May 2007

NEW LOW-POWER TV STATIONS GRANTED:

MINNESOTA:
The Christian Rock "Air-1" network is moving towards the Twin Cities with the sign-on of K277AS/103.3 (Big Lake). The 10W translator broadcasts from a transmitter in Monticello Township, getting the Air-1 signal from K208EV/89.5 (St. Cloud). Air-1 parent Educational Media Foundation also has construction permits for a chain of four other translators:

IOWA/WISCONSIN:
KQMG-FM/95.3 (Independence) has applied to move into the Cedar Rapids market as part of a regional frequency shift. KQMG-FM would move to 95.1, change its community of license to Solon, and transmit with 6kW/100m from a tower near Ely, delivering a good signal to Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. To make way for the move, KQMG-FM owner KM Communications proposes to move KMAQ-FM/95.1 (Maquoketa) to 95.3, downgrade KGGO/94.9 (Des Moines) to class C0 (though no actual facility change would occur), and move the vacant allotment for a future class A (6kW/100m) station on 95.5 in Asbury (Dubuque market) to 98.7. KM also proposes adding a new allotment for a new class A station on 95.5 in Mineral Point, WI, and has applied for the frequency. KM also owns KQMG/1220 (Independence) and CW/My Network TV affiliate KWKB/20 (Iowa City). If approved, the move would also displace longtime Family Radio translator K236AA/95.1 (Cedar Rapids). (5/20/2007)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
The Calvary Chapel of Twin Falls is donating the license of K211DE/90.1 (Sioux Falls) to Refuge Radio. The sign-on of KSFS/90.1 forced K211DE to leave the air, and it cannot return to the air until getting a construction permit for a new facility. Refuge Radio also has translator K288GA/105.5 (Sioux Falls). (5/20/2007)

NEBRASKA:
Chapin Enterprises has received a construction permit to move KFRX/102.7 from the Lincoln market to the Omaha market. KFRX will be licensed to Papillion, transmitting from Omaha with 100kW/299m (class C1). Chapin is acting as a qualified intermediary seeking a buyer for KFRX and KRKR/95.1 (Lincoln), stations which Three Eagles needed to divest as part of its purchase of Clear Channel's Lincoln group. KRKR has also applied to move to the Omaha market. (5/19/2007)

MINNESOTA:
The FCC has granted the move of a construction permit for a new station on 105.9 from Belview to Winthrop (New Ulm market), with an upgrade to 23kW/105m (class C3). The future station, owned by Matthew Ketelsen, has been assigned the callsign KHRS. (5/19/2007)

MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Public Radio has signed on three new translators in southwestern Minnesota:

NORTH DAKOTA:
Another FCC filing indicates GoodRadio.TV, LLC will divest at least one station in Bismarck or Minot following its purchase of Clear Channel's groups in those markets. The Bismarck group includes six stations, which is not over the ownership cap for rated markets. However, Minot is not a rated market, so contour-based market definitions still apply. There are two geographic areas where GoodRadio would be over the cap: In the Minot area, KXMR/710 (Bismarck) has a strong enough signal to count as part of the market, putting GoodRadio over by one station. And in between Minot and Bismarck, four AM stations have a strong signal, which is one more than allowed. The divesiture of either KXMR, KCJB/910 (Minot), or KRRZ/1390 (Minot) would solve both problems. (5/17/2007)

CLEAR CHANNEL SALE:
GoodRadio.TV, LLC's $452.1 million purchase of Clear Channel stations in 36 markets has been filed with the FCC, providing the first complete listing of stations in the deal. As previously reported, the deal includes Clear Channel's Rochester, MN, Bismarck, ND, Minot, ND, and Ogallala, NE, markets. It also includes Clear Channel's Sioux City, IA, and Eau Claire, WI groups. The Sioux City group includes KMNS/620, KWSL/1470, KGLI/95.5, KSEZ/97.9, and KSFT-FM/107.1 (South Sioux City). The Eau Claire group includes WMEQ/880 (Menomonie), WBIZ/1400, WMEQ-FM/92.1 (Menomonie), WQRB/95.1 (Bloomer), WISM/98.1 (Altoona), WBIZ-FM/100.7, and WATQ/106.7 (Chetek). The Eau Claire group was grandfathered over the ownership cap, and GoodRadio plans to divest one FM station. Clear Channel still has 16 markets up for sale, including Dickinson, ND, and Grand Forks, ND. (5/16/2007)

NEW AM STATIONS GRANTED:

NEBRASKA:
The Nebraska Broadcasters Association reports that Clear Channel's Ogallala group will be included in GoodRadio.TV, LLC's, purchase of dozens of Clear Channel markets. The stations are KOGA/930, KOGA-FM/99.7, and KMCX/106.5. The deal still has not been officially announced, but previous local reports have said the Bismarck, ND, Minot, ND, and Rochester, MN, groups are included in the deal, and the Eau Claire, WI, group is also rumored to be included. (5/9/2007)

ROBERT E. INGSTAD, JR., 1945-2007:
Longtime radio station owner Robert E. Ingstad, Jr., died May 4 at age 62. Ingstad has been a major force in Upper Midwest broadcasting over the last four decades and is the current majority owner of thirteen stations in North Dakota and South Dakota. His wife and children own dozens more stations in the region. An obituary and service information is available here. (5/8/2007)

MINNESOTA:
"Drive 105" is gone from the Twin Cities airwaves, with "Love 105" set to debut Tuesday (5/8). The new Adult Gold format will feature light hits from the late 1960's to early 1980's. The "Drive" Adult Alternative trimulcast on WGVX/105.1 (Lakeville), WGVY/105.3 (Cambridge), and WGVZ/105.7 (Eden Prairie) was temporarily replaced Monday afternoon with a rebroadcast of "93X" (KXXR/93.7). The 105's, along with KQRS/92.5 and 93X, are in the process of being sold from ABC to Citadel as part of a national deal.

Although "Drive" didn't have the cult following of past 105 formats, most notably the legendary "REV 105," its run of more than five years was the longest-running of any format on the trimulcast. It was also the longest-running format ever aired on 105.1 and 105.7 individually since both signed on in 1993. In the Adult Alternative arena, "Drive 105" had always challenged Clear Channel's "Cities 97" (KTCZ), but faced more competition when Minnesota Public Radio launched "The Current" on KCMP/89.3 in January 2005. (5/8/2007)

NORTH DAKOTA/SOUTH DAKOTA/WISCONSIN:
Inspiration Television is donating the construction permits for K33IG (Bismarck, ND), K40JZ (Pierre, SD), and K65HZ (Chippewa Falls, WI) to Western Family Television, which operates several low-power TV affiliates of JCTV, a Christian youth network operated by TBN. (5/8/2007)

NORTH DAKOTA:
250W translator K237ER/95.3 (Grand Forks) has signed on carrying the "K-Love" Christian AC format from KKLQ/100.7 (Harwood-Fargo). (5/8/2007)

NORTH DAKOTA:
In addition to the Rochester, MN, group, Dean Goodman's GoodRadio.TV, LLC, is buying Clear Channel's Bismarck and Minot, ND, groups. The full GoodRadio-Clear Channel deal, expected to include about 180 stations, hasn't been formally announced yet, but some individual market sales have been confirmed. The Bismarck group includes KFYR/550, KXMR/710, KBMR/1130, KYYY/92.9, KQDY/94.5, and KSSS/101.5. The Minot group includes KCJB/910, KRRZ/1390, KIZZ/93.7, KYYX/97.1, KMXA/99.9, and KZPR/105.3. (5/7/2007)

CLEAR CHANNEL BUYER:
Dean Goodman's GoodRadio.TV, LLC, will buy Clear Channel's Rochester group, general manager Bob Fox tells the Rochester Post-Bulletin. The group includes KNFX/970 (Austin), KMFX/1190 (Wabasha), KWEB/1270 (Rochester), KRCH/101.7 (Rochester), and KMFX-FM/102.5 (Lake City). GoodRadio.TV is expected to buy about 180 Clear Channel stations, and the company's Bismarck, Minot, and Eau Claire groups are also rumored to be among them. Clear Channel is also looking for buyers for its Dickinson, Grand Forks, Ogallala, and Sioux City groups. (5/4/2007)

WISCONSIN:
"ESPN 1510" (WAUK Waukesha-Milwaukee) has upgraded its daytime power from 10kW to 23kW. The change intensifies the station's signal to the metro area. WAUK drops to 20kW during critical hours (the hours after sunrise and before sunset) and remains daytime-only. (5/3/2007)

WISCONSIN:
DX-midAMerica reports a format shakeup in the Menominee/Marinette area: WSFQ/96.3 (Peshtigo) has dropped Oldies for Classic Rock as "Rock96." The ABC Oldies Radio format, which had aired on WSFQ since its sign-on, is now on WAGN/1340 (Menominee, MI), replacing Dial Global's Adult Standards format on that frequency. The changes follow Armada Media's purchase of the stations. (5/3/2007)

WISCONSIN:
The FCC has issued a Notice of Apparent Liability of $8,000 to Acme Communications, the owner of CW affiliate WBUW/57 (Janesville-Madison), for allegedly airing too many commercials during children's programming. The station stated during its most recent license renewal that it exceeded the limit on 22 occasions over a 15-month period in 2002 and 2003. Acme has 30 days to pay the fine or ask for a reduction or cancellation. (5/1/2007)

MINNESOTA:
Pensacola Christian College has received a construction permit for a new station on 89.7 in Princeton, northwest of the Twin Cities metro. The station, using 50kW/32m (class C2), will have a strong signal to Cambridge and part of Elk River, and will likely have fringe coverage of the northwest metro. Pensacola Christian College operates the Rejoice Radio network. (5/1/2007)