Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
March 29, 2005

The new station in town, Ben 95.7-FM (no relation to the former Alice 104.5-FM) is a fun mixed bag of songs from the last three decades.  The station changed from Mix 95.7-FM last week after ranking near the bottom of the last Arbitron ratings period (20^th out of 30 stations).

Inspired by the “Ipod shuffle,” here is a sample of songs that were played during one stretch – “Keep on Loving You” – REO Speedwagon, “Show Me” – Robin S., “Don’t Stop” – Fleetwood Mac, “Love Me” – The Cardigans, “Rock You Like a Hurricane” – The Scorpions, “Summer Nights” – John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, “Right Here Right Now” – Jesus Jones, and “Photograph” – Def Leppard.  It’s a mix of rock, pop, dance, old, and new – I like it.

This is the third major format change in the month.  Alternative WPLY 100.3-FM changed to R-and-B and “The Beat 103.9-FM” switched to gospel.

VH1’s annual “Divas” concert is morphing into “Save the Music” April 17.   This year’s headliners are Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Donna Summer, Rod Stewart, Rob Thomas, Joss Stone, and John Legend.

Trevose, PA’s Anthony Federov had a scare as part of the bottom three of “American Idol” last week, but since Mikalah Gordon was eliminated, he’ll get another chance tonight at 8 p.m. on Fox. 

Tax experts will answer questions from viewers during the “WB17 News at Ten” tonight.  New co-anchor Mary Stoker Smith’s debut was delayed from last week to next week.

There is yet another delay for the UPN morning news which was supposed to start at the beginning of the year.  According to a station spokesperson at this point there is no launch date for the show, which is scheduled to replace “KYW Newsradio on TV.”  Former Comcast SportsNet reporter Sean Murphy is the only on-air person announced for the show.

ESPN reporter Sal Paolantonio will fill in for Michael Smerconish on WPHT 1210-AM from 5:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. Thursday and Friday. Paolantonio is a regular contributor to the morning show.

Congratulations to www.nbc10.com and KYW 1060-AM, which won “Edward R. Murrow Awards” from the RTNDA (Radio Television News Directors Association).