WVEC PLANS MORNING `INFO-TAINMENT'Published: Sunday, August 5, 1990
NEARLY A YEAR after its competitors introduced morning news programs, WVEC is poised to enter the fray next month. Now in the planning stages are two new broadcasts from the ABC affiliate. The first is an hourlong newscast from 6 to 7 a.m.; the second is a half-hour magazine-style show, tentatively called ``13 Live With Sherrie Brennan and Dick Lamb'' in the 10 a.m. time slot. Yes, that's the same Brennan who hosts ``Good Morning, Hampton Roads,'' a community service program that will be shelved with the debut of the dawn broadcast. And it's the same Lamb who holds court weekday mornings on 2WD Radio's ``Breakfast Bunch'' and who was a fixture on local TV in the 1960s and '70s. (His return to the tube will not replace his radio gig.) ``It's going to be similar to `Good Morning, Hampton Roads,' but we're going to add other features to make it more info-tainment,'' Meyer Davis, director of programming/ operations, said of ``13 Live.'' ``We don't want it to be all talking heads.'' Both efforts are expected to hit the airwaves Sept. 10, pending the completion of a new set. So far, news director David Cassidy has yet to hire hosts or determine the content. TALK ABOUT NEWS Out goes one liberal, in comes another. Two months after dumping the glib Karen Grace, WNIS (850-AM) has hired a second liberal voice for afternoon drive. Last week, former WOFM disc jockey Sara Trexler joined the all news/talk station in the 3 to 6 p.m. slot. She'll co-host the show with Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf two days a week. ``She's got a real good grasp of the issues,'' said owner Bob Sinclair, who invited Trexler to audition when WOFM switched from a progressive format to heavy metal in July. ``I sought out the best possible person for the job, but I really wanted to hire someone from this area, someone with a lot of local knowledge.'' A graduate of The College of William and Mary, Trexler, 26, said she finds talk radio appealing because it enables her to use her education. ``I felt I was getting out of touch with what was happening politically and with social issues,'' she said. Trexler already has addressed censorhip and capital punishment on the air. ``I hope I'll be able to educate the community by bringing some issues forward that people might otherwise not think about.'' So where does she sit on the political fence? Probably on the same post as Grace, whose firing was more a result of the occasionally brash way she treated callers than her beliefs, says operations manager Pat Murphy. ``I'm liberal about personal rights,'' Trexler said, ``but not necessarily social issues. For instance, if we're going to have a welfare program, I think it needs a major overhaul. I think we need work incentives.'' Also on WNIS. . . Rush Limbaugh, the right-winger listeners love to hate, has expanded his syndicated program from two to three hours. It will air here weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. And on Sundays from 7 to 9 p.m., WNIS recently began airing ``Religion on the Line'' with Rabbi Stuart Altshuler of Temple Israel in Norfolk as moderator. Clergymen from various congregations are guests. A local version of a program that originated at KABC in Los Angeles, the non-denominational broadcast addresses moral and ethical issues. FOX FACTS If you've listened to The Fox's morning show lately, you may have recognized a familiar voice. It belongs to Nikki Reed, ex-morning newsreader at Z-104, who is one signature away from becoming the classic rock station's new news director. ``We're negotiating with her now,'' said program director Mike O'Connor. ``We'll have her doing more than just news. Her exact title and job description are being worked out now.'' At Z-104, Reed wrote most of the comedic bits for the ``Z Morning Zoo,'' and O'Connor anticipates she will ``add to the content'' of The Fox's show, which is hosted by the oft-brash Jeff Alan. Also on the lineup at The Fox: Robert James has moved from overnights to middays; Mark Mitchell went from middays to afternoon drive; and Panama Jack Anthony, most recently of WRFX in Charlotte, N.C., assumes night duties beginning Monday. Carol Lewis, who had been substituting in the evening shift, moves to overnights. `THE FUN BUTTON' It's official: Scott Michaels will remain host of ``The Cool Morning Wake-Up Club.'' The energetic announcer, formerly in the afternoon-drive slot at Cool 105.3, moved into dawn duty temporarily, after the departure of Don Schaeffer. But new programmer Keith Hill made the spot permanent and slipped into Micheals' old shift. When it comes to putting his stamp on the struggling station, Hill said his contribution will be to ``allow the jocks to have fun on the air,'' not tinkering with the play list. ``The moment the announcers let fun spill into their shows, that's the moment we'll start to get better ratings,'' he predicted. ``People don't listen to radio, they use radio. They may set their radio buttons to (easy-listening) WFOG to relax or to WNIS for news. We should be the fun button.'' On July 25, for example, Cool did a ``Christmas in July'' promotion by playing holiday music and giving away snow shovels. . . . . . . Meanwhile at WLTY-Oldies 95.7, the top-rated oldies station, Rick Shockley has been promoted to program director, replacing Ron Reeger, who became general manager in June. Shockley will continue to host afternoon drive. Last week, Oldies 95.7 finally got a new logo to accompany its new moniker, which went into effect two months ago. The multi-color design is plastered on billboards around Hampton Roads. FRIENDS GO FUNDLESS In this week's installment of the progressive music fans' lament, Mike Rau, founder of Friends of Progressive and Alternative Radio, had this explanation for the car-wash fund-raiser that never materialized July 29. ``The person responsible for planning the event seemed to have it well organized, but he did not have the necessary experience to pull it off,'' Rau said. ``In the future, all fund-raising activities will be supervised by myself or someone with equal or greater experience in fund raising.'' FOPAR will continue to meet on Monday nights at Adam's, the Ramada Inn, Norfolk. Folks interested in joining the group can sign up at the meetings or can contact Rau at P.O. Box 3582, Norfolk, Va. 23514. ``13 Live With Sherrie Brennan and Dick Lamb'' (pictured) is to fill WVEC's 10 a.m. time slot.
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