August 2005

NEW LOW-POWER TV CONSTRUCTION PERMITS:

MANITOBA:
CIIT/35 (Winnipeg) is scheduled to sign on November 14. The station is owned by Rogers Media and will use Rogers' OMNI TV brand. (8/27/2005)

EMMIS TV SALE:
Emmis Communications is selling nine of its 16 TV stations, including FOX affiliate WLUK/11 (Green Bay, WI) and CBS affiliate KMTV/3 (Omaha). WLUK and four other stations, plus satellite stations, are going to LIN TV for $260 million. Meanwhile, Journal Broadcasting will pay $235 million for KMTV and two other stations. Journal already owns seven radio stations in the Omaha market. (8/22/2005)

MINNESOTA/SOUTH DAKOTA:
KISD/98.7 (Pipestone, MN) has applied to increase its antenna height from 309m to 450m from its current site near Chandler, MN, which would improve the 100kW station's signal to Sioux Falls. The upgrade would allow KISD to keep its class C status. (A few years ago the FCC added class C0 for previous class C stations with antenna heights less than 450m. However, stations in this category are not reclassified to C0 unless another station proposes a change that would require the downgrade.) (8/22/2005)

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
WJRF/89.5 (Duluth), the flagship of the "Refuge" translator network, has applied to increase its power from 2.85kW to 74kW, retaining its antenna height of 155m, a jump from class C3 to C1. The upgrade would improve the station's signal to Cloquet and Two Harbors, and help overcome interference from intermodulation in Duluth. WJRF would use a directional antenna to prevent interference to WHSA/89.9 (Brule, WI). (8/22/2005)

IOWA:
Clear Channel's KWMT/540 (Fort Dodge) and WOC/1420 (Davenport) have switched to FOX News. Meanwhile, CC's KASI/1430 (Ames) has switched from ABC to CNN, while Chester Coleman's KDLS/1310 and KDLS-FM/105.5 (Perry) have switched from CNN to ABC. (8/20/2005)

MINNESOTA:
Three Angels Broadcasting Network has received a construction permit for an 18.5kW station on channel 44 in Hackensack, K44HZ. (8/20/2005)

NORTH DAKOTA:
The operator of the K-Love and Air-1 networks, Educational Media Foundation, has received a construction permit for a 1.8kW station on 88.9 in Jamestown. (8/20/2005)

WISCONSIN:
WNWC-FM/102.5 (Madison) is announcing that its new tower is expected to be completed in the week of August 22. The station has been broadcasting at lower power for two months. Meanwhile, WNWC/1190 (Sun Prairie) has reduced power from 1kW to 250W as work begins to upgrade the station to 4.7kW. (8/20/2005)

IOWA:
Clear Channel's KWSL/1470 (Sioux City) has picked up the company's "La Preciosa" Mexican Oldies network. It's the first spanish-language station in Sioux City and the third in Iowa; KWSL also provides a fringe signal to Sioux Falls, SD, which does not have a spanish-language station. FOX Sports Radio has moved to KMNS/620, where it runs after Imus from 5-8a and Glenn Beck from 8-11a. (8/19/2005)

NEBRASKA:
Legacy Communications is expanding to McCook with the purchase of KSWN/93.9 (News/Talk/Sports) and KIOD/105.3 (Country) from Austin McCook LLC for $1.3 million. Legacy, headed by Grand Island mayor Joseph Jay Vavricek, owns four stations in the Grand Island market and one station in Kimball. (8/18/2005)

IOWA/MISSOURI:
KOJY/106.9 (Bloomfield) is being sold by Horizon Broadcasting to Mark and Karen McVey of Ottumwa for $460,000. The McVeys also own KMEM/100.5 (Memphis, MO). KOJY carries Salem's Southern Gospel format and KMEM runs ABC's Real Country. (8/17/2005)

IOWA:
The buzz in Sioux City is that Clear Channel will flip KWSL/1470 to a spanish-language format on Thursday. FOX Sports Radio is being moved from KWSL to sister station KMNS/620, where it will take up most of the schedule. Rush Limbaugh has moved from KMNS (back) to Powell Broadcasting's KSCJ/1360 from 11a-2p, pushing Bill O'Reilly to 5-7p. (8/17/2005)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
KJRV/93.3 (Wessington Springs) has signed on but does not appear to have launched a regular format yet. KJRV is owned by Alpena Broadcasting, which is a partnership of the four companies that originally applied for the frequency: Dakota Communications, Mitchell Broadcasting, Sorenson Broadcasting, and Todd P. Robinson. The station operates with 65kW at 190m from a tower near Alpena, and provides a good signal to Mitchell and Huron. (8/17/2005)

WISCONSIN:
Milwaukee's longtime "Lazer 103" is gone, replaced by "102.9 The Hog" just after 10 a.m. Tuesday (8/17). The new format expands the Saga Broadcasting station's playlist to include Hard Rock songs from the `70s to (almost) today. Bob and Brian continue in the morning, with no announcers the rest of the day for now. The callsign will change from WLZR to WHQG. (8/18/2005)

WISCONSIN:
Alan Quarnstrom's WHSM-FM/101.1 (Hayward) has switched to Jones Radio Networks' Classic Hits format, dropping JRN's Adult Contemporary format. The same format also runs on Quarnstrom's WXCX/105.7 (Siren). (8/16/2005)

MINNESOTA:
KBGY/107.5 (Faribault-Minneapolis) has switched its slogan from "Que Buena" to "Meda Buena." (8/16/2005)

IOWA:
KLOX/90.9 (Creston) has signed on, simulcasting the Christian format of KSKB/99.1 (Brooklyn). The stations are owned by Florida Public Radio. KLOX's main coverage area is southwest of Des Moines, and it may mix with KUNI/90.9 (Cedar Falls) in the Des Moines area. (8/13/2005)

SOUTH DAKOTA/NEBRASKA:
Alleycat Communications has received a construction permit for a new station on 93.7 licensed to Pine Ridge, SD, which will also provide a good signal to Chadron, NE. The class C3 station will transmit with 13.5kW at 138m from a site in Nebraska. (8/12/2005)

RADIO NETWORK SHIFT UPDATE:
Clear Channel's KXIC/800 (Iowa City, IA) and KCJB/910 (Minot, ND) have switched to FOX News. In Milwaukee, Clear Channel's WOKY/920 has switched to CBS, which was dropped by Journal's WTMJ/620 in favor of ABC after Clear Channel's WISN/1130 dropped ABC for FOX. (8/9/2005)

IOWA:
Iowa Public Radio's executive council has hired Cindy Browne to serve as the network's Executive Director. Browne, a public broadcasting consultant who currently lives in the Twin Cities area, will oversee the merger and programming changes at Board of Regents-owned stations, based at campuses in Ames, Cedar Falls, and Iowa City. The Regents have twelve stations and six translators, plus one construction permit and seven applications for new stations. So far, some of the stations have begun using the name "Iowa Public Radio," but no major on-air changes have been made. A report adopted by the Regents recommended three networks: AM News/Talk, FM News/Talk, and FM News/Classical. (8/9/2005)

MICHIGAN:
Gerald J. Hackman, the former owner of four stations in the Ashland, WI, area, is buying 20% ownership in WUPY/101.1 (Ontanagon) for $220,000. The money will be used for capital improvements. Current owner Sandra K. Schultz will retain 80% ownership of the new company, SNRN Broadcasting. (8/8/2005)

IOWA/MINNESOTA:
A former translator of KJLY/104.5 (Blue Earth) is being moved from Iowa to Minnesota to become a translator for "The Refuge" (WJRF/89.5 Duluth). What was originally K252AU/98.3 (Spirit Lake, IA) became K255BK/98.9 (Superior, IA), which will move to 88.1 in Jackson, MN. The translator was no longer needed when KJIA/88.9 (Spirit Lake) signed on relaying KJLY. WJRF already has translators in Spirit Lake and Estherville. (8/8/2005)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
Cumulus Media has received a construction permit for the new Sioux Falls market station it won in last fall's auction. It paid almost $2.4 million for 99.1 Lennox, a class C2 station which will operate with 50kW at 61m from a site near Lennox, providing a good signal to part of Sioux Falls. Cumulus owns six other stations in the Sioux Falls market. (8/6/2005)

WISCONSIN:
The FCC has reversed an earlier decision and granted Calvary Chapel of Manitowoc a construction permit for a low-power FM (100W) station on 104.1. FCC staff had originally denied the application because its statement of educational purpose was nearly identical to applications by other Calvary Chapel organizations around the country, which did not demonstrate a local purpose. After the dismissal, Calvary Chapel of Manitowoc filed a petition for reconsideration containing new information, which the FCC determined did demonstrate a local purpose. Here is the full decision in .pdf format. (8/6/2005)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
Family Radio's KQFR/89.9 (Rapid City) has applied for a license to cover, indicating it has or will soon sign on. The station transmits from Terry Peak near Lead, and its main coverage area does not actually include Rapid City. The Christian network is also heard on translator K212BE/90.3 (Rapid City), but American Family Radio has a construction permit for that frequency which will force K212BE off the air. (8/5/2005)

IOWA:
What's next for KWSL/1470 (Sioux City)? The all-sports station is announcing that FOX Sports Radio is moving to sister Clear Channel station KMNS/620. (8/5/2005)

MORE FOX NEWS AFFILIATES:
NRG Media, LLC, has reached a deal to add one-minute FOX newscasts to 20 of its stations. Meanwhile, Clear Channel's KFYR/550 (Bismarck), KVOX/1280 (Moorhead-Fargo), and WMEQ/880 (Menomonie-Eau Claire) are also reported to have switched to FOX (see below). (8/5/2005)

RADIO NETWORK NEWS SHIFT (UPDATED):
Most Clear Channel News/Talk stations are making the switch to FOX News. Stations that have already flipped include WMT/600 (Cedar Rapids), WHO/1040 (Des Moines), WIBA/1310 (Madison), KFAB/1110 (Omaha), and KMNS/620 (Sioux City), while WISN/1130 (Milwaukee) will switch on Monday (8/8). The switch is leading to affiliation changes at other stations: ABC and Paul Harvey have moved to KWQW/98.3 (Boone-Des Moines), WTMJ/620 (Milwaukee), and KSCJ/1360 (Sioux City). KKAR/1290 (Omaha) has picked up Paul Harvey but continues to air CBS News on the hour. Drop an e-mail to [email protected] if you know of other changes. (8/4/2005)

MINNESOTA:
"Magic 107.1" (KMGK Glenwood) has switched from Adult Contemporary to Smooth Jazz. Both the old and new formats come from Jones Radio Networks. KMGK has a construction permit for an upgrade that will give the station a good signal to Alexandria, Sauk Centre, and Long Prairie. (8/3/2005)

CANADIAN TV NAME SHIFT:
CHUM Television has swapped the names of nine of its stations across Canada, bringing the "Citytv" brand to Manitoba. CHMI/13 (Portage La Prairie-Winnipeg) and two stations in Alberta have switched from "A-Channel" to "Citytv," which is also used in Toronto and Vancouver. Meanwhile, six former "NewNet" stations (outside of Manitoba and northwestern Ontario) have adopted the "A-Channel" name. The changes took place on Tuesday (8/2). All of the stations are available across Canada via satellite. (8/3/2005)

IOWA:
CBS2 (KGAN Cedar Rapids) has cancelled its 5 p.m. newscast, replacing it with "Extra." The station continues its other newscasts, and is developing a morning show to air on FOX28 (KFXA Cedar Rapids). (8/2/2005)

IOWA:
WOI-TV/5 (ABC, Ames-Des Moines) will resume a 6 p.m. newscast on September 12. (8/2/2005)

MINNESOTA:
FOX9 (KMSP Minneapolis) will add an hour-long newscast at 5 p.m. beginning in September, according to the Star Tribune. FOX9 will be the only station carrying local news from 5:30 to 6 p.m. (8/2/2005)

IOWA:
KDNZ/1250 (Cedar Falls-Waterloo) has made its anticipated switch to "Radio Bueno," carrying a variety of Latin hits with english-language liners. The Fife Communications station had previously simulcast with expanded band sister KCNZ/1650, which continues its News/Sports/Talk format. (8/1/2005)