July 2005

NEBRASKA:
CBS affiliate KOLN (Lincoln) and satellite KGIN (Grand Island) will launch "UPN Nebraska" on September 1, according to the Lincoln Journal-Star. The channel will be carried on KOLN-DT, KGIN-DT, and cable systems. Besides UPN's two-hour primetime block, UPN Nebraska's lineup will include repeat broadcasts of Oprah, Jeopardy!, and KOLN newscasts. Some UPN programming is currently seen on FOX affiliates KSNB/4 (Superior) and KTVG/17 (Grand Island). (7/17/2005)

IOWA:
Davidson Media is buying KXLQ/1490 (Indianola), which has been off the air since January 31, from Warren Broadcasting for $425,000. The 1kW station delivers a fair to good signal to Des Moines. A previous agreement to sell the station to KXLQ Insight Sports, LLC, was not completed. Davidson Media, a multicultural broadcaster, is also in the process of buying two stations in the Minneapolis market. (7/15/2005)

NORTH DAKOTA/SOUTH DAKOTA/MONTANA:
DISH Network has launched its Bismarck-Minot market locals package, and it's being offered without charge for now because only two stations have agreed to be carried. They are KFYR-NBC and Prairie Public Television. The market includes 32 counties in western North Dakota, six counties in northwestern Montana, and three counties in north-central South Dakota. DirecTV does not serve the market. (7/14/2005)

IOWA:
The Des Moines Register reports that KDPS/88.1 has left the air due to a license renewal mixup with the FCC. The FCC denied license renewal for KDPS, along with KNEI/1160 (Waukon), KVIK/104.7 (Decorah), KCUI/89.1 (Pella), KDIC/88.5 (Grinnell). It is unknown whether any of the other stations affected have left the air. The FCC has already accepted new applications for license renewal from all of the stations but KDIC. KDPS may return to the air by next week. The licenses for KLBA/1370 (Albia) and K257DR/99.3 (Burlington) were also deleted, though those stations were already off the air. (7/9/2005)

IOWA:
KCCK/88.3 (Cedar Rapids) has dropped "Marketplace" and "The World" from its evening lineup, expanding Jazz programming to 23 hours per weekday. BBC's "World Update" continues to air from 5-6 a.m. (7/9/2005)

MINNESOTA:
Three Eagles Broadcasting is formally buying the construction permit for a new station to serve the Mankato area. Three Eagles had loaned William C. Doleman the money to pay for his winning bid for KQYK/95.7 (Lake Crystal), and will cancel a promissary note for an estimated amount of $620,000. Three Eagles also owns KEEZ/99.1 (Mankato), KRBI-FM/105.5 (St. Peter-Mankato), and KRBI/1310 (St. Peter). The 6kW/100m station should theoretically provide a good signal to Mankato, though terrain issues in the Minnesota River valley may pose a problem. (7/7/2005)

WISCONSIN:
Many north-central Wisconsin viewers were left without NBC programming over the Fourth of July weekend, after the transmitter at W27AU/27 (Wausau) burned up late Friday or early Saturday. W27AU relays WJFW/12 (Rhinelander), and DirecTV receives its feed of WJFW via W27AU. The station returned to the air, and DirecTV, late Tuesday. (7/6/2005)

IOWA:
Florida-based L4 Media Group is buying WBXF-CA/4 (Des Moines) along with 13 other low-power TV stations from The Box Worldwide, a subsidiary of Viacom, for $5 million. At last report, WBXF-CA carried MTV2. (7/5/2005)

SOUTH DAKOTA/WYOMING:
Bad Lands Broadcasting Company is buying two stations with construction permits to move into the Rapid City market. Bad Lands will pay $915,000 for KFMH/102.1 (Belle Fourche) and $800,000 for KRKI/99.5 (Newcastle, WY). KFMH has a construction permit to move to 101.9 with 95kW from Terry Peak, plus a 1kW booster in Rapid City, while KRKI has a CP for 100kW from a site southwest of Hill City, and has applied for a 1.1kW booster in Rapid City. KFMH is currently owned by Victor A. Michael's Laramie Broadcasting Company, while KRKI is owned by Michael Radio Group, a partnership of Victor A. Michael and his brother Van A. Michael. Bad Lands Broadcasting Company is a subsidiary of Oregon Trail Broadcasting, and principals of that company own a few dozen stations in Wyoming and New England. More information is listed on this site's ownership page. (7/1/2005)

IOWA/NEBRASKA:
Midwest Bible Radio, LLC is now operating KTFC/103.3 (Sioux City) and KTFG/102.9 (Sioux Rapids) under a local programming and marketing agreement. The owner, 87-year-old Donald A. Swanson, is donating the stations to Midwest Bible Radio and will receive a $1,500 monthly stipend for the rest of his life. Swanson will retain ownership of KTFJ/1250 (Dakota City, NE-Sioux City). Midwest Bible Radio is a subsidiary of the Good News Broadcasting Association, which produces the long-running "Back to the Bible" program. (7/1/2005)

IOWA:
No timetable is set for a full launch of Iowa Public Radio, according to a network spokesperson. Decisions on programming changes are expected to be made by a new executive director, who may be hired at a meeting of the Iowa Public Radio Executive Council on July 28. On Thursday (6/30), the council named two finalists for the position: Cindy Browne, a Minnesota-based public broadcasting consultant, and John Stark, the general manager of KNAU in Flagstaff, AZ. The state Board of Regents is combining the operations of stations at Iowa State University (WOI AM-FM), the University of Iowa (WSUI/KSUI), and the University of Northern Iowa (KUNI/KHKE). A consultants' report recommended the formation of three networks: an AM information network, an FM network combining Classical music and flagship NPR news programming, and an FM network carrying news and information during the day and perhaps music at night. (7/1/2005)