2024 in radio explained

The following is a list of events affecting radio broadcasting in 2024. Events listed include radio program debuts, finales, cancellations, station launches, closures, and format changes, as well as information about controversies and deaths of radio personalities.

Notable events

January

DateEventSource
1In Metro Manila, Philippines, FM radio station DWOW relaunches as All Radio 103.5, with a Soft AC format. The rebranding aligns with its TV counterpart All TV, and the businesses owned by former politician and businessman Manny Villar.
4KTFS/940-Texarkana, Texas, switches from its gospel format to sports as ESPN Radio. This change brings ESPN Radio back to the market after the former KTRG’s license was returned to the F.C.C. for cancellation on November 8, 2023.[1]
13Philippine Collective Media Corporation (PCMC) officially relaunches the FMR brand as "FM Radio". Coinciding with the relaunch, DYWF-Cebu returns on-air; this time branded as "FM Radio 93.1", to be operated by PCMC.
21Canadian broadcaster Meredith Shaw launches the Sunday morning program The Feel Good Brunch on CHFI-FM - Toronto and other adult contemporary radio stations owned by Rogers Radio across Canada.[2]
29The Canadian CBC Radio One network rebrands its national 6 p.m. newscast from The World at Six to Your World Tonight.[3]

February

DateEventSource
5Manila Broadcasting Company in the Philippines reverts from the FM radio brand Yes the Best to its original name Yes! FM.
6Manila Broadcasting Company is rebranded as MBC Media Group
Linda Wertheimer announces her retirement from NPR after 53 years with the American public radio network.[4]
8iHeartRadio Canada, the radio division of Bell Media, announces the divestiture of 45 stations in rural and smaller markets, constituting nearly half of its station count, stating that the business of small market radio was failing. The stations will be split up among multiple, mostly independent, broadcasters.[5] [6]
24CBC Radio One in Canada introduces Just Asking, a Saturday afternoon call-in show hosted by Saroja Coelho.[7]

April

!Date!Event!Source
9Local community station The Voice 2 begins broadcasting on DAB digital radio in North Devon, UK.[9]
15BBC Radio 4 turns off its mediumwave transmitters forever after they served as LW relays for areas with a weak LW signal.[10]
CBS Sports Radio rebrands as Infinity Sports Network, resurrecting the Infinity brand used by one of the predecessors to its owner, Audacy, Inc. The move comes four years after the originally planned expiration of a licensing agreement with CBS Sports. Audacy and CBS issued cease and desist orders to all Infinity affiliates to stop any further use of the CBS brand.[11]
In Manila, Philippines, DWAV – broadcasting as Wave 89.1 – quietly made its final broadcast, and Adventist Media took over the station's operations, effectively reformatted as AWR Manila 89.1.[12]
In Davao, Philippines, Brigada News FM transferred its broadcast from 91.5 (owned by Primax Broadcasting) to 93.1 (owned by Mareco Broadcasting Network).
22Asian Sound Radio gets merged into Lyca Radio after they acquired Lyca Media acquired Asian Sound's license. Lyca Radio expands their mediumwave transmissions into Greater Manchester.[13] [14]
22Gow Media announces the closure of US radio network SportsMap, after 33 years of operation, with stations being switched to the betting-centric Vegas Stats & Information Network.[15]
30Gold turns off their final mediumwave transmitter in Manchester for good along with Smooth Radio's mediumwave transmitters in Kent and Hampshire.[16]

May

DateEventSource
5Genesis Communications Network ceases operations after 26 years. The broadcast syndication company, whose best-known hosts include Alex Jones and Michael Medved, will migrate its remaining programming to competing networks.[17]
20Wisconsin Public Radio realigns its statewide over-the-air services, with its "Ideas Network" and "NPR News & Music" networks retired in favor of one solely for NPR news and local and national talk programming (WPR News) and one devoted exclusively to classical and other music genres (WPR Music).[18]

June

DateEventSource
14USA Radio Network ends its hourly newscast service after several decades of operation.[19]
20Philippine radio station DWAN-AM, owned by Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation, returns to operation with a full service format after 13 years of hiatus.[20]

July

DateEventSource
1Interactive Broadcast Media, owner of DWWW-Metro Manila, began operating DWHT, an FM radio station in Dagupan, Philippines; enacted as a relay station of DWWW.
8DWSS-AM (owned by Supreme Broadcasting System) was return to Airwaves as DWAR Abante Radyo 1494 (operated by Prage Management Corporation) after 4 years of hiatus.
9Coloff Media announces the purchase of radio stations KMAQ (1320 AM) and KMAQ-FM (95.1 FM) in Maquoketa, Iowa, United States, from Dennis Voy.[21]
15Philippine radio station DZRH celebrates its 85th anniversary.
31The Philippine radio station Mellow 94.7, under the FBS Radio Network, temporarily dropped the Mellow branding and was known as simply 94.7 (pronounced “ninety-four-point-seven”).

August

DateEventSource
14One month short of the station's 97th anniversary, owner Corus Entertainment suddenly shuts down CHML - Hamilton, Ontario.[22]
26Good Karma Brands moves New York City's ESPN Radio affiliation, which has been on FM 98.7 since 2012, to AM 880, changing its callsign to WHSQ. The move comes due to the end of Good Karma's local marketing agreement with 98.7 licensee Emmis Communications at the end of the month, with Good Karma striking a new LMA with WHSQ's owner Audacy, the owner of ESPN's rival WFAN. The move ends a 57-year run for 880 as New York's all-news radio station, and the end of the station's 96-year run as CBS Radio Network's flagship station, 78 of those years under the call sign WCBS. WCBS's remaining programming merged onto its sister station and erstwhile rival WINS beginning August 26.[23]

September

DateEventSource
7Westwood One returns its Saturday night classic country request program Country Gold, which has been on-air since the early 1990s, to its previous format with a professional radio disc jockey as host, as Steve Harmon takes over the program. For the previous 12 years, Country Gold (previously Country Gold Saturday Night) had been hosted by famous country musicians, as Randy Owen hosted from 2012 to 2016, followed by Terri Clark from 2016 to 2024.[24]
24After an 11-month trial run on several of iHeartMedia's owned-and-operated stations, Premiere Networks introduces a nationwide conservative talk morning show hosted by Michael DelGiorno. iHeart, although it had maintained a nearly full slate of daily conservative talk programming for the previous two decades, had not offered a morning drive time show to its stations, as most of the U.S.-based company's stations had programmed local morning shows, regionally syndicated offerings or shows from unrelated formats until the company's long-running personnel reductions made such programs untenable.[25]
30The Thistle & Shamrock, an NPR program devoted to Celtic music, will end its 43-year run as host Fiona Ritchie moves on to other endeavors.[26]

October

DateEventSource
3DWLL, under FBS Radio Network, reverts back into Mellow 94.7, now operated by Prage Management Corporation, which also owns the daily newspaper Abante, AM radio station Abante Radyo 1494, and Bilyonaryo News Channel.[27]
7Cumulus Media closes its last remaining New York metropolitan area asset, suburban AM station WFAS in White Plains, without attempting a sale. WFAS had ceased analog broadcasting in 2021, operating solely as a digital station from then until its closure.[28]
10WLKK-HD2 Wethersfield, New York becomes the first non-stunting station in North America to flip to Christmas music for the 2024 season and reactivates its social media presence a year after the former 102.5 WTSS left analog FM. [29]
20A helicopter crashes into a radio transmission tower in Houston, Texas, resulting in at least 4 deaths. The accident knocks two stations which transmit from the tower off the air, KLTN and KAMA-FM (both owned by Uforia Audio Network).[30]
30LBC News ends broadcasts on 1152 kHz medium wave, and broadcast a retune loop redirecting listeners to retune to digital reception.[31] [32]

November

DateEventSource
4In Metro Manila, Philippines, DWFM 92.3 FM (formerly 92.3 Radyo5 True FM) moved to DWLA 105.9 FM, replacing Neo Retro 1059 after nearly 4 years. It is now known as 105.9 True FM. In Davao City, Philippines, DXFM 101.9 FM (formerly 101.9 Radyo5 True FM Davao) moved to DXET 106.7 FM, replacing Radyo Digoseño (owned by the City Government of Digos), marking the return of TV5's operations on this frequency after a 14-year hiatus as Dream FM (2004–2011), albeit as an airtime lease operator.[33] [34]
Philippine Collective Media Corporation (PCMC) launched Favorite Music Radio in Manila on DWFM 92.3 FM, with relay stations in Baguio, Davao, and General Santos, replacing the former frequencies of Nation Broadcasting Corporation.
6XEPRS-AM Tijuana, a Mexican border blaster serving the San Diego market, flips to an oldies format featuring mostly deceased hosts such as Wolfman Jack, Don Steele and Charlie Tuna.[35]

December

Deaths

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ESPN Radio Returns Quickly To Texarkana. Radioinsight.com. January 4, 2024. January 4, 2024.
  2. Connie Thiessen, "Meredith Shaw returns to radio with ‘The Feel Good Brunch’". Broadcast Dialogue, January 16, 2024.
  3. https://broadcastdialogue.com/radio-podcast-news-170/ "CBC rebrands flagship evening newscast ‘The World at Six’"
  4. https://www.npr.org/2024/02/07/1229667318/npr-founding-mother-linda-wertheimer-retirement?ft=nprml&f=1020 "NPR founding mother Linda Wertheimer is retiring. Read her bittersweet goodbye note,"
  5. Web site: 2024-02-08 . Bell Media ends some CTV newscasts, sells radio stations in media shakeup amid layoffs . 2024-02-08 . CTVNews . en.
  6. Web site: 2024-02-08 . Bell Media To Sell 45 Stations To Seven Companies In Canada As Part Of Major Restructuring/Cuts - RadioInsight . 2024-02-08 . en-US.
  7. Connie Thiessen, "CBC Radio introducing new live Saturday afternoon call-in show". Broadcast Dialogue, February 22, 2024.
  8. Web site: BBC Radio 4 begins information campaign to transition listeners from Long Wave . 2024-04-14 . www.bbc.co.uk . en.
  9. Web site: The Voice community radio station launches The Voice 2 . 9 April 2024 . 9 April 2024 . Radio Today.
  10. Web site: 2024-03-21 . Date set for the closure of BBC Radio 4 medium wave frequencies . 2024-04-14 . RadioToday . en-GB.
  11. Web site: CBS Sports Radio to Become the Infinity Sports Network . barrettsportsmedia.com . April 6, 2024 . April 4, 2024.
  12. News: Aguila . Nick . Radio Station Wave 89.1 Bids Farewell . 16 April 2024 . Esquire Philippines . 16 April 2024.
  13. Web site: 2024-04-11 . Lyca Radio – Greater Manchester April launch date confirmed . 2024-04-14 . Lyca Radio . en-GB.
  14. Web site: 2023-12-21 . Lyca Radio expands to Greater Manchester after acquiring Asian Sound Radio licence . 2024-04-14 . Lyca Radio . en-GB.
  15. Web site: Gow Media Parts Ways With Sports Map Radio Program Director Craig Larson - Barrett Sports Media. 22 February 2024 .
  16. Web site: mw . 2024-04-12 . United Kingdom . 2024-04-14 . Ydun's Medium Wave Info . en-US.
  17. Venta, Lance (April 19, 2024). Alex Jones Syndicator Genesis Communications Network To Shut Down. Radio Insight. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  18. Web site: 2024-04-09 . Wisconsin Public Radio To Revamp Its Two Networks - RadioInsight . 2024-05-20 . en-US.
  19. https://www.insideradio.com/free/affiliates-surprised-by-usa-radio-news-ending-service/article_f7764b80-33dd-11ef-bf29-ebdaca914348.html InsideRadio.com "Affiliates Surprised by USA Radio Ending News Service" June 26, 2024.
  20. Web site: . IBC TV 13 Facebook. January 18, 2023. January 19, 2023.
  21. Huckstadt, Tate, "KMAQ sold to Iowa-based Coloff Media," Maquoketa Sentinel-Press, July 9, 2024. Accessed 07-10-2024. https://www.maqnews.com/news/local/kmaq-sold-to-iowa-based-coloff-media/article_777603e4-3e14-11ef-94d4-ff436fa27d3a.html
  22. https://www.thespec.com/business/hamilton-region/900-chml-closes-ending-nearly-a-century-of-local-radio-in-hamilton/article_1afb959e-7cb6-5be3-96fc-1b9bfa92dc68.html "900 CHML closes, ending nearly a century of local radio in Hamilton,"
  23. Web site: Wilkinson . Joseph . 2024-08-12 . WCBS 880 to shut down as parent company sells newsradio station to ESPN . 2024-08-12 . New York Daily News . en-US.
  24. Web site: Steve Harmon To Take Over As Host Of Westwood One's Country Gold . 2024-08-07 . RadioInsight . en-US.
  25. Web site: 2024-09-24 . Premiere Networks Adds Your Morning Show with Michael DelGiorno . 2024-09-25 . RadioInsight . en-US.
  26. Web site: Fuller . Austin . 2024-06-28 . 'The Thistle & Shamrock' will end Sept. 30 after 40-plus years . 2024-06-29 . Current . en-US.
  27. Web site: 2024-10-04 . Still Mellow 94.7 . 2021-10-04 . Current. en-US.
  28. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/283689/cumulus-surrenders-suburban-new-york-digital-am/ Cumulus Surrenders Suburban New York Digital AM
  29. https://twitter.com/mystar1025/status/1844457229992460585 Christmas music is back with Star! Listen to Buffalo's Christmas station! Listen now on the free Audacy app https://audacy.com/stations/mystar1025 OR ask Alexa to play Star 102.5!'
  30. https://thedesk.net/2024/10/houston-helicopter-crash-univision-radio/ "Four killed after helicopter crashes into Houston radio tower,"
  31. Web site: Martin . Roy . 18 October 2024 . LBC News to vacate 1152 AM frequency in London . 18 October 2024 . Radio Today.
  32. LBC News ‘AM Retune Loop’ - 30/10/2024 . 2024-10-30 . Professor1036 . 2024-10-30 . YouTube.
  33. https://bilyonaryo.com/2024/10/28/lipat-bahay-mvp-moves-radyo5-true-fm-to-another-station-as-pcmc-takes-over-92-3-frequency/business/ Lipat bahay: MVP moves Radyo5-True FM to another station as PCMC takes over 92.3 frequency
  34. https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2024/10/29/631169/nbc-pcmc-in-radio-asset-transfer-talks/ NBC, PCMC in radio asset transfer talks
  35. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/286215/xeprs-flips-to-oldies/ XEPRS Flips to Oldies
  36. Web site: Burnham . Emily . December 2, 2024 . Stephen King’s Zone Corp radio stations will cease broadcasting this month . 2024-12-02 . Piscataquis Observer . en-US.
  37. News: Death Notices: Davis. January 12, 2024. The Washington Post. Peter Dixon Davis, 97, of Dorset, Vermont, passed away peacefully on Saturday January 6th, 2024. Peter was born in Beverly Hills, California on September 12th, 1926. Peter was “discovered” as a child and became a star at 5 years old. Peter enjoyed a successful 15-year career as a radio, movie and television actor. He was part of Jack Benny’s Gang and was also part of the cast of One Man’s Family. He appeared on the Little Rascals, and he worked in film with the likes of William Powell and Shirley Temple.. .
  38. https://www.newspapers.com/image/70102489/?clipping_id=140396085 "'Date With Judy' Is Air Offering"
  39. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news/140376055/ "Met Opera on Air 11 Years; 'Faust' Will Close Season; Program Costly But It Reaches Select Audience"
  40. Terrace, Vincent (2015). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. Jefferson, NC : McFarland & Company. p. 299.
  41. Terrace, Vincent (2003). Radio Program Openings and Closings, 1931-1972. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 49. .
  42. Web site: Bohuš Šimsa (Karel Janovický) 1930–2024. 28 January 2024.
  43. News: Friends and family mourn longtime Edmonton sports media personalities John Short and Robin Brownlee . Jim . Matheson . Jim Matheson (journalist) . 11 January 2024 . . 11 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240112021249/https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/friends-and-family-mourn-longtime-edmonton-sports-media-personalities-john-short-and-robin-brownlee . 12 January 2024 . live.
  44. News: 2024-01-26 . Radio Ulster broadcaster Walter Love dies aged 88 . 2024-01-26 . BBC News . en-GB.
  45. Web site: Radio Remembers Joe Madison . radioinsight.com . 1 February 2024 . 5 February 2024.
  46. Web site: Maglioccheti . Geoff . 2024-02-28 . Buffalo Radio Legend Chuck 'The Coach' Dickerson Dies at 86 . 2024-03-30 . Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills News, Analysis and More . en.
  47. Mojo Nixon, Unabashed Outlaw Cult Hero, Dead at 66. Bilstein. Jon. February 7, 2024. February 7, 2024. Rolling Stone.
  48. Web site: Bob Edwards, Creator and Host of NPR's 'Morning Edition,' Dies at 76: 'The Voice We Woke Up To'. Abigail. Adams. People. February 12, 2024. February 12, 2024.
  49. Web site: Steve Wright: BBC Radio 2 presenter dies aged 69. BBC News. February 13, 2024. March 3, 2024.
  50. Web site: Robert "Bob" G. Heil. March 2024 . Kurrus Funeral Home. March 1, 2024.
  51. Web site: සම්මානනීය නිවේදිකා හා රංගන ශිල්පිනි රම්‍යා වනිගසේකර දිවිසැරියට සමුදෙයි . 17 March 2024 . Sarasaviya .
  52. Web site: Скончалась популярная советская ведущая и диктор Светлана Моргунова. 10 March 2024 . 10 March 2024.
  53. Web site: 2024-04-04 . Radio Remembers Young Ron Brewer - RadioInsight . 2024-04-05 . en-US.
  54. News: Mayorquín . Orlando . Mister Cee, Pioneering Brooklyn D.J., Dies at 57 . 11 April 2024 . The New York Times . 10 April 2024.
  55. News: 27 April 2024 . Iconic Australian radio personality, known for interviewing The Beatles and The Monkees, passes away at 88 . 28 April 2024 . West Observer . en-US.
  56. https://ge.globo.com/futebol/times/flamengo/noticia/2024/05/15/morre-washington-rodrigues-jornalista-e-ex-tecnico-do-flamengo.ghtml Morre Washington Rodrigues, o Apolinho, jornalista e ex-técnico do Flamengo
  57. Web site: Australia's longest serving DJ Bob Rogers, who had a 78-year broadcasting career, dies aged 97. 29 May 2024. ABC. 29 May 2024.
  58. News: Petter Nome er død . 5 June 2024 . Dagens . 5 June 2024.
  59. Web site: Syndicated Radio Staple 'Truckin' Tom Kent Has Died . Radio Ink . June 24, 2024 . June 26, 2024.
  60. Web site: Radio Giant and Veteran Talent Tom Kent Dead at Age 69 . Radio Online . 28 June 2024 . 25 June 2024.
  61. News: Joe Bonsall, Mainstay of Country Music's Oak Ridge Boys for 50 Years, Dies at 76. Willman. Chris. July 9, 2024. July 9, 2024. Variety.
  62. Web site: Haring. Bruce. Dr. Ruth Westheimer Dies: Pop Culture Sexologist Was 96. Deadline Hollywood. July 13, 2024. July 13, 2024.
  63. Web site: Vale Ron E Sparks. 13 July 2024. RadioInfo. 13 July 2024.
  64. Web site: Broadcasting legend David Morrow dies aged 71. www.9news.com.au. 2024-07-17.
  65. Web site: Lou Dobbs, Conservative Pundit and Former CNN Host, Dies at 78. Variety. July 18, 2024. July 18, 2024.
  66. Web site: Mark Carnevale, former PGA Tour winner and golf broadcaster, dies a week after working his last tournament. CBS News. July 23, 2024. July 23, 2024.
  67. Web site: Former NPR CEO John Lansing Dies Radio & Television Business Report. Radio & Television Business Report. August 16, 2024.
  68. Web site: Peter Marshall, Longtime Host of 'The Hollywood Squares,' Dies at 98. The New York Times. August 15, 2024. August 15, 2024.
  69. News: Radio stalwart CJ Rivera passes away . 23 August 2024 . GMA News Online . 21 August 2024.
  70. Web site: Al McCoy, voice of the Phoenix Suns, dies at 91 . Arizona Sports. September 21, 2024. September 22, 2024.
  71. Web site: Pilley . Max . October 8, 2024 . Dragon Ball Z legend Doc Harris dies, aged 76 . October 13, 2024 . NME . en-GB.
  72. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/284037/top-40-dj-turned-group-owner-jj-jeffrey-passes/ Radioinsight.com, “Top 40 DJ and station group owner J. J. Jeffrey passes”; October 10, 2024; retrieved October 11, 2024.
  73. Web site: 2024-10-13 . Popular Atlanta radio host Wanda Smith dies day after birthday, V-103 radio confirms . 2024-10-13 . FOX 5 Atlanta . en-US.
  74. Web site: Jim Donovan, Cleveland Browns play-by-play announcer and TV sports anchor, dies of cancer at 68 . CBS News . October 26, 2024.
  75. News: Broadcaster Candy Devine dies aged 85 . BBC News . 31 October 2024.
  76. Web site: ঈশ্বৰৰ দেশলৈ . 1 November 2024.
  77. Web site: The Archers radio star June Spencer dies aged 105. Helen. Bushby. 8 November 2024 . BBC News . BBC . 8 November 2024.
  78. Web site: Arlo Guthrie announces that Alice Brock of ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ fame has died. Kara. Baskin. The Boston Globe. November 22, 2024. November 22, 2024.
  79. Chuck Woolery, Host of ‘Wheel of Fortune’ and ‘Love Connection,’ Dies at 83 . Mike . Barnes . . November 23, 2024 . November 24, 2024.

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