April 2016

28 CHANNELS LEFT FOR TV BROADCASTING?
The FCC announced Friday that it has received committments from TV broadcast owners to sell off 126 MHz, or 21 TV channels, to wireless companies as part of the spectrum auction. The move would mean the TV band would run from channels 2 to 29, with a nationwide repacking that would result in channel changes for most stations (though they can continue to remap to their legacy analog channel numbers on receivers). The 28 channels left would amount to one-third of the original 83. The FCC is not releasing information on which TV stations have offered to surrender their spectrum or move to VHF channels to make way for more cellular data. The FCC says the next phase of the auction, in which wireless companies will bid for the spectrum, will begin May 29. This is actually the third time the FCC has sliced off a portion of the TV band for wireless use: channels 70 to 83 were eliminated in the 1980's and channels 52 to 69 were eliminated following the 2009 digital transition. (4/29/2016)

WISCONSIN:
Wisconsin Public Radio has signed on W265DC/100.9 (Marshfield) carrying the Ideas Network via WLBL/930 (Auburndale). W265DC uses 160 Watts from the WLBL site southwest of Auburndale, with a directional antenna pattern pointed towards Marshfield. The Wisconsin Educational Communications Board bought the fill-in translator, formerly W262AX, from Edgewater Broadcasting prior to the AM revitalization window. The WECB also has a construction permit for W256CZ/99.1 (Stevens Point), which will relay WLBL after moving from Ashland under the AM revitalization window. (4/28/2016)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
Bad Lands Broadcasting is adding a third FM station in the Black Hills with the purchase of KXZT/107.9 (Newell) from JER Licenses. The purchase price was not included in the initial filing with the FCC. KXZT first received its license in 2012 but has filed a series of requests for special temporary authority to remain silent since then, most recently citing transmitter problems. The station is currently licensed to transmit from Terry Peak near Lead with a main coverage area ending just outside Rapid City. Bad Lands Broadcasting also owns Classic Country outlet "99.5 The Range" (KRKI Keystone-Rapid City) and Oldies-formatted "Kool 101.9" (KFMH Belle Fourche-Rapid City). JER retains ownership of KXZS/107.5 (Wall), which originally had a construction permit for a facility rimshotting Rapid City but is currently licensed for a facility mainly reaching Badlands National Park. (4/27/2016)

MINNESOTA:
Classic Rocker WKLK-FM/96.5 (Cloquet) has increased its power from 25kW to 36kW, maintaining its existing 96m antenna height above average terrain and its tower near Cloquet. The boost only adds a few miles to WKLK-FM's main coverage area but does help the station better reach Duluth, where topography and intermodulation interference limit reception of out-of-town stations. WKLK-FM is owned by the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, which also own one other commercial FM, one non-commercial FM, and one commercial AM in Carlton County. (4/26/2016)

MINNESOTA:
Greg Borgen's 630 Radio Inc. is buying a second FM translator to use for WREY/630 (St. Paul). Regular readers may recall that the company already purchased K288GR/105.5 (Bayport) and received a construction permit to move its transmitter to a site near Hudson, WI, with stated intentions of relaying WREY. Now, 630 Radio is buying K247BO (Blue Earth, MN) from Minnesota Public Radio for $25,000, with the stated intention of moving it to the "St. Paul radio market" under the FCC's AM revitalization window. The Twin Cities FM dial is getting packed, but the FCC AM revitalization channel finder suggests there may still be room for translators serving a portion of the metro. An application to move K247BO to relay WREY can't be filed until July 29, when the window expands to include class B stations. (Legal trivia: K288GR is not legally bound to relaying WREY since no waiver was needed for its facility change.) The construction deadline for K247BO is this Friday (4/29) but the application says the buyer will seek an extension. Borgen's WRPX Inc. separately purchased a Blue Earth translator from MPR for $32,500 and has already successfully moved its construction permit to Hudson to relay WDGY/740 (Hudson). (4/25/2016)

MINNESOTA:
Cozi TV has come to Minneapolis on channel 43.4 of DTV America's KMBD-LD. Minneapolis had been the largest market without a Cozi TV affiliate. It's the fifth general-interest subchannel to launch in Minneapolis in the last month or so, on top of Bounce TV, Escape, and Laff on KMBD, and the addition of Comet TV on Sinclair's WUCW/23.2. (4/25/2016)

MINNESOTA:
About a month after beginning test broadcasts, K&M Broadcasting has applied to move K250BO/97.9 (Hastings) to 97.7, where it would remain 250 Watts. The reason for the move is not specified in the application, but as noted here earlier, the existence of KEFE-LP/97.9 (Lakeville) limits the translator's fringe coverage to the south-central Twin Cities metro area. K250BO relays K&M's KDWA/1460 (Hastings). (4/25/2016)

IOWA:
Cup O'Dirt, LLC has signed on K246CJ/97.1 (Sioux City), relaying its `80s Hits "Sunny Radio" format via KZOI/1250 (Dakota City-Sioux City). (4/25/2016)

WISCONSIN:
iHeartMedia has signed on W292EG/106.3 (Eau Claire) and reception reports indicate it's relaying the syndicated Conservative Talk format of WMEQ/880 (Menomonie-Eau Claire). W292EG's main coverage area actually doesn't include Eau Claire since its transmitter is located between Eau Claire and Menomonie. The translator had faced a May 2 construction deadline. (4/25/2016)

IOWA:
Pritchard Broadcasting is buying two FM translators to use for its AM stations in the Burlington area. In separate transactions totalling $40,000, Pritchard is buying K265EQ/100.9 (Burlington) and K282BG/104.3 (Clinton) from the American Family Association. Neither translator is yet on the air; both face May 2 construction deadlines but Pritchard plans to seek an extension. Applications state that K265EQ will relay KBUR/1490 (Burlington) and K282BG, once moved south, will relay KBKB/1360 (Fort Madison). KBUR carries News/Talk and reception reports indicate KBKB recently switched from Classic Country to FOX Sports Radio. Pritchard also owns four FM stations in the market. (4/22/2016)

IOWA:
Family Radio's KDFR/91.3 (Des Moines) is back on the air at reduced power. The station had left the air earlier this month due to weather-related damage. A tower crew determined that there was no damage to KDFR's antenna, but its transmitter needs to be replaced. The coverage area is currently estimated at 40 to 50 miles. (4/22/2016)

MINNESOTA:
The surprising news of the death of Minnesota music legend Prince led many Twin Cities radio stations to ditch their normal formats Thursday, with announcers sharing their interactions with Prince and his influence on their lives. When the news first broke, two of Minnesota Public Radio's networks devoted all programming to Prince, with a special report airing on MPR News and a chronological history of Prince's music catalog airing on "The Current." KMOJ/89.9, which says it was the first radio station to play Prince's music, also went to all-Prince for a time following his death. On the commercial side, Northern Lights Broadcasting's "Go 95.3" and "Go 96.3" both ditched their regular formats for different all-Prince playlists. Hubbard Broadcasting's "KS95" also went all-Prince from about 2 to 7 p.m., and several other commercial stations added Prince songs to their playlists. On TV, local news outlets were in and out of special report mode for the entire afternoon. (4/21/2016)

WISCONSIN:
Woodward Communications is buying an FM translator that will eventually relay News/Talker WHBY/1150 (Kimberly-Appleton), according to a document filed with the FCC. Woodward is buying W246AY (Park Falls) from WRVM, Inc. for $35,000. The asset purchase agreement states that the seller and buyer will work together to move the translator to WHBY's coverage area. Such a move will be possible under the FCC's AM revitalization window for 250-mile translator moves, but not until the window expands to include class B AM stations later this year, since WHBY is class B. (4/20/2016)

IOWA/NEBRASKA:
The Educational Media Foundation is buying potential Omaha rimshot station KIMI/107.7 (Malvern, IA) from Vic Michael's Kona Coast Radio for $100,000. EMF says it intends to carry its "Air-1" Christian Hits network on KIMI. Regular readers will recall the long saga associated with the 107.7 frequency in the region, which is currently limited from covering the Omaha area because of interference to airplane navigation communications on an adjacent frequency at Offutt Air Force Base. KIMI is currently licensed for 13kW/124m (class C3) from a tower south of Glenwood, rimshotting Omaha, but cannot use the facility until the frequency at Offutt is changed. KIMI has been keeping its license alive with a temporary 110-Watt facility. The asset purchase agreement states that Kona Coast Radio will cooperate with EMF's efforts to resolve the Offutt interference issue. (4/19/2016)

MINNESOTA:
R.P. Broadcasting is buying translator K237FJ/95.3 (Thief River Falls) from Edgewater Broadcasting for $25,000. The application states R.P. Broadcasting, owned by Roger Paskvan, intends to relay Troy Paskvan's WMIS-FM/92.1 (Blackduck-Bemidji) on K237FJ. K237FJ received its license last fall but it's not clear what station its currently relaying. (4/19/2016)

WISCONSIN:
QueenB Radio has surrendered the license of WGLR/1280 (Lancaster). The station had begun broadcasting in 1977 and used 500 Watts daytime and 22 Watts nighttime. QueenB took 1280 off the air a year ago, saying at that time that "the current economic climate has made it difficult to keep WGLR on the air." It had most recently carried ESPN Radio in a simulcast with WPVL/1590 (Platteville), which remains on the air. QueenB also owns three FM stations in the area, including WGLR-FM/97.7 (Lancaster), which is unaffected. (4/17/2016)

WISCONSIN:
Midwest Communications has signed on new FM translator W268BR/101.5 (Sheboygan), relaying the News/Talk format of WHBL/1330. The translator was granted prior to the current AM revitalization window, and Midwest bought the construction permit from Edgewater Broadcasting for $34,000. Sheboygan has an unusually large amount of FM translators -- W268BR is the eighth, though it is only the second to be used commercially and the first to relay an AM station. (4/17/2016)

NEBRASKA/SOUTH DAKOTA:
The Nebraska Rural Radio Association is buying K288GL/105.5 (Lead, SD) from Horizon Christian Fellowship for $15,000. The application states the NRRA will seek to move the translator to Scottsbluff, NE, to relay its KNEB/960 under the current AM revitalization window. The NRRA has signed on three other AM-on-FM translators in recent months. However, the application to move K288GL will have to wait until later this year because KNEB is a class B license, and the filing window for 250-mile moves is limited to class C and D AM stations until July 29. K288GL is not yet on the air and faced an April 22 deadline to sign on, but the asset purchase agreement states that NRRA will seek an extension due to the sale. (4/17/2016)

MINNESOTA/MICHIGAN:
Mid-Minnesota Media, LLC is buying W269DA/101.7 (Ironwood, MI) from Refuge Media for $40,000. The sale was expected since W269DA has already received approval to move to Litchfield, MN, to relay the buyer's KLFD/1410 on 95.9. The move was approved under the FCC's AM revitalization effort that allows translators to move up to 250 miles to relay AM stations. W269DA originally signed on as "Refuge Radio" translator W215BR/90.9 in 2005, but Wisconsin Public Radio's WUWS/90.9 (Ashland) signed on using that frequency in the region six years later, and the transator's license was moved to 101.7 earlier this year. (4/17/2016)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
Cup O' Dirt LLC's KZOY/1520 (Sioux Falls) has filed a third extension of consummation with the FCC, saying it's still possible the station's sale to Chuck Brennan's Badlands Airtime, LLC might close. It's unusual for so many extensions to be filed for a license transfer, but the sale has been delayed due to litigation between the buyer and the seller. KZOY's most recent FCC filing says the litigation is ongoing and could result in either a closing of the sale or a cancellation of the transaction. The $1.5 million deal would also include KZOY translator K221FO/92.1 (Sioux Falls). Brennan had originally announced plans to carry a Rock format from his new pawn shop complex on KZOY and K221FO, but the format instead launched on KBAD-FM/94.5 (Sioux Falls) last Thanksgiving after Brennan's company bought 94.5 from the University of Sioux Falls. Meanwhile, the owners of KZOY have begun to syndicate the `80s Hits "Sunny Radio" format carried on KZOY. (4/17/2016)

MINNESOTA:
Sinclair Broadcast Group's WUCW (Minneapolis) has added sci-fi network Comet TV on channel 23.2, displacing Get TV to 23.4. In taking over 23.2, Comet TV also assumes the cable positions formerly occupied by Get TV. WUCW is a primary CW affiliate and also carries Grit on 23.3. (4/16/2016)

IOWA:
Family Radio's KDFR/91.3 (Des Moines) is temporarily off the air due to weather-related damage to its antenna. The station says its transmitter was also impacted and needs to be replaced. A tower crew is due to visit the site next week. Family Radio is encouraging listeners to stream its programming online. (4/16/2016)

NORTH DAKOTA:
DSN Radio, LLC is creating an AM-FM combo in Beulah with the purchase of KLTQ/97.9 from Synergy Broadcast North Dakota LLC for $70,000. DSN is already operating KLTQ under a local marketing agreement, rebroadcasting the Sports format of its KDKT/1410. As previously reported here, Synergy had a construction permit to move KLTQ into the Dickinson market, but it expired in December, and Synergy told the FCC earlier this year that it planned to sell to DSN. KLTQ is licensed for 6kW/96m from Beulah but is currently using just 100 Watts under special temporary authority. (4/14/2016)

MINNESOTA:
Tegna NBC affiliate KARE/11 (Minneapolis) has announced the impending retirement of longtime anchor Diana Pierce. She's been with the station since 1983, helping define KARE as a leading news outlet in the 1980's as part of a legendary anchor team that also included Paul Magers, Paul Douglas, and Tom Ryther. Pierce currently anchors the 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. newscasts. Her last show will be on Friday, April 22. (4/13/2016)

IOWA:
Quincy Newspapers NBC affiliate KWWL/7 (Waterloo-Cedar Rapids) says it will add CW on channel 7.2 this fall, replacing ThisTV. CW is currently carried as the primary affiliation on KM Broadcasting's KWKB/20.1 (Iowa City-Cedar Rapids), which has carried the network since its inception ten years ago. The change will take place on Sept. 12. The CW network only provides 20 hours of programming per week, and KWWL says it will fill the rest of the schedule with syndicated programming including Access Hollywood, Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?, and Judge Alex. (Readers may be familiar with a 24-hour service called CW+, which is carried on a number of subchannels but is only available for small markets.) Quincy also carries the CW on subchannels in a half-dozen other Upper Midwest markets. KWWL will continue to carry Me-TV on 7.3. (4/12/2016)

MINNESOTA:
Translator K250BO/97.9 (Hastings) has signed on, relaying the local News/Talk/Sports format of KDWA/1460 (Hastings). Posts on the station's social media feeds indicate K250BO signed on March 25. The 250-Watt translator's main coverage area is along the Mississippi River southeast of St. Paul, with fringe coverage of some southeastern suburbs - but fringe coverage of the south-central metro is limited by KEFE-LP/97.9 (Lakeville). KDWA owner K&M Broadcasting bought the translator, formerly W280AA/103.9 (Silver Bay), from Refuge Media and moved it to Hastings under the FCC's AM revitalization window. The addition of KDWA's FM signal comes at a cost for Silver Bay: W280AA had been the only city-grade signal in the mining town of about 1,800 people on Lake Superior's North Shore, and had been on the air for several decades. (4/11/2016)

MINNESOTA:
DTV America's KMNB-LD (Minneapolis) has returned to the air carrying four channels. The lineup includes Bounce on 43.1, Escape on 43.2, Laff on 43.3, and QVC on 43.5. This is the first time a digital low-power TV station in Minneapolis has carried English-language general interest programming. DTV America also operates KJNK-LD/25, which carries Telemundo, SBN, Hmong TV Network, and Liquidation Channel. KMNB-LD had carried HSN2 prior to its sale to DTV America. (4/9/2016)

WISCONSIN:
WRPN/1600 (Ripon) has dropped Classic Rock for Oldies/Classic Hits and Talk as "AM 1600, Your Hometown Station." The station is in the process of beiung sold from Radio One Communications, LLC to Hometown Broadcasting, LLC. Hometown also owns News/Talker WISS/1100 (Berlin), which had been running a promo suggesting that it was moving to AM 1600, but it now appears they were only referring to local news and a few syndicated elements of the format. FOX News, Pam Jahnke's Wisconsin Farm Report, and Dave Ramsey are now being broadcast by both stations. WISS' FM translator, W247AZ/97.3 (Berlin), has a construction permit to move to Oshkosh as W254CS/98.7, which could allow WISS to change its target market. (4/7/2016)

IOWA:
Educational Media Foundation has signed on new translator K237GC/95.3 (Des Moines) carrying its non-commercial "K-Love" Contemporary Christian network. The 250-Watt translator serves the west metro, complementing the east metro signal of longtime "K-Love" translator K213DV/90.5 (Pleasant Hill). (4/7/2016)

IOWA:
Iowa Public Radio's KICL/96.3 (Pleasantville) is operating at reduced power due to weather-related damage to its antenna. In a request for special temporary authorization, KICL states that it's operating at about 50 percent of its usual 6kW ERP. KICL carries IPR Classical and serves the far southeast Des Moines metro area. The reduction is likely most noticeable in Pella, which is on the edge of KICL's main coverage area and has no alternate frequency for the IPR Classical network. (4/6/2016)

IOWA:
iHeartMedia's KASI/1430 (Ames) has dropped Dennis Prager, who had aired in middays, and made other changes to its lineup resulting in an extra hour of local content. The local Mel in the Morning has been extended until 10, followed by Charlie Rose at 10 and The Bloomberg Advantage at 11. The local Trent Rice Show, which had aired from 9 to 11 a.m., is now heard from 12 to 2 p.m. Dave Ramsey remains in the 2 to 5 p.m. slot, followed by an hour of local news. (4/6/2016)

MINNESOTA:
R&J Broadcasting is buying translator K300AS/107.9 (Thief River Falls) for $17,000. R&J plans to move the translator to Fosston to relay its KKCQ/1480. K300AS currently relays the Contemporary Christian format of Pine to Prairie Broadcasting's KKEQ/107.1 (Fosston). (4/6/2016)

NEBRASKA:
The FCC has granted Sinclair Broadcast Group's purchase of Pappas Liquidating Trust's TV stations in Nebraska, allowing it to own both the ABC and FOX affiliates serving the Tri-Cities area. The $31.25 million deal includes FOX affiliate KFXL-TV/51.1 (Lincoln) and the "Nebraska TV" ABC affiliates including KHGI-TV/13.1 (Kearney), satellite KWNB-TV/6.1 (Hayes Center), and KHGI-CD (North Platte). KFXL's FOX programming is also relayed on KHGI/KWNB subchannels. (KFXL is not mentioned in the FCC letter but its license transfer shows up as granted in the FCC database.) Even though Kearney and Lincoln are in the same market, and the market does not have enough ownership voices for a duopoly, Sinclair argued it should be allowed to own both KFXL-TV and KHGI-TV because the stations' coverage areas do not overlap. (4/4/2016)

NEBRASKA:
New translator K281CJ/104.1 (Omaha) is on the air testing, relaying the "Boomer 1490" Oldies format of KOMJ/1490. The station is seeking reception reports on its Facebook page in a post that uses the hashtag #boomer1041. KOMJ owner Walnut Radio is buying the translator from VSS Catholic Communications for $7,500 and moved it in from Atlantic, Iowa, during the FCC's AM revitalization filing window. (4/4/2016)

NEBRASKA:
The Nebraska Rural Radio Association has signed on translator K261BT/100.1 (Lexington), which relays the Classic Country format of KAMI/1580 (Cozad). The stations now go by "Country Legends 100.1 and Kami 1580." The NRRA got its start in Lexington 65 years ago and bought KAMI at the end of 2014, adding it to KRVN/880 and KRVN-FM/93.1 (Lexington). (4/4/2016)

NEBRASKA:
New low-power TV station KWBE-LD/21 (Beatrice) is due to sign on Monday (4/4) at 6 p.m., according to an article on the station's website. It'll be the third independent local TV news station operated by Flood Communications under the News Channel Nebraska branding. Other NCN stations, in Norfolk and Columbus, fill most of their schedule with a loop of local news, weather, and sports, with some broadcasts of community events. WeatherNation TV runs on subchannels. In the Beatrice area, Flood also owns KWBE/1450 (Beatrice), KGMT/1310 (Fairbury), and KUTT/99.5 (Fairbury). The company also has construction permits for new low-power TV stations in Grand Island and Hastings/Kearney, in addition to its other radio holdings in Omaha, Nebraska City, and Norfolk. (4/3/2016)

WISCONSIN:
WQDC/97.7 (Sturgeon Bay) has flipped to `70s and `80s Classic Hits as "Rewind 97.7," dropping an eight-year-old Country format known most recently as "Door Country 97.7." Case Communications, which has owned WQDC for the past three years, also owns Adult Alternative "The Lodge" (WLGE/106.9 Baileys Harbor). (4/1/2016)