January 2003

MINNESOTA:
Alan Quarnstrom's WMOZ/106.9 (Moose Lake) is up to full power of 6kW at 50m and has debuted its own format, satellite Country as "Moose 106.9" with AP news on the hour. The station had signed on several years ago with 100W, relaying WKLK-FM/96.5 (Cloquet), until full facilities could be completed. WMOZ serves most of Carlton County and northern Pine County. (1/15/03)

IOWA/NEBRASKA/NORTH DAKOTA/SOUTH DAKOTA/WISCONSIN:
These construction permits have been issued for new low-power TV stations:

IOWA/NEBRASKA:
DISH Network will launch a Cedar Rapids-Waterloo locals package on Janary 30. The package will initially include KGAN-CBS, KFXA-FOX, KWWL-NBC, and KIIN-PBS. Negotiations continue with the local ABC and WB affiliates. (1/13/03)

NEBRASKA/IOWA:
As earlier reported here, DISH Network has been preparing to add an Omaha package, and it will launch this Thursday (1/16). However, they've been unable to reach agreements with the local FOX, NBC, and WB affiliates, so the package will only include KETV-ABC, KMTV-CBS, KBIN-PBS, and KYNE-PBS at first. A second dish will be required to receive KYNE. (1/13/03)

MINNESOTA:
KLFN/106.5 (Sunburg-Willmar) has started its regular format, Classic Rock as "The Train," after signing on with Christmas music. The station is a sister to KWLM/1340 and KQIC/102.5, though Willmar is just outside of KLFN's primary contour. The new format competes directly with KKLN/94.1 (Atwater). (1/12/03)

IOWA/NEBRASKA/WISCONSIN:
DirecTV has announced it will add an additional 50 local market packages this year, including Des Moines and Green Bay in the first half of the year. Competitor DISH Network already offers a Des Moines package, though it has been unable to reach retransmission agreements with WOI-ABC and KPWB-WB. 40 of the 50 new DirecTV markets haven't been announced yet, but Omaha, Madison, Cedar Rapids-Waterloo, the Quad Cities are likely candidates. Most of the new market signals will be sent on a side satellite, so customers who wish to purchase the local packages may need to upgrade their equipment. (1/11/03)

WISCONSIN:
Del Reynolds is buying translator W247AC/97.3 (Green Bay) from Lyle Evans. At last report, the translator was used to relay WEMI/91.9 (Appleton), which is also rebroadcast on WEMY/91.5 (Green Bay). 1/12 update: Sources in the area tell me W247AC switched to WAUN/92.7 (Kewaunee) a few years ago. (1/10/03)

MINNESOTA/NORTH DAKOTA:
Clear Channel and James Ingstad are trading some stations. Clear Channel will get KXMR/710 (Bismarck), which is expected to join Clear Channel's other two Bismarck stations next month. Ingstad will re-enter the New Ulm area, getting KNUJ/860 and KNUJ-FM/107.3 (Sleepy Eye) in the trade, and separately purchasing KNSG/94.7 (Springfield). (1/9/03)

IOWA:
Saga Broadcasting lost an earlier battle to prevent a Table of Allotments change allowing KDWD/100.1 (Emmetsburg-Spencer) to upgrade, but has now filed a formal objection to KDWD's application for the upgrade. Saga owns three competing stations in Spencer. (1/9/03)

MINNESOTA:
Just a month after changing its schedule, KDAL/610 (Duluth) has made more changes, bringing back Ruth Koscielak and restoring local programming in afternoon drive. Koscielak once again airs from 1-3p, followed by local talk with Jackie Jacovi from 3-6p. Shelly Bergen takes over an hour of the time that Jacovi used to air, from Noon to 1. Sean Hannity's show, which had aired live from 2-5p, now airs from 9p-Midnight, and Bill O'Reilly has been cut back to an hour from 6-7p. Michael Savage no longer airs on the station. The national talk shows had been moved over from WDSM/710 when WDSM returned to a Sports format last month. (1/8/03)

MINNESOTA:
Citing low ratings, Hubbard Broadcasting has immediately cancelled the 9 p.m. newscast on KSTC/45 and laid off 27 full- and part-time employees. Except for a public affairs program that also airs on KSTP-TV/5 and special events, there will be no more news on KSTC, which at one point had three newscasts totalling three and a half hours. Just four months ago, the Twin Cities had three 9 p.m. newscasts -- only one is left. (1/7/03)

MINNESOTA:
News Director Dana Benson is leaving KMSP/FOX9 and WFTC/UPN29 after 11 years at KMSP. His last day will be January 17th. Ted Canova will handle the duties until a new ND is named. (1/7/03)

MINNESOTA:
WFMP/107.1 (Coon Rapids-St. Paul-Minneapolis) is now carrying news from ABC's Entertainment network on the hour, replacing spots that used to run then. (1/7/03)

IOWA:
Christian LPTV station K64DG/64 (Iowa City) hasd been forced to leave the air after losing its tower lease. The station left the air Saturday and is now looking for affordable tower space or a site to build a tower. K64DG carried local church services and programming from TBN. Operator John Schmidt said, "We know we will eventually be back on the air again. We just don't know how long it will take." The station once held a construction permit for channel 39 and may seek to return to the air on that channel. TBN programming can still be seen on cable in the area. (1/7/03)

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
WDIO/10 (Duluth) and satellite WIRT/13 (Hibbing) have begun 24-hour broadcasting, Monday-Friday, using ABC World News Now. The stations continue to sign off Saturday and Sunday mornings. (1/6/03)

WISCONSIN:
Good Karma Broadcasting's WTTN/1580 (Watertown) has dropped News/Talk in favor of a satellite Oldies format as "The Goose." (1/6/03)

MINNESOTA/NORTH DAKOTA:
Fargo-Moorhead is going without Rush Limbaugh for the first time in 14 years. Clear Channel's KVOX/1280 dropped the show Thursday in favor of more programming from the FAN Radio Network. (Clear Channel owns both the FAN Network and Premiere, which syndicates Rush.) Limbaugh had been carried on WDAY/970 until fall 2001, when Clear Channel unexpectedly pulled the show for use on KVOX. WDAY General Manager Scott Hennen said on his show Friday that Clear Channel had offered Rush to WDAY again, but said he was so upset with having the show yanked in 2001 that he was not going to deal with Clear Channel. The show may end up on another Fargo-area station eventually, but for now, dittoheads will have to pull in distant stations to get their fix. (1/4/03)

IOWA:
KSTP-TV's Wadena translator has moved from channel 20 to channel 17, getting an upgrade to 25kW. (1/4/03)

IOWA:
KDSM/FOX17 (Des Moines) has completed an antenna height increase from 462m to 612m, with a slight power decrease from 3110kW to 3030kW. (1/3/03)

NEBRASKA:
Several construction permits have been issued for low-power (100W) stations: Aurora, 92.5, Dawn Adventist Broadcasting; Hastings, 104.7, St. Michael Educational Radio Association; and Schuyler, 105.9, Divine Mercy Educational Radio Association. The applications for the Hastings and Schuyler stations were filed by Lyle Evans of Kaukana, WI, on behalf of local residents. The Hastings and Schuyler stations will carry local Catholic programming and EWTN Radio. The Aurora station will carry a Christian format. (1/3/03)

WISCONSIN:
Starboard Broadcasting's WMMA/93.9 (Nekoosa) has returned to the air with Catholic programming. (1/3/03)

WISCONSIN:
WAUH/102.3 (Wautoma) is apparently up to full power of 5kW at 115m. The station had signed on with 110W until permanent facilities were completed. WAUH runs a Classic Hits format as "Retro Radio, The Bug." (1/3/03)

MINNESOTA:
"La Pantera" has left KYCR/1570 (Golden Valley-Minneapolis). The brokered spanish-language format had aired every afternoon and evening on KYCR, but the show's staff unexpectedly cleaned out its area and ceased operation Tuesday night (12/30). KYCR is now mostly rebroadcasting sister KKMS/980 (Richfield-Minneapolis) from 1 p.m. to 9 a.m. (1/3/03)

MINNESOTA:
Low-power WMLA-LP/99.7 (Moose Lake) has signed on, mostly using programming from the Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN). WMLA-LP is owned by Moose Lake Adventist Broadcasting. The station broadcasts in mono. (1/3/03)

MINNESOTA:
It may be the new year, but KLFN/106.5 (Sunburg) continues as "Christmas 106.5" at last report. (1/3/03)

NEBRASKA:
Omaha suddenly has a new station for the new year. Translator K299AK/107.7 (Omaha) began relaying Waitt Broadcasting's KBLR/97.3 (Blair) a few months ago. At noon December 31, the station changed from a mainstream Adult Contemporary format targeting Blair to a Hip-Hop/R&B format called "Hot 107-7 and 97-3." 97.3's signal is fair in the Omaha area, while the 75-Watt translator provides strong coverage in part of Omaha. The translator was recently transferred from Waitt to Baer Communications, a change which was required for K299AK to relay KBLR, since Omaha is outside of KBLR's primary coverage area and commercial stations may not own translators outside of that area. K299AK had earlier been used as a "fill-in translator" for Waitt's KLTQ/101.9 (Lincoln), but was no longer necessary after KLTQ moved its transmitter closer to Omaha. (1/1/03)

WISCONSIN:
Riverview Communications is selling WFBZ/105.5 (Trempeleau-La Crosse) to S&S Broadcasting for $520,000. S&S is a partnership of Ed Sullivan of Onalaska and Mike Schmitz of Holmen. Riverview's other station, WKBH/1570 (Holmen), is being sold to Starboard Broadcasting in a separate agreement. (1/1/03)

IOWA:
Clear Channel's KCZE/95.1 (New Hampton) switched to Country about a month ago, ending a simulcast with KCHA-FM/95.9 (Charles City), which continues to run a Hot Adult Contemporary format. KCZE goes by the slogan "Chickasaw Country" and is automated, outside of a local show from 6-10 a.m. The change ends what was once a four-station simulcast: KCHA-FM's signal was rebroadcast on KCZE, KCZQ/102.3 (Cresco), and KCZY/103.7 (New Hampton), which is now KSMA-FM/98.7. All four stations now broadcast separate programming, and KCZQ is owned by a separate company. (1/1/03)