly trained and compensated traffic enforcement personnel playing TV instead of writing speeding tickets? Me thinks not. Next thing you know, Kim Gandy will be making traffic stops.

And finally, the WHFC-FM (91.1) 30th anniversary gala planned for May 10 has been cancelled due to poor ticket sales. The Bel Air public radio outlet will instead conduct an on-air pledge drive from May 4th through the 17th , in anticipation of state funding cuts to Harford Community College, which could negatively impact the station's operation.

Have a question or comment? Email me at gwhelton@yahoo.com.

GH