August 2002

NEBRASKA:
The American Family Association has been granted a construction permit to replace its Grand Island translator with a fully-licensed station. The station, on 88.3, will operate with 250W, the same power as the translator. The real benefit to a change like this is that the former translator will be protected from being bumped off the air by a fully-licensed station. Rochester Community Radio had also sought a station on the frequency. (8/30/02)

ONTARIO:
North Superior Broadcasting has received permission from the CRTC to add translators of its CFNO/93.1 (Marathon) in Nakina and White River. The Nakina transmitter will be at 107.1 with 50W and the White River transmitter will be at 100.7 with 10W. CFNO already has translators in six other communities. (8/30/02)

ONTARIO:
Subject to regulatory approval, the CBC is purchasing CJIC/5 (Sault Ste. Marie) and five other stations elsewhere in Ontario from CTV. CJIC and the other stations already air CBC programming. (8/30/02)

WISCONSIN:
Construction Permits have been issued for two new non-commercial stations in east-central Wisconsin. Jubilation Ministries has received a CP for a new station on 91.3 in Kiel, operating with 1.25kW vertical and 100W horizontal at 147m. Jubilation also owns WJUB/1420 (Plymouth). Elsewhere, Cornerstone Community Radio has received a CP for a new station on 91.7 in Fond du Lac, to operate wtih 10kW at 93m. American Family Radio and Wisconsin Public Radio had also sought stations on 91.3 in the region. (8/30/02)

MINNESOTA:
The Brainerd Daily Dispatch reports that a group headed by Louis H. Buron, Jr. is close to buying Kommerstad Communications' stations in north-central Minnesota. A purchase agreement has not yet been filed with the FCC. The stations are KVBR/1340, KLIZ/1380, KFGI/103.5, and KLIZ-FM/107.5 (Brainerd), KWAD/920 and KKWS/105.9 (Wadena), and KNSP/1230 (Staples). Buron's current group includes three stations in the Brainerd area, as well as four stations in the Bemidji area and two in the Alexandria area, licensed to BDI Broadcasting, BL Broadcasting, and Paul Bunyan Broadcasting. The article quotes Buron as saying he'll have to sell one of the Brainerd-area FM's in order to be within FCC ownership restrictions. There are three other stand-alone commercial stations in the Brainerd Lakes area. (8/29/02)

MINNESOTA:
WCAL/89.3 (Northfield-Twin Cities) is dropping some weekend programming and going all-Classical effective Sunday, August 31, picking up the slogan "Classical 89.3." Here's the announcement. Classical music already fills the bulk of station's schedule. The change will mean an end to Friday Night Jazz, Whad'ya Know?, Car Talk, and To The Best of Our Knowledge on WCAL, though that programming can also be heard on other public radio stations. WCAL is rebroadcast on KMSE/88.7 (Rochester). (8/29/02)

WISCONSIN:
Marigen Anderson is transferring most of her ownership of WLMX-FM/104.9 (Balsam Lake) and WXCX/105.7 (Siren) to Scot O'Malley. Currently, Anderson owns 90% of licensee Casey Communications and O'Malley owns 10%; following FCC approval, O'Malley will own 90% and Anderson will own 10%. Information filed with the FCC indicates Anderson is not receiving any consideration for the transfer. (8/28/02)

MINNESOTA:
KDOG/96.7 (North Mankato) has transitioned from Contemporary Hits to a broad Hot Adult Contemporary format. "Mankato's 96.7 KDOG" is positioned as "favorites of yesterday and today" and also includes ABC news. (8/27/02)

MINNESOTA:
Three Eagles' KITN/93.5 (Worthington) has dropped Country for Classic Hits as "The Eagle." The previous format competed head-to-head with sister station KLQL/101.1 (Luverne). (8/26/02)

MINNESOTA:
KBKK/95.9 (Pillager) is carrying Bill O'Reilly's talk show live from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The station recently switched to a Country format, which airs at other times. (8/26/02)

MINNESOTA:
All Access reports that Regent Communications was the winning bidder for the assets of Brill Media, which includes Duluth market stations WEBC/560, Kool 101.7, B105, and Mix 108. Regent will pay $62 million for Brill's twelve stations in four markets. Regent also has a group of six stations in St. Cloud, MN. In other news, longtime B105 morning personality Pat Puchalla will be moving over to Kool 101.7, while a new morning host is being sought for B105. (8/26/02)

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
The Superior Daily Telegram reports that Twin Ports cable TV customers will still have a UPN9 on September 9, even though KMSP/9 is becoming FOX9. NBC affiliate KBJR/6 will launch a cable-only channel carrying UPN and PAX network programming, which will replace KMSP on channel 9 of Charter Communication's Duluth-Superior lineup. UPN9 will also be available on KBJR's digital signal, which is slated to begin broadcasting in November, and station officials hope to expand UPN9 to other cable systems in the market. In another twist, the 9 p.m. newscast produced by KBJR that was cancelled by FOX21 (KQDS) last month will move over to UPN9 with no interruption. (8/26/02)

WISCONSIN:
Midwest Communications has completed the move of translator W270AJ/101.9. The station now transmits with 180W from Green Bay, relaying Midwest's Classic Rock WOZZ/93.5 (New London). (8/22/02)

WISCONSIN/IOWA:
Q94.3 (WQPC Prairie du Chein) will add the Iowa Hawkeyes and Monday Night Football to its extensive sports lineup this fall. The station already carries the Wisconsin Badgers, Packers, Brewers, and Bucks. (8/22/02)

MINNESOTA:
Another change at Infinity/Viacom's Mix 104.1: Program Director Dusty Hayes is out. Gary Nolan, PD of sister 102.9 Lite FM, will also oversee 104.1. The `80s Hits station just began a new morning show this week. (8/21/02)

IOWA:
New 4.5kW KOJI/90.7 (Okoboji) is on the air, relaying KWIT/90.3 (Sioux City). Both stations are owned by the Western Iowa Tech Community College. (8/19/02)

MINNESOTA:
KCHK-FM/95.5 (New Prague) has changed call letters KRDS, but continues to carry ABC's Oldies Radio format. The FCC actually reported the call letter change in early July but the station continued to use "KCHK" until recently. KRDS is ID'ing as "New Prague-Northfield." The station's signal to Northfield is only fair, but KRDS part-owner James Ingstad also owns Northfield's KYMN/1080. The station also delivers a fair signal to the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities. (8/19/02)

MINNESOTA:
The Trinity Broadcasting Network's Rochester station has moved from channel 60 to channel 56, getting an upgrade from 18kW to 75kW in the process. (8/19/02)

MINNESOTA:
Mix 104.1 will have a new morning show starting tomorrow (Monday 8/19): Carmen and Chris are out, Lisa Wright is in. (8/18/02)

WISCONSIN:
The Stevens Point Journal reports that WSPT/1010 (Stevens Point), WSPT-FM/97.9 (Stevens Point), and WKQH/104.9 (Marathon-Wausau) could be left homeless next month. A sheriff's sale of the two parcels of land that the stations' studios and WSPT transmitter sits on could be auctioned off on September 16 unless owner Rick Muzzy can pay a debt owed to BMI. The newspaper reports that Muzzy's companies owe seven entities more than $313,000. (8/16/02)

WISCONSIN:
Many Madison-area viewers won't be losing UPN when UPN57 (WHPN Janesville) becomes WB57 this fall. WB14, which is available to viewers with cable or digital TV, will become UPN14. WB14 is run by CBS affiliate WISC/3, which carries WB14 as a secondary channel on WISC-DT/50. (8/16/02)

NORTH DAKOTA:
As rumored, "Kool 96.7" (KVMI Arthur-Fargo) is being purchased by a group headed by Thomas Ingstad. Tom Ingstad North Dakota Broadcasting, LLC is buying KVMI from James Babbitt's Vision Media for $800,000. Ingstad owns 65% of Tom Ingstad North Dakota Broadcasting, while Donald Nordin owns 25% and Randy Holland owns 10%. The company also owns "The Buzz" 100.7 (KGBZ Harwood-Fargo). The sale of KVMI is contingent on the FCC approving an application for KVMI to move to 103.9 and upgrade to 25kW, which would improve the station's signal in Fargo, though Fargo would still be outside of the station's primary coverage area. Ingstad's company has been running KVMI from its existing facilities since August 1 under a time brokerage agreement. (8/16/02)

WISCONSIN:
Could Radio Disney be coming to Milwaukee? ABC, Inc. is buying Christian-formatted WKSH/1640 (Sussex-Milwaukee) from L&L Pewaukee Ventures for $2.6 million. WKSH is 10kW day, 1kW night, nondirectional. ABC/Disney does not have any other stations in Milwaukee. The company recently bought a station in Kansas City, where it has no other stations, and changed that station to Radio Disney. (8/15/02)

MINNESOTA:
KARE 11 (NBC) has announced the hiring of Julie Nelson, who up until now had co-anchored the 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts on KSTP-TV/5 (ABC). Nelson won't be able to go on the air at KARE for one year due to a non-compete clause in her KSTP contract, but KARE will pay her during that time. Eventually, she'll co-anchor KARE's 10 p.m. newcast with Paul Magers. (8/14/02)

MINNESOTA:
All Access reports some behind-the-scenes changes at Midwest Communications in Duluth: KDAL/610 Program Director and Sales Manager Charlie Popcorn and Magic 95.7/Rock 102.5 PD Justin Case have both resigned. (8/14/02)

IOWA:
A new noncommercial station could provide a fringe-area signal to Des Moines. Florida Public Radio has received a construction permit for a new station on 90.9 in Creston, which will transmit with 100kW at 102m from a tower in Creston. Though Des Moines will be outside of the station's primary contour, the metro should still receive a fair signal. Florida Public Radio also operates Christian KSKB/99.1 (Brooklyn, IA) and several stations in Florida. The new station will displace American Family Radio translator W215AR/90.9 (Creston). AFR and Des Moines Earlham had also applied for 100kW stations on the frequency. (8/13/02)

MINNESOTA:
D&E Communications has received a construction permit for a new station on 1070 in Verndale. The station will operate with 10kW nondirectional during the day and 5kW directional at night, using four towers from a site a few miles east of Verndale. Edward DeLaHunt, Sr. is one of the parners in D&E Communications. The DeLaHunt family is involved in seven other stations in north-central Minnesota. (8/13/02)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
Family Stations has received a construction permit for a new station on 89.9 in Rapid City, operating with 2.3kW at 562m (class C2). Though the station will be licensed to Rapid City, it will transmit from a tower near Lead to avoid interference to KBHE/89.3 (Rapid City). Family Stations operates the Family Radio network, which is currently heard in Rapid City on 50-Watt translator K212BE/90.3. (8/13/02)

MICHIGAN/MINNESOTA/NEBRASKA/WISCONSIN:
The FCC has dismissed dozens of applications for new noncommercial stations. The FCC had required applicants competing with other applications or that had other engineering problems to file settlements or change their applications by July 19, 2001, and applications that weren't changed by then have now been formally dismissed. Applications in our region dismissed were VCY America's application for a station on 88.1 in Ironwood, MI; Niijii Broadcast Corporation for 89.1 in Waubun, MN; Aspen Public Radio for 90.9 in Juniata, NE; Marinette Broadcasting Foundation for 91.3 in Marinette, WI; Richland Center Fellowship for 89.3 in Richland Center, WI; and competing applications for 89.7 in Cuba City, WI, by the American Family Association and the Positive Programming Foundation. (8/12/02)

MINNESOTA:
The Northwestern Media Group now has a third voice on the airwaves in the Twin Cities region, at least in the evening and overnight hours. Northwestern's LifeNet, which is available at lifenet.fm 24 hours per day, is now also heard from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on the "Spirit FM" simulcast, KBGY/107.5 (Faribault) and WLKX/95.9 (Forest Lake). LifeNet airs Christian Hits, similar to the format aired on Spirit FM during the day. Spirit FM began carrying LifeNet.fm programming on Monday, August 5. Northwestern also runs Northwestern College Radio, heard on KTIS/900 and KTIS-FM/98.5 in the Twin Cities. (8/9/02)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
Alpena Broadcasting has received a construction permit for a new 100kW station on 93.3 in Wessington Springs. The four parties that had applied for the frequency reached a settlement agreement more than two years ago. 93.3's antenna will be located on a tower near Alpena and should deliver a good signal to Huron and Mitchell. (8/9/02)

IOWA:
The Community Education Outreach has received a construction permit for a low-power FM station on 100.1 in Waterloo. The C.E.O. has worked to combat local social problems for more than five years. In its application, the organization even included a pplanned program lineup, which includes news, community events, talk shows, lectures, and poetry, as well as Gospel, Urban, and Jazz music. (8/9/02)

IOWA:
Waverly Light and Power has received a construction permit for a low-power FM station on 96.9 in Waverly. The municipally-owned utility said in its application that it intends to use the station for energy education, interviews with community leaders, and call-in programs. (8/8/02)

NEBRASKA:
Don Fitzpatrick's "Shoptalk" newsletter reports that Lisa Bertin has joined FOX42 (KPTM Omaha) to co-anchor the 9 p.m. newscast. She was last an anchor at ABC affiliate WAOW/9 (Wausau, WI). (8/8/02)

IOWA:
The Des Moines Register reports that KXTK/940 (Des Moines) will drop Sports Talk for a Christian format on September 3. Riverside Radio had leased the station from Saga Broadcasting to air the format. It faced competition from Clear Channel's KXNO/1460 and Lifestyle Communications "The Jock" (107.1 Osceola, 96.1 Madrid). (8/8/02)

IOWA:
Minnesota-Iowa Christian Broadcasters new 50kW KJIA/88.9 (Spirit Lake) has signed on, relaying programming from KJLY/104.5 (Blue Earth, MN). (8/8/02)

NORTH DAKOTA:
"Northern Lights Public Radio" may not be dead after all. Facing strong competition from Minnesota Public Radio and North Dakota Public Radio, the mix of Adult Alternative, Folk, and Jazz that had aired on KUND/1370 and KFJM/90.7 (Grand Forks) ended on July 31. Since then, the stations have been relaying North Dakota Public Radio, which is also heard on the larger signal of KUND-FM/89.3 (Grand Forks). The University of North Dakota owns all three stations. UND and NDPR already have an agreement in place allowing NDPR to program KUND-FM and NDPR says its now seeking permission to program the remaining two stations. The network says it would restore programming similar to the old format of Northern Lights Public Radio if an agreement is reached. (8/6/02)

MINNESOTA:
DJ Broadcasting's KBKK/95.9 (Pillager-Brainerd) has switched from Jones Radio Network's "Music of Your Life" format to a Country format. The change occurred Monday, August 5. KBKK had competed directly with KLKS/104.3; now it'll compete directly with B93.3 and Froggy 103.5. DJ Broadcasting is held equally by Edward De La Hunt of Park Rapids and his son, David De La Hunt of Mehanga. (8/6/02)

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)