December 2001
WISCONSIN:
WRDN-FM/95.9 (Durand) has dropped Country in favor of Light Adult Contemporary and is now targeting Menomonie and Eau Claire. The format is locally automated and called "Lite 95.9 WYLT," but the official call letters are still WRDN. Though the station has only a fair signal into Menomonie and Eau Claire (the downtowns of both cities are outside of the station's primary contour), the audio quality of the station has also vastly improved since Zoe Communications purchased it earlier this year. WRDN/1430 had been simulcasting with 95.9 and it's unknown what 1430 is carrying these days. (12/31/01)
WISCONSIN:
WWJR/106.5 (Sheboygan Falls) has flipped from Hot Adult Contemporary to Hard Rock as "The Buzz." The call letters will change to WHBZ, and the syndicated Bob and Tom show airs in the mornings. (12/31/01)
WISCONSIN:
The last "Sunday Morning Polka Gettogether" aired on Country 104.9 (WNFM Reedsburg) on December 30. The show had been on the air for about 15 years. (12/31/01)
MINNESOTA:
The FCC gave final approval to Main Street Broadcasting's purchase of KOWO/1170 and KRUE/92.1 (Waseca) on Wednesday 12/26, and KRUE returned to the air Thursday using ABC's Country Coast-to-Coast format as "The Eagle 92.1." (The station was previously Hot AC as "Star 92.") Meanwhile, it's rumored that KOWO will drop its current locally-automated Classic Country format for Talk. Hometown Broadcasting purchased KOWO, KRUE, and KQPR/96.1 (Albert Lea) from Cumulus Media and in turn sold KOWO/KRUE to Main Street Broadcasting, which is owned by the same people who own KOWZ/100.9 (Blooming Prairie). Hometown will retain KQPR, which had previously simulcast with Cumulus' KQCL/95.9 (Faribault). KQPR is still playing Classic Rock as "Power 96" but is no longer simulcasting with KQCL. (12/28/01)
MINNESOTA:
The FCC has approved a plan to change the community of license for KRVI/95.1 from Detroit Lakes to Barnesville. The change will allow the Clear Channel-owned station, which targets the Fargo-Moorhead market with an Adult Contemporary format called "The River," to move its transmitter to a site a few miles south of Moorhead. The change should be applied for sometime between February and May of 2002 with a construction permit issued for the actual move after that. In its ruling the FCC denied a counterproposal from Enderlin Broadcasting to allocate a 100kW station to 94.5 in Enderlin. (12/28/01)
WISCONSIN:
Two more low-power FM stations have been granted, both on 101.3: In Ashland, the Northern Wisconsin History Center of Ashland received a construction permit for a station with 100W at 12m. The Cashton Community Wellness Group received a CP for a station with 6W at 112m. (12/28/01)
MINNESOTA:
Mark Anthony has returned to the radio airwaves to do the weather on "The Loon" (KKLN/94.1 Atwater-Willmar). Anthony is the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. for ABC affiliate KSAX/42 (Alexandria). He's been involved in virtually all aspects of radio programming, including stints at Willmar's Q102, KS95 in the Twin Cities, and KLTA in Fargo. (12/28/01)
IOWA:
Dave St. John has returned to KZZQ/99.5 (Winterset-Des Moines) as program director and midday host. Since he was last at KZZQ, St. John has worked at WNCB/89.3 (Duluth) and Florida-based WAY-FM. (12/27/01)
MINNESOTA:
KOOL 108 has ended its Christmas format (obviously) and unveiled its newer Oldies format, with the new positioner "Super `60s and `70s." (12/27/01)
MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
Customers of DirecTV and DISH Network who receive their market's local stations via satellite will see more of those stations in coming days. "Must carry" rules take effect on January 1, meaning that the satellite providers must carry all channels in a market that ask to be carried, assuming their signal can reach the provider's "point of presence" in the market. DirecTV will launch new channels on December 27. In Minneapolis, WCCO/4 (CBS), KSTP/5 (ABC), KARE/11 (NBC), and WFTC/29 (FOX) have been carried for two years, and KTCA/2 (PBS), KMSP/9 (UPN), KTCI/17 (PBS), KMWB/23 (WB), and KSTC/45 (Ind.) will be added to DirecTV. In Milwaukee, WTMJ/4 (NBC), WITI/6 (FOX), WISN/12 (ABC), and WDJT/58 (CBS) are already carried, and WMVS/10 (PBS), WVTV/18 (WB), WCGV/24 (UPN), WVCY/30 (Christian), and WMVT/36 (PBS) will be added. DirecTV customers who have older receivers will need to readjust their "favorites" lineup to reflect new channel numbers, which can be found at the DirecTV website. Meanwhile, DISH Network also serves the Minneapolis market and hasn't yet officially announced which channels will be added January 1. (12/27/01)
MINNESOTA:
KRUE/92.1 (Waseca) has been mostly off the air since Thursday, December 20, as Main Street Broadcasting completes its purchase of the station and works on technical changes. KRUE was reportedly heard briefly on the air Friday running Christmas music as "92.1 The Eagle." KOWO/1170, also included in the sale, continues its regular format. The stations are being purchased by Main Street Broadcasting, which is owned by the same people who own KOWZ/100.9 (Blooming Prairie). (12/23/01, updated 12/24)
IOWA/WISCONSIN:
Radio Dubuque has applied to move the construction permit for a new station on 101.1 closer to Dubuque. The station will be licensed to Dickeyville, WI, and is currently permitted for 6kW at 100m. Under the application, the station would use a directional antenna to prevent interference to KUUL/101.3 (East Moline, IL) and would operate with 3.7kW at 129m from a site just across the river from Dubuque. (12/23/01)
SOUTH DAKOTA:
PAX affiliate KKRA-LP/24 (Rapid City) has received a construction permit to move to channel 38 and upgrade to 21.6kW. (12/23/01)
WISCONSIN:
Reporter/anchor James Lynch has joined WTMJ-TV/4 (Milwaukee). (12/23/01)
MINNESOTA:
The format of new sign-on KLCH/94.9 (Lake City) is Hot Adult Contemporary. The station signed on Thursday, December 13. (12/21/01)
WISCONSIN:
Fox Valley Adventist Broadcasting has been issued a construction permit for a new 92-Watt (low-power FM) station on 95.1 in Neenah. (12/21/01)
MINNESOTA:
WNCB/89.3 (Duluth) has received a construction permit to move to 89.5. The station's power would slightly increase and only a vertial antenna would be used, but the main reason for the change will be to get away from co-channel interference with WCAL/89.3 (Northfield) that has been a problem in areas south of Duluth. (12/20/01)
MINNESOTA:
KLCH/94.9 (Lake City) has applied for a "license to cover" from the FCC, which means a station has signed on or is about to sign on. (12/18/01)
MINNESOTA:
Joe Kimbler is re-joining Minnesota Christian Broadcasters as program director of KTIG/102.7 (Pequot Lakes) and KCFB/91.5 (St. Cloud). Kimbler had left the stations several years ago for the computer business, but continued to coordinate the "Looking Up" program, which was most recently heard on KKJM/92.9 (St. Joseph-St. Cloud). The show ended its six-year run on December 1. (12/18/01)
MINNESOTA:
Three Angels Broadcasting Network has been granted a 650-Watt station on channel 44 in Alexandria, which has been assigned the call letters K44GH. (12/17/01)
MINNESOTA:
WNCB translator K205CP/88.9 (Nicollet) has received a construction permit to move to 89.1 as K206DI and increase to 99 Watts. This translator is used to feed WNCB's Mankato translator at 102.7, and the frequency change will eliminate the occasional problem of co-channel interference with KNSR/88.9 (Collegeville). (12/17/01)
MINNESOTA:
Becca Lynn has joined "Lake Country KQ92" (KKWQ/92.5 Warroad) as afternoon host. (12/17/01)
NEBRASKA:
At the request of Pierce Radio, LLC, the FCC is considering a proposal to allocate 97.5 to Pierce as a class C2 (50kW) station. Pierce is about ten miles northwest of Norfolk. The FCC contact on the proposal is Victoria McCauley at (202) 418-2180. Comments are due by Febrary 2, 2002. (12/17/01)
WISCONSIN:
Meadow Creek Christian Radio Corporation has been granted a construction permit for a new 100-Watt (low-power FM) station on 101.7 in Rice Lake. (12/17/01)
MINNESOTA:
Several moves to report in central Minnesota: Q102 (KQIC Willmar) program director Tim Burns has resigned and been replaced with sister KWLM/1340 PD John Neilson. Melanie Eckhart has resigned her position as morning co-host at KKLN/94.1 (Atwater-Willmar). Barry Collins has moved from the morning co-host position at KKLN to morning co-host at KCLD/104.7 (St. Cloud). Former KCLD morning co-host Ann Tyler and KCLD part-timer Eric Slater are both now working part-time at KS95 in the Twin Cities. (12/15/01)
WISCONSIN:
A pilot flying a helicopter for WISN-TV/12 (Milwaukee) was killed on Wednesday, December 12 when the helicopter crashed onto I-43. (12/15/01)
WISCONSIN:
Q102 (WVRQ-FM Viroqua) is running Christmas music for most of the day and evening, but its regular Country format in the overnight and early morning hours. (12/15/01)
WISCONSIN:
WPRE/980 (Prairie du Chein) celebrated 49 years on the air December 12 and will mark its 50th year on the air with historic features and contests. (12/15/01)
IOWA:
KNWS-FM's translator in Gilbert, licensed to Majestic Airwaves, has moved to 105.9 and upgraded to maximum translator power of 250 Watts. (12/12/01)
WISCONSIN:
Kim Dawson has joined WISN-TV/12 (Milwaukee) as a reporter. (12/12/01)
NATIONAL:
Echostar CEO Charlie Ergen said on his monthly "Charlie Chat" DISH Network broadcast December 10 that at least one market in every state would likely receive local broadcast channels via satellite if the Echostar purchase of DirecTV is approved. Earlier, Ergen had indicated that the top 100 markets, including Cedar Rapids-Waterloo, Des Moines, the Quad Cities, Omaha, Green Bay, and Madison, would likely be carried. Now, Ergen says Fargo, Sioux Falls, Lincoln-Hastings-Kearney, and Cheyenne-Scottsbluff would also likely be added. Minneapolis stations are already carried by both DISH Network and DirecTV, and Milwaukee stations are carried by DirecTV. Beginning January 1, most Milwaukee and Minneapolis channels not already carried will be added to the services under the "must-carry" law. Click here to see which counties in the upper midwest would receive service under Ergen's plan. (12/11/01)
MINNESOTA:
Facing concern from Dow Jones & Company, Infinity/CBS/Viacom has changed the call letters of KDOW/950 (St. Louis Park-Minneapolis) to KCCO. The change increases the visibility of the relationship between 950 and WCCO/830. The KCCO call letters are also used by WCCO-TV satellite station KCCO-TV/7 (Alexandria). (12/10/01)
WISCONSIN:
Woodward Communications plans to change the call letters of WRJQ/1570 (Appleton) to WSCO once it takes the station over from Winnebago Broadcasting. The FCC has already approved the sale. (12/6/01)
WISCONSIN:
Salem Communications has changed the call letters of WYLO/540 (Jackson-Milwaukee) to WRRD. (12/6/01)
NEBRASKA:
The ETV network's translator in Falls City has moved from channel 24 to channel 46 as K46FG. (12/6/01)
WISCONSIN:
The Nostalgia format returned to the Madison market December 3 when Mid-West Family Radio's WHIT/1550 dropped sports for Nostalgia as WTUX. The format is from Jones Radio Network's Music of Your Life network, with CNN Radio News on the hour. (The last Madison-area station to carry a Nostalgia format, WIBU/1240, also used programming from Jones.) 1550 is a daytime-only facility, but the WTUX format can be heard 24 hours per day at www.wtux.com. WHIT's local program "Team Talk" has been transferred to sister WTDY/1670, where it airs from 6-8 p.m. The WHIT call letters have been transferred to the construction permit for a new station on 93.1 in DeForest, which will also serve the Madison area. (12/4/01)
MINNESOTA:
Sonlife Radio Network translator K219FA/91.7 (Alexandria) has signed on. (12/4/01)
NEBRASKA:
Roger E. Harders has been granted construction permits for two new 12kW low-power TV stations in Mullen on channels 33 and 39, K33GT and K39FZ. Harders also applied for LPTV stations on channels 31 and 44 in Mullen. (12/4/01)
WISCONSIN:
Northwoods Economic Development Project has been granted a construction permit for a low-power FM station (100 Watts) on 96.5 in Crandon. (12/4/01)
IOWA:
Fairfield Media is buying KBIZ/1240 and KTWA/92.7 (Ottumwa) from Gillbro Communications for $950,000. Fairfield also owns KMCD/1570 and KIIK/95.9 (Fairfield) and began operating the Ottumwa stations on November 1 through a time brokerage agreement. (12/4/01)
NEBRASKA/IOWA:
Waitt Radio, which has been operating Mitchell Broadcasting's 16 stations under time brokage and local marketing agreements since April 2000, is buying the stations for $36.6 million. John Mitchell is listed as a director of Waitt Radio but does not own any portion of the company. Norman Waitt, Jr., is the sole shareholder of Waitt Radio. Included in the sale are Omaha market stations KOIL/1180, KKAR/1290, KOZN/1620, KQKQ/98.5, KZFX/101.9. Elsewhere: KBLR/97.3 (Blair); KHUB/1340 and KFMT/105.5 (Fremont); KLIQ/94.5 (Hastings); KUVR/1380 and KMTY/97.7 (Holdrege); KGFW/1340, KRNY/102.3, and KQKY/105.9 (Kearney); and KODY/1240 and KXNP/103.5 (North Platte). The sale also includes KZFX translator K299AK/107.7 (Omaha). KOIL's license will expire within the next few years, since the station moved to the expanded band as KOZN. (12/4/01)
MINNESOTA:
A construction permit has been issued for WDIO-DT/43 (Duluth). (12/1/01)