Winter has brought a flurry of activity to northern Michigan’s media landscape. From the launch of new shows by two veteran local radio personalities to management shake-ups at area stations to new faces behind the anchor desk, The Ticker looks at what’s new in news in 2016.

New Projects For Afternoon Drive Hosts
After two years on the air, WTCM Newstalk 580 canceled its three-hour talk show – The Afternoon Drive – in January, citing “robust requests for election coverage” and listener demand for the return of Sean Hannity. Now, one of the hosts of that program is ready to go live with his own afternoon talk show.

Norm Jones will host the first live episode of The Norm Jones Show Monday at 4pm online. Along with co-host Diane DeHaven, Jones will interview local guests and take live calls (231-735-4222) for one hour daily, similar to the format of The Afternoon Drive. Episodes will also be available as podcasts.

Though Jones acknowledges Internet radio is still a new frontier compared to terrestrial stations, he cites his low overhead and 30+ years of experience working in radio as advantages in competing in the market. “I think it’s where the future is,” Jones says. “We don’t have to worry about dropped signals, and my cost is not very much. It’s in a sense a worldwide audition tape…if someone were to pick it up, who knows?”

Jones says that if the program gains traction, he’ll consider adding sponsors and commercials. “It has to click first, though,” he says. “We’re going to have to promote it for a while. But I think I can make it work.”

Meanwhile, two other Afternoon Drive veterans also remain active locally. Bill Froehlich continues to fill in at WTCM, freelances for 9&10 News and works in video production in the region. He's on the look-out “for the perfect full-time opportunity" in the market, he tells The Ticker.

Like Jones, former WTCM on-air personality David Barr is also ready to launch a “new talk radio option in Traverse City.” The program, called TC Today with David Barr, is set to air soon on 1210AM and 101.1FM. Barr says he plans to provide “fun, topical and relevant information for the Traverse Bay region.”

In other radio news, Traverse City country music host Carey Carlson of WTCM Middays has been invited to guest announce the Grand Ole Opry live onstage in Nashville April 16. Local listeners can tune in to the show – which will feature Vince Gill – at 7pm online here.

TV Transitions
Following the December departure of general manager Jill Saarela from WPBN-NBC/7&4 and WGTU-ABC/29&8 after eight years with the company, owner Sinclair Broadcast Group has named a replacement for the position.

Todd Harrison was hired in February as general manager of the NBC station, and will also oversee “sales and other non-programming related services” at the ABC station. Harrison most recently worked as Area Manager for Viamedia, Inc., serving a market area that included Ft. Wayne and Indianapolis. In a statement about his hiring, Harrison said he hopes to “build enhanced value” for northern Michigan viewers through the company’s television, digital and mobile platforms.

Management changes were also announced in February at CBS affiliate WWTV/9&10 News. In a written release, Heritage Broadcasting announced that General Manager William Kring was taking a leave of absence, with Pete Iacobelli and Vice President of News and Business Kevin Dunaway promoted to acting co-general managers. In addition to his role as local sales manager, David Karpicke also assumed the role of general sales manager as part of the restructuring, while Political Sales Manager Lisa Froning was promoted to the additional role of national sales manager.

9&10 News also recently added a new face to its roster of on-air talent for 2016. Matthew Doyle was hired as the company’s weekend sports anchor and reporter in February. The Lansing native - a graduate of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism - previously worked in sports journalism at Fox 31 in Albany, Georgia before coming to northern Michigan.

Pictured (clockwise from top left): Norm Jones, Bil Froehlich, Todd Harrison, Carey Carlson, David Barr, Matthew Doyle.