For those of you who listened to — and missed — alternative rock radio station HFS, it has returned.

Some of the same music, along with its familiar DJ personalities, are coming back on 97.5 FM, or WWMX 106.5 HD2. The station went back on the air at noon Monday.

Bob Philips, senior vice president and market manager for CBS Radio Baltimore, said in a statement that HFS’s loyal following will have more access to the station since the brand will be on HD radio as well.

“HD Radio Technology allows us to offer additional channels of programming alongside our over the air stations, and through a relationship with the owners of 97.5 we have this unique opportunity to expand the reach of the HFS programming,” Philips said.

Tim Virgin, Gina Crash, Jenn Marino, Chris Emery and Neci will all be back to anchor the station’s shows.

Hopefully the station will stick around, just as the famed HFStival is coming back, too. That show will be at Merriweather Post Pavilion Sept. 17.

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Mario Armstrong, the Baltimore techie and media personality, won his first Emmy Award last week.

Armstrong, who is president of Mario Armstrong Media, was named Best TV Show Host/Moderator for his work on the Maryland Public Television Program “You Can Afford College.”

The National Capital Chesapeake Bay chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences had given the award as part of 20 categories at the 53rd Annual Capital NATAS Emmy Awards in Washington, D.C.

“I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Maryland Public Television for believing in me,” Armstrong said in a statement.

In the 2010 “You Can Afford College” program, Armstrong gave parents and students a plan for finding financial aid.

But his MPT stint isn’t the only place you can find him. He’s continually helped consumers on latest technology issues, trends and products on different radio and TV segments. Armstrong has been on CNN, NBC’s “Today Show,” heard on WYPR, NPR’s “Morning Edition,” and he hosts a daily digital-lifestyle talk show on SiriusXM radio.

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Baltimore’s WVIE 1370-AM (Fox Sports Radio) is broadcasting 10 Washington Capitals games this year and all playoff games. The sports station aired the Caps’ playoff games last season.

Station manager Bob Pettit said Tuesday his young station (1370 launched in September 2008) is seeking to fill the niches left by other stations that cover Baltimore’s major league sports. (WBAL 1090-AM broadcasts Ravens games and 105.7-FM “The Fan” airs Orioles games.)

“We have to flank the other stations right now,” Pettit said. “We don’t have Orioles games and we don’t have the Ravens. So we look at the next best … professional franchises. They’re a very good team that provides good entertainment and they sell out a lot of games. They are a good franchise to have.”

WVIE’s sports broadcasts also include University of Maryland, Baltimore County, basketball; Notre Dame football; Washington Wizards basketball and some local high school games.

The sports talker launched three weeks before 105.7 “The Fan” announced it was flipping to an all sports station. That move gave Baltimore four sports talk radio stations — a large number for any market, but especially one the size of Baltimore. (The other two stations are WJZ 1300-AM and WNST 1570-AM.)

At a broadcast power of 50,000 watts during the day (about the same as WBAL), Pettit said WVIE can compete as a regional station with lively hosts and programming that picks up where the mainstream Baltimore sports coverage stops. He sees 105.7 “The Fan” as WVIE’s main competitor.

“We think there’s definitely room for a second sports station so can fill that void,” he said. “But I do not think there’s room for four sports stations. We have to hang in there and beat the other two.”

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When 105.7-FM made the switch to full-time sports talk radio last November, some were skeptical that Baltimore could support five sports talk radio stations.

And us sports radio listeners are set in our ways — people-talking belongs on the AM dial; if I want music I switch over to FM.

But after the latest quarterly ratings, the folks at CBS Radio’s 105.7 couldn’t be happier. I imagine they’re resisting shouting “I told you so!” from the rooftops.

The station is now in 3rd place overall among its “bread and butter” demographic, men aged 25-54, going from a 3.9 to a 6.1 share since the winter. It has also placed 1st in that same demo in afternoons and 2nd with the 35-54 demographic with the Scott Garceau and Anita Marks show and 4th with the 25-54 demo in mornings with Ed Norris.

“We’re thrilled to say the least that it’s doing this well,” said Dave Labrozzi, the station’s vice president of programming. “For us to be where we are and as quickly as we are is amazing. All along we thought there was a big hole for this kind of opportunity.”

Labrozzi noted the switch to FM, as station execs had hoped back in November, exposed more listeners in their target demographic to the station.

“A lot of people who are younger, their habits never included AM so they [are now] exposed to something I think they had forgotten about,” he said.

Labrozzi was mum on whether there would be any station announcements/adjustments in the future. I guess if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

But you can always replicate it — CBS last week launched an FM sports talker in Washington through its affiliate WJFK. The station is now also branded 106.7 The Fan. If the D.C. station does well, how long before the others (Fox Sports Radio, Sporting News Radio, etc.) jump on the FM bandwagon?

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Towson University’s public radio station is using a friendly competition to boost its membership this spring by hosting a battle of 11 local bands at nearby Recher Theatre.

In its first online fundraiser, WTMD-FM/HD is asking fans to “stand by your band” and pledge for membership to the nonprofit station via their favorite band. Even a $15 contribution can make a difference, the station’s news release says.

WTMD is trying reach 5,000 active members by June 30, the Web site says. Its member count as of Wednesday morning was 3,674.

The band that convinces the most fans to make a membership contribution to WTMD will win an album production package, including recording studio time and a Paul Reed Smith Special Edition guitar (valued at $700). All contributors will receive two tickets to the May 9 Baltimore Band Block Party in Towson, where the winner of the challenge will be announced.

Sounds like a win-win to me…the only question is what happens if the station doesn’t reach its goal?

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A funny thing happened on the way to work for many people yesterday morning…instead of “The Kirk & Mark Show” on 105.7 for the morning drive, they heard Ed Norris’ voice over the airwaves. Daylight Savings Time can screw some people up, but broadcasting “The Ed Norris Show” nine hours early is a bit much.

Welcome to the world of radio, where formats and lineups change at the drop of an executive’s hat — many times unannounced, as was the case on 105.7 FM Monday. The move basically yanked the local, on-air talent from sister station ESPN 1300 AM, put them in place of most of the FM station’s former hosts and switched 1300 AM to syndicated programming. For more details, check out today’s story.

There are pros and cons — CBS, which owns both stations, is saving money and shaking things up at 105.7 (again), possibly for the better. But the loss of some local favorites can’t be sitting well with many listeners.

Jason Loviglio, director of the Media and Communication Studies program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, said Monday listeners tend to either adapt to the change or opt for different technologies like podcasts or satellite radio, which give them consistency and more control over what they’re hearing.

“This does more damage not only for the [talent] on the station but to the whole idea of local radio being able to endure in a community,” he said.
Will 105.7’s formatting overhaul change your listening habits? What’s your take on the decision?

LIZ FARMER, Business Writer

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Everyone needs a gimmick… right?

As an avid listener of DC101′s “Elliott in the Morning” show on my way to work, I’m tempted to try to win a spot on their upcoming trip to Dubai, which they announced this morning. The talk show cast will be taking (an unspecified number of) winners along on a 5-day trip to the United Arab Emirates in March for the Desert Rock Festival.

The requirements to go were a bit surprising to me; beyond being over 21 and having a valid passport, your passport “must not have a stamp from Israel” or you could risk being denied admittance to the country. Has anyone out there heard of that happening?

If you’re a nervous flier or uninterested in traveling to the Middle East, you might fare better in WKLC-FM’s Valentine’s Day giveaway: a free divorce.

Charleston, W.Va.’s Rock 105 will be accepting applications through 4p.m. tomorrow from couples who anticipate a “relatively uncomplicated divorce.” (Apparently, if you’re expecting a long, drawn-out legal battle, this isn’t for you). Charleston attorney Rusty Webb will file the chosen case.

Update: The prize includes 10 free hours of legal services… enough to perform a speedy divorce?

JACKIE SAUTER, Web Editor

Photo courtesy of tripadvisor.com

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