Robservations: DreX ‘honored’ to host mornings on B96

Gabe Ramirez, Nina Hajian and Kevin “DreX” Buchar (Photo: B96)

Robservations on the media beat:

It’s official: Kevin Buchar, the radio veteran known as DreX, started today as morning personality at Entercom Top 40 WBBM FM 96.3. “I’m honored, privileged and humbled for this opportunity to come home to the Chicago audience,” he said in a statement. DreX hosted mornings on iHeartMedia Top 40 WKSC FM 103.5 from 2003 to 2010. Joining him as co-host at B96 is Nina Hajian, who previously worked for stations in New York, Sacramento and Seattle. “The DreX and Nina Show,” airing from 5:30 to 10 a.m. weekdays, also will feature Gabe Ramirez, a holdover from B96’s last morning show, hosted by Jamar “J Niice” McNeil and Michelle “Showbiz Shelly” Menaker.

The Real Deal

Today also marks the kickoff of The Real Deal in Chicago, a website and quarterly magazine covering commercial and residential real estate. "Chicago real estate is full of colorful characters and intriguing stories that remain underreported,” said publisher Amir Korangy, who founded the financial news media company in 2003. “We're excited to bring our signature style of journalism to the city to capture the market for what it really is." Senior reporter here will be Scott Klocksin, a Chicago native and former commercial real estate reporter for Bisnow Media. Since its launch in New York, The Real Deal has expanded to Miami, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Cara Carriveau

Cara Carriveau, who signed off last month as afternoon personality on Hubbard Radio adult contemporary WSHE FM 100.3, has landed at Local Radio Networks as midday host for the company’s classic rock format. Also onboard is Robb Rose, morning show producer and former evening host at WSHE, who joins the network’s mainstream country format. Based in Angola, Indiana, Local Radio Networks provides 24/7 radio programming to small and medium market stations.

Mark Bazer

“The Interview Show with Mark Bazer,” now in its third season on Window to the World Communications WTTW-Channel 11, is going national. The scintillating conversation series, taped each week at The Hideout, has been picked up for syndication by American Public Television. Starting this week it will air in more than a dozen major cities. Among guests on Bazer’s national episodes will be actor/playwright Tracy Letts, architect Jeanne Gang, musician John Oates, author John Green, poet Natasha Trethewey and economist Richard H. Thaler. “The Interview Show” airs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays on WTTW.

Star 105.5 FM

Another radio company with ties to Chicago has filed for bankruptcy protection. The latest is Texas-based Matrix Broadcasting, which holds the license for northwest suburban adult contemporary WZSR FM 105.5 and classic rock WFXF FM 103.9. Both stations are operated by Alpha Media under a local marketing agreement with Matrix. The move follows the bankruptcy filings of two radio giants — Cumulus Media and iHeartMedia.

Sunday’s comment of the day: Chad Rubel: Sinclair has been doing this propaganda in smaller cities for over a decade. People in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles are only becoming aware of this with the proposed takeover of the Tribune stations. This is way different than minor left-right squabbles. This is full-blown propaganda. The idea that Sinclair can get around established standards to control way more markets than is allowed is part of the concern.