April 2003

SOUTH DAKOTA:
TouchMarkRadio of South Dakota has received a construction permits for a low-power (100W) station on 105.7 in Sioux Falls. It's one of the few LPFM's granted to a larger city. (4/30/2003)

IOWA:
KWOF-FM/89.1 (Hiawatha-Cedar Rapids) has received a construction permit to increase its power from 400W to 5.8kW. (4/29/2003)

MINNESOTA:
Three Eagles' KCPI/94.9 (Albert Lea) has dropped satellite Hot Adult Contemporary in favor of a locally-automated Classic Rock format called "The Hawk." (4/29/2003)

MINNESOTA/NORTH DAKOTA:
Two new low-power TV stations have been granted:

WISCONSIN:
Some changes have been made at WLJY/106.5 (Marshfield) following the station's sale to New Radio Group. The station is now live during morning and afternoon drive, and Delilah is being carried in the evening. (4/29/2003)

NORTH DAKOTA/MINNESOTA:
The Fargo Forum reports that the owners of NBC affiliate KVLY/11 have reached an agreement to run CBS affiliate KXJB/4. KXJB's operations will move into KVLY's building. The stations will have separate newscasts and salespersons. KVLY's owners cannot purchase KXJB outright because FCC regulations prohibit one company from owning two of the top four TV stations in a market. (4/25/2003)

WISCONSIN:
There are some changes following Alan Quarnstrom's purchase of WLMX-FM/104.9 (Balsam Lake) and WXCX/105.7 (Siren). Within the last week, both stations switched from ABC formats to Jones Radio Network formats. WLMX continues to be called "Mix 105" but has switched from mainstream Adult Contemporary to Hot Adult Contemporary. The stations have dropped most local and state newscasts, though AP news now airs on the hour on both stations, replacing ABC news. The switch to Jones was expected since all of Quarnstrom's other stations carry Jones formats. (4/20/2003)

WISCONSIN:
A new format has emerged from the stunting at WKSZ/95.9 (De Pere-Green Bay): it's Hot Adult Contemporary as "Mix 95.9, Today's Best Variety." (4/19/2003)

WISCONSIN:
Change is in the airwaves over Green Bay-Appleton, where WKSZ/95.9 (De Pere) has dropped its "Kiss" Contemporary Hits format and is now playing Christmas music. The Woodward Communications station had faced competition on both sides from Midwest's Adult CHR WIXX/101.1 and Rhythmic CHR Wild 99.7 (WLYD). (4/18/2003)

WISCONSIN:
Badger Communications is expanding in the Wausau market with the purchase of WXCO/1230 and WYCO/107.9 from Seehafer Broadcasting for $3.4 million. Badger already owns WMZK/104.1 (Merill-Wausau) and WJMT/730 (Merill). (4/17/2003)

WISCONSIN:
Zoe Communications will take over day-to-day operations of WPDR/1350 and WDDC/100.1 (Portage) on May 6, according to an article in the Portage Daily Register. A sale price has not been announced, and documents on the purchase from Ed Kramer are not yet available from the FCC. Kramer tells the newspaper that the new owners will operate the stations in the same way that they operate their existing stations in the Shell Lake and Durand-Menomonie areas. (4/12/2003)

SOUTH DAKOTA/IOWA/MINNESOTA/NEBRASKA:
DISH Network is now offering local-into-local service to 44 counties in the Sioux Falls market. The package includes KSFY-ABC, KELO-CBS, KTTW-FOX, and KCSD-PBS to customers with a DISH 500 system, and a feed of Nebraska's ETV Network to those with a side satellite. (ETV station KRNE Merriman is located in the Sioux Falls market.) Negotiations continue with NBC affiliate KDLT, and DISH is offering the locals package for $1 off until NBC is added. (4/12/2003)

MINNESOTA:
Twin Cities market veteran Jeff Butler is back on the air, doing weekends and fill-in at KOOL 108. (4/10/2003)

MINNESOTA:
There have been layoffs at WCCO/830, with farm reporter Don Wick and meteorologist Karen Filoon the on-air casualties. (4/4/2003)

NORTH DAKOTA:
DX Mid-America reports that KNDK-FM/95.7 (Langdon) has changed from Hot Adult Contemporary to Country. (4/4/2003)

WISCONSIN:
Former I94 (WIAL Eau Claire) evening host Ben Olson bounces back and moves up after being the only casualty of the station's transition to Hot Adult Contemporary. "Danger Boy" has joined Madison's 105.1 The Buzz (WBZU Waunakee) for the weekday 9a-1p shift, beginning Monday. He'll make his debut at the station Saturday night. (4/4/2003)

WISCONSIN:
Carol and Earl Brooker are selling WECB/104.3 (Seymour) to Woodward Commnunications for $1.75 million. WECB currently runs a `70s Oldies format, with a good signal in Green Bay and a fair signal in Appleton. Woodward owns five stations in the area. (4/4/2003)

MINNESOTA:
WCCO-TV/4 has changed its logo to one that seems more in line with other CBS owned-and-operated affiliates. The change occurred on Wednesday (4/2) and comes three years after WCCO dropped its long-running . Click here to see a sampling of the new graphics. (4/3/2003)

NORTH DAKOTA:
Following Double Z Broadcasting's purchase of KDVL/102.5 (Devils Lake), the format has been changed from Adult Contemporary to Oldies as "Cruiser 102." Some other in-house shifts: KDLR/1240 focuses on Classic Country, KZZY/103.5 focuses on New Country, and KQZZ/96.7 moves from Classic Rock to Classic Hits. (4/3/2003)

WISCONSIN:
Marathon Media is selling its Fort Atkinson stations to NewRadio Group for $4.83 million. WFAW/940 (Fort Atkinson), WKCH/106.5 (Whitewater), and WSJY/107.3 (Fort Atkinson) were the only stations retained by Marathon when it sold its other stations to NewRadio last year. NewRadio is already operating the stations under a time brokerage agreement. (4/3/2003)

NORTH DAKOTA/MINNESOTA:
Triad's new Fargo signal, Wahpeton-licensed 106.9 FM, has changed call letters to KEGK and debuted an Oldies format Tuesday as "The Eagle 106.9, The Greatest Hits of All Time." The format goes head-to-head with Ingstad's "Oldies 103.9," though 106.9 has a stronger signal in the metro. (4/2/2003)

MINNESOTA/NORTH DAKOTA:
The new format at KZLT/104.3 (East Grand Forks) is Adult Contemporary as "The Breeze." The new sound debuted Monday. It's positioned as "Today's Hits and Yesterday's Favorites," and may be a satellite format. (4/1/2003)

NORTH DAKOTA/MINNESOTA:
Triad Broadcasting's Fargo-market move-in KGWB (Wahpeton) moved to its new frequency over the weekend and powered up its new 42kW (class C2) facility. The station is stunting with an All-Beatles format and has changed callsign to KEGK. Triad operates the station through a local marketing agreement with Guderian Broadcasting, but is prohibited by market caps from owning the station. (4/1/2003)