Ben Cominos Exits WHBY, Appleton, Wisconsin; Local Brewery to Stream Show
Late morning talk host Ben Cominos, host of the “Outside the Box” program, exits Woodward Communications’ news/talk WHBY, Appleton, Wisconsin. The station posted the news to Facebook, saying, “WHBY will discontinue its political talk programming block from 8:30 am – 11:00 am previously held by Ben Cominos with 
Outside the Box. We wish Ben nothing but the best moving forward.” According to WFRV-TV, Green Bay, the station says it will release more details in the coming weeks “about which local programming will replace Cominos and its political block.” Cominos is not giving up his show, however. He tells the Green Bay Press-Gazette, “I’m not going to bury the lede, I’m no longer employed by WHBY. ‘Outside the Box’ will still live on though. My show has been picked up by Minocqua Brewing.” He says “Outside the Box” will stream 9:00 am to 11:00 am weekdays on the Minocqua Brewing Co. Times Substack and on his own Facebook, TikTok and YouTube accounts. Cominos describes his show as “a working class political show for the people that feel left behind by the two-party system.”
back at a century of service to the Fox Valley, but today, we turn our gaze forward. After retiring our special 100-year commemorative look, we didn’t want to just go back to ‘business as usual.’ We’re kicking off our second century with a fresh new look that reflects the evolution of WHBY and our unwavering commitment to the next generation of listeners.” WHBY brand manager Alex Thomas adds, “We are excited to usher in a new era of WHBY. Our rebrand represents a new chapter of WHBY and reflects who we are today and where we are heading next. This transformation goes beyond a new logo. It represents our vision of strengthening community awareness, enhancing the way we deliver news and conversation in the Fox Cities and beyond. While our look may be changing, our core values remain the same. Being trusted, local, and community driven remains a pillar of WHBY.”
diverse group of stations. DeGroot comments, “Leading the entire portfolio of Woodward Community Media stations in Northeast Wisconsin is a significant honor. I’m committed to working with our talented local teams to continue delivering relevant content and strengthening our connection with the community.” The company also announces that Kelly Radandt, who was named director of broadcast in November 2024, will oversee broadcast brands across both Northeast Wisconsin and the company’s Springfield, Illinois stations. DeGroot and Kevin O’Dea, market manager of Springfield, will both report to Radandt. Radandt comments, “This expanded role presents a unique opportunity to unify our broadcast efforts and innovate across markets. I am eager to contribute to Woodward Community Media’s continued success and evolution. Onward!”