The Year in Radio – Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman

Bucks County Courier Times

January 6, 2004

Adjust Your Set Buttons – 96.5-FM changes from “The Point” to “Wild.”

Houdini – Barsky survives yet another format change, as he’ll continue as the morning man on 96.5-FM.  

Changes – Mike Missanelli and Joe Conklin jump from WIP 610-AM to WMMR 93.3-FM to form “The Philly Guys.” Joan “JJ” Jones jumps from B-101-FM to WPHT 1210-AM.

Smer-gone-ish in PM -  Michael Smerconish moves from the afternoon to mornings on WPHT.

Goodbye – WPHT’s Jeff Katz, WYSP’s Don and Mike, WPHT’s Don Imus is banished to WWDB 860-AM.

Impact Player – Jonesy on WPHI 103.9-FM

Static - WPEN eliminates two disc jockey positions to play recorded music at night.

The Gross-out Factor  – WHYY’s Terry Gross makes national headlines after her interview with Fox News Channel’s Bill O’Reilly goes up in smoke.

Curses to Broadcasting Schools - Tommy Conwell of “Young Rumblers” fame wins the “You Be the DJ” contest on WYSP, listener Kelvin Beckwith wins the “Reality Radio” contest to host a talk show on WPHT.

Give Us Back the 12 Days of Christmas – B-101 and WSNI 104.5-FM play continuous Christmas music starting mid-November.  Here’s something for next year's holiday wishlist – hopefully both won’t start the holiday music that early next year.  

Comeback Kid – WMGK’s John DeBella, who was left for dead a few years ago, is keeping a low profile in his morning gig on WMGK.

Glory Days – WMGK’s Ed Sciaky was the toast of the town when Bruce Springsteen conquered Philadelphia in August.

Punk’d – The late Point fooled lots of people when it said that one of its morning co-hosts won the Powerball lottery.

Aw-Phil – WOGL 98.1-FM ran a tribute to Phil Spector after the record producer was charged with murder.

Disco Lives – “Boogie Nights” airs on Mix 95.7-FM on weekend nights, Bob Pantano’s Saturday night dance party is in its 3^rd decade on WOGL 98.1-FM.

Best Syndicated Show – Incredibly for almost 20 years, Howard Stern has ruled the mornings on WYSP 94.1-FM.  He debuted here in August 1986.

Worst Syndicated Show – Rush Limbaugh – WPHT 1210-AM.  Rush is probably thrilled that 2003, which included his fiasco on ESPN, his drug-rehab, and other tabloid escapes is over.

Best Voice – Michael Tearson of WMGK 102.9-FM.

Favorite DJs – “Big Ron” of WOGL 98.1 and Brian Murphy of Mix 95.7-FM.