Philadelphia has never been a hotbed of Spanish-language radio. But according to NorthEast Radio Watch, a radio-industry Internet report by Scott Fybush, a Spanish network began broadcasting there last Monday.
Daytime-only broadcaster WWDB-AM 860 had its business-talk format pulled in favor of ESPN Deportes, a network dedicated to broadcasting sports-related programming to the American Spanish-speaking community. The network carries broadcasts from Mexico City and Bristol, Conn.
The arrival of ESPN Deportes brings a second Spanish-language signal to Philadelphia, adding to Clear Channel's WUBA-AM "Rumba" 1480, which, according to NorthEast Radio Watch, is the remnant of an earlier failed experiment with Spanish-language radio on a full-power FM signal (WUBA-FM 104.5, now WRFF).
According to NorthEast Radio Watch, the WWDB deal will split ESPN programming between Beasley Broadcast Group and Greater Media, which runs English-language ESPN Radio on WPEN-AM 950 and WPEN-FM 97.5 in Burlington, N.J.
Another late-night discovery: During an overnight feeding with our newborn, I discovered that Hallmark Channel broadcasts "I Love Lucy" episodes from 1 to 4 a.m. Monday. Hallmark HD is a complete waste of technology for a black-and-white show that aired in the 1950s, but "Lucy" is welcome clean humor during the wee hours.
Ravens preseason: WHTM-TV ABC 27 will air three Baltimore Ravens preseason football games, starting Saturday, Aug. 21, when they play the Washington Redskins. Because a NASCAR race is slated for WHTM's main digital channel (27.1), the game will air live on Retro TV (27.2). Pre-game starts at 6:30 p.m. The game will re-air on 27.1 at 11:30 p.m.
The two remaining games will air on 27.1 at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, against the New York Giants, and at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, against the St. Louis Rams.
Lineup changes: Starting today, WGAL-TV 8 will air "The Chris Matthews Show" at 7 a.m., followed by "Pennsylvania Newsmakers" at 7:30 a.m. Also, "Wila's Wild Life" moves to 11 a.m., followed by "Jane and the Dragon" at 11:30 a.m.
New HD for E-town: As part of Comcast Cable's digital upgrade, 27 new HD channels launched last week in Elizabethtown. The channels are: BET (866), Bravo (832), CBS College Sports (854), CNBC (819), CNN Headline News (816), Comedy Channel (828), Disney XD (877), ESPNU (853), ESPNews (852), Fuse (885), G4 (867), Home Shopping Network (800), Independent Film Channel (893), MGM (892), MSNBC (818), Outdoor Channel (864), QVC (811), Style (834), Sportsman (917), Turner Classic Movies (890), Tennis Channel (862), TRU TV (841), TV One (865), VH1 (886), IND PPV (785), IND Game (786) and IND Team (787).
(The final three channels offer pay-per-view or subscription programming.)
Hart calling it quits: Mary Hart, host of "Entertainment Tonight" (7 p.m. weekdays on WGAL-TV 8), announced last week that her final year on the show will be "ET's" upcoming 30th season, which premieres Sept. 13. Her contract expires this year. Hart joined "ET" in 1982 and was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in 1999.
No more breakthroughs: After two episodes, NBC yanked Tony Robbins' reality show, "Breakthrough With Tony Robbins," from its summer schedule Aug. 10. NBC will instead air repeats of the game show "Minute to Win It" in its Tuesday night slot.