Jared Cowley (KGW)
Published: 10:56 AM PDT July 24, 2026
PORTLAND, Ore. — Veteran Portland broadcaster and former KGW radio and television personality Craig Walker has died. He was 80.
Walker died Wednesday, July 22, at his home, according to longtime broadcaster John Erickson, who was Walker’s colleague at K103. K103 announced Walker’s death in a social media post, saying it would honor his legacy on Monday, July 27, during K103 Mornings with Stacey and Mike.
Walker spent decades, from the early 1970s through 2005, as one of Portland’s best-known on-air personalities. He hosted a market-leading morning show on what was then KGW radio (620 AM) before later joining K103 (KKCW-FM). He also was a longtime primetime personality on KGW-TV, as a host of the evening programs, “PM Magazine” and “Good Evening.”
Walker publicly shared his health struggles over the years, including his wait for a liver transplant in 1993. He later used his platform to advocate for organ transplantation and raise awareness about diabetes, bone cancer and breast cancer.
Erickson said Walker is survived by his wife, Barb; son, Craig; and six grandchildren. His daughter, Karen, died in 2016.
Paramount said on Friday that it had agreed to halt its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery until next June at the latest while a judge considers a lawsuit from state attorneys general who sued to block the deal. The delay throws into doubt the future of a deal that would remake Hollywood.
In a legal filing, Paramount and the state attorneys general said that they had reached an agreement to freeze the $111 billion merger while the case works its way through court, extending a shorter pause imposed by a federal judge in California this week.
The deal would unite under one roof two major movie studios, the streaming services HBO Max and Paramount+ and networks including CBS and CNN. David Ellison, the tech scion who runs Paramount, has aggressively pushed to acquire Warner Bros., ultimately outbidding Netflix after proposing a handful of escalating offers.
— New York Times
Tomorrow. That’s what Rich told me by phone today. He promises a couple hours with Frank Somerville. He may touch on the controversial Ronn Owens/Jan Black saga of “Life with Laura” The time is 10:00 am LIVE on Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/@MrRL1962
Rich explained he has been sidelined by many medical issues but is chomping at the bit to get back online. His voice is not what it should be and Rich says he lost 30 pounds over the course of these tough few months.
Check it out tomorrow, July 24th – The 2nd Return of Rich Lieberman
Longtime NBA broadcaster Kevin Calabro will not return to the Portland Trail Blazers’ television team next season. The former voice of the Seattle SuperSonics confirmed the news in a text message to The Seattle Times on Wednesday. His departure was first reported by The Oregonian. Calabro’s contract expired at the end of June. In an interview with The Oregonian, he revealed he had been negotiating a new deal but described the team’s offer as “subprime.” He received the proposal on Monday and called it an easy decision, noting, “Not worth my time.” Despite the outcome, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying he felt fortunate to hold one of just 30 NBA broadcasting jobs while working near his Seattle home. He intends to continue his broadcasting career.The 70-year-old spent a decade as the Blazers’ play-by-play voice after joining in 2016. His exit comes amid significant upheaval for the franchise following its sale to new owner Tom Dundon, which has triggered widespread cost-cutting measures and disputes with Portland leaders over funding for Moda Center renovations. The team has also parted ways with several other longtime broadcast members, including analyst Michael Horton and reporter Jamie Hudson.
Calabro previously enjoyed a storied 20-year tenure with the SuperSonics, calling the team’s rise in the 1990s until their relocation to Oklahoma City in 2008. He later worked nationally for TNT, NBA TV, and ESPN Radio, and even handled the first MLS season for the Seattle Sounders. He continues to monitor expansion talks for a potential new Seattle NBA team, which could begin play as early as the 2028-29 season if approved.
Reader submitted — Aircheck of Bruce Cannon, Robert O. Smith and Don Wade from 1977/78 featuring Ron Erickson in the Star Tracker van, a clip from Chuck Bolland in the newsroom, and other nuggets you will pick out from the nearly 9 minute audio piece. Labeled as “new” at the top of the page today at https://shorturl.at/70VOW on our KTAC Audio page.
The Academy of Country Music has announced the appointment of Andy Schuon as its new CEO. Andy Schuon [KISW Weekend/fill in on air personality] Credits include: Executive Vice President, Head of Programming & Production: MTV, MTV2 & VH1; Viacom, 1992 – 1998; Program Director – KROQ-FM Los Angeles CBS Radio 1989 – 1992.
Hollywood Reporter: Peter Lassally, a concentration camp survivor who became known as the “Host Whisperer” for producing talk shows headlined by Johnny Carson, David Letterman and Craig Ferguson, has died. He was 93.
Lassally died Sunday of natural causes at a memory care facility in Los Angeles, his son, Tom Lassally, the partner, producer and manager at 3 Arts Entertainment, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Lassally had produced programs starring Arthur Godfrey and Mike Wallace before joining Carson on NBC’s The Tonight Show, then based in New York, in 1969. He served as the quiet behind-the-scenes guy in a producing partnership with the boisterous Fred De Cordova and remained with the show until Carson’s final broadcast on May 22, 1992.
Hollywood Reporter: Sylvia Bugg, PBS‘ chief programming executive and general manager for general audience programming, died “unexpectedly this weekend,” PBS CEO Paula Kerger announced. She was 55.
No cause of death was provided. Bugg joined PBS for a third stint just before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down. Previously, she was vp diversity and television content at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Bugg was PBS’ director of programming from April 2012-August 2014; her first turn came in the mid-to-late ’90s. Bugg also worked at Discovery Inc. for a dozen years.
Beginning September 1, SiriusXM satellite will begin carrying Audacy sports and news stations. Sirius will insert their own commercials into stopsets, in the agreement which includes licensing fees.
These stations are available online, on your phone. So…
Hey, I have a great money-making idea for 2026. I will let you in on it. Open a newspaper stand. It’s money in the bank, my friend!
Veteran Portland broadcaster and former KGW personality Craig Walker dies at 80
Reader Submission • July 27, 2026
Jared Cowley (KGW)
Published: 10:56 AM PDT July 24, 2026
PORTLAND, Ore. — Veteran Portland broadcaster and former KGW radio and television personality Craig Walker has died. He was 80.
Walker died Wednesday, July 22, at his home, according to longtime broadcaster John Erickson, who was Walker’s colleague at K103. K103 announced Walker’s death in a social media post, saying it would honor his legacy on Monday, July 27, during K103 Mornings with Stacey and Mike.
Walker spent decades, from the early 1970s through 2005, as one of Portland’s best-known on-air personalities. He hosted a market-leading morning show on what was then KGW radio (620 AM) before later joining K103 (KKCW-FM). He also was a longtime primetime personality on KGW-TV, as a host of the evening programs, “PM Magazine” and “Good Evening.”
Walker publicly shared his health struggles over the years, including his wait for a liver transplant in 1993. He later used his platform to advocate for organ transplantation and raise awareness about diabetes, bone cancer and breast cancer.
Erickson said Walker is survived by his wife, Barb; son, Craig; and six grandchildren. His daughter, Karen, died in 2016.
Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger On-Hold
Reader Submission • July 24, 2026
Paramount said on Friday that it had agreed to halt its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery until next June at the latest while a judge considers a lawsuit from state attorneys general who sued to block the deal. The delay throws into doubt the future of a deal that would remake Hollywood.
In a legal filing, Paramount and the state attorneys general said that they had reached an agreement to freeze the $111 billion merger while the case works its way through court, extending a shorter pause imposed by a federal judge in California this week.
The deal would unite under one roof two major movie studios, the streaming services HBO Max and Paramount+ and networks including CBS and CNN. David Ellison, the tech scion who runs Paramount, has aggressively pushed to acquire Warner Bros., ultimately outbidding Netflix after proposing a handful of escalating offers.
— New York Times
Rich Lieberman says "I'LL BE BACK"
Jason Remington • July 23, 2026
Tomorrow. That’s what Rich told me by phone today. He promises a couple hours with Frank Somerville. He may touch on the controversial Ronn Owens/Jan Black saga of “Life with Laura” The time is 10:00 am LIVE on Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/@MrRL1962
Rich explained he has been sidelined by many medical issues but is chomping at the bit to get back online. His voice is not what it should be and Rich says he lost 30 pounds over the course of these tough few months.
Check it out tomorrow, July 24th – The 2nd Return of Rich Lieberman
THE GRINCH BEHIND 415 MEDIA
Rich Lieberman Won’t Quit, Despite San Francisco Media’s Wishes
Lieberman returns to Bay area media vidcasting
Questions for Rich Lieberman
Jason Remington • July 23, 2026
If you have questions for Rich Lieberman or Frank Somerville during the vidcast tomorrow, TEXT Rich @ 415-999-4454
Kevin Calabro Departs Portland Trail Blazers Broadcast Team
Duke Stern • July 22, 2026
Longtime NBA broadcaster Kevin Calabro will not return to the Portland Trail Blazers’ television team next season. The former voice of the Seattle SuperSonics confirmed the news in a text message to The Seattle Times on Wednesday. His departure was first reported by The Oregonian. Calabro’s contract expired at the end of June. In an interview with The Oregonian, he revealed he had been negotiating a new deal but described the team’s offer as “subprime.” He received the proposal on Monday and called it an easy decision, noting, “Not worth my time.” Despite the outcome, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying he felt fortunate to hold one of just 30 NBA broadcasting jobs while working near his Seattle home. He intends to continue his broadcasting career.The 70-year-old spent a decade as the Blazers’ play-by-play voice after joining in 2016. His exit comes amid significant upheaval for the franchise following its sale to new owner Tom Dundon, which has triggered widespread cost-cutting measures and disputes with Portland leaders over funding for Moda Center renovations. The team has also parted ways with several other longtime broadcast members, including analyst Michael Horton and reporter Jamie Hudson.
Calabro previously enjoyed a storied 20-year tenure with the SuperSonics, calling the team’s rise in the 1990s until their relocation to Oklahoma City in 2008. He later worked nationally for TNT, NBA TV, and ESPN Radio, and even handled the first MLS season for the Seattle Sounders. He continues to monitor expansion talks for a potential new Seattle NBA team, which could begin play as early as the 2028-29 season if approved.
A great find from the Internet Archive
Jason Remington • July 22, 2026
Summer of 1961
KXLY brochure (outer portion)
https://shorturl.at/IEyDo
KXLY brochure (inner portion)
https://shorturl.at/GWYZN
Bruce Cannon- Robert O. Smith- Don Wade aircheck submitted
Jason Remington • July 21, 2026
Reader submitted — Aircheck of Bruce Cannon, Robert O. Smith and Don Wade from 1977/78 featuring Ron Erickson in the Star Tracker van, a clip from Chuck Bolland in the newsroom, and other nuggets you will pick out from the nearly 9 minute audio piece. Labeled as “new” at the top of the page today at https://shorturl.at/70VOW on our KTAC Audio page.
Schuon named CEO of ACM
Jason Remington • July 21, 2026
The Academy of Country Music has announced the appointment of Andy Schuon as its new CEO. Andy Schuon [KISW Weekend/fill in on air personality] Credits include: Executive Vice President, Head of Programming & Production: MTV, MTV2 & VH1; Viacom, 1992 – 1998; Program Director – KROQ-FM Los Angeles CBS Radio 1989 – 1992.
Peter Lassally, Producer for Carson and Letterman, Dies at 93
Jason Remington • July 21, 2026
Hollywood Reporter: Peter Lassally, a concentration camp survivor who became known as the “Host Whisperer” for producing talk shows headlined by Johnny Carson, David Letterman and Craig Ferguson, has died. He was 93.
Lassally died Sunday of natural causes at a memory care facility in Los Angeles, his son, Tom Lassally, the partner, producer and manager at 3 Arts Entertainment, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Lassally had produced programs starring Arthur Godfrey and Mike Wallace before joining Carson on NBC’s The Tonight Show, then based in New York, in 1969. He served as the quiet behind-the-scenes guy in a producing partnership with the boisterous Fred De Cordova and remained with the show until Carson’s final broadcast on May 22, 1992.
Bugg, PBS Exec Dies Unexpectedly
Jason Remington • July 21, 2026
Hollywood Reporter: Sylvia Bugg, PBS‘ chief programming executive and general manager for general audience programming, died “unexpectedly this weekend,” PBS CEO Paula Kerger announced. She was 55.
No cause of death was provided. Bugg joined PBS for a third stint just before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down. Previously, she was vp diversity and television content at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Bugg was PBS’ director of programming from April 2012-August 2014; her first turn came in the mid-to-late ’90s. Bugg also worked at Discovery Inc. for a dozen years.
Boggles my mind
Brookbank • July 21, 2026
Beginning September 1, SiriusXM satellite will begin carrying Audacy sports and news stations. Sirius will insert their own commercials into stopsets, in the agreement which includes licensing fees.
These stations are available online, on your phone. So…
Hey, I have a great money-making idea for 2026. I will let you in on it. Open a newspaper stand. It’s money in the bank, my friend!