October 2012

IOWA:
After just eight months with a Classic Country format, KWSL/1470 (Sioux City) has flipped to all-Comedy. RadioInsight and All Access report the change came Monday (10/29) as part of a national rollout of the 24/7 Comedy format by KWSL owner Clear Channel. KWSL was also part of Clear Channel's rollout of spanish-language formats when it switched to Regional Mexican in 2005. That format lasted until 2009 when Oldies debuted, followed by Classic Country this past February. (10/29/2012)

MICHIGAN:
The FCC has granted a booster station that will essentially allow an FM station to move into the Marquette market. WUPG/96.7 (Republic) theoretically has a rimshot signal to Marquette already, but topography in the area severely limits the signal. The on-frequency booster will use 250 Watts, reaching the immediate Marquette area. WUPG is owned by Radioactive, LLC and operated by Newberry Radio, LLC alongside WUPT/100.3 (Gwinn-Marquette). (10/26/2012)

MINNESOTA:
The effort to ugprade three Twin Cities FM translators to relay Clear Channel stations continues. The Educational Media Foundation has resubmitted one of its applications, prepared by a Clear Cahnnel engineer, to move a translator to the IDS Center. The FCC dismissed an earlier application to move W227BF/93.3 (Shoreview) from Arden Hills to IDS at EMF's request earlier this fall. Now, EMF has submitted a slightly tweaked application seeking 99 Watts from IDS and specifying Clear Channel's KTCZ/97.1 as the station to be rebroadcast. EMF also has pending applications to move K260BA/99.9 (Coon Rapids) from Plymouth to downtown Minneapolis and to upgrade K273BH/102.5 (Fridley), which is already downtown. Both specify Clear Channel stations to be rebroadcast. 93.3 and 99.9 currently carry EMF's "K-Love" network while 102.5 carries EMF's "Air-1." Lakeland Communications, the owner of KQIC/102.5 (Willmar), has filed an informal objection against the 102.5 application and low-power FM advocate Jeff Sibert has informally objected to both the 99.9 and 102.5 applications. A fourth application to move K249ED/97.7 (Albertville) from Maple Grove to IDS was dismissed last year. Clear Channel already owns translator K278BP/103.5, which it bought from EMF in exchange for HD subchannel rights in the Detroit market. K278BP carries KTCN/1130's News/Talk format via the HD2 signal of KFXN-FM/100.3. 102.5 was initially included in the logo for KTCN's new format last year but was dropped before the launch. (10/25/2012)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
Agnus Dei Communications is adding a Brookings translator for "The Lamb Catholic Radio Network" network. It's buying K233BR/94.5 from Edgewater Broadcasting for $10,000. Agnus Dei recently signed on KSJP/88.9 (Ipswich-Aberdeen) and is in the process of building KSTJ/91.3 (Hartford-Sioux Falls) and a station on 100.9 in Murdo. (10/25/2012)

MINNESOTA:
Twin Cities Public Television made a few changes to its channels at the beginning of the month. "TPT Life" (KTCI-DT/2.3) is now in full HD, while "TPT MN" (KTCA-DT/2.2) is now in widescreen standard definition. "TPT Life" also debuted new prime time programming as part of the change. (10/24/2012)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
The FCC has granted a construction permit for a new Pierre-market FM station. Riverfront Broadcasting LLC won the CP for the new station on 104.5, licensed to Murdo, in an auction last spring with a $94,000 bid. The allotment was originally for a class A (6kW/100m) station that would not have reached Pierre, but Riverfront successfully upgraded the station to 100kW/318m (class C0) for the initial CP. It'll broadcast from the KPRY-TV tower north of Presho. Riverfront also owns KCCR/1240 and KLXS/95.3 (Pierre). The new station could displace KPGN-LP/104.7 (Pierre). (10/24/2012)

ONTARIO:
Canadian regulators have denied license renewal for a northeastern Ontario Christian radio station which has rebroadcasting transmitters in Sault Ste. Marie and Wawa. CHIM-FM/102.3 (Timmins) and its ten rebroadcasting transmitters must leave the air by Nov. 30. The CRTC says it has repeatedly warned CHIM-FM about failure to make contributions to Canadian content development funds, provide airchecks, and provide annual statements of returns. The commission said the station "has demonstrated a history of repeated non-compliance, often in regard to the same regulatory obligations, and has shown disregard for those obligations over three consecutive licence terms." CHIM-FM has not reacted to the decision on its website or Facebook page. (10/23/2012)

WISCONSIN:
WLWB/1530 (New Holstein) is expected to be back on the air by Dec. 10 after the FCC approved a construction permit to move to a new transmitter site. The station will move five miles to the north and upgrade from 250 to 350 Watts, improving the signal to Appleton and adding about 110,000 people to the main coverage area. New owner Mark Heller took WLWB, formerly WMBE, off the air last December due to tower problems at the old site. He must get the station back on the air within a year of going silent to keep the license and says he doesn't foresee any problem meeting the deadline. Heller's Metro North Communications bought WLWB from Maszka-Pacer Radio for $60,000. He also owns True Oldies Channel affiliate WGBW/1590 (Denmark-Green Bay) and WLWB fills in a null in WGBW's coverage area. (10/23/2012)

ILLINOIS/IOWA:
The Trinity Christian Center of Santa Ana, parent of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, is buying new TV station WMWC/53.1 (Galesburg-Quad Cities) from Northwest Television for $1.125 million. WMWC signed on this summer carrying TBN. It broadcasts on channel 8, remapping to 53.1, from the Orion tower farm, providing coverage similar to other Quad Cities market stations. (10/23/2012)

SASKATCHEWAN/NORTH DAKOTA:
New station CKSE-FM/106.1 (Estevan) recently signed on, serving the border area of Saskatchewan and North Dakota (Estevan is about ten miles north of the border). "Rock 106" uses 100kW/71m and is owned by Golden West Broadcasting, which also owns an AM station and one other FM station in Estevan. (10/22/2012)

NEBRASKA:
KBRX-FM/102.9 (O'Neill) is at significantly reduced power due after a late September lightning strike damaged its antenna and transmission line. The station normally uses 100kW but is now using only its exciter with an estimated 250 Watts ERP, according to a filing with the FCC. KBRX-FM's Country format is temporarily being simulcast on KBRX/1350 and also streams online. The station asked the FCC for at least sixty days to repair the damage but says on its website that it could be back to normal by the end of next week. (10/19/2012)

MANITOBA:
Canadian regulators have denied Bell Canada's proposed takeover of Astral Media, saying the purchase would not be in the public interest. Both companies have radio stations in Winnipeg, and the combined company would have had to shed two stations to comply with ownership caps. Nationally, Bell owns the CTV and CTV Two broadcast TV networks (including CKY-TV/7 Winnipeg), 29 cable networks, and 33 radio stations, while Astral owns 20 cable networks and 84 radio stations. Bell is also Canada's second-largest wireless provider and its third-largest subscription TV provider. CRTC Chairmain Jean-Pierre Blais said in a press release that Bell failed to persuade regulators that the deal would benefit Canadians and that it would have given one company significant market power. Bell responded that it was "shocked" by the denial and said it would ask federal Cabinet members to intervene. (10/18/2012)

NORTH DAKOTA:
KZZQ/101.9 (Richardton-Dickinson) has switched to the non-commercial Catholic network "Real Presence Radio" following the network's purchase of the station. The switch happened on Wednesday (10/17). Real Presence Radio bought KZZQ, which had signed on just six months ago with a commercial News/Talk format, from Meadows Broadcasting for $300,000. A fundraising drive has been underway among Catholics in the Dickinson area to pay for the station. Real Presence Radio now has full-power AM signals in Fargo and Grand Forks, full-power FM signals in Bismarck and Dickinson, and FM translators in Minot and Williston. (10/18/2012)

MINNESOTA:
CBS/FOX affiliate KEYC-TV/12 (Mankato) has more than tripled its power, going from 15.2kW to 52.7kW. The move adds a few miles to the station's rooftop antenna coverage area and, perhaps more importantly, strengthens the signal closer in for people using indoor antennas. KEYC is the latest in a long series of VHF High DTV stations to increase power over the past several years. It carries CBS on 12.1 and FOX on 12.2 and is the only full-power station in the Mankato market. (10/17/2012)

MINNESOTA:
KMHL/1400 (Marshall) is poised to get an FM signal amid a shift of Christian radio stations in the area. The FCC recently approved KMHL Broadcasting's purchase of K277AI/103.3 (Russell) from Christian Heritage Broadcasting for $40,000, and K277AI has a construction permit to improve its signal to Marshall by upgrading to 250 Watts. Meanwhile, Christian Heritage Broadcasting is buying K212FH/90.3 (Balaton) from Refuge Media Group for $15,000 to take over in carrying its "Praise FM" network. Refuge Media no longer needs the translator after signing on KRGM/89.9 (Marshall), the second full-power station for the Christian Hits network originating at WJRF/89.5 (Duluth). (10/16/2012)

WISCONSIN:
Duluth-based Christian radio network "The Refuge" has returned the license for its Ashland translator, W215AE/90.9. It was forced off the air by the sign-on of WUWS/90.9 (Ashland) and though the translator once had a construction permit to move to 91.5, the frequency change was never made. W215AE had been one of WJRF's first translators. (10/16/2012)

IOWA:
Longtime KCRG-TV/9 (ABC, Cedar Rapids) Sports Director John Campbell has announced his retirement. Campbell, an Oskaloosa native, started at WBAY-TV/2 (Green Bay) in 1970 and moved to KCRG in 1979. His last newscast will be Dec. 14 but Campbell will continue part-time work at the station. Scott Saville, KCRG's weekend sports anchor, will take over as sports director. (10/15/2012)

NORTH DAKOTA:
Bismarck rimshot signal KTWJ/90.9 (Moffit-Lincoln) recently signed on carrying Christian network Radio 74 Internationale. The 100kW station is owned by Bismarck Adventist Education Station and replaces KJIT-LP/106.7 (Bismarck). (10/15/2012)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
"The Lamb Catholic Radio Network" has signed on its first station, KSJP/88.9 (Ipswich-Aberdeen). KSJP, formerly KAJF, moved from 88.5 and upgraded from 100 to 100,000 Watts after "Lamb" operator Agnus Dei Communications bought the station from Church Planters of America. Broadcasting on 88.9 began Oct. 7 and a Calvary Satellite Network translator, K205ED/88.9 (Aberdeen), signed off a few days later. (K205ED has applied to move to 89.5). "The Lamb" network is also in the process of building Sioux Falls rimshot KSTJ/91.3 (Hartford), which is owned by the Catholic Chancery Office, and Agnus Dei also has a construction permit for a new station on 100.9 in Murdo, which will have a rimshot signal to Pierre. Agnus Dei is headed by former commercial broadcaster Kevin Culhane. (10/15/2012)

WISCONSIN:
WRJC/1270 (Mauston) and FM translator W225BF/92.9 have dropped Soft Oldies in favor of mainstream Country. The switch came Monday, Oct. 1, according to a news story on the station's website. The "Smash Country 92.9/AM 1270" format also includes updates from FOX Sports Radio. The change, and the recent transition of WRJC-FM/92.1 to "Now 92-1," come following the stations' sale to Murphy's Law Media Group. (10/13/2012)

WISCONSIN:
The sale price for WIXK/1590 (New Richmond) is $10,000, according to an asset purchase agreement filed with the FCC this week. Zoe Communications is buying the station from Hubbard Broadcasting, which picked it up when it bought the former WIXK-FM/107.1 and moved it into the Twin Cities market a decade ago. The paperwork indicates Hubbard is retaining ownership of the WIXK tower site. Zoe recently signed on "Thunder Country 95.7" (WDMO Baldwin) after moving the station to St. Croix County from Durand. Last month, WIXK dropped its longtime "Real Country" syndicated format and began rebroadcasting WDMO, with plans to switch to "Real News AM 1590," according to the listing on Zoe's website. The buyer also has a trio of stations and two translators in the Shell Lake/Rice Lake area and is already operating WIXK through a local marketing agreement. (10/13/2012)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
A third AM-on-FM translator is coming to Rapid City. Haugo Broadcasting is buying translator K289AI/105.7 from Bethesda Christian Broadcasting for $25,000. A filing with the FCC says K289AI will relay Haugo's KTOQ/1340, which carries ESPN Radio. K289AI had relayed Bethesda's KLMP/88.3, but a filing earlier this month indicated the 25-Watt translator went off the air in August due to transmitter problems. Other Rapid City translators, owned by separate groups, relay KKLS/920 on 97.5 and KIMM/1150 on 106.7. (10/12/2012)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
Midwest Communications is buying an FM translator in Sioux Falls that was already slated to carry one of the group's AM stations. Midwest will pay Christian Heritage Broadcasting $45,000 for K251BH/98.1, which an earlier facility change application had indicated would carry Midwest's FOX Sports Radio affiliate KWSN/1230. (10/12/2012)

MICHIGAN:
An FM translator in the Mackinac Bridge area is changing the AM station it relays. Baraga Broadcasting is selling W264CF/100.7 (St. Ignace) to Northern Star Broadcasting for $1 and four years free rent for Baraga at a Northern Star Broadcasting tower in the lower peninsula. W264CF has been relaying the non-commercial Catholic format of WIDG/940 (St. Ignace) and will switch to Northern Star's "Big Country Gold" WCBY/1240 (Cheboygan). W264CF recently moved from a site just west of St. Ignace to the other side of the bridge, adding Cheboygan to its main coverage area but removing St. Ignace. (10/12/2012, updated transmitter move 10/13)

IOWA:
The FCC has denied an application to move an FM station into the Des Moines market. Truth Broadcasting had proposed moving KTIA-FM/99.3 (Boone) to the suburb of Johnston with a 6kW transmitter in Saylorville. The proposed facility would have provided a strong signal to 78.5 percent of the Des Moines Urbanized Area and the FCC said in January that the application appeared to be in conflict with rules intended to prevent moves from rural areas to urbanized areas. KTIA then responded that the move should be considered a move from one urbanized area to another because the station could theoretically be moved into the Ames Urbanized Area without changing its community of license. In its decision issued Thursday, the FCC said there is no "would or could" standard for potential moves and therefore dismissed the application. The FCC's letter appeared to leave open the possibility that KTIA could first move to the Ames Urbanized Area, while remaining licensed to Boone, and then apply for the move into the Des Moines Urbanized Area. KTIA is owned by Truth Broadcasting and carries a Christian Talk format. (10/11/2012)

IOWA:
The Catholic format of KWKY/1150 (Des Moines) is now being simulcast on KIHS/88.5 (Adel) and translator K233BT/94.5 (Des Moines). KWKY owner St. Gabriel Communications bought KIHS and K233BT from Calvary Radio Network for $600,000 earlier this year. (10/11/2012)

MICHIGAN:
MichiGuide.com reports new station WUPN/95.1 (Paradise-Sault Ste. Marie) is on the air with a "Radio Eagle" Classic Hits format similar to its sister Darby Advertising stations in other Michigan markets. The station actually applied for its license to cover a year ago but it's not clear when the regular format began. WUPN uses 25kW/71m from a tower along Whitefish Bay, providing a rimshot signal to the Twin Soos, with a construction permit for a 250-Watt on-frequency booster in Sault Ste. Marie proper. (10/11/2012)

MINNESOTA:
An FM translator owner has changed its strategy to move two translators into St. Cloud. K283AN/104.5 and W293AV/106.5 began as Minnesota Public Radio stations in Hinckley. MPR sold them to Blue Wing, Inc. after signing on a full-power station in the area. Blue Wing shares some common ownership Tri-County Broadcasting, which owns four AM stations and one FM station in the St. Cloud market, and originally applied to move the translators directly to St. Cloud on 105.1 and 107.1 to relay two of Tri-County's AM stations. It was originally thought the move would be possible after a 2011 FCC decision that translators could seek a waiver for long-distance moves. However, the applications sat at the FCC without action until they were amended to move only a little bit west of Hinckley. The FCC then approved the applications, and the translators have already applied for another hop west to a site north of Mora. The 2011 decision had said that such "hops" were an abuse of process, but the FCC did approve the final "hop" for a translator moving from Brainerd to St. Cloud after that decision was released. On the other hand, Radio Power, Inc. abandoned apparent plans to "hop" two translators into the Twin Cities market after the FCC raised questions about its move of a Wisconsin translator from Beloit to Milwaukee. (10/10/2012)

MINNESOTA:
John Gilbert will join KDAL/610 (Duluth) this Wednesday (10/10), replacing Dave Strandberg in the 9 to 11 a.m. time slot. The show will include discussion of local news and sports along with automotive talk. Gilbert has hosted sports shows on KDAL in the past and was also a sports and automotive writer for the Star Tribune for thirty years. He will continue to write columns for two websites and The Reader, Duluth's alternative weekly. (10/8/2012)

WISCONSIN:
Wisconsin Public Radio's WHSA/89.9 (Brule) has completed its tower replacement project and upgraded from 38kW to 92kW in the process. The final upgrade came Wednesday (10/3). The old WHSA tower, located in the Brule River State Forest, dates from the 1950's and was the last from the original "state FM" network. Though the new tower in the photo at the right, supplied by the state, may appear taller, WHSA actually slightly lowered its antenna height above average terrain from 168m to 157m in the process, while the station's class rose from C2 to C1. A directional antenna slightly limits the signal towards the Twin Ports to avoid interference to WJRF/89.5 (Duluth). WHSA carries the NPR News & Classical Music network. (10/4/2012)

IOWA/ILLINOIS:
David Burke of the Quad City Times reports that NBC affiliate KWQC/6.1 (Davenport) is expanding its reach in new deals with FOX 18 (KLJB Davenport) and Clear Channel's radio group. KWQC will begin producing FOX 18's 9 p.m. newscast on Dec. 31, replacing ABC affiliate WQAD/8.1 (Moline), which itself replaced the Independent News Network in producing the FOX newscast a few years ago. Meanwhile, KWQC has already begun supplying news and weather updates to Clear Channel's six stations, while Clear Channel personalities will provide entertainment reports to KWQC. KWQC is adding three newsroom positions as part of the expansion. (10/3/2012)

MINNESOTA:
The Educational Media Foundation has withdrawn one of its applications to move an FM translator to the IDS Center to relay a Clear Channel station, but two other applications remain pending. EMF had applied last year to move or upgrade four translators at IDS, specifying Clear Channel stations to be rebroadcast, a move which would have potentially given Clear Channel a total of five translators in addition to its five full-power stations. The FCC recently dismissed the application to move W227BF/93.3 (Shoreview) to IDS at EMF's request, and an application for K249ED/97.7 (Albertville) to move from Maple Grove to IDS was dismissed last year. Meanwhile, applications remain pending to move K260BA/99.9 (Coon Rapids) from Plymouth to downtown Minneapolis and to upgrade K273BH/102.5 (Fridley), which is already downtown. Informal objections have been filed against both applications by low-power FM advocate Jeff Sibert and the K273BH application also faces opposition from Lakeland Communications, the owner of KQIC/102.5 (Willmar). The translators currently carry EMF's Christian "K-Love" and "Air-1" networks. (10/3/2012)