‘Morganizing’ the Virgin Islands

We’re going to be tracking down former Omaha on-air personalities in the coming weeks for a where are they now-type of series. Up first, a former KGOR 99.9 FM) morning show host who was recently accused of being a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

Roger W. Morgan, who made his “Morganizing” prank phone calls a staple on his Omaha morning shows, now is the owner/operator of WYAC-FM in Christiansted, U. S. Virgin Islands.

Last year, the Federal Communication Commission dismissed a bid by a coalition of Virgin Islands senators and citizens to deny the transfer of the WAYC-FM broadcasting license to Morgan. Morgan had run the station for four years, and the FCC ultimately sided with Morgan.

“We own it ... finally,” Morgan said this week. “It was a long battle in which I was accused of being a member of the Ku Klux Klan! I was also accused of trying to overthrow the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands.”

Morgan said the island’s senators were angry because the on-air personality allowed callers to discuss their (the senators’) “outrageous raises at a time when the kids here are living under the federal poverty line and not enjoying the kind of education that our taxpayers try to provide for them.”

Morgan said he’s hosting a 6-9 a.m. morning show similar to the one he did on KGOR in the 1990s. Then, from 9 a.m. to noon, Morgan hosts “Free Speech,” in which callers are encouraged to call in and voice their opinions.

Asked if he missed the winters in Omaha, Morgan said: “As much as I still think of Omaha as being ‘home,’ and as much as I would enjoy visiting, even during ice and snowstorms, I can’t imagine life anywhere but in this paradise. Year-round, the high temp is about 83 and nighttime lows are about 78. Gentle morning rain showers and light trade winds in the afternoon. It just doesn’t get any better than this.”

The Death of R-O-C-K in Omaha?

When the latest report from the Arbitron radio ratings service came out at the end of last month many longtime rock radio listeners in Omaha no doubt did a double take.

Heritage rock and roll gorilla Z-92 (KEZO-FM), launched in 1978, had been overtaken by 2-year-old rock station the Brew (96.1 KQBW-FM) in the broadest demographic of listeners available, during the Fall 2007 rating period.

Listeners 12 and older, Monday through Sunday 6 a.m. to midnight, chose the Brew – a 4.2 share to a 3.9 share – over Z-92.

Sure, advertisers seek specific demos, such as the coveted adults 25- to 54-year-old group, but the 12-plus result is significant nonetheless.

While the Brew led Omaha’s rock stations, the Brew was No. 8 with listeners 12 and older overall. The top three stations were, in order: News-talk KFAB (1110 AM), country station the Kat (KXKT 103.7 FM) and oldies KGOR (99.9 FM).

Two of the Omaha market’s other rock stations were lagging as well. New station the Big O (KOOO 101.9 FM), a light rock station that went on the air two months ago, came in at No. 10 (behind No. 9 Z-92). Meanwhile, longtime classic rock station CD-105.9 (KKCD-FM) was No. 12.

So where has the rock gone on commercial stations in Omaha? Are their too many rock stations sharing the same play list, with the same usual suspects – the Eagles, the Police, Bon Jovi, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, Journey, Bryan Adams, John Mellencamp, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, etc.?

“Yawn,” seems to be the response from local listeners.

The River (89.7 FM), a non-commercial station based out of Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, plays a lot of modern rock and has respectable ratings. However, scoring good ratings and selling advertising based upon those ratings is not the main goal for non-commercial stations like it is for commercial stations.

The biggest story in this latest report for Omaha’s commercial rock stations is that the once-mighty Z-92 appears to be slipping. Z-92 has beaten all of the other rock stations consistently in recent years, including the past five ratings periods. But from Fall 2006 to Fall 2007, Z-92 went from having a 7.1 share of the 12-plus market to a 3.9 share.

It could be a fluke, and likely is. I expect Z-92 to bounce back in the next ratings period. Maybe not to the station’s glory days, but certainly better than a 3.9 share.

"Over the years, there has been plenty of rock competition for Z-92. That's nothing new," said Steve Wexler, executive vice president of television and radio operations for the Journal Broadcast Group, which owns Z-92. "They seem to show up every couple years then disappear. There's not much to 'tweak' on Z-92. We know that our audience expects us to play everything that rocks...they expect to start their day with Todd and Tyler in the morning...and they expect fun, larger-than-life contests and promotions, like the 'Todd and Tyler Party Plane to Vegas,' which starts next month. That hasn't changed and won't change. As for the Fall ratings, we've learned over the years not to pay much attention to the occasional 'down' ratings book. I can tell you that we're extremely happy with Z-92's performance and it's continued dominance."

Sharpe Is Huskers' New Football Play-by-Play Man

Tuesday's hiring announcement of Greg Sharpe as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's footbal and baseball play-by-play announcer ends months of speculation about who would replace Jim Rose.

Sharpe is a two-time Kansas Sportscaster of the Year who was the play-by-play voice of Kansas State football and basketball from 1996 to 2002. A press release from the Husker Sports Network said he will continue to work as an announcer for Fox Sports Net in addition to his hosting duties for the Nebraska football and baseball TV coaches' shows.

He most recently has served as the Director of Operations at WIBW, where he has overseen a staff of 52, making programming decisions and assisting with sales accounts, marketing efforts and station promotions.

Sharpe is a native of Olathe, Kan.

'Unsportsmanlike Conduct' Conducts Super Tuesday Stadium Poll

KOZN (1620 AM) afternoon sports talk show "Unsportsmanlike Conduct" used a poll Tuesday afternoon to gauge listener interest in the debate over renovation of Rosenblatt Stadium and the desire to build a new baseball station in North Downtown Omaha.

The "Super Tuesday" poll offered five choices of action:

-Approve of building a new stadium in NoDo, using public funds as needed to provide for the cost.

- Approve of building a new stadium in NoDo, provided no public dollars are used to fund said stadium.

- Omaha should rebuild Rosenblatt at its current location, provided no public dollars are used to fund the rebuild of the said stadium.

- Omaha should rebuild Rosenblatt at its current location, using public funds as needed to provide for the cost.

- Omaha should neither build a new stadium nor rebuild Rosenblatt.

Results of the non-scientific poll were being shared with listeners throughout Tuesday's program.

Matt Perrault Fires Back At Jim Rose

KXSP (590 AM) afternoon sports talk show host Matt Perrault spent time Thursday responding to the article published in this week's Media Watch column in the latest edition of the Omaha City Weekly.

During the 3 p.m. hour of "The Big Show," Perrault said he "doesn't really like Jim Rose," and shared with listeners the story of a lunch the two had at the Ironwood Country Club a few weeks after Perrault arrived in Omaha in April of 2005.

"I remember calling my ex-girlfriend right after that and I said, 'I've just had the most ridiculous lunch with the most pretentious man I've ever met in my life,'" Perrault said. "From that moment on, I just (said) Jim Rose and I will not get along."

Perrault said he has not spoken to Rose recently, but the two have crossed paths - including once during "a funny night" at a bar in Downtown Omaha.

"It was literally like 'Anchorman' where you had all the KFAB people on one side and all the Big Sports 590 people on the other," he said. "I felt like we were going to have a brawl."

Perrault took issue with Rose's assertion that the former Husker football play-by-play man has received more than 3,000 e-mails of support and that "The Big Show" has not received 3,000 e-mails since it debuted nearly three years ago.

"I probably get a thousand e-mails in a week," Perrault said. "Why would you even try to crack back on a dumb statement like that? There's no need for that. It makes you look stupid."

Although he didn't elaborate on his sources, Perrault stuck to his story that Greg Sharpe will be the new play-by-play voice of the Nebraska football team.

"We can all start fresh," he said. "Callahan's gone. Pederson's gone and Jim Rose is gone. It's a win, win, win for everyone."

Big show Co-host Travis Justice joined Perrault later on Thursday's show and called Rose's statement about not knowing Bo Pelini's wife, Mary Pat, a lie. But he was also quick to say that it wasn't really an issue.

"That's a lie because I watched him go in and say hi (at the press conference to announce Pelini's hiring as head coach)," Justice said. "I don't care if he went in to say hi. Keep in mind that there's a relationship there between those two. During Bo's time as head coach the first time around, Jim was the voice there. Jim hosted the TV show. Jim was on the road with them down at the Alamo Bowl."

Justice said he likes Rose and has never had a problem with him.

"Sometimes you (referring to Perrault) and I get mixed up," Justice said. "I don't care what you think about Jim. But I've known him for the 14 years that I've been here. I've never had a problem with him. I like Jim. Every time that we see each other we say hi and have some conversation. I didn't think I attacked him, personally."

Listen to the "The Big Show" segments regarding Rose here: 3 p.m. hour, Part I, 3 p.m. hour, Part II, 4 p.m. hour.

Rose Responds to Perrault, Justice

Big Sports 590 AM talk show hosts Matt Perrault and Travis Justice spent part of a show last week discussing former Nebraska football play-by-play announcer Jim Rose, claiming Rose wanted his job back.

Last November, with three games left in the Husker football season, Rose quit his job as play-by-play caller, a job he had done the previous six years. Rose said he was stepping down for personal reasons, including spending more time with his family. He continues to co-host the KFAB (1110 AM) morning show, as well as sell advertising for Pinnacle Sports, which has the rights to Huskers sports on the radio.

Perrault and Justice questioned Rose’s reasons for quitting his play-by-play job during last week’s show. An excerpt:

Perrault: There’s a rumor going around that Jim Rose is trying to get his job back.

Justice: I’ve heard that one.

Perrault: So it’s not surprising.

Justice: It doesn’t surprise me at all.

Perrault: What I’ve heard is that he wants his job back and he won’t give up the sales angle.

Justice: That’s true. … Jim protected himself by saying that he had anxiety problems and he missed his family and all that stuff. Which part of it may have been true. But I think in the end he thought he was going to get fired. And then he realized after he quit that he wasn’t going to get fired. Don’t forget, when Bo Pelini was hired he (Rose) gets down there and runs into the suite and wants to talk with Bo’s wife and Bo one-on-one. Jim and I get along all right; I don’t have a problem with Jim. But I think he jumped the gun on this one. He should have never quit in the first place.

Rose said this week that he was glad that he could provide fodder for Perrault’s and Justice’s show.

“I’m glad to be of service to those guys because they’re having trouble coming up with topics that people care about. If what they suggest is true then that would make everything that I said on the air back in November a big fat lie. And I can assure you, I have discussed returning to the broadcast booth with no one because it’s not my intention. If they were firing me, why would I continue to be on KFAB and why would I continue to work out here (Pinnacle)?”

As for rushing to talk with Bo Pelini’s wife, Rose said, “I wouldn’t know Mary Pat Pelini if she sat down in my lap.

“I think it’s hilarious that these guys have found nothing more insightful to talk about in the world of sports than the comings and goings of a former play-by-play announcer.

“I received over 3,000 e-mails from people all over the world thanking me for the job I did … Now, I don’t think that radio show (Perrault/Justice, 2-6 p.m. weekdays) has gotten 3,000 e-mails since it went on the air.

“I don’t care what they think. They don’t know what they’re talking about. And I’m a little bit offended that they are basically calling me a liar.

“I didn’t have to leave the job when I did. And I have no interest in returning.”

Time For Sweeps

Get ready for a barrage of cross-promotion, radio advertisements and "special investigations." Today marks the start of the Nielsen Media Research TV ratings month.

KMTV-3 reporter Mary Williams made the rounds on Journal Broadcast Group-owned stations this morning, inviting listeners to tune in tonight to "Take the bully test."

Corn, Crop Circle Highlight Omaha 'Idol' Episode

Reaction to Omaha's appearance on "American Idol" Tuesday night was mixed.

Some were happy to see the city get its moment in the spotlight, while others were dismayed at the stereotypical images of corn that are more often associated with the state itself.

Swanson Russell Associates Public Relations Manager Jennifer Windrum told listeners of KFAB's "Good Morning Show" Wednesday that Swanson Russell worked closely with the show's producers to showcase the entire city - in addition to the "American Idol" crop circle Swanson Russell helped create.

"In a sense, we added to the corn," Windrum said. "But we tried to mix (agriculture) with the modern. But we knew they couldn't come here and not show corn."

Windrum said the AI production crew wanted shots of things viewers would recognize - Mutual of Omaha, the Henry Doorly Zoo, etc. - but that not everything made the show.

"We made an itinerary for them and we had four hours with them," Windrum said. "But the rain really hampered things. The day they were shooting it was rainy, so we had to change plans."

One of the original goals of the project - to get show host Ryan Seacrest on a Claas LEXIONClaas LEXION Combine - didn't happen, Windrum said.

"We got them out to the Claas facility but it was raining and they wanted a combine in action," she said.

The crop circle came off much better, despite the rain and a short timetable to get it made.

"Once we mentioned that to the producers, we had two weeks to do it," Windrums aid. "We hired a company from Utah called The MAIZE and they mapped it out with a GPS. The 'Welcome to Omaha' part was hand-carved with machetes.

Swanson Russell's website features a "making of" video of the crop circle. Windrum and SRA Public Relations Associate (and former KETV reporter) Laura Liggett (pictured above) are shown helping cut the crop circle.

Voorhees Wants Your Opinion

KFAB (1110 AM) morning talk show host Scott Voorhees is inviting listeners to cast their vote for the impression left by Tuesday's American Idol episode.

The choices are: "Too much corn, but that's ok," "Too much corn, and that's ignorant," Who cares about the corn? We were featured on the #1 show!," and "I didn't watch it."

When An Embargo Isn't Honored

There's a story behind the massive crop circle that will be shown on tonight's episode of "American Idol."

Media outlets were alerted about the circle and how it came about through an embargoed press release from the Omaha office of advertising agency Swanson Russell Associates. But not everyone agreed to the embargo that was to have held the details until after tonight's Omaha-centric episode airs on KPTM-42 at 7 p.m.

Judith Siers-Poisson, who contributes to PR Watch.org, a blog that is part of the Center for Media and Democracy, publishes the entire text of the press release and photos that were sent out by Swanson Russell Public Relations Manager Jennifer Windrum.

Siers-Poisson writes:

Unfortunately for Ms. Windrum, this incentive means nothing to us. I emphatically do not want to keep getting her emails, and neither I nor CMD has ever promised to honor an "embargo" on what is essentially unsolicited spam... Now, I know this is far from an earthshaking story. To be honest, I just got annoyed past the point of politeness. And hopefully, PR "pros" will learn to not send unsolicited emails -- especially embargoed information -- to PR industry watchdogs.

What follows in the comments section is a back-and-forth exchange between Siers-Poisson and Windrum that might have been better handled as a private phone call between the two parties.

Former World-Herald Building Will Be Razed

The Omaha World-Herald's former headquarters at "World-Herald Square" (14th & Dodge) will be torn down and replaced by a park, according to a story in the newspaper's Saturday editions.

The land eventually may feature more than a planned plaza, said World-Herald CEO and President Terry Kroeger. The building is expected to be torn down this spring and the park in place by fall.

“This is an important piece of land for our company, as it literally sits between our primary offices at the Omaha World-Herald Building and our manufac turing plant at the Freedom Center,” Kroeger said. “Therefore, long-term control of this property is critical.”

The World-Herald moved out of the building in 2006.

In This Week's Edition...

There’s a shift in power at the top of the TV ratings in Omaha.

Read more about how the Omaha TV stations fared in the latest Nielsen Media Research ratings in this week's edition of the Omaha City Weekly.

Bill Randby Quoted In World-Herald Story

For the first time in a long time, the Omaha World-Herald reached out to a TV station for information.

KETV-7 Chief Meteorologist Bill Randby is quoted in Saturday's editions of the newspaper in a story headlined, "Forecasting winter weather an inexact science."

Reporters Michael Avok and Tom Shaw provided direct quotes from Randby in the front page, above-the-fold story. They also sourced weather forecasts for Sunday from two other Omaha TV stations, KMTV and WOWT.

KPTM's forecast was not referenced even though it was posted online immediately after the station's 9 p.m. newscast. (In it, Chief Meteorologist Tyson Pearsall called for 2-4 inches of snow on Sunday.)

According to the newspaper story, the World-Herald's weather consulting service, AccuWeather, calls for 2-4 inches of snow on Sunday. KMTV and KETV forecasts agree with that total, while WOWT predicted a "60 to 70 percent chance" of snowfall. The Weather Channel forecast also calls for that same snowfall percentage while the National Weather Service forecast office in Valley predicts 1-3 inches of snow.

Omaha World-Herald Gets Cruiser Camera Video

The Omaha World-Herald's online portal, Omaha.com, offers Omaha Police cruiser camera video of a pursuit that occurred in November 2006.

The video was released following Wednesday's sentencing of Robert Carter, the man being pursued by police after a string of three robberies in less than 15 minutes. Carter shot at officers several times during the 20-minute chase, which ends with one police cruiser crashing into a pond.

The accompanying story, published in the newspaper's print and online editions, doesn't do the video justice, though veteran reporter Todd Cooper gives it his best shot.

Following departmental policy, Omaha Police do not routinely release cruiser camera video. Public information officers say it is considered "evidence in an ongoing investigation" and thus does not meet the guidelines for release as stated by the state's open public records law.

Changes at KETV

From a press release issued by KETV-Channel 7 Monday afternoon:

“Viewers tuning in to KETV NewsWatch 7 at 10 on Sunday night were greeted by a new Anchor team. Rob McCartney and Brandi Petersen along with Chief Meteorologist Bill Randby and Sports Anchor Matt Schick will now provide more complete coverage to viewers every Sunday night at 10.

“In addition to Anchoring the Sunday 10 p.m. news, Brandi Petersen is joining Julie Cornell as Co-Anchor of KETV NewsWatch 7 at 5 on Monday, January 7. Most recently Brandi was Co-Anchor of KETV NewsWatch 7 First News Weekend. Julie Cornell and Rob McCartney will continue to Co-Anchor KETV NewsWatch 7 and 6 and 10.

“’This change allows KETV to continue to have a strong Anchor team on our 5 p.m. newscast, while freeing up Rob McCartney to do more investigative reporting,’” according to KETV News Director Rose Ann Shannon.

“Rob McCartney will now lead KETV NewsWatch 7’s investigative ‘I-Team.’ Rob has won numerous broadcast journalism awards and adding him to the I-Team allows KETV to highlight one of his strengths. ‘My first love in television is reporting,’ said Rob McCartney. ‘Leading KETV’s I-Team allows me to focus on more stories that impact the heartland.’”

Notes From The Omaha Press Club

The Omaha Press Club's annual poke at public figures and news events will be titled "Rosensplatt...And Other Foul Bawls" and takes place Saturday, March 29, at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs.

The annual read-through for cast, band and crew will be at 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, at the Press Club. Members wishing to be involved with the show who cannot attend the Read-Thru should e-mail Kurt Keeler (kurtykee(at)msn(dot)com.

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The Press Club’s annual meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 17. Cocktails begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the meeting at 6 p.m. Officers and directors will be elected at the meeting and all members are invited to attend. If you are unable to attend, a proxy ballot can be found in this month's newsletter, which is being mailed this week.

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The Press Club's fifth annual Excellence in Journalism Awards competition opens Monday. The competition honors the outstanding work of media professionals in several categories.

New this year is the "Journalists of Excellence Hall of Fame Award," which will be presented at the Excellence in Journalism Awards banquet on Thursday, May 29.

Contest entry forms are available for download here. Deadline to enter is March 17.

Maddox Voted 'Hottest Newswoman' On Big Sports 590

Malorie Maddox, weekday morning news anchor at WOWT-6, topped Brandi Petersen of KETV-7 in the third annual "Hottest Newswoman of the Year" call-in poll on "The Big Show with Matt Perrault" on KXSP (590 AM).

In voting on Monday's program, Maddox narrowly edged out Petersen, who was the winner of the 2006 contest. Maddox won in 2005 and later appeared on the show to accept her prizes, something Petersen did not the following year (at the request of KETV management).

Maddox recently won the NebraskaInfoWomen Yahoo! Group poll, which asked which Omaha TV weekday morning female anchor did the best job.

Click here to listen to the final voting.

The Game That Never Was

With no bowl for Big Red this season, more than 550 Nebraska Cornhusker football fans turned out for the “Bowl Game That Never Happened” at Omaha’s D.J.’s Dugout on Dec. 27.

Orchestrated by 1620 the Zone’s Kevin Kugler, the computer-simulated game was played on all the screens at the sports bar, and most of the fans attending treated it as if it were a real bowl game. Live play-by-play calls were also part of the action.

Listeners to Kugler’s 2-6 p.m. weekday sports talk show chose Notre Dame as the team NU should face in the quasi-bowl game.

Final Score: Nebraska 43, Notre Dame 31.

Lite 101.9 switches formats

Lite 101.9 FM changed to the Big O 101.9 at 3 p.m. Thursday. The new format consists of ’80s rock targeting 25 to 54-year-old adults.

“It’s the music that many adults grew up with in Omaha, like Bruce Springsteen, the Police, Eric Clapton and Tom Petty,” said Billy Shears, program director at the Big O.

The voice of the Big O is John O’Hurley (pictured) of Mr. J. Peterman and “Dancing with the Stars” fame.

Paul Aaron's Next Venture: Indoor Football

Pinnacle Sports founder Paul Aaron is the new executive director of the United Indoor Football league.

According to a press release, Aaron will officially take over with the league that features the Omaha Beef after the first of the year.

"Between now and then, I intend to use the time to familiarize myself with league operations and plan a schedule for meeting with interested parties who have expressed an interest in the UIF," he said.

Aaron said he was excited about the UIF opportunity because he could use his previous sports marketing and management experience in an new and exciting way.

"It is a very exciting opportunity because the owners are all successful individuals with both the commitment and the resources to take an already successful league to an even higher level of success."

In 1996, Aaron and business partner Dale Jensen founded Pinnacle SPorts Productions, LLC. Pinnacle was the broadcast rights holder for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln sports broadcasts including football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball and baseball. The Pinnacle Sports Network includes 68 radio stations in 16 states. Aaron sold Pinnacle Sports to Triple Crown Media Inc/Host Communications in September, 2006.

Aaron also has more that 28 years in the broadcast industry, primarily in upper management. Several stations he managed broadcast significant college and/or professional sports including Ohio State and Standford football, Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Cavaliers. His current business interests include a long term consulting agreement with Host Communicaitons and various real estate activities in Omaha .

The UIF's biggest challenge - according to Aaron - is having enough time to follow up with inquiries for potential new teams.

"The UIF is widely regarded as a successful, solid league with many advantages other leagues do not currently offer. Meeting with those who have expressed an interest and making sure that all of the elements for their success are present and that their geographic location is compatible with the location of our existing teams is essential and the first order of business."

'The Big Show' Auction Will Help Shooting Victims

KXSP (590 AM) afternoon sports talk show host Matt Perrault told listeners Friday that he was looking for a way to do his part to help the victims and families of Wednesday's mall shooting.

His idea - to auction off sports memorabilia - took off during Friday's show. Already, nearly three dozen items are available for on-line bid (courtesy of Omaha's Proxibid.com) during Monday's program.

The list includes a baseball autographed by New York Yankee pitcher (and former Nebraska player) Joba Chamberlain, two tickets to the Kansas City Chiefs' game against the Tennessee Titans, a hat signed by Nebraska's three Heisman Trophy winners and an opportunity to sit on press row during a Creighton men's basketball game.