February 2004

IOWA:
The FCC has denied Saga Communications' petition for reconsideration of an earlier decision that allowed KDWD/100.1 (Emmetsburg) to upgrade, improving its signal to Spencer, where Saga has three stations. Saga had proposed that instead of 100.1 Emmetsburg upgrading from class A (6kW) to C3 (25kW), an unused allotment for Brandon, SD, be upgraded from A to C3. The FCC had denied the original Saga proposal because it was determined the Emmetsburg upgrade would serve more new people than the Brandon upgrade. Saga filed a petition for reconsideration, contending that new Census 2000 data showed that Brandon was now the preferred upgrade. However, the FCC's analysis of Census 2000 data found that the Emmetsburg upgrade still served more new people. (2/28/2004)

IOWA:
Edgewater Broadcasting and Radio Assist Ministry received several more construction permits for new translators this week: 99.9 Ames (92W); 97.9 Decorah (4W); and 106.9 Estherville (5W). Though the thousands of applications by Edgewater and Radio Assist for translators in the region specified rebroadcasting other stations in the region, the translators will likely be used to carry the Calvary Satellite Network, if the FCC rules that translators in the commercial portion of the band (92-108 MHz) can use satellite feeds as a delivery method, which is currently prohibited. (2/28/2004)

IOWA:
The Shellsburg Community Broadcasting Association has received a construction permit for a 100W/low-power station on 93.1. SCBA plans a mix of community information for Shellsburg and Vinton, music, and talk, including Chuck Harder's syndicated show. (2/28/2004)

NEBRASKA:
The FCC has granted Roger Harders a construction permit for a 12kW station on channel 44 in Mullen, K44HP. Harders also has CP's for three other LPTV stations in Mullen. (2/28/2004)

WISCONSIN:
Sister Bay's Wisconsin Public Television translator has moved from channel 64 to channel 18. (2/28/2004)

WISCONSIN:
Craig Karmazin's Good Karma Broadcasting is expanding into the Milwaukee market with the purchase of WAUK/1510 (Waukesha) for $2 million. The daytimer is the only all-Sports station in the market. WAUK is a standalone station owned by Walt-West Wisconsin, Inc., of which Carol T. Piszczek is the sole shareholder. Good Karma has stations in the Watertown, Beaver Dam, Madison, and Janesville areas. (2/27/2004)

WISCONSIN:
An owl looking for a new home knocked WPRE/980 and WQPC/94.3 (Prairie du Chien) off the air for a few hours Friday morning. The owl was fried in a transformer outside the studios, which knocked the power out. The electrical spike also rendered the stations' main studio inoperable until midday Friday. (2/27/2004)

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
KQDS/1490 (Duluth-Superior) has dropped CNN Headline News for a Talk format. Although promos say "The Talk Station" doesn't officially launch until Monday (3/1), the new format was already being heard Thursday night. The lineup includes Dr. Laura, Bruce Williams, Allan Colmes, and Tony Snow, with news from USA on the hour. (2/27/2004)

MINNESOTA:
KMGK/107.1 (Glenwood) has applied to upgrade from 3.3kW (class A) to 25kW (class C3). The station's transmitter would move to a site 24km northeast of its current location, improving reception to Sauk Centre and Alexandria. (2/24/2004, corrected upgrade power 2/25)

NORTH DAKOTA:
"K-Love" station KDJZ/100.7 (Harwood-Fargo) has applied to increase power from its current 25kW to 40kW, upgrading from class C3 to C2. The station would retain its current transmitter site and antenna height (100m). (2/24/2004)

MINNESOTA:
The Esko Senior Citizens have received a construction permit for a low-power (100W) station on 106.1 in Esko, which is between Duluth and Cloquet. (2/23/2004)

WISCONSIN:
WCLO/1230 (Janesville) has revamped its lineup, returning Clark Howard to 1-3 p.m. and adding CNN Headline News from 6 p.m. - Midnight. Additionally, WCLO has added CNN news at the top and bottom of the hour during local news and syndicated talk programming. (2/22/2004)

IOWA:
The Iowa State Daily reports that the Iowa Board of Regents has approved a plan to purchase KIIC/97.9 (Lamoni), to add to the WOI Radio Group. KIIC's new programming will likely be similar to that heard on stations in Fort Dodge and Carroll, which relay programming from WOI AM and FM. KIIC owner Lifestyle Communications is bankrupt; its other stations (KJJC Osceola and KLRX Madrid) were sold to Northwestern College. (2/21/2004)

IOWA:
Translator K290AJ/105.9 (Gilbert-Ames) has flipped from the Northwestern College Radio Network (KNWS-FM Waterloo) to the K-Love network, following Northwestern's purchase of KLRX/96.1 (Madrid-Ames), which is now KNWM. The switch occurred on Monday (2/16). K290AJ is owned by Majestic Airwaves, and is possibly the only translator to have its own website. (2/20/2004)

WISCONSIN:
The Wisconsin Public Television translator in Adams has moved from channel 64 to channel 48, with a slight change in power. (2/20/2004)

MICHIGAN:
WPIQ/99.9 (Manistique) has signed on with a News/Talk format as "Power 99.9," reports Michiguide.com. The lineup includes talk heavyweights Dr. Laura, Rush Limbaugh, and Sean Hannity. The new 6kW station is owned by Todd Stuart Noordyk. (2/19/2004)

MINNESOTA:
Refuge Media Group recently received a construction permit for a 38-Watt translator on 92.1 in North Branch. The station has already applied to move to 91.9. Though the power would remain the same, moving into the non-commercial portion of the band (88-92 MHz) would allow programming to be fed to the translator via satellite, rather than over-the-air. (2/19/2004)

SOUTH DAKOTA/WISCONSIN:
New low-power TV construction permits granted:

  • Edgemont, SD: K56IN, 12.9kW, Mark Silberman
  • Eau Claire, WI: K23HC, 1kW, Dean Mosely
  • Wausau, WI: K14MB, 250W, Dean Mosely (2/19/2004)

    NEBRASKA:
    KNOP-TV (North Platte) reports that Bott Broadcasting won the auction to purchase KAMI-FM/104.5 (Cozad) with a $365,000 bid. KAMI-FM, along with KAMI/1580, left the air last month after owner Charles Larsen filed for bankruptcy. Bott operates a regional Christian radio network. KAMI-FM's call letters have already been changed to KCVN, and Bott plans to have the station back on the air by March. It's not clear what will become of KAMI/1580. (2/18/2004)

    MINNESOTA:
    KQDS/1490 (Duluth) is now carrying a replay of the KQDS-FM morning show from 9 a.m. to Noon. AM1490 continues to carry CNN Headline News at other times. (2/17/2004)

    IOWA/MINNESOTA/NEBRASKA/NORTH DAKOTA:
    Edgewater Broadcasting has received construction permits for seven more translators: 95.3 Britt IA (250W), 94.5 Ortonville MN (115W), 98.5 Two Harbors MN (92W), 94.5 Lincoln NE (99W), 95.3 Devils Lake ND (220W), 95.3 Grafton ND (250W), and 94.5 Valley City ND (150W). The translators will likely carry the Calvary Satellite Network. (2/13/2004)

    MINNESOTA:
    KKLW/90.9 (Willmar) has signed on, carrying the "K-Love" Adult Contemporary Christian network. The 400W station is owned by K-Love's parent, the Educational Media Foundation. (2/11/2004)

    MINNESOTA:
    Minnesota Public Radio is selling translator K280EF/103.9 (Austin) to the Calvary Satellite Network FOR $1. The translator used to carry MPR's Classical music network, but that programming was moved to MPR's 103.3 translator, after News/Talk programming moved from 103.3 to the 6kW KNSE/90.1. (2/11/2004)

    WISCONSIN:
    The Stevens Point Journal reports that a Sheriff's auction of land owned by Muzzy Broadcasting scheduled for Monday (2/9) was again cancelled, this time because Muzzy Broadcasting filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. (2/10/2004)

    WISCONSIN:
    WisconsinBroadcasting.com reports that WBJZ/104.7 (Berlin) dropped Country for Smooth Jazz on Friday morning (2/6). The station had switched from Smooth Jazz to Country in November 2002. The new format comes from Jones Radio Networks. (2/7/2004)

    MINNESOTA/SOUTH DAKOTA:
    Some low-power TV notes:

  • Three Angels Broadcasting Network station K51GL (Vesta, MN) has signed on. K51GL broadcasts with 45kW from the same tower used by KRWF/43 (Redwood Falls).
  • The FCC has granted Damon Merari a construction permit for a 999W station on channel 56 in Lead, SD (K56IF).
  • Charles Poppen is buying K48DK (Sioux Falls) from Stuart Moen for $55,000. K48DK is listed as a licensed station, though its programming is unknown. Poppen is associated with KCPO-LP/26. (2/7/2004)

    NEBRASKA:
    The Grand Island Independent reports that KMMJ/750 has dropped the brokered Spanish-language "Radio Leon" format and is now simulcasting the News/Talk format of sister station KRGI/1430, with plans for separate programming in the future. The change follows the stations' sale to Steckline Communications. (2/6/2004)

    WISCONSIN:
    The price for NewRadio Group's previously-reported purchase of WFHR/WGLX (Wisconsin Rapids) is $4,006,023. (2/6/2004)

    MICHIGAN:
    DISH Network has turned on its Traverse City-Cadillac market locals package, which is available in Chippewa, Luce, and Mackinac Counties in the Upper Peninsula. The package includes WGTU-ABC, WFQX-FOX, WPBN-NBC, and WCMV-PBS. However, there's no agreement yet to carry CBS affiliate WWTV, so DISH will offer a $1 discount off the $5.99 price until CBS is added. (2/5/2004)

    NORTH DAKOTA:
    Diane and Robert Simmons, the owners of KDNK/1080 and KNDK-FM/95.7 (Langdon), are expanding their group to six stations through an agreement with Two Rivers Broadcasting. KNDK, Inc. will purchase KAOC/105.1 (Cavalier) for $1, assume Two Rivers' local marketing agreement and option to purchase KXPO/1340 and KAUJ/100.9 (Grafton) from current owner Delhart Nygard, and enter into a joint sales agreement with Two Rivers for KYTZ/106.7 (Walhalla). KNDK will begin operating KXPO/KAUJ/KAOC on March 1 under an LMA. Two Rivers Broadcasting is owned by Janice Ingstad (60%), Robert Ingstad (20%), and Todd Ingstad (20%). (2/5/2004, updated KYTZ info 2/6)

    MINNESOTA:
    The Refuge Radio/WNCB translator in Brainerd has moved from 91.5 to 91.1, upgrading from 50W to 115W. (2/3/2004)

    WISCONSIN:
    Inspiration Television is trading its construction permit for 20kW low-power TV station W59DX (Chippewa Falls) to Venture Technologies, in exchange for an LPTV station in Lubbock, Texas. No cash is included in the deal. (2/3/2004)

    WISCONSIN:
    WISN-TV/12 (ABC, Milwaukee) will expand its Sunday 10 p.m. newscast for a full hour during the February ratings period to allow for more political coverage. Wisconsin has moved its presidential primary up to February 17, giving the state more influence in the race for the Democratic nomination. The "Big 12 Sports Show," which normally airs Sundays at 10:35, will return in August. (2/1/2004)


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