June 2008

MANITOBA:
The CRTC has approved Golden West Broadcasting's purchase of CFEQ/107.1 (Winnipeg) from Kesitah, Inc. for $725,000. Golden West also owns CHVN/95.1. CFEQ carries a Christian Rock format as "Freq 107." Golden West has committed to operating the station under the conditions of its license relating to specialty music, which was a concern to the CRTC in the station's previous license term. (6/30/2008)

NEBRASKA/IOWA:
In an apparent effort to get KHSK/100.9 (Allen, NE) on the air before its construction permit expires on September 14, College Creek Media has applied for a downgrade that essentially takes the station out of the Sioux City market. The current CP calls for 5.6kW/209m (class C3) from a site west of Ponca, NE; KHSK has now applied for 6kW/100m (A) from an existing tower along U.S. Highway 20 between Allen and Laurel. KHSK would have a fringe signal to Sioux City from the new site. (6/28/2008)

MINNESOTA:
Equity Media is selling Univision and Telefutura affiliates in six markets, including WTMS-CA/7 and WUMN-CA/13 (Minneapolis), as part of a larger $37.5 million deal with Luken Communications, LLC. The group is led by Henry Luken III, Equity Media's largest shareholder. The deal also includes the Retro Television Network, but not Equity-owned RTN affiliates. Equity retains the right to buy back RTN through December 24, 2008. RTN, which has 73 affiliates, will continue to originate from Equity's Little Rock, Arkansas, headquarters, though Luken may create a redundant facility. (6/27/2008)

WISCONSIN:
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that WMCS/1290 will drop its nighttime simulcast of ESPN Radio next Monday (6/30). The new lineup will include Blues from 7 to Midnight and Gospel from 3-6 a.m. The Rev. Al Sharpton show will air live from Noon to 3 and be repeated from Midnight to 3. WMCS had acted as the nighttime home of ESPN Radio when the other affiliate was daytimer WAUK/1510 (Waukesha, now WRRD), an arrangement which is no longer necessary now that WAUK has moved to the 24-hour facility at 540 (Jackson). (6/25/2008)

IOWA:
The FCC has decided that CBS programming from WHBF/4 (Rock Island) should not be carried on the Iowa City cable system, granting a waiver request from KGAN/2 (Cedar Rapids), the official CBS affiliate for Iowa City. Mediacom had added WHBF to its Iowa City lineup in late 2006 amid a retransmission dispute with KGAN owner Sinclair Broadcasting, using an FCC rule that allows cable systems to carry "significantly viewed" out-of-market stations. WHBF had been listed as "significantly viewed" in Johnson County, where Iowa City is located. KGAN provided ratings data showing that WHBF no longer has enough viewership to qualify as "significantly viewed" in Iowa City. The "significantly viewed" list was originally developed based on ratings data in the early 1970's and, since then, has only been updated at individual station requests. Theoretically, Mediacom could continue to carry some non-network programming from WHBF, although CBS programming makes up 13 of the 20 hours on WHBF's weekday schedule. Mediacom's Iowa City system does not carry two other out-of-market stations listed as "significantly viewed" in Johnson County, the Davenport NBC affiliate and the Ottumwa FOX affiliate. (6/23/2008)

NORTH DAKOTA:
R&J Broadcasting is selling KMAV/1520 and KMAV-FM/105.5 (Mayville) to two of the station's employees, MaryLou Keating and her son Craig Keating. The new licensee will be KMSR, Inc., owned 70% by MaryLou and 30% by Craig. R&J also owns KRJB/106.5 (Ada, MN) and KRJM/101.5 (Mahnomen, MN). (6/21/2008)

IOWA:
Eastern Iowa stations continue to recover from record-breaking flooding. KMRY/1450 (Cedar Rapids) was forced to turn off its transmitter near the Cedar River and is temporarily transmitting at reduced power from its northeast Cedar Rapids studio. The station has posted pictures on its website. Cumulus Media, which was forced to abandon its downtown Cedar Rapids studios early June 12, returned its stations to the air several days later. KHAK/98.1 and KDAT/104.5 are temporarily located in the KGAN/Clear Channel building, while KRNA/94.1 is at the KGYM/KZIA facility. It's not clear where KRQN/107.1 is located. The floodwaters came within a few blocks of the KCRG-TV/9 building, which was within the evacuation zone, but the station stayed on the air for several days of continuous coverage (sans overnight) on generator power. In Iowa City, Iowa Public Radio stations WSUI/910 and KSUI/91.7 were forced to evacuate their University of Iowa studios and offices on June 16. WSUI had left the air on June 13 due to flooding at its transmitter site near Hills. (6/20/2008)

ILLINOIS/IOWA:
Quad Cities Media has found a buyer for WKBF/1270 (Rock Island): La Jefa Latino Broadcasting, LLC. La Jefa, owned by Victoria Duran of Clarion, Iowa, will pay $680,000 for WKBF, the second-oldest station in the market. La Jefa has been programming a Regional Mexican format on WKBF through a local marketing agreement since June 3. (6/20/2008)

MINNESOTA (CORRECTED):
Minnesota Public Radio is buying eleven translators from Horizon Broadcast Network for $240,000. According to a FCC filing, MPR's News network will be carried on seven of the translators: Glencoe, Montevideo, Redwood Falls, Sleepy Eye, St. James, Windom, and Decorah, IA (where the network is currently heard on KLNI/88.7). The Classical network will be carried on translators in Albert Lea and Brookings, SD. The Current will add translators in Mankato and St. Peter, bringing the network to five signals. (6/20/2008)

MINNESOTA:
KEYC/12 (Mankato) returned to the air on Monday, June 16, at reduced power, according to the Star Tribune. The station had been off the air for nearly a week after problems with its transmission line, though it will still need to be replaced. The station continued to distribute programming to cable systems and DirecTV during the outage. KEYC is the only station in the four-county market. Nielsen Media estimates that 87% of households in the Mankato market have either cable or satellite, though DISH Network does not carry KEYC. (6/20/2008)

WISCONSIN:
Teri Barr has joined Fletcher Keyes and Adam Elliot on the morning show at WOLX/94.9 (Baraboo-Madison). (6/20/2008)

IOWA:
Iowa Public Radio station WSUI/910 (Iowa City) left the air Friday (6/13) due to flooding at its transmitter site near Hills, and appeared to still be off the air as of early Monday morning. Listeners in part of WSUI's coverage area can also hear IPR's News & Information service on KUNI/90.9 (Cedar Falls). (6/16/2008)

NEBRASKA:
The Nebraska Broadcasters Association reports that it is indeed KBZR/102.7 (Lincoln) that is being purchased by KVSS/88.9 (Omaha) for $4.5 million. KVSS announced on its website earlier this month that it had raised the money to purchase a 100kW signal but has not yet posted other details. KBZR has a construction permit to change its community of license to Papillion, and a proposed transmitter site near Gretna would provide strong coverage to both Lincoln and Omaha. KBZR currently carries an Adult Contemporary format, which Chapin Enterprises launched last year after the frequency's heritage KFRX Contemporary Hits format moved to 106.3. Chapin was brought in to seek buyers for 102.7 and KRKR/95.1 after former owner Three Eagles purchased the Clear Channel group in Lincoln. (No buyer for KRKR has been announced, but it also has a CP to move into the Omaha market.) There's no word what will happen with the current KVSS/88.9 facility. The exact licensee-to-be of 102.7 is not yet clear -- KVSS is owned by VSS Catholic Communications and had previously stated it was working with Kolbe Media on the project. (6/16/2008)

NEBRASKA:
Also from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association, the FCC has granted special temporary authority for FM translator K290AT/105.9 (Norfolk) to relay the programming of WJAG/780. It's one of several STA's granted for AM-on-FM translators as the FCC considers making the setup permanent. WJAG is a daytimer, and K290AT will be able to originate its own programming after WJAG's signoff. The station hopes to have the FM translator on the air by July 1. K290AT is currently licensed for 10 Watts but has a construction permit for 250 Watts. WJAG carries a News/Talk format, including Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and FOX News on the hour. (6/16/2008)

WISCONSIN:
The sale of WNOV/860 (Milwaukee), reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel earlier this year, has finally been filed for federal approval: Radio Multi Media is buying the station from Courier Communications for $1.55 million. Radio Multi Media has been operating the station under a local marketing agreement. (6/16/2008)

IOWA (UPDATED):
Wall-to-wall coverage of record flooding continued Friday on numerous Iowa radio and TV stations. Live TV streams were being offered by KCRG Cedar Rapids, KWWL Waterloo, and WOI, KCCI, and WHO in Des Moines. Radio stations streaming coverage online included WMT Cedar Rapids. KCRG is located within the downtown Cedar Rapids evacuation zone, but stayed on the air using a backup generator with commercial-free coverage throughout Thursday and Friday, with Bruce Aune and Beth Malicki anchoring for at least twelve hours straight. Cumulus Broadcasting's four Cedar Rapids stations (KRNA/94.1, KHAK/98.1, KDAT/104.5, and KRQN/107.1), also located downtown, were forced to leave the air early Thursday morning. (6/13/2008)

MINNESOTA:
The Mankato Free Press reports that KEYC/12's broadcast signal has been off the air since Tuesday (6/10) due to problems with its transmission line. The station continues to feed its programming to cable systems and DirecTV. KEYC, the only station in the Mankato market, is a CBS affiliate and carries FOX on a digital subchannel. (6/13/2008)

MINNESOTA:
Longtime Duluth TV anchor Amy Rutledge is leaving the business for a job in public relations. Rutledge currently co-anchors FOX 21 News at 9, and had previously worked at KDLH/3 and KBJR/6. She will continue at FOX 21 for about another month before beginning her new job at Minnesota Power. (6/12/2008)

NORTH DAKOTA:
Valley News Live reports that KQLX/890 and KQLX-FM/106.1 (Lisbon) were knocked off the air Wednesday (6/11) when a lightning strike damaged studio equipment. Owner Terry Loomis said the stations could return to the air as soon as Thursday, but may be off for several days. Ironically, KQLX-FM just began transmitting from a new tower a few weeks ago, which was not damaged in the storm. (6/12/2008)

IOWA:
KHKE/89.5 (Cedar Falls) is back to full power, sixteen months after the top half of its tower collapsed due to extreme icing and high wind, leading to arcing which damaged the transmitter and other equipment. The Iowa Public Radio station installed a new tower, transmitter building, digital transmitter, antenna, and microwave relay system as part of the reconstruction. Photos are linked from the network's website. (6/11/2008)

MINNESOTA:
The Associated Press reports that KFIL/1060 (Preston), KFIL-FM/103.1 (Preston), and KVGO/104.3 (Spring Valley) were knocked off the air Sunday afternoon (6/8) by floodwaters. The stations had returned to the air by Tuesday morning. (6/10/2008)

WISCONSIN:
The ICN Company is donating the license of WPCA-LP/95.7 (Amery) to Dream Center, Inc. ICN has applied for new non-commercial stations licensed to Turtle Lake and Spring Valley, and LPFM's cannot be owned by parties with other stations. The deal only includes the WPCA-LP license; all equipment and property is retained by Luanne Peterson and loaned to Dream Center, Inc. for two years. (6/10/2008)

CONSTRUCTION PERMITS FOR NEW RADIO STATIONS: