Houston.BloggersPub

Here is an update to what I blogged about last week. I just got off the phone with Clear Channel Houston AM operations director (and 740 KTRH host) Michael Berry about the new 790 KBME Sports Animal hires.

We all kind of knew that 610 KILT hosts Matt Jackson and Adam Wexler were leaving for 790 KBME last week. Now Berry has confirmed to me that the two will be the new morning show hosts for The Sports Animal from 6 to 10am.

Berry says he believes both Jackson and Wexler sound like two good friends you might overhear at a bar arguing about sports. They aren’t afraid to call each other out and know their stuff. He says the duo are very natural at what they do.

So what does that mean for current morning show host Ted DeLuca? Berry tells the mikemcguff.com blog that DeLuca will move to the 790 KBME middays slot and could also work on other sports related duties.

The new schedule starts this coming Monday.

All of these changes at CBS Houston are making some 610 KILT listeners a little nervous. This anonymous comment came in on my last week Jackson/Wexler post:

If your a 610 fan it has got to be a little troubling that they have lost in 6 months, Andre Ware, Adam clayton, and now Matt Jackson and Adam Wexler. Listeners dont like change. Did 610 get a new program director that has been a major pain? It sucked losing Dre and Adam, especially Adam, it seemed like they were giving him more space and leeway and it was positive. Maybe they thought he was to much of a Rome wannabe. I like Wex, and Matt Jackson can be good but also annoying at times. Really makes you wonder about 610 though.

The answer is that there is new management for the original sports station in town and changes have no doubt been made.

> Mike McGuff Blog

Houston based Continental airlines says it will now accept credit/debit cards exclusively for on-board purchases (except Duty-free).

Continental is making the change in response to feedback from customers and flight crews who expressed interest in using card readers for on-board purchases to eliminate the hassle of fumbling for money and making correct change. The hand-held devices read cards for purchases of alcoholic beverages and headsets during flight in addition to providing valuable sales information to help better manage product inventory. Cash is still being accepted for Duty-free purchases. Testing of the hand-held devices began in the summer of 2009.

The new payment system starts December 1st and will be on all flights except for those going to China.

> Mike McGuff Blog

It looks like even college TV is getting a makeover thanks to Internet video:

In the early days, HCC-TV filled its schedule with pretty pictures, lists of community activities and videotapes of college classes. Payne, a long-time social activist, started with the station a decade ago, when programs were shot with one camera and fancy graphics were nonexistent.
For an audience weaned on YouTube and MTV, that no longer works.

“The potted plant and two chairs, we don’t do that anymore,” said Debra Martine McGaughey, the station’s general manager. “It’s a new day for college TV.”

Starting in January, there should be even more to see. McGaughey said the station will kick off a new schedule, including more programming by and about students. READ MORE

> Mike McGuff Blog

Who knew that the host of the Wheel of Fortune, Love Connection and Scrabble lives in Austin:

He came here in 2006 to tape a commercial and bought a home within two days. It was only supposed to be a vacation home.

“Then three months after, I said to my wife, ‘Let’s move to Texas,’ and she said, ‘Are you insane?’” he said.

Woolery has loved bass fishing since he was a kid, so Horseshoe Bay was a natural fit, and now he’s on Lake LBJ every day. READ THE REST

> Mike McGuff Blog

This is a must listen radio archive to check out today on your lunch break. What is it? My appearance on The High Tech Texan Michael Garfield’s 950 KPRC show from last Saturday of course!

We talked holiday tech gifts plus other things like bourbon. A logical tie in I guess.

HOUR 1
HOUR 2
HOUR 3

Who knows…maybe I will be back next Saturday on the show too!

> Mike McGuff Blog

Just when you thought celebrity Twitter accounts were vapid enough, the entertainers could actually be advertising stuff to you:

Kim Kardashian, Joel McHale, Dr. Drew, Nicole Richie and husband Joel Madden and Audrina Patridge from “The Hills” are just a few of the names who have endorsement deals for their Twitter accounts.

The celebs are signing onto a new viral marketing strategy set up by the Los Angeles-based ad agency Ad.ly, which brokers relationships with the advertisers.

Currently, Ad.ly has lined up international companies such as Sony Pictures, NBC, Universal, Microsoft and Nestle for the new platform. READ MORE

Don’t think you can’t ride the gravy train too! You can sign up with Ad.ly to hawk crap on your Twitter account!

(This post is sponsored by the revealing Russian Bride)

> Mike McGuff Blog

For those of you who do not know, the Hollywood Video in the old Tower Theater in Montrose has closed. What is it with old art deco theaters in Houston always facing an uncertain future?

- Hollywood Video Gives Up on the Tower Theatre
- R.I.P., Hollywood Video In Montrose: What’s Next For The Old Tower Theater?
- Before It Was the Tower Theater, It Was Clubland, and Our Friend Worked There
- The finale of Hollywood Video

Before DVDs and VHS cassettes lined the location, this placed hosted a lot of bands like the Beastie Boys.

Also worth noting from Swamplot is that ground zero for the Janet Jackson Super Bowl Nipplegate saga also faces an uncertain future.

(Image joe_stephens_3)

> Mike McGuff Blog

You don’t see this everyday. A 14 second video from a traffic camera caught a meteor exploding over the skies of Johannesburg, South Africa. READ MORE

> Mike McGuff Blog

After 36 years behind the anchor desk - KENS 5 Anchor Chris Marrou has stepped into retirement. Now the station pays tribute.

- PART 2: SA’s Newsman, A Tribute to Chris Marrou
- PART 3: SA’s Newsman, A Tribute to Chris Marrou

> Mike McGuff Blog

Here are some of the holiday gift ideas for techies that I talked about Saturday on 950 KPRC’s The High Tech Texan show with Michael Garfield.

Cell phones
- Samsung Moment M900 Phone (Sprint)
- Motorola Droid A855 Phone (Verizon Wireless)
- Flip UltraHD Camcorder, 120 Minutes (White)
- Palm Pre Phone (Sprint)

Video games
- Nintendo DSi Matte - Black
- DJ Hero Bundle with Turntable

Music
- The Beatles Stereo Box Set

Photo picture frame (Wi-Fi)
- Kodak EasyShare W820 8-Inch Wireless Digital Frame

Amazon Kindle Reader
- Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6″ Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation)

> Mike McGuff Blog