April 2009

MINNESOTA:
WCCO/830 (Minneapolis) is making changes to its lineup, moving Don Shelby to 1-3 p.m. and adding Michele Tafoya from 3-6 starting June 1. Shelby and Tafoya will co-host from 3-3:30. Tafoya, who lives in Edina and worked at WCCO-TV/4 in the 1990's, is known nationally for her work on "Monday Night Football." She was one of many guests hosts to fill the Noon-3 slot on WCCO since Jack Rice's departure earlier this year. WCCO's announcement did not mention plans for the Noon hour. (4/21/2009)

WISCONSIN:
WFXS-DT (Wittenberg-Wausau) has added Untamed Sports TV on channel 55.2. It's the third new subchannel to launch in the Wausau area in the last few months. (4/21/2009)

NEW NON-COMMERCIAL FM CONSTRUCTION PERMITS:
It's been a while since the last runthrough of CP's, so some of these were actually issued several months ago:

MINNESOTA/SOUTH DAKOTA:
Minnesota Public Radio reports translators K276EV/103.1 (Sleepy Eye) and K216FZ/91.1 (Redwood Falls) are on the air carrying MPR's News network, and K238AX/95.5 (Brookings, SD) is on the air carrying the Classical network. MPR also has a News network translator on 96.9 in Redwood Falls. (4/16/2009)

LARRY BENTSON, 1921-2009:
Broadcasting and cable pioneer N. Larry Bentson died of cancer Sunday, April 12, at the age of 87. Bentson was one of the founders of Midcontinent Media, which owned and built TV stations, radio stations, theaters, and cable systems across the Upper Midwest. Bentson remained the chairman of cable operator Midcontinent Communications until his death. According to a statement from Midcontinent Communications, Bentson was most proud of the Bentson family leadership position in philanthropy for community and non-profit organizations, including the University of Minnesota, United Hospital of St. Paul, Mount Zion Temple, Walker Art Center, and the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting. Services will be held Thursday, April 16, in St. Paul. (4/15/2009)

IOWA:
DX-midAMerica reports that KCOG/1400 (Centerville) has flipped to Contemporary Christian. KCOG had been carrying ABC's True Oldies Channel, which is now heard on new sister station KEDB/105.3 (Chariton). (4/15/2009)

NEBRASKA:
Sandhills Broadcasting, LLC is buying KBRB/1400 and KBRB-FM/92.7 (Ainsworth) from K.B.R. Broadcasting for $540,000. Sandhills Broadcasting is owned by Graig Kinzie of Ainsworth and has no other broadcast interests; it is not the same as Sandhills Advertising, which owns two stations in Ord. (4/13/2009)

IOWA/MICHIGAN/MINNESOTA/NEBRASKA:
Broadcasting & Cable reports that Equity Media will auction off all of its TV stations on Thursday, April 16, after filing for bankruptcy last year. Equity's stations include FOX affiliate WMQF/19 (Marquette), Univision affiliates WUMN-CA/13 (Minneapolis) and WTMS-CA/7 (Minneapolis), and independent stations KWWF/22 (Waterloo) and KTUW-DT/16 (Scottsbluff). (An earlier deal to sell WUMN and several other Univision affiliates was not completed.) Nationally, Equity's holdings include four FOX affiliates, two My Network TV affiliates, about a dozen full-power independent stations, and dozens of low-power stations. Many have filed notice that they may go silent on the digital transition date (June 12) because digital facilities are not yet ready. (4/11/2009)

IOWA/NEBRASKA:
DISH Network has added HD locals in the Sioux City and Cheyenne-Scottsbluff markets. The packages include KCAU-ABC, KMEG-CBS, and KPTH-FOX in Sioux City and KGWN-CBS and KLWY-FOX in Cheyenne-Scottsbluff. DirecTV does not offer locals in either market. (4/11/2009)

WISCONSIN:
WKOW-DT (Madison) has added ThisTV on channel 27.3. It continues to carry ABC HD on 27.1 and RTN on 27.2. (4/11/2009)

MINNESOTA:
KSTP/1500 (St. Paul) has moved from a conservative Talk format to a mix of liberal and conservative hosts. Liberals Chris Murphy and Shawn Prebil debuted in the 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. slot Thursday (April 9) after KSTP parted ways with conservative midday hosts Bob Davis and Dave Thompson. Murphy and Prebil were last at WTDY/1670 (Madison). KSTP is still the flagship for regionally syndicated conservative talker Joe Soucheray from 2-5:30 p.m. KSTP has faced more competition in recent years with the launch of conservative talk formats on KTLK-FM/100.3 (Minneapolis) and WWTC/1280 (Minneapolis), while KTNF/950 (St. Louis Park) programs a liberal Talk format, heritage talker WCCO/830 (Minneapolis) airs a more middle-of-the-road News/Talk format, and KSTP's FM sister, WFMP/107.1 (Coon Rapids) airs a mostly non-political talk format aimed at women. (4/9/2009)

MINNESOTA:
The Star Tribune reports that Twin Cities broadcasting legend Steve Cannon died Monday night (April 6) of cancer. The "Cannon Mess," featuring characters Ma Linger, Morgan Mundane, and Backlash LaRue, aired from the "basement studio" at WCCO/830 for 26 years. Cannon and his trio of characters were inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2002. Pavek's website has audio clips of his last show, and WCCO has now posted more clips on its website. (4/7/2009)

NEBRASKA:
The Omaha World-Herald reports that FOX 42 (KPTM) has ended its 4 p.m. newscast and 4:30 "Omaha Life" show. The paper reports 22 employees have either been laid off or cut to part-time. KPTM continues a 9 p.m. newscast. (4/6/2009)

WISCONSIN:
There will be no more analog TV in Eau Claire and Wausau as of Monday, April 5, when Wisconsin Public Television turns off its five remaining analog transmitters around the state. The other WPT analog transmitters are in Green Bay, La Crosse, and Madison. Green Bay will still have four full-power analog signals until June (ABC, FOX, My, NBC), while Madison will have one (FOX). A few low-power stations will continue analog service in La Crosse (NBC, TBN, Independent). (4/6/2009)

MINNESOTA:
K231AT/94.1 (Pine City) is on the air carrying Minnesota Public Radio's News/Talk network. If you've been following recent postings about new MPR translators, you've probably already guessed (correctly) that it's one of the eleven MPR bought from Horizon Christian Fellowship last year. (4/6/2009)

MINNESOTA:
The Mesabi Daily News in Virginia, Minnesota, is the latest newspaper to discontinue its weekly TV guide, as more people get their listings from on-screen and online services The last section was published March 29, though the paper will continue listings in the daily paper, put printable listings online, and sell copies of the Hibbing Daily Tribune's weekly listings at its Virginia office for $1. The Duluth News Tribune and the Star Tribune discontinued their weekly TV inserts in fall 2007, and TV Guide ended regional listings several years ago. Duluth's free "Reader Weekly" has begun publishing TV listings for those who still want them in print. (4/6/2009)

MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Public Radio says K246BG/97.1 (Windom) is on the air carrying its News/Talk network. It's one of the eleven translators MPR bought from Horizon Christian Fellowship last year. (4/4/2009)

NEBRASKA:
NRG Media's KMMQ/1020 (Plattsmouth-Omaha) has dropped the "La Preciosa" network and is now originating its own Regional Mexican/Tropical format as "Ke Padre 1020." (4/4/2009)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
The Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports that Cumulus' KSOO-FM/99.1 (Lennox-Sioux Falls) will begin carrying ESPN Radio on Monday, April 13, the same day that Backyard Broadcasting's KWSN/1230 (Sioux Falls) drops ESPN for FOX Sports Radio. KSOO-FM has been simulcasting the News/Talk format of KSOO/1140 (Sioux Falls) since signing on last year. (4/4/2009)

WISCONSIN:
WXCE/1260 (Amery) has switched from Dial Global's Kool Gold format to Dial Global's Adult Standards format. The station is owned by Red Rock Radio, which carries the same network on three other stations in the region. (4/4/2009)

WISCONSIN:
Horizon Christian Fellowship is donating W210BV/89.9 (Omro) to WRVM, Inc. in lieu of payment for work WRVM, Inc. has done installing translator equipment. (4/4/2009)

IOWA:
The former KELR/105.3 (Chariton) is now KEDB, and has dropped Classic Hits for ABC's "True Oldies Channel." The flip follows the station's sale to Fredric and Carolyn Jenkins, the owners of nearby KCOG/1400 and KMGO/98.7 (Centerville). KCOG had been carrying the True Oldies Channel. KMGO has a construction permit for an upgrade that would give it a rimshot signal to Des Moines. (4/2/2009)

MINNESOTA:
WDIO/10 (Duluth) and WIRT/13 (Hibbing) are promoting the launch of RTN (Retro Television Network) on channels 10.2 and 13.2 on Monday, April 20. RTN carries shows from the 1970's and 80's. 10.2 and 13.2 have been carrying looped weather forecasts as the "Storm Team Channel" since dropping the Sportsman Channel earlier this year. (4/2/2009)

WISCONSIN:
200-Watt WKPO/105.9 (Soldiers Grove) is reportedly back on the air with an Adult Hits format. The station was sold to Robinson Corporation, which owns WVRQ AM-FM in Viroqua, and has a construction permit for 25kW/100m (class C3) from a site east of Viroqua. For now, the station is transmitting from Soldiers Grove. (4/1/2009)

NORTH DAKOTA/MINNESOTA:
DISH Network has added HD locals for the Fargo-Grand Forks market, but does not yet have ABC in the package. The current offerings are CBS-KXJB, FOX-KVRR, and NBC-KVLY. As with the recent launch in the Duluth market, the Fargo launch means HD versions of broadcast networks are now available for the first time in many parts of the market. (4/1/2009)