http://www.dailygazette.com Veteran radio host leaving WROW after 11 years on job BY JEFF WILKIN Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Jeff Wilkin at 395-3124 or at wilkin@dailygazette.com.
Veteran radio talk show host Paul Vandenburgh is leaving his chair at WROW (590 AM). Vandenburgh, 51, will sign off from his morning program on Friday, Oct. 5, after 11 years of conversation about politics, local issues, taxes and the public and private sectors. “I’m at a point in my life where I’m going to look at maybe doing other things,” said Vandenburgh, who has also worked as program director for the 5,000-watt station. James J. Morrell, chairman of Latham’s Pamal Broadcasting Ltd., which owns WROW and several other local radio stations, was traveling Tuesday and issued a short statement through his office: “We are sorry to see him go, and we have enjoyed working with him. He has put in his resignation in hopes of putting together a new opportunity that we are unaware of at this time.” As program director, Vandenburgh was responsible for bringing Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings and New York Post political writer Fred Dicker to WROW slots. He also put Mike Francesa and Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo on WROW when he picked up “Mike and the Mad Dog,” the weekday sports show that runs most of the afternoon at New York City’s WFAN (and on the YES television network). Vandenburgh said he’s been thinking for a year about leaving his show, which runs Monday through Thursday from 6 to 10 a.m. and Fridays from 6 to 9 a.m. “I’m looking at a couple things,” he said about future plans. “I’m not 100 percent certain at this point exactly what I’m going to do.” Another broadcasting gig could be in those plans — maybe at a Vandenburgh-owned radio station. “I’ve been thinking about it for 15 years,” he said. “It’s something that I’ve long aspired to do, and if the day ever came when I could do it, I would very much like to own.” Troy native Vandenburgh grew up a radio fan and broke into the profession during the mid-1980s at the former WWCN (now WDDY, 1460 AM). He later worked as overnight board operator and as a weekend talk show host at WQBK (103.9 FM); on “The Morning Line” horse racing television show on the OTB Network; and at WGY (810 AM). He returned to WQBK in 1993 as afternoon drive host. He moved to mornings in 1994, and after a disagreement with management in 1996, he quit and landed at WROW. Vandenburgh has posted respectable numbers for the morning drive. He tied for fifth (with WGY) out of 16 stations in the morning drive overall category (ages 12 and older) for the spring Arbitron ratings book. In addition to often-lively debates with callers and politicians, Vandenburgh topics have included his family life, local media, dogs, the New York Yankees, pop culture, cigars and friends. He also took his show to places like Saratoga Race Course, advertisers’ offices and spots around the country. Vandenburgh expects that his position will be filled in-house and quickly. “When I get done, I’ll move on, make sure I thank everybody and move on,” he said. Not talking for a living could prove difficult. “I’m not 100 percent certain at this point that radio is in my future,” Vandenburgh said, “so if it’s not, it’s going to be tough.” GAZETTE FILE PHOTO WROW’s Paul Vandenburgh broadcasts a show in this 1999 file photo
Oh too bad. I really like listening to him in the morning before work. I hope he continues 'somewhere'. And as a side note, I thought he was older than 51! I was a little surprised. But it 's a good thing as he will have many more years to inform us.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
“It’s the Paul and Jerry Show” October 12, 2007 at 10:52 am by Tim O'Brien, Staff writer
Paul Vandenburgh has long called Mayor Jerry Jennings call-in radio program “the Lovefest,” referring to the way callers fawn over the mayor.
Today, it was the mayor’s turn to fawn over WROW’s departing program director. Vandenburgh is leaving, with strong rumors he’s buying a station of his own.
“I love you, man,” the mayor even told Vandenburgh as the music announced the end of the program.
One listener even promoted Vandenburgh to be the next governor of New York State.
“I know Paul will land somewhere,” the mayor said.
“I’ll be around,” Vandenburgh said. “You’ll find out where.”
The mayor says he plans to keep doing the show at WROW. He started with Vandenburgh at WQBK and followed him 10 1/2 years ago to WROW.
But the departing director seemed to expect the mayor would join him at his new gig. “We should do this from Florida,” he told the mayor at one point.
Scott Allen Miller, a former radio host on WRKO in Boston, to take over slot held by Paul Vandenburgh
By LARRY RULISON, Business writer First published: Friday, October 19, 2007
COLONIE -- A replacement has been found for Paul Vandenburgh, the popular and outspoken morning talk-radio host who left WROW (590 AM) last week. Scott Allen Miller, a former radio host on WRKO (680 AM) in Boston, will start broadcasting Monday morning in the drive-time slot formerly held by Vandenburgh since 1997.
Miller, 37, will additionally become WROW's program director, a job that Vandenburgh also had.
Vandenburgh, 51, has stated publicly he is interested in buying WTMM (1300 AM) with a group of investors. No application has been filed yet with the Federal Communications Commission.
WTMM, which currently broadcasts ESPN Radio, is owned by Regent Communications Inc. of Cincinnati. Officials there have not returned phone calls.
Miller announced his new job at WROW on his blog.
"This is just a tremendous opportunity for me," Miller wrote. "I am already very familiar with the market having worked at WROW's main competitor before coming to WRKO in September 2003."
Miller worked at WGY (810 AM) from 2002 to 2003, according to the resume posted on his MySpace Web page. He grew up in Indiana and began his career in Los Angeles.
Boston's WRKO is one of the city's most popular talk-radio stations. It also carries Red Sox baseball games.
Miller said on his blog that he will commute to the Boston area on weekends to be with his family until the school year ends so his children won't have to change schools. His wife is a teacher.
Kevin Callahan, regional vice president of programming for Pamal Broadcasting Ltd., the Colonie-based company that owns WROW, said Miller will be different from Vandenburgh, but he still will have guests and have listeners call in to the show.
"Overall, it's a different show," Callahan said. "Overall, it's an entertaining show. We're excited to have him."
Miller also stands in for John Gibson, the nationally syndicated radio host who broadcasts on WROW Friday nights. Miller will be filling in for Gibson tonight at 7, so that will be the first time that WROW listeners will be able to hear him, Callahan said.
I enjoyed Paul Vandenburgh and will look forward to his new show and station. I don't think I've ever heard Scott Miller. But I'll give him a listen.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Radio host moves up dial Paul Vandenburgh, formerly of WROW, to be part-owner of new station devoted to local talk
By LARRY RULISON, Business writer First published: Wednesday, October 24, 2007
RENSSELAER -- Former WROW (590 AM) morning talk radio host Paul Vandenburgh is teaming with a group of local business executives to buy WTMM (1300 AM) and turn it into a talk radio station.
WTMM, which currently broadcasts ESPN Radio, is owned by Regent Communications Inc. of Cincinnati.
Regent has agreed to sell the station for $850,000, said Salvatore Ferlazzo, a member of Capital Broadcasting Inc., the investor group. An application for the sale was filed Monday night with the Federal Communications Commission.
The station will be known as WCBI Talk 1300. FCC approval is expected by the end of the year. Vandenburgh will host a morning talk show and will be program manager for the station.
"We have a lot of faith in Paul and his local brand of talk," Ferlazzo said Tuesday.
Vandenburgh left WROW two weeks ago, and his morning slot was filled by Scott Allen Miller, who formerly worked at a Boston radio station and locally at WGY (810 AM).
Vandenburgh said the Capital Region market is "highly competitive," but he believes the new station's lineup of shows that focus on local issues will make it a success.
"We'll be doing more local programming than anyone else," he said.
That will include an afternoon show by former Times Union managing editor Dan Lynch, who previously had a show on WROW. Some other show hosts who worked with Vandenburgh at WROW -- including Ferlazzo and law partner Jay Girvin, Smith Barney broker Larry King, and Sanford Family of Wachovia Securities -- will have their own shows.
Vandenburgh has also lined up a syndicated show by Neal Boortz, a libertarian radio host based in Atlanta who has 4 million listeners.
Officials from Regent could not be reached for comment.
Ferlazzo said that until the station receives FCC approval for the sale, WCBI will operate from Regent's offices in Schenectady under what is known as a "local management agreement."
Regent is in the process of upgrading the station's signal -- which is based in the city of Rensselaer -- as part of the sale agreement, Ferlazzo said.
WCBI will have about 10 employees, he said. Vandenburgh could be on the air in two to three weeks.
Ferlazzo said the investors' group also has designs on expansion.
"This is the first station that we're going to acquire," Ferlazzo said. "That doesn't mean there won't be others."
Larry Rulison can be reached at 454-5504 or by e-mail at lrulison@timesunion.com.
Who's who
Capital Broadcasting Inc., the group buying WTMM (1300-AM) to create a new local talk radio station, includes:
Paul Vandenburgh, former morning host, WROW (590-AM)
Robert J. McCormick, CEO, TrustCo Bank Corp NY
Salvatore Ferlazzo, partner, Colonie law firm Girvin & Ferlazzo PC
Jay Girvin, partner, Girvin & Ferlazzo PC
Sanford Family, managing director, Sanford Family Financial of Wachovia Securities
Brian Crowley, financial adviser, Sanford Family Financial of Wachovia Securities
Sally King, principal, holding company SAK Holdings LLC
I always listened to Paul Vandenburgh while I was getting ready for work. I will continue to when he is on air again. I wish him well on his new venture.
Paul has been the long time voice for the taxpayers and against governmental waste. He was a big help in stopping Stratton's initial money grab.
We miss him in the morning and hope his new venture on 1300-AM starts up soon. Too bad he wasn't around to roast marshmellows around the crashed and burned Gov. Spitzer.
Logged
Paul has been the long time voice for the taxpayers and against governmental waste. He was a big help in stopping Stratton's initial money grab.
