July 2007
IOWA:
Sinclair's FOX 28 (KFXA Cedar Rapids) has dropped its morning newscast, which had aired from 7-9 a.m. The newscast hosted by Eadie Fawcett and Craig Johnson had launched in 2005. (7/31/2007)
MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
The Wisconsin Educational Communications Board has filed a petition for reconsideration after the FCC chose Lincoln High School in Esko, MN, for a new station on 88.7, rather than the WECB's application for 88.5, which would have been licensed to Superior and transmitted from Duluth. WECB is one of two parent organizations of Wisconsin Public Radio. The American Family Assocation had also applied for 88.1 in Wentworth, WI, which competed with the Superior application, but was reinstated after the Superior station was denied and the Esko station granted. (7/31/2007)
MARCONI AWARD FINALISTS:
A number of finalists for Marconi Awards are from the Upper Midwest, including three of the five finalists for Small Market Personality of the Year and Small Market Station of the Year. Congratulations to personality finalists Mark Clark of "Laser 101.7" (KRCH Rochester), Mike McNamara of KNOX/1310 (Grand Forks), and John Mons of KDUZ/1260 (Hutchinson). Station finalists include KMRY/1450 (Cedar Rapids), KOGA/930 (Ogallala), and WAXX/104.5 (Eau Claire). In other categories, "KS95" (KSTP-FM/94.5 St. Paul) is a finalist for Large Market Station and AC Station, "Cities 97" (KTCZ Minneapolis) is a finalist for Rock Station, KFAN/1130 (Minneapolis) and KWEB/1270 (Rochester) are finalists for Sports Station, and Van & Bonnie of WHO/1040 (Des Moines) are finalists for Medium Market Personality of the Year. Winners will be announced September 27. (7/30/2007)
IOWA/ILLINOIS:
Northwest Television has received a construction permit for a new full-power digital TV station in the Quad Cities market. The CP for channel 53 is licensed to Galesburg, IL, and would transmit with 1,000kW from a tower south of Orion, IL -- the area from where most of the market's stations transmit. However, the station may never actually occupy channel 53 since it is among the channels (51-69) to be discontinued as part of the nationwide conversion to digital. The president of Northwest Television is Bruce E. Fox of Sarasota, FL, who owns 44% of Prime Cities Broadcasting, the owner of the FOX affiliates in Bismarck, ND. (7/30/2007)
MINNESOTA:
The Home Shopping Network low-power station in Minneapolis has moved from channel 67 to 43, getting an upgrade from 4.63kW to 68.7kW. (7/30/2007)
WISCONSIN:
Solutions Broadcast Media Group reports that WJTI/1460 (Racine-Milwaukee) has returned to the air with a Latin AC format as "La Nueva Ritmo." The station is now owned by El Sol Broadcasting. (7/30/2007)
NEW FM TRANSLATOR SIGN-ONS:
Radio 74 Internationale signed on translators at 100.5 in Mandan ND (Cannon Ball), 103.9 in Hastings NE, 106.9 in Kearney NE, 103.9 in Minocqua WI, and 96.7 in Rhinelander WI
WEMI/WEMY signed on a translator at 95.5 in Manitowoc WI
WRVM signed on a translator at 100.9 in Tomahawk WI
WRGX signed on a translator at 105.1 in Marquette MI
Bott Radio Network signed on translators at 100.1 in Hastings NE and 104.3 in Grand Island NE
Horizon Christian Fellowship applied for licenses to cover 98.7 Spencer IA, 95.3 Mankato MN, 95.3 New Ulm MN, 93.9 St. Peter MN, 105.3 Olivia MN, 104.5 St. Charles MN, 103.1 Sleepy Eye MN, 103.5 Green Bay WI, and 89.9 Omro WI
Edgewater Broadcasting applied for licenses to cover 95.5 Mitchell SD, and 103.5 Watertown SD
Radio Assist Ministry applied for licenses to cover 91.9 Brainerd MN, 105.9 Norfolk NE, and 107.9 North Platte NE (7/30/2007)
NEBRASKA:
C.R. Communications is selling KTNC/1230 (Falls City) to to KNZA, Inc., which owns KLZA/101.3 (Falls City) and four stations in northeast Kansas. The sale price is $330,000. (7/26/2007)
MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
"KQ98" (KQYB/98.3 Spring Grove) has moved its studio from Spring Grove to La Crosse, joining five co-owned Family Radio stations there. La Crosse is on the edge of KQYB's main coverage area, and the Country station also has a translator there. The former Spring Grove studio is for sale. In other Family Radio news, Kenny Jay has left KQYB to work as promotions/music director at sister station Q106 in Madison, and "The Big Tuna" has taken over the morning shift at "Z93" (WIZM-FM/93.3). (7/25/2007)
CUMULUS GOING PRIVATE:
Cumulus Media, the nation's second-largest radio group by station count, announced plans Monday to merge with an investor group led by Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey and an affiliate of Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity. The $1.3 billion transaction would amount to $11.75 per share, which is 40% higher than the stock's closing price last Friday. The merger is subject to shareholder approval. In the Upper Midwest, Cumulus has groups in the Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Quad Cities, Waterloo, Faribault, Rochester, Bismarck, Sioux Falls, Appleton, and Green Bay markets. (7/23/2007)
MINNESOTA:
The FCC has granted construction permits for two new FM stations in the Bemidji market, both licensed to Blackduck:
92.1, 36kW/176m (C2), Troy Paskvan. Roger Paskvan has 1 AM and 2 FM stations in the market and a construction permit for a second AM.
104.5, 8.5kW/148m (C3), Louis H. Buron, Jr. Buron owns 1 AM and 3 FM stations in the market. (7/19/2007)
MINNESOTA:
The FCC has approved Cumulus Media's plan to move a construction permit for a new station on 103.9 closer to Rochester. The CP will change its community of license from Lanesboro to Chatfield, using 6kW/100m from a site along I-90 north of Chatfield. In its application, Cumulus argued that 103.9 should not be considered a Rochester-market station for ownership cap purposes. Cumulus owns four stations licensed to Rochester and three others which include the city in their legal ID. (7/17/2007)
NEBRASKA:
Riverfront Broadcasting, which has operated KNCY/1600 (Nebraska City) and KNCY-FM/103.1 (Auburn) through a local marketing agreement since 2004, is buying the stations outright. Riverfront will pay Arbor Day Broadcasting $690,000 for the stations. Riverfront is owned by Carolyn Becker (51%) and Doyle Becker (49%) of Yankton, SD. Arbor Day Broadcasting is owned equally by Dean Sorenson, Richard Chapin, and Gloria Wagner. (7/17/2007)
WISCONSIN:
The FCC has renewed the license of WAUK/1510 (Waukesha-Milwaukee), dismissing an informal objection filed by Harmony Pet Care, a veterinary clinic near WAUK's towers. The clinic complained of interference to its phone system. The FCC said the blanketing interference rule does not include phones, but did encourage WAUK to continue helping the clinic to resolve the problem. (7/17/2007)
WISCONSIN:
After granting a license renewal and then rescinding the grant, the FCC has again granted license renewal for Clear Channel's WISN/1130 (Milwaukee). (7/17/2007)
WISCONSIN:
The historic WFMR callsign is up for grabs: WFMR/106.9 (Brookfield-Milwaukee) has switched to WJZX to go along with its new Smooth Jazz format. (7/17/2007)
SOUTH DAKOTA:
Culhane Communications' KVHT/106.3 (Vermillion) has moved from Adult Contemporary to Classic Hits. (7/16/2007)
NEBRASKA:
DX-midAMerica reports that KHZY/99.3 (Overton) has signed on. The 100kW non-commercial Horizon Broadcast Network station has a strong signal to Kearney and Lexington. Horizon also has construction permits for stations in Newell IA, Beulah ND, Medina ND, Sarles ND, Sargent NE, and Westby WI, and CP's for dozens of translators around the region. (7/16/2007)
NEBRASKA/IOWA:
The sign-on of a Connoisseur Media's new station on 107.7 in the Omaha market could be closer to happening, now that the FCC has approved a modification to the station's original construction permit. The Pacific Junction, Iowa-licensed station will use 50kW/129m (class C2) from a tower near Glenwood, Iowa, which should provide a strong signal to the entire Omaha-Council Bluffs metro. The original CP was for 3kW. To make way for the upgrade, KTIC-FM/107.9 (West Point, formerly KWPN) will move its transmitter to the northwest, weakening its signal to Fremont and Tekamah, but strengthening the signal to Norfolk and Wayne. The KTIC-FM move will have to be made before the new station, which does not yet have a callsign, can sign on. (7/16/2007)
MINNESOTA:
Another week, another new translator on the air in the Twin Cities, this time W221BS/92.1 (Waite). The 55-Watt station transmits from St. Paul and is currently relaying "Bob 106" (KLCI/106.1 Elk River), but owner Educational Media Foundation plans to eventually carry its "Air-1" Christian Rock network on W221BS. Waite is apparently a small neighborhood in St. Paul; the FCC requirements for communities of license for translators are not as strict as they are for full-power stations. W221BS is the eighth FM translator to sign on in the Twin Cities area in the last few years, and there are a few more to come. Check the Twin Cities Class D FM's page for more. (7/11/2007)
NEW STATIONS GRANTED:
Firth, NE: 93.7, 6kW/69m (A), VSS Catholic Communications. Lincoln rimshot.
Hyannis, NE: 97.9, 100kW/186m (C1), In Phase Broadcasting.
Pierce, NE: 97.5, 30kW/103m (C2), WJAG Inc. Norfolk rimshot.
South Heart, ND: 105.7, 100kW/67m (C1), Steven R. Bartholomew. Dickinson market.
Ephraim, WI: 106.9, 6kW/75m (A), Michael J. Mesic.
Rosholt, WI: 100.5, 25kW/93m (C3), JER Licenses. Wausau/Stevens Point market. (7/11/2007)
WISCONSIN:
Northwestern College is buying new translators on 95.9 in Platteville and 95.3 in Richland Center from Edgewater Broadcasting for a total of $6500. The translators will carry WNWC-FM/102.5 (Madison). The Platteville station has already applied for a license to cover, but its programming is unknown. (7/11/2007)
MINNESOTA:
Rev. Grace Adam is transferring control of KNOF/95.3 (St. Paul) to North Central University, a Christian college located in Minneapolis. Rev. Adam founded the Christian station with her late husband in 1960. The 6kW station is licensed as commercial, but operated as a non-profit. It has a strong signal across the heart of the metro. (7/10/2007)
MINNESOTA:
Educational Media Foundation's K273BH/102.5 (Fridley-Minneapolis) has signed on, temporarily rebroadcasting "Bob 106" (KLCI/106.1 Elk River). EMF plans to carry its "Air-1" format on K273BH once a chain of translators from St. Cloud is completed to relay the signal. The 10W station transmits from the same antenna in Minneapolis as EMF's K214DF/90.7 (Golden Valley), which carries "K-Love." (7/7/2007)
MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN/MICHIGAN:
Mark Mallory has left NBC affiliate KBJR/6 (Superior-Duluth) after nine years co-anchoring the weekday evening newscasts with Michelle Lee. Mallory plans to return home to Michigan. (7/7/2007)
MICHIGAN:
WBKP/5 (Calumet) has switched from ABC to CW+, while ABC programming continues to be seen in the Upper Peninsula on WBUP/10 (Ishpeming-Marquette). WBKP is the only broadcast TV station in the western U.P. It signed on as the Marquette market's ABC affiliate in 1996 and became a satellite of WBUP when it signed on in 2003. CW+ is a 24-hour mix of CW and syndicated programming offered to broadcast stations in small markets, and, in most cases, is seen on a digital subchannel. Carrying CW+ on WBKP rather than a digital subchannel guarantees eventual cable and satellite coverage across the market. (7/6/2007)
FM TRANSLATOR NOTES:
Northwestern College signed on a KTIS-FM translator at 92.7 in Willmar MN and a KNWS-FM translator at 104.7 in Marshalltown IA.
The KTIS-FM translator in Mankato MN has moved from 94.3 to 94.9.
The Refuge signed on a translator at 91.9 in North Branch MN.
WRVM, Inc. signed on a translator at 102.5 in Port Washington WI.
The WRVM translator in Marshfield WI moved from 91.5 to 91.3.
AMDG Radio signed on a translator at 92.1 in Peshtigo WI, which the application stated would carry WLCJ-LP/92.5 (Marinette).
Relevant Radio has signed on a translator at 97.1 in Shawano WI (WOVM).
Edgewater Broadcasting applied for licenses to cover 105.1 Mankato MN, 93.1 Moose Lake MN, 88.7 Sidney NE, W219DF Marshfield WI, W262AX Marshfield WI, 103.3 Sturgis SD.
Horizon Christian Fellowship applied for licenses to cover 93.3 Anamosa IA, 105.7 Davenport IA, 98.9 Onawa IA, 99.1 Eveleth MN, 88.7 Fairmont MN, 105.1 Glencoe MN, 99.7 Montevideo MN, 99.1 Beatrice NE, 97.5 Devils Lake ND, 107.9 Grand Forks ND, 97.1 Jamestown ND, 105.7 Wahpeton ND, 99.5 Nebraska City NE, 100.7 Chamberlain SD, 94.3 Hot Springs SD, 98.9 Milbank SD, 104.7 Rapid City SD, 94.5 Watertown SD, 90.7 Appleton WI, 107.1 Clintonville WI, 106.1 Green Bay WI, 107.1 Spooner WI (7/3/2007)
NEBRASKA:
KNCY/1600 (Nebraska City) has flipped to a mix of Adult Contemporary and Oldies. KNCY-FM/103.1 (Auburn) continues to carry the "KNCY Country" format that had been simulcast on both stations. (7/3/2007, corrected 7/18)
NEBRASKA/IOWA:
Pappas Telecastings' former Azteca America affiliates in the Omaha, Lincoln, and Sioux City markets have rebranded as "TuVision," a new brand Pappas plans to roll out across the country. ("Tu" means "you" in spanish.) "TuVision" stations include KXVO-DT2 (Omaha), KAZO-LP/57 (Omaha), KWAZ-LP/56 (Lincoln), KAZS-LP/23 (South Sioux City), and KAZJ-LP/46 (Norfolk). (7/2/2007)
