He first appeared on what was branded as “Colorful Channel 9” in Central New York on September 2, 1962. He’d depart as one of the region’s most-beloved news anchors at what had become “NewsChannel 9” on July 9, 2008, concluding a 46-year career at a station that had two call letter changes.
Now, WSYR-9 in Syracuse, the Nexstar Media Group-owned ABC affiliate, and many across the region are mourning the death of Mike Price.
Price was 87 years old and actually joined what was then WNYS-TV one week before the station signed on for the first time.
His first job: hosting late-night movies on the weekend in-character, something commonly seen in markets across the U.S. at the time and today a tradition carried on by MeTV Network on Saturdays with “Svengoolie.” At WSYR, Price took the role of “Baron Daemon,” and quickly earned a loyal following. Many of his viewers were children, and given the late-night hour of his movies on weekends, station management created a weekday afternoon show, which concluded in 1967.
From the 1970s through his retirement, he was largely known for bringing the “good news” to viewers. Rather than discuss the gloomy headline-grabbing stories of the day, Price focused on “the light-hearted, happy stories around the community, often with visits to local schools,” WSYR-TV said.
At WSYR, Price worked under iHeartMedia predecessor Clear Channel Communications, Ackerley Group, The Outlet Company, and a short-lived partnership between the local Coca-Cola Bottling Company and a former President of The Washington Post. Nexstar became WSYR’s owner through a deal with Newport Television.
On the occasion of his retirement in 2008, Price said, “I think I’ve contributed something to our community … I feel pretty good about that. It makes me feel great and it’s very gratifying when people will come up to me almost every day and say, ‘Oh, we love what you do.’”
In 1991, in his mid-50s, Price was called up to active duty to serve in the Gulf War. Price had served in the Coast Guard Reserves for 30 years, retiring as a chief petty officer. After his deployment, Price produced an award-winning documentary called “Into the Gulf.”
Price was raised in Central New York and attended Syracuse University. He began his career in Radio, at WSOQ in Syracuse.
