Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
July 15, 2003

WPTP 96.5-FM conned most of its listeners as well as some of the local media last week when the morning show with Barsky claimed that morning show member Nancy Tolino won the Powerball lottery.  WPVI posted the news on its website and the other local stations fell for the radio prank.  Maybe this jolt of publicity will help WPTP, which placed 19th out of 30 stations in the ages 12 and above category in the most recent Arbitron ratings period. 

In other WPTP news, program director Chuck Tisa confirmed that the station which began as all 80's, added current music to its playlist.


WMWX (Mix) 95.7-FM also is tweaking its format.  According to Greater Philadelphia Radio Group marketing manager Scott Segelbaum, due to the success of its evening dance/disco show "Boogie Nights," a couple of dance songs per hour have been mixed into the daytime playlist. 

LTL Off DL?

The latest buzz at WPVI is that news anchor Lisa Thomas-Laury could return within the next month.  Thomas-Laury has been on medical leave for a nerve disorder in her feet since October of 2002. 


The television publication "TV Week" is reporting that WPVI will air "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" in the 12:30 p.m. timeslot that will be open when "Port Charles" goes off the air in October.  Of wouldn't it be nice if Wally Kennedy gets given back his weekday slot?


Former WPVI reporter Rose Tibayan, who left the station last year in a dispute over a book she wanted to write, has finished her project as "Resumetapebook," a job-hunting handbook for journalists will be released in the fall.  Go to www.resumetapebook.com for more information.


Janet "Evil Eyes" Zappala (as "American Idol's" Simon Cowell called her in an interview) will co-host "Good Day Philadelphia" on WTXF in August, while Kerri Lee Halkett recuperates from a procedure to help her with migrane headaches.


Attorney Craig Mitnick, who is representing South Jersey teenager Matthew Lovett, who is accused of planning to go on a killing spree, is a client of former WTXF news anchor turned speech presentation and media advisor, Jill Chernekoff.   Chernekoff trains professionals who want to improve their communications skills. The web site is www.chernekoffcommunications.com

Strike a Pose

UPN 57 will hold a local casting call for the next edition of the Tyra Banks show "America's Top Model," Wednesday, July 16th at the Bourse Building in Philadelphia from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

Summer Concert Sightings

WBCB 1490-AM's Paul Baroli, Dave Collins and Chris Ermer were at The Dead at the Tweeter Center.   WCAU sports director Vai Sikahema was with the Eagles, not Donovan McNabb, but Don Henley at the Eagles concert at the First Union Center.