July 2002

IOWA:
Don Fitzpatrick's "Shoptalk" newsletter reports that Diane Pathieu has moved from KFXB/FOX40 (Dubuque) to KCRG-TV/9 (ABC, Cedar Rapids), where she's now an anchor/reporter. (8/5/02)

ILLINOIS/WISCONSIN:
WEKZ AM-FM (Monroe) has signed on a new sister station south of the state line: WQLF/102.1 (Lena, IL). The station runs a Classic Rock format called "Hit Radio Q102.1." The station officially began broadcasting at 4 p.m. Friday (8/2) from a studio co-located with WEKZ. Manager Scott Thompson described it as "the WLS of the 70's." The 6kW station delivers a fair signal to Monroe and a strong signal to Freeport, IL. More information was posted on the WEKZ website. (8/4/02)

MINNESOTA:
KSTP-TV/5 and KSTC/45 began using new on-air graphics during their newscasts in late July. The stations' logos remain unchanged. (8/4/02)

ONTARIO:
The Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal reports that the group that owns all but one of the commercial radio stations in Thunder Bay wants to manage or buy the remaining station, "Magic 99.9" (CJUK), but the majority owner of Magic told the newspaper that it probably won't happen. (8/4/02)

NEBRASKA/SOUTH DAKOTA:
The FCC is considering proposals for new allocations to Hyannis, NE, and Wall, SD. Grant County Broadcasters has requested that 97.9 be allocated to Hyannis as a class C1 (100kW/300m) facility. Hyannis, pop. 287, is the seat of Grant County, pop. 747. A station using the frequency would serve rural western Nebraska. Elsewhere, Wall Radio Broadcasters has requested that 105.5 be allocated to Wall as a class C (100kW/600m) facility. Wall, pop. 818, is a well-known tourist destination. A station using the allocation could potentially provide a good signal to Rapid City. The FCC will accept comments on the proposals through September 23. (8/3/02)

MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Public Radio has been granted a construction permit for a new 6kW station on 90.1 in Austin. Broadcasting for the Challenged, CSN International, and Lifetalk Broadcasting had also applied for the frequency. MPR currently operates two translators in Austin, one for each of its networks. (8/2/02)

MINNESOTA:
The Educational Media Foundation has been granted a construction permit for a new 510-Watt station on 90.9 in Willmar. The same organization already runs a 250-Watt translator on the frequency, K215CK, which relays their "K-Love" Christian AC format. (8/2/02)

MINNESOTA/NORTH DAKOTA/SOUTH DAKOTA:
The Fan Radio Network, originating at Clear Channel's KFAN/1130 (Minneapolis), launched this week, syndicating KFAN's local programming to other markets. Currently, only Clear Channel stations are carrying the network, but affiliations may be pursued with non-Clear Channel stations across the Upper Midwest. Initial affiliates of the Fan Network are KNFX/970 (Austin, MN), KYSM/1230 (Mankato), KWEB/1270 (Rochester), KLTC/1460 (Dickinson, ND), KVOX/1280 (Moorhead-Fargo), KKXL/1440 (Grand Forks), and KSDN-FM/94.1 (Aberdeen, SD). Most of the stations are now called "The Fan." KYSM had been Oldies, KLTC had been Country, KKXL had been Nostalgia, and KSDN-FM had been Rock. The other stations already carried Talk/Sports formats. A few other talk shows continue on some stations, including Rush Limbaugh on KVOX. Limbaugh is distributed by Clear Channel-owned Premiere Radio Networks. (7/30/02, revised 8/2)

NORTH DAKOTA:
Vision Media's KVMI/96.7 (Arthur-Fargo) has applied to move to 103.9 and increase power from 6kW to 25kW, while moving its transmitter a few miles north. The station currently suffers from signal problems in its target market of Fargo-Moorhead. The upgrade would improve the signal slightly, but still leave the metro outside of KVMI's primary coverage area. It recently changed from Hot Talk to Oldies as "Kool 96.7." Meanwhile, there are rumors that Randy Holland Investments, the owner of KGBZ/100.7 (Harwood-Fargo), is running KVMI through a local marketing agreement and may purchase the station. No applications to that effect had been filed with the FCC at last check. KVMI is currently licensed to Vision Media, of which Jim Babbitt is the sole shareholder. Holland is the Secretary-Treasurer of Tom Ingstad's Iowa City Broadcasting Corp. (7/30/02)

WISCONSIN:
The FCC has granted Cumulus Media's WNAM/1280 (Neenah) an upgrade to 50kW directional daytime. The station's power would remain 5kW directional at night. (7/30/02)

ONTARIO:
Big Pond Communications' Magic 99.9 (CJUK Thunder Bay) has applied for a power increase from 37 to 15,000 Watts, reports the Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal. Thunder Bay's other two commercial FM stations are both 100,000 Watts. Magic 99.9 signed on last September and runs an Adult Contemporary/Oldies format. (7/28/02)

MINNESOTA:
It appears Twin Hearts Media may have completed its purchase of KSMM/1530 (Shakopee-Minneapolis). The station is now airing EWTN Radio's spanish language "Radio Catolica Mundial" network, but the english-language "Catholic Answers Live" is still scheduled for 4-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. (7/27/02)

WISCONSIN:
The School District of Goodman-Armstrong Creek is selling 422-Watt WGAZ/91.3 (Goodman) to WRVM, Inc. for $20,000. Goodman is in far northeastern Wisconsin. WRVM/102.7 (Suring) is a noncommercial Christian station which has nine translators and is buying six more. (7/27/02)

MINNESOTA:
Part of the old "WAKX watertower network" is being transferred from one Christian broadcaster to another. Seven translators on the Iron Range are being transferred from JPI Radio to Heartland Christian Broadcasters. JPI had used them to rebroadcast its KADU/90.1 (Hibbing) before the station went off the air last year. The translators are W269AP/101.7 (Aurora), W237AF/95.3 (Buhl), W269AQ/101.7 (Chisholm), K280AZ/103.9 (Cook), W280CO/103.9 (Gilbert), K236AD/95.1 (Grand Rapids), and K280AW/103.9 (Hoyt Lakes). Heartland owns two stations in International Falls, including KBHW/99.5, which has seven existing translators in northern Minnesota. (7/24/02)

NORTH DAKOTA:
KVMI/96.7 (Arthur-Fargo) has stopped the stunting and is now playing more Oldies than just "Louie, Louie." In going back to 96.7's previous format, they've also adopted the "Kool 96.7" name. KVMI is the only Oldies station in the market. (7/23/02)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
KELO-TV/11 (Sioux Falls) morning anchor Stacy Bauer is now co-anchoring the 5 p.m. news with Doug Lund. Bauer will also be a nightside reporter, while Jolene Loetcher will be moved to dayside. Former 5:00 co-anchor Jaine Andrews will concentrate on her daily HealthBeat segments. The station has not yet announced who will join Jon Wilson and Shawn Cable on KELOLAND This Morning. (7/23/02)

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
The FCC has approved a plan to give WDGY/630 (Hudson-St. Paul) better coverage of the Twin Cities at night. The station has received a construction permit to operate with 5kW at night, shooting north from a site in Rosemount. WDGY will continue to operate with 2.3kW during the day, shooting west from a site near Hudson. It will be the only station in the region using separate sites for daytime and nighttime operation. WDGY is owned by Greg Borgen and leased to Radio Rey, the only 24-hour spanish-language format in the Twin Cities. (7/22/02)

NEBRASKA:
A new allocation brings the possibility for another commercial FM station in the Lincoln market. The FCC has allocated 93.7 to Firth as a class A (6kW/100m) station. Any station using the allocation would have to be located 10.8km northwest of Firth, and such a facility would provide a good signal to Lincoln. Catholic broadcaster Starboard Broadcasting requested that the allocation be made, but anyone will be able to apply for it once the FCC opens a window of filing. The FCC has not announced when that will be. (7/21/02)

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
Citing low ratings, KQDS-TV/FOX21 (Duluth) has announced the cancellation of its 9 p.m. newscast, which is produced by NBC affiliate KBJR/6. The last newscast will air on Friday, September 6. "Friends" will take its place on the KQDS-TV lineup. FOX21 began broadcasting in September 1999, and the newscast was added in October 2000. There are no other 9 p.m. TV newscasts in the Duluth-Superior market. KBJR does not anticipate any staff reductions. (7/19/02)

MINNESOTA:
WNCB/89.3 (Duluth) is announcing on-air that it will make the move to 89.5 on or near September 1. The move will allow WNCB a slight power and antenna height increase and will also eliminate a co-channel interference problem with WCAL/89.3 (Northfield) that has limited WNCB's signal to the south. (7/20/02)

WISCONSIN:
WLWR-LP/107.7 (Marinette) has applied for a "license to cover," which usually means that a station has signed on or is about to sign on. If so, WLWR-LP would be the first low-power FM station to sign on in Wisconsin. The station is owned by the Marinette Radio Association. The FCC created the LPFM service for community groups to operate non-commercial stations at 100 Watts or less on frequencies that would have previously only been available to translator stations. (7/20/02)

IOWA:
Pappas Telecasting has received a construction permit for a 10kW low-power TV station on channel 53 in Storm Lake, K53HW. Though no station to be rebroadcast was specified in the application, Pappas also owns Sioux City FOX affiliate KPTH/44. (7/19/02)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
G.I.G. Incorporated has received a construction permit for a 150kW low-power TV station on channel 52 in Rapid City, K52IA. G.I.G. also owns UPN affiliate KCPO-LP/26 (Sioux Falls). In other unrelated recent action, Three Angels Broadcasting network received a CP for 8kW K34GM (Pierre) and Darold K. Smith received a CP for 999W K57IZ (Willow Lake). (7/19/02)

NORTH DAKOTA:
Vision Media's KVMI/96.7 (Arthur-Fargo) has been running an all "Louie Louie" format since last Friday (7/12), playing different versions of the definitive Oldie. The station had previously carried a Hot Talk format and has a fair signal in the Fargo-Moorhead metro. Its webcast was taken down just before the switch to music was made. (7/18/02)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
The FCC has granted Porcupine Year Round School (of Porcupine) a construction permit for a 150kW low-power TV station on channel 32, K32GA. (7/18/02)

WISCONSIN:
Construction permits for six unbuilt translator stations are being transferred to WRVM/102.7 (Suring). K218BK/91.5 (Marshfield), W201CX/88.1 (Medford), W206BG/89.1 (Mercer), W201CW/88.1 (Merrill), and W210BP/89.9 (Rhinelander) are being assigned from Family Worship Center Church, and W203AV/88.5 (Oshkosh) is being assigned from Pensacola Christian College. Its unclear if the CP's are being sold or donated. WRVM is currently heard on nine translators in northeastern and northern Wisconsin. (7/18/02)

NORTH DAKOTA:
Something may be up at "Real Radio 96.7" (KVMI Arthur-Fargo), where the sounds of construction have been broadcast since Wednesday morning. Occasional announcements are made that they hope to have things done by Friday at 7 a.m. because they've got "a whole new format" planned, one that's "never been done in this town before." A pre-recorded version of the stunting has replaced their online feed. (7/11/02)

ONTARIO:
CFOB/640 (Fort Frances) moved to 93.1 FM on June 4, where it continues the Adult Contemporary format positioned as "Borderland's Best Music" but now goes by the name "B93." The new 21kW FM signal replaces the 1kW AM signal. The CRTC has given CFOB permission to keep the AM signal on the air for one year, rebroadcasting the FM program for six months, and then broadcasting a recorded announcement for another six months advising listeners of the move to FM. (7/7/02)

WISCONSIN:
WLBL/930 (Auburndale-Stevens Point) will be able to broadcast 24 hours per day now that the FCC has approved a nondirectional 70-Watt nighttime signal. (The station operates with 5kW nondirectional during the daytime.) WLBL carries Wisconsin Public Radio's Ideas Network and is one of the oldest stations in the state. (7/7/02)