Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
November 18, 2003

WPVI holds a slight edge over WCAU halfway through the 11 p.m. November
sweeps ratings.  Monday through Friday, WPVI with Jim Gardner leads with an 11.9
rating/19 share to WCAU's 11.2 rating/18 share with Tim Lake and Tracy Davidson
(subbing for Renee Chenault-Fattah who is on maternity leave.)  The new team
of Larry Mendte and Alycia Lane on KYW is in third place with an 8.1 rating/13 share.

At 6 p.m., WPVI dominates with a 14.1 rating/24 share.  WCAU has a 5.8
rating/10 share and KYW has a 4.6 rating/8 share.

At 5 p.m., WPVI with Lisa Thomas-Laury back from medical leave leads with an
11.1 rating/20 share. "Dr. Phil" is "philling" the gap for KYW, as his show is
practically tied with WCAU.  "Dr. Phil" has a 4.7 rating/9 share and the 5
p.m. news on WCAU has a 4.9 rating/9 share.

"If These Walls Could Talk"
At 4 p.m.  Marc Howard, who once was quoted as saying that he wouldn't do the
KYW 6 p.m. show because it was "like talking to a wall," is laying bricks
with Denise Saunders at 4 p.m. with a 2.3 rating/5 share ("Wal-Marc?").

Each local rating point equals 28,743 homes.

Also of note, viewers have been wondering about the whereabouts of WCAU
medical reporter Cherie Bank who hasn't been on the air recently.  No word yet
from Channel 10 about Bank's status.

Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills, and Nash, narrated a video tribute to WMMR
93.3-FM's Pierre Robert to highlight the "March of Dimes Achievement in Radio"
(AIR) awards last week at the Adam's Mark hotel.  Along with Nash, the Hooters
honored their friend Robert, who received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" for
his 21-years on the air at the rock station.
Here are some of the award winners:
Best Weekday Morning Show Host or Team - "The Preston and Steve Show" - WPLY
100.3-FM
Best Weekday Midday Host or Team - "The Christy Springfield Show" - WOGL
98.1-FM
Best Weekday Afternoon Host or Team - "Cadillac Jack" - WXTU 92.5-FM
Best Weekday Evening Host or Team - "Frank Lario's Big Rock Show" - WMMR
93.3-FM
Best Weekday Talk Show Host or Team - "The Jeff Katz Show" - WPHT 1210-AM
Best Newscaster - Jennifer Ryan - WSNI 104.5-FM
Best Traffic Reporter - Cheryl Ann Kennedy - Metro Networks on WOGL 98.1-FM

Irv Homer, Marge Wieting, Harvey Holiday, Vince Hill, Jerry Blavat, Dick
Clark and Ed Hurst received "Milestone in Radio" awards.

Calvin Hughes is the new reporter on KYW.  He arrives from the CBS affiliate
in Atlanta, where he once co-anchored with former WCAU anchor Jane Robelot.

Former Sixer superstar Julius Erving can put the "J" in Dr. J to use as he
will compete on "Wheel of Fortune's" "NBA Week."  He'll play Drexel graduate
Malik Rose of San Antonio and Jalen Rose of the Chicago Bulls on Thursday's show
on WPVI at 7:30 p.m.