February 2012

WISCONSIN:
WNOV/860 (Milwaukee) tells the FCC it could return to the air in late March or early April. The station went silent in January amid a dispute between the station's owner, Courier Communications, and its former operator, Radio Multi Media. Courier alleges in an FCC filing that the former time broker "removed equipment necessary for the station's operation illegally." Courier estimates it'll take 30 to 45 days to replace the equipment. Radio Multi Media had operated WNOV as the originating station for FM translator W273AT/102.5, which carried an Urban AC format as "Majic 102.5" but went silent due to interference complaints from WNWC/102.5 (Madison) in January. W273AT has applied to move to 93.9. Courier filed a civil lawsuit against Radio Multi Media in 2009 and a trial is set for June. Jerrel Jones is Courier's sole shareholder, while Ivan Renee Moore is the sole shareholder of Radio Multi Media and the licensee of W273AT. (2/29/2012)

MINNESOTA:
After a two-and-a-half year wait, the FCC has granted WDSE/8 (Duluth) a UHF translator on channel 38. WDSE requested the UHF translator a month after the digital transition in 2009, saying some viewers using indoor antennas reported reception problems after WDSE moved digital broadcasts from UHF to VHF. The new translator will use 15kW and operate on the same UHF channel WDSE had occupied during the DTV transition. (2/29/2012)

IOWA:
Clear Channel's KWSL/1470 (Sioux City) has dropped Oldies for Classic Country as "The Whistle." The switch, first reported by Radio/DX Information from Wisconsin, happened on Feb. 20 and the format streams at 1470kwsl.com. It's Clear Channel's only Country format in the market; Powell Broadcasting operates two Country-formatted FM stations. The Oldies format had launched in 2009, replacing Regional Mexican. The switch again leaves Sioux City without any station in the Oldies/Classic Hits genre. (2/27/2012)

MINNESOTA:
KARE 11 announced Monday that weeknight co-anchor Mike Pomeranz will leave the station in late March to become a broadcaster for the San Diego Padres. Pomeranz has anchored the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts at the Minneapolis NBC affiliate since taking over for Paul Magers in 2006. (2/27/2012)

NORTH DAKOTA:
The FCC has approved the sale of KFNL/92.7 (Kindred-Fargo), dismissing concerns from another broadcaster in the market. Northwestern College, which has operated KFNL on a non-commercial basis since 2007, is selling the station to commercial broadcaster Mediactive, LLC for $250,000. Mediactive is owned by Robert J. Ingstad, the nephew of James Ingstad, who owns the six-station Radio Fargo-Moorhead group. Triad Broadcasting subsidiary Monterey Licenses, which owns six stations in the market, raised suspicion of whether the Ingstads would truly operate their stations as separate businesses. Mediactive replied that Robert Ingstad was neither "working for or with" James Ingstad and said it had not entered into any agreement relating to KFNL with James Ingstad or anyone else. The buyer also told the FCC it intends to make decisions about KFNL's operations after the application to transfer the license is approved. In denying Monterey's objection and approving the sale, the FCC said Monterey had failed to provide any evidence of anti-competitive behavior or any facts to show that James Ingstad would be involved with KFNL. Robert Ingstad lives in Valley City and owns half of companies that own five stations in Oregon and five in Alaska. (2/27/2012)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
A TV translator system in north-central South Dakota is seeking to return to the air. The South Dakota Five-County Translator District operated four translators in Lowry and one in Ipswich, but four of the five channels were forced to go off the air at the end of 2011 due to the discontinuation of channels 52 to 69. The FCC deleted the four stations' licenses because they had not applied to move to a new channel. Now, the four Lowry-licensed stations have filed applications for special temporary authority to return to the air. The FCC granted the STA fora translator on channel 50, which was not discontinued and is still licensed, but has not yet acted on the other three applications. The licensee states it plans to move the out-of-core stations, which were on channels 56, 62, and 68, to 44, 46, and 48 and convert to digital. The translators were last known to carry major network programming from Sioux Falls stations or their satellites. No application has been filed for the former Ipswich station. (2/27/2012)

MINNESOTA:
Three Eagles Communications has launched a News/Talk/Sports format on KMKO/95.7 (Lake Crystal-Mankato), formerly KQYK, replacing the Active Rock "Blaze" format. It's the only Talk format in the market for Three Eagles, which has three other music-formatted FM stations and no AM stations. The new format does not appear to have its own website yet, though KMKO is streaming through the company's existing mygreatermankato.com. The schedule includes a local morning show, Jim Rome, Neil Boortz, FOX News, and the Timberwolves. The city's only other Talker is the Linder family's KTOE/1420, which carries some music and recently launched an FM simulcast on translator K274AL/102.7.

The move comes a few weeks after Three Eagles dropped its "Blaze" brand in Mason City, Iowa, but the "Blaze" is still on the air in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Lincoln, Nebraska. The Lincoln station, the original "Blaze," recently dropped its local morning show for the Omaha-based Todd N Tyler. (2/20/2012)

IOWA/ILLINOIS:
The Quad City Times reports that Clear Channel's KUUL/101.3 (East Moline) flipped from its longtime Oldies/Classic Hits format to Contemporary Hits as "Kiss FM" at 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 20. The switch came the same morning longtime "Kool 101.3" morning team Mark Manuel and Steve Ketelaar moved to sister News/Talker WOC/1420. The format change puts Clear Channel in competition with Cumulus Media's "B100" (KBEA/99.7 Muscatine); Clear Channel had previously operated heritage Top 40 outlet WHTS/98.9 (Rock Island) until the station's sale to the Educational Media Foundation in 2006. The "Kool" format originally launched on what's now WLLR-FM/103.7 (Davenport) in 1989 and the two stations swapped formats in 1998. (2/20/2012)

MINNESOTA:
Tor Ingstad is buying full ownership of two companies which own 17 radio stations in Minnesota from his father, Thomas Ingstad. Tor Ingstad will pay Thomas Ingstad $4.99 million for all of the shares of Iowa City Broadcasting and $6,125 for 49 percent of Ingstad Brothers Broadcasting, LLC. Randy Holland will also get $250 for his 2 percent share of Ingstad Brothers; Tor Ingstad already owns the remaining 49 percent. The Iowa City Broadcasting stations are KDUZ/1260 (Hutchinson), KARP-FM/106.9 (Dassel-Hutchinson), KDJS/1590 (Willmar), KDJS-FM/95.3 (Willmar), KRVY-FM/97.3 (Starbuck), KMRS/1230 (Morris), KKOK/95.7 (Morris), KKRC/93.9 (Granite Falls), KDMA/1460 (Montevideo), KMGM/105.5 (Montevideo), KTRF/1230 (Thief River Falls), KKAQ/1460 (Thief River Falls), and KKDQ/99.3 (Thief River Falls), while the Ingstad Brothers stations are KNUJ/860 (New Ulm), KNUJ-FM/107.3 (Sleepy Eye-New Ulm), KCHK/1350 (New Prague), and KRDS/95.5 (New Prague). Tor Ingstad is also half-owner of companies which own four radio stations in Oregon and five in Alaska. (2/19/2012)

IOWA/MICHIGAN/MINNESOTA/NORTH DAKOTA/WISCONSIN:
Several more Upper Midwest TV markets could get HD locals from DirecTV this year. A list on the provider's website says Duluth, Fargo-Grand Forks, and Rochester-Austin-Mason City are slated to get HD locals this year. DISH Network already offers HD locals in all three markets. (2/16/2012)

WISCONSIN:
NRG Media's WOBT/1240 (Rhinelander) has dropped ESPN Radio for a music format and is poised to get an FM translator, if it hasn't already. The station became "Hodag Country Legends" on Monday (Feb. 13) and its website indicates a rebroadcast on W267AF/101.3, which is owned by Christian broadcaster WRVM, Inc. However, a Tuesday filing by W267AF indicates the translator has actually been off the air since last October due to the loss of its transmitter site. That could land the translator in hot water with the FCC because the rules require stations to notify the commission within thirty days of going silent. W267AF is currently licensed for 15 Watts but has applied to upgrade to 250 Watts from a different site. The new format works in tandem with sister station "Hodag Country 97.3" (WHDG). [The "hodag" is a mysterious creature said to live in Wisconsin's northwoods.] DX-midAMerica was first to report the change and says WOBT's new format is coming from Dial Global. (2/15/2012)

NEBRASKA:
Just a few weeks after approving a change to the table of allotments, the FCC has granted a construction permit for FOX affiliate KFXL-TV/51 (Lincoln) to move to digital channel 15 and upgrade to 1,000kW. The upgraded station will theoretically reach some broadcast viewers in Omaha. KFXL is owned by Lincoln Broadcasting and operated by Pappas Telecasting. (2/15/2012)

WISCONSIN:
Copper thieves have silenced a southeastern Wisconsin AM station. In a filing with the FCC, WZRK/1550 (Lake Geneva) says thieves have stolen the copper ground radials surrounding its tower on two occasions. The station says besides replacing the copper, it's working on adding security to prevent a third theft. It's requesting special temporary authority to stay off the air for a few months while the work is done. DX'er Tim Noonan had recently reported WZRK silent but then reported it was back on the air again. WZRK is owned by GS Radio of Illinois and is licensed for 1kW daytime and 1 Watt nighttime with a directional antenna; it has a construction permit to move into the Chicago market with 1.5kW daytime only from Highland Park, licensed to Northbrook. The station carries the "Avenue" format of Jazz, Rock, Swing, and Blues. (2/14/2012)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
Sioux Falls could get a second AM-on-FM translator if the FCC approves a waiver to reactivate a translator that's been off the air for nearly three years. Christian Heritage Broadcasting owns K252DG/98.3, which had relayed KCGN/101.5 (Ortonville, MN) until going silent sometime prior to June 2009 when its transmitter site, a grain elevator, became unavailable. Christian Heritage Broadcasting said it had asked the FCC to delete the license but it never did. Now, it's been approached by Backyard Broadcasting about using the translator to relay KWSN/1230, so Christian Heritage Broadcasting is seeking a waiver to keep the license valid. (FCC rules normally call for deleting a station's license after it's been silent for a year.) K252DG would move to 98.1 and use 250 Watts from the KWSN site south of Sioux Falls, delivering a rimshot signal to the city. KWSN carries FOX Sports Radio. (Sioux Falls' other AM-on-FM translator is K221FO/92.1, which relays KZOY/1520. The stations are owned by Cup O' Dirt, LLC.) (2/13/2012)

MANITOBA:
After more than two months of stunting, Corus Radio's CJGV-FM/99.1 (Winnipeg) is set to launch a Hot Adult Contemporary format as "Fresh FM" at 7 a.m. Tuesday (Feb. 14). The station dropped its original Smooth Jazz format shortly after the CRTC gave Corus permission to make its change last year. It carried Christmas music for the month of December and switched to a music mix similar to the new format as "99-1 FM" on New Year's Day. (2/13/2012)

NEBRASKA:
KNCY/1600 (Nebraska City) has switched from Oldies to Classic Country. The station's FM counterpart, KNCY-FM/103.1 (Auburn-Nebraska City), carries a Modern Country format. (2/13/2012)

NEBRASKA:
NRG Media's KOOO/101.9 (Lincoln-Omaha) has changed its community of license to La Vista, an Omaha suburb, but the station's actual facilities remain unchanged. "The Big O" carries a Classic Hits/Hot AC format and recently added veteran market broadcaster Dave Wingert in morning drive. (2/13/2012)

MINNESOTA:
Three Eagles Communications' KQYK/95.7 (Lake Crystal-Mankato) has changed its callsign to KMKO, but continues to carry Active Rock as "The Blaze." RadioInsight recently noted that Three Eagles also reserved the domain name NewsRadio957.com; Three Eagles owns no other stations on 95.7. The company recently dropped its "Blaze" format in Mason City, Iowa. (2/13/2012)

MICHIGAN:
The FCC has deleted the license for WMUP/99.9 (Carney), which had been off the air since June 2010. The station was owned by Catholic broadcaster Starboard Media. It was licensed for just 200 Watts but could have eventually been upgraded to cover Escanaba. (2/13/2012)

WISCONSIN:
The FCC is raising questions about a Milwaukee FM translator move-in. Radio Power, Inc. has moved what is now W250BN/97.9 (West Allis) from Beloit to the Milwaukee area in a series of moves over the past few years. It's now licensed for 250 Watts from a tower in Muskego and has applied to move its transmitter and community of license to Milwaukee. However, the FCC is asking whether the latest application would be in violation of an earlier decision that translator "hops" are an abuse of process, since they accomplish a major change while only minor changes are currently allowed. Among other things, it's asking Radio Power to provide documentation that it had permission to use each tower site, the precise length of time each facility was on the air, the stations that were rebroadcast from each facility, and proof that the originating stations had granted permission to be rebroadcast. W250BN was reported to be carrying Wisconsin Public Radio's WHAD/90.7 (Delafield-Milwaukee) when it was last on the air, but Radio Power's translators in other parts of the country have been used commercially to relay HD2 subchannels. (2/10/2012)

IOWA:
The FCC has proposed a $10,000 fine against KM Radio of Independence for several alleged violations at KQMG/1220 and KQMG-FM/95.3 (Independence). The investigation began when someone reported a tower light outage in January 2011. According to the FCC, an agent contacted the FAA and found they had not been notified, and an Independence police officer observed the tower for several nights and confirmed that only one light was functioning. Agents then visited the stations, and the FCC says they found that the stations failed to maintain operational Emergency Alert System equipment, tower lighting, and public inspection files, and that KQMG-FM was operating at higher-than-licensed power. Company officials told the FCC they were unaware of the issues until they received a letter from the commission. The FCC says the proposed fine might have been higher but was reduced due to KM's limited financial resources. KM has thirty days to pay the fine or seek a reduction or cancellation. Earlier this year, the FCC dismissed an application to move KQMG-FM into the Cedar Rapids market, saying it hadn't submitted required environmental paperwork. (2/7/2012)

IOWA/WISCONSIN:
Iowa Public Television has now turned off translator K38LE-D (Lansing) and is seeking special temporary authority to move it to channel 39 immediately. As reported here last week, K38LE applied to permanently move to 39 after receiving interference complaints from WEAU-TV/13.1 (Eau Claire), which recently moved to digital channel 38. K38LE's transmitter is located near the Mississippi River and its signal was shooting up the river valley towards La Crosse, interfering with WEAU. The Lansing translator uses 15kW and relays KYIN/24.1 (Mason City). (2/7/2012)

WISCONSIN/NEBRASKA:
The American Family Association is buying the Network of Glory's eight silent FM stations for $100,000, including KEIS/90.3 (York, NE) and KGMJ/90.1 (Spring Valley, WI). AFA, which operates American Family Radio, will take over the stations in a local marketing agreement before the deal is closed. KGMJ is still in the construction permit stage and hasn't yet been on the air, but will cover an area of western Wisconsin with possible fringe coverage of parts of the Twin Cities. KEIS was one of a half-dozen stations the Network of Glory recently took off the air citing financial problems. The move came after the FCC denied an unusual request to allow the stations to operate commercially on non-commercial frequencies. (2/7/2012)

IOWA:
KZIA, Inc. is buying a second FM translator: It'll pay Extreme Grace Media $11,000 for K245AE/96.9. Though K245AE will be licensed to Cedar Rapids (after a community of license change from Williamsburg, still pending FCC finalization), its transmitter is actually between Walford and East Amana and has only a deep fringe signal to Cedar Rapids. Documents list KZIA/102.9 (Cedar Rapids) as the station to be rebroadcast on K245AE; it could possibly carry the HD subchannel relaying sister station "1600 ESPN" (KGYM Cedar Rapids), which is the case with KZIA's other translator in Iowa City. Extreme Grace Media is the former owner of KXGM-FM/89.1 (Hiawatha-Cedar Rapids) and will have no remaining stations once this deal closes. (2/7/2012)

IOWA:
The owner of the AM-FM combos in Knoxville and Washington is buying a group of three stations west of Des Moines. M&M Broadcasting will pay Coon Valley Communications $500,000 for KDLS/1310 (Perry), KGRA/98.9 (Jefferson), and KKRF/107.9 (Stuart). The buyer will take over operation of the stations through a local marketing agreement. M&M is a subsidiary of M and H Broadcasting, owned by Mel and Holly Suhr of Knoxville. Coon Valley Communications is owned by Patrick Delaney of Perry. (2/6/2012)

IOWA (UPDATED):
Three Eagles Communications flipped the formats of two stations in Mason City over the weekend. KYTC/102.7 (Northwood-Mason City) switched from Active Rock "The Blaze" to "Super Hits" from the `60s to `80s while KRIB/1490 (Mason City) switched from Oldies to Nostalgia from the Music of Your Life network. The switches mark a return to formats heard on both stations up until the mid-2000's. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports the changes occurred at Midnight Friday/Saturday with financial reasons cited for the decision. KYTC's the old format continues to stream at theblazefm.com. The switch sparked some online backlash, with a Facebook group protesting the change. Local radio choices are limited in Mason City, which has four other commercial FM's: an Adult Contemporary format run by Three Eagles, a Classic Rock format by Coloff Media, and Country formats by both companies. (2/6/2012)

WISCONSIN/SOUTH DAKOTA:
WBAY (Green Bay) has announced that channel 2.3 will switch from Retro TV Network to the Live Well Network on Monday, Feb. 6. Other industry media have reported that the change is part of a deal between WBAY owner Young Broadcasting and the network, which carries lifestyle programming, and that KELO-TV (Sioux Falls) is also included in the agreement. It's not clear on what channel KELO will carry Live Well. The network also recently picked up affiliations on four Citadel Broadcasting and two Journal Broadcasting stations in the Upper Midwest.

The WBAY switch leaves RTV with just two affiliates left in the Upper Midwest, in Sioux Falls and Wausau, down from a peak of ten just over a year ago. The Citadel stations in Des Moines, Lincoln, and the Quad Cities that switched to Live Well are former RTV affiliates. The former RTV stations in Duluth, Madison, Rapid City, and Waterloo switched to Me-TV and the former Milwaukee affiliate now carries Antenna TV. RTV was the original classic TV subchannel but lost ground when Me-TV and Antenna TV launched last year with better-known programming. (2/1/2012)

IOWA:
The Quad City Times reports that Clear Channel plans to simulcast a morning show on its News/Talk stations in the Davenport and Cedar Rapids markets beginning later this month. The morning team of Mark Manuel and Steve Ketelaar will move from Classic Hits KUUL/101.3 (East Moline, IL) to WOC/1420 (Davenport) on Feb. 20, with a simulcast on WMT/600 (Cedar Rapids) beginning a week later. The paper reports WOC's current morning host will stay on to read headlines, with a similar situation in Cedar Rapids. WMT recently launched a simulcast on KWMG/95.7 (Anamosa-Cedar Rapids), but it's not immediately clear whether the AM and FM stations will both carry the Davenport-based show; the stations carry separate programming later in the morning. (2/1/2012)