Vermont Association of Broadcasters 500A Dalton Drive Colchester, VT 05446 (802) 655-5764 The VAB [email protected] www.vab.org Voice June, 2012 BINNIE, SHAPIRO GET NASSAU’S VT-NH STATIONS Last week, creditors approved a bid of Under a new entity, Vertical Capital $12.5 million for thirty Nassau Broad- Partners, Shapiro will own Vermont sta- KEVIN OHL 1960 - 2012 casting stations in northern New Eng- tions WMOO-FM in Derby, WIKE-AM in land, including ten here in Vermont. Newport, WSNO-AM and WORK-FM in Longtime Vermont radio per- Barre, WWFY-FM in Berlin, WWOD-FM sonality Kevin Ohl passed The winning bidder was former New away May 29 at Fletcher Hampshire U.S. Senate candidate Bill in Hartford, WEXP-FM in Brandon and Allen Health Care in Burling- Binnie who will spin off 13 stations to WTHK-FM in Wilmington. ton after a long and coura- longtime broadcast station owner Jeff In addition, geous battle with acute leu- Shapiro. Shapiro’s group kemia. He was 51. Of the ten Nassau stations in Vermont, will also take own- A native of Essex Junction, Shapiro will own eight while Binnie will ership of New Kevin tried his hand in Holly- Hampshire sta- wood for a brief time, but re- own two. Most of the stations were tions WTSV-AM turned to Vermont where he once part of the VOX group that worked as a disc jockey at Shapiro and others sold to Nassau in and WHDQ-FM in WQCR-FM (which became 2004 for $31 million. Claremont, WFYX WOKO-FM while he was Bill Binnie -FM in Walpole, Shapiro already there) in Burlington. He later WWHQ-FM in Meredith and WLKZ-FM owns Great East- served as the morning man in Wolfeboro. on WVMX-FM in Stowe (now ern Broadcasting Binnie, who already owns WBIN-TV in WCVT-FM). Afterwards, he which operates worked for WKDR-AM in Bur- WKKN-FM in Derry, will pick up two Vermont-licensed lington, where he was a long- Westminster, VT stations, WXLF-FM in Hartford and time contributor and produc- and WMXR-FM WZLF-FM in Bellows Falls. As part of er of “The Manno and Con- in Woodstock, the deal, Binnie’s WBIN Media Compa- don Show.” Kevin was also VT. The group ny will also own six other New Hamp- the producer of “The Mark Jeff Shapiro also owns New Hampshire-licensed sta- shire stations and nine stations in Johnson Show.” tions WTPL-FM in Hillsborough, WEEY- southern Maine. His quick wit and his concern FM in Swanzey, WTSL-AM in Hanover, It is not yet known when the deals will for others will not be forgot- WGXL-FM in Hanover and WXXK-FM close or when the stations will officially ten by his many friends. in Lebanon. change hands. He is survived by his parents and a sister and her family. A NASCAR HONORS SQUIER WITH NEW AWARD celebration of his life will be Leave it to WDEV’s Ken Squier to win an award named, in part, for held at 11 a.m. on June 9 at him. NASCAR has announced the creation of a new award to honor Corbin & Palmer Funeral the contributions of media to the sport’s success. The award will Home at 9 Pleasant St. in bear the names of the first two winners, Squier and fellow broadcast- Essex Junction. Dress is er Barney Hall, and will be called the Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR casual and Hawaiian shirts Media Excellence. Squier helped popularize NASCAR with his are encouraged. work on MRN, CBS, TBS and the SPEED network. Congrats, Ken! Ken Squier VAB Ad Awards Announced Montpelier radio station WNCS-FM (“The Point”) and Colches- ter-based advertising agency Mt. Mansfield Media were the winners of the Radio and Television Best in Show prizes an- nounced May 17 at the Vermont Association of Broadcasters Gov. Shumlin and the VAB’s Eric Michaels Gov. Shumlin addresses the VAB Commercial of the Year Awards luncheon. WNCS won the Radio Best in Show award for “Toilet Talk,” a commercial they wrote and produced for Blodgett Supply. Mt. IDEAS, FOOD AND FUN AT Mansfield Media won the Television Best in Show award for “Birds,” a commercial for Guy’s Farm and Yard Stores. THE 57th VAB CONVENTION An impressive contingent of Vermont broadcasters More than 200 entries were received for the annual competition among Vermont’s radio and television stations and Vermont filled the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Montpelier May 17th for advertising agencies. The entries were judged by a panel as- the 57th annual VAB Convention. sembled by the Communications Department at Champlain They were there to see old friends, get new ideas for College in Burlington. sales and programming success and enjoy great food 2012 VAB Commercial of the Year Awards – Complete List during the Commercial of the Year Awards luncheon. Agency Radio PSA Seminars were given by Mark Levy, Karen Travis and Best Produced: Shadow Productions for “Discover Jazz – Get Moving.” John Lund. David Oxenford and Scott Goodwin held a Agency Radio Commercial political advertising refresher course. Best Copywriting: Shadow Productions for “Clinic.” Client: Champlain Valley Fair. Gov. Peter Shumlin was on hand to address the group Best Produced: Shadow Productions for “The Show.” Client: VFCU Most Creative: Shadow Productions for “Pop Culture.” Client: Jamieson Insur- and praised the state’s broadcasters for their coverage ance. of Tropical Storm Irene. Radio Station Spec Spot Tom Beardsley was the Best Copywriting: WVTK-FM for “Got Gas.” Client: McIntyre Fuels. emcee for the annual Most Creative: WJEN-FM for “Spec Spot.” Client: Poultney Pools. Commercial of the Year Radio Station PSA Best Copywriting: WJJR-FM for “Stuff a Bus.” awards. WNCS-FM was Best Produced: WSNO/WORK/WWFY for “House of Horror.” the winner of the “Radio Radio Station Promo Best in Show” trophy for Best Copywriting: WDEV for “Deer Hunting Promo.” Candis Leopold presents the Radio Best Best Produced: WIZN-FM for “Work Release Program at Ake’s.” in Show award to Ellen Goodman of “Toilet Talk,” a spot for Radio Station Commercial Blodgett Supply. Mt. Best Copywriting: WEZF-FM for “The Beast.” Client: Culligan. Mansfield Media won the Best Produced: WVTK-FM for “Things Go Wrong.” Client: UPS Store “Television Best in Show” Most Creative: WMOO-FM for “Holiday Ad.” Client: Pine Computers. Agency TV PSA award for “Birds,” a spot Best Produced: RetroMotion for “After Irene, Vermont Thanks You.” for Guy’s Farm and Yard. Most Creative: Mt. Mansfield Media for “Rebuilding Waterbury.” See more convention Agency TV Commercial Best Copywriting: McNaudio Media Solutions for “Big Finish.” Client: Kelley- Mary Cenci of WEZF accepts the Radio photos at www.vab.org. cars.com Commercial Best Copywriting award. Best Produced: Mt. Mansfield Media for “Fix It.” Client: Bond Auto. The VAB’s next big event Most Creative: Mt. Mansfield Media for “Westaff Werewolf.” Client: Westaff. is the annual Hall of TV Station PSA Fame Banquet which will Best Copywriting: WFFF-TV for “Inner Heroes.” Best Produced: WCAX-TV for “Tropical Storm Irene – Help Vermont Now.” be held Saturday night, Most Creative: WCAX-TV for “Penguin Plunge.” December 1 at the Bur- TV Station Promo lington Hilton Hotel. To Best Copywriting: Vermont Public Television for “Upstairs, Downstairs.” Terry Jaye of WJJR picks up the Radio nominate someone for Best Produced: WCAX-TV for “The Battle After War.” PSA Best Copywriting award.. Most Creative: WCAX-TV for “Made in Vermont.” the VAB Hall of Fame, TV Station Commercial Broadcaster of the Year, Best Copywriting: WFFF-TV for “Mini Introduction.” Client: The Automaster. the Distinguished Service Best Produced: WCAX-TV for “Test Drive.” Client: Burlington Hyundai. Most Creative: WPTZ-TV/WNNE-TV for “Glow: Living Lights.” Client: ECHO or Community Service Radio Best in Show Awards, go to our web- WNCS-FM for “Toilet Talk.” Client: Blodgett Supply. site at www.vab.org. Television Best in Show A great job by the Capitol Plaza staff! Mt. Mansfield Media for “Birds.” Client: Guy’s Farm and Yard. VAB CONVENTION PHOTOS - CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS! Candis Leopold presents award tp Alex Ball of Shadow Productions Glen Novak and Jason Davis of WJEN collect an award Devon Foxx of WORK-FM receives an award Dave Marshall of WIZN Candis with Amy McGovern of Radio Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin with VAB Executive Director Jim Condon Master of Ceremonies Tom Beardsley of Radio Vermont Amanda Relyea of WVTK picks up an award .