December 2002

MINNESOTA:
KCCO/950 (St. Louis Park-Minneapolis) will begin carrying Ruth Koscielak's regionally syndicated show as part of an agreement settling Koscielak's discrimination lawsuit against sister station WCCO/830. The show will be aired live on KCCO, which otherwise runs Business Talk, from 1 to 4 p.m. beginning Monday, January 6. (12/31/02)

WISCONSIN:
"Mix 98.1" took to the airwaves on Clear Channel's WISM/98.1 (Altoona-Eau Claire) on Monday (12/30). The Light Adult Contemporary format is not heard on any other station that directly targets Eau Claire, though WCFW/105.7 (Chippewa Falls) is strong in Eau Claire and WJRV/95.9 (Durand) can also be heard on some radios. WISM's well-respected Classic Rock format left the air in November after Clear Channel closed on its purchase of the station, and WISM had aired Christmas music in the interim. (12/31/02)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
The FCC has granted a new booster for KSQY/95.1 (Deadwood) in Rapid City. KSQY-FM1/95.1 (Rapid City) will operate with 4kW horizontal at 137m from the KIQK/104.1 tower. The booster will replace KSQY's translator at 92.1, which was forced off the air by the new KQRQ/92.3. (12/30/02)

MINNESOTA:
WEEP/1400 (Virginia) has been off the air for about a month following a transmitter fire. The current owner, Full Armor Ministries, does not plan to return the station to the air and is looking for a buyer. (12/28/02)

IOWA:
KWOF-FM/89.1 (Hiawatha-Waterloo) has applied for a power increase from 400W to 5.8kW vertical only, bumping the station into class C3, though not full-power for the class. The station's transmitter site would not move, and its antenna would remain at 122m above average terrain. (12/27/02)

MICHIGAN:
Todd Noordyk is buying the construction permit for WHTO/106.7 (Iron Mountain) from Donald Noordyk for $10,000. Todd Noordyk owns five other stations in the U.P. (12/27/02)

MINNESOTA:
WNCB translator K218DK/91.5 (Bloomington) has applied to move back to 91.9, while retaining its current power and transmitter site. The station had previously operated on 91.9 with lower power from a different site. (12/27/02)

MINNESOTA:
Quarnstrom Media Group and Quest Broadcasting have reached a letter of intent for Quarnstrom to sell WCMP/1350 (Pine City) to Quest for $100,000, but an actual purchase agreement has not yet been filed with the FCC. It's not clear if Quest would ever actually take over the station, though, since Quarnstrom said in its FCC filing, "The Commission is advised that the parties intend to negotiate an option agreement that would permit Quarnstrom Media Group to acquire the license for station WCMP(AM), subject to prior FCC consent, at such time as assignment would be permissible under the commission's ownership rules and policies." A definitive purchase agreement is expected to be filed next week. Co-located WCMP-FM/100.9 is not included in the sale. Quest is the licensee of KBMO/1290 and KSCR/93.5 (Benson) and is owned by Paul Estenson. Quarnstrom Media is owned by Alan and Linda Quarnstrom. (12/26/02)

MICHIGAN:
The Keewanaw Bay Indian Community is buying Lyle Evan's construction permit for a new station in Hancock for $650,000. The CP for WGLI/98.7 is for 100kW at 159m, which should provide a good signal to the entire Keewanaw peninsula and adjacent areas. The Keewanaw Bay Indian Community also owns WCUP/105.7 (L'Anse). (12/23/02)

MINNESOTA/REGIONAL:
WNCB/89.5 (Duluth) and its 18 translators will drop use of "WNCB" (except at ID time) to become "The Refuge" on January 1. The station's positioner has already changed from "Christian Hit Radio" to "Positive Hit Music." The format and focus will remain the same, but there will be new jingles and imaging, as well as a new website. WNCB General Manager Brett Gibson says they've been working on the change for over three years, and part of the reason for the change is that they're working on obtaining new primary (non-translator) stations in the future. However, no new stations are planned at this time. As part of the change, licensee North-Central Christian Broadcasting will change its name to Refuge Media Group. (12/23/02)

MINNESOTA:
KARE/11 has updated its news set and graphics. The station's new bug, which says "KARE 11 News", is in the lower right and more horizontal than most bugs. (12/23/02)

WISCONSIN:
The FCC has allotted 106.9 to Tigerton for a future class A (6kW/100m) station, at the request of Starboard Broadcasting. A site restriction of 14.1km northeast of Tigerton, near Bowler, has been specified to minimize interference to other stations. A window of filing for the allotment will be opened at a future, unannounced date. A station using the allotment would provide a good signal to western Shawano County, eastern Marathon County, northern Waupaca County, and southwestern Menominee County. (12/22/02)

MINNESOTA:
KARE/11's newscasts could be seen coast-to-coast on a new channel being considered by parent company Gannett Media. The "America Today" channel would air complete newscasts from Gannett stations and NBC affiliates in the top 25 markets, as well as USA Today-branded national content. If enough cable and satellite providers agree to carry the channel, it could launch in two years. (12/20/02)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
North Central Christian Broadcasting (WNCB) has applied to move its Brookings translator, K288EV/105.5, to 91.5. The power would remain 250W. The purpose for the proposed change is to switch the translator's feed from its current over-the-air reception of another translator, which has proven unreliable, to a satellite feed. Regulations prohibit using satellite to feed a translator in the commercial portion of the band (92-108 MHz). (12/20/02)

WISCONSIN:
The Eau Claire Leader-Telegram reports that Central Radio Group is being sold to Maverick Media for $18 million. The group includes WAYY/790, WEAQ/1150, WECL/92.9, WIAL/94.1, WDRK/99.9, and WAXX/104.5. Maverick owns 11 other stations, none in the region. After the sale, the only locally-owned stations in the Eau Claire area will be WCFW/105.7 (Chippewa Falls), WOGO/680 (Hallie), and WWIB/103.7 (Hallie). (12/19/02, corrected obvious error missing WOGO/WWIB 12/20)

WISCONSIN:
Woodward Comminications' WSCO/1570 (Appleton) has applied to drop power from the current 1kW day/331W night to 490W day/246W night. (12/18/02)

WISCONSIN:
Radio group co-funder Lynn E. Weiss Magnum has died of cancer at age 33. Magnum was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, and it later spread to her bones and brain. She and husband Dave Magnum own stations in Tomah, Wisconsin Dells, Portage, and Sturgeon Bay. Lynn Magnum passed away on Wednesday, December 11, at Mayo Medical Center in Rochester. She is survived by her husband Dave, two children, and other family. Here's more information from the La Crosse Tribune. (12/17/02)

NEBRASKA:
The Educational Media Foundation and American Family Association are trading some stations. Educational Media Foundation gets the construction permit for KXLJ/88.3 (Grand Island) and stations in Arizona and Oregon, while AFA gets a station in Mississippi. Educational Media Foundation operates the K-Love and Air-1 networks, while AFA operates American Family Radio. (12/17/02)

NORTH DAKOTA:
The FCC has dismissed an application from KBTO/101.9 (Bottineau) to upgrade from 52kW to 94kW. (12/17/02)

MINNESOTA/NORTH DAKOTA:
The FCC has pulled back on a plan that would have allowed Clear Channel's KRVI/95.1 (Detroit Lakes-Fargo) to move its transmitter closer to Fargo. Although a construction permit hadn't yet been issued for the move, the FCC had earlier approved a plan to change KRVI's community of license to Barnesville, and KRVI would have moved its transmitter closer to Fargo-Moorhead as part of the plan. However, Enderlin Broadcasting filed a petition for reconsideration, arguing that KRVI could change its community of license to Barnesville while keeping its current transmitter site, which would allow 94.5 to be allotted to Enderlin, ND, as a class C1 (100kW/299m) station. Part of KRVI's argument centered around its current tower, which is owned by KVRR/15 (Fargo). KRVI claimed that it would have to move its transmitter anyway because it was being "kicked off" the tower to make room for a new digital TV antenna, but KVRR officials later said that was not true. The FCC determined that KRVI could change its community of license to Barnesville, but stay at its current site, allowing 94.5 to be allotted to Enderlin. The Enderlin allotment has the potential to provide a good signal to Fargo-Moorhead, though the FCC is not accepting applications for the frequency at this time. (12/17/02)

MINNESOTA:
Last week, Paul Bunyan Broadcasting in Bemidji (KKZY, KLLZ, KBHP) held their 14th annual Radiothon to end Child Abuse and raised a record amount -- $55,161.03! (12/12/02)

WISCONSIN:
VCY/America station WVCX/98.9 (Tomah) may be off the air in the coming days due to antenna work. (12/12/02)

WISCONSIN:
Jeff Peterson is back at Hubbard Broadcasting's WIXK/1590 (New Richmond), doing news inserts between ABC "Real Country" programming. (12/12/02)

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
Many of the syndicated talk shows dropped from WDSM/710 (Superior-Duluth) last week have resurfaced on sister station KDAL/610 (Duluth). To make room, KDAL has dropped Jim Brown's local show, Ruth Koscielak, and Jim Bohannan. The new lineup: 5-9a Cadigan and Jordan (local), 9a-Noon Kerry Rodd (local), Noon-2p Jackie Jacovi (local), 2-5p Sean Hannity, 5-7p Bill O'Reilly, 7-9p Tom Martino, 9p-Mid M Savage, Mid-4a Dave Ramsey, 4-5a America in the Morning. (12/11/02)

MINNESOTA:
KRDS/95.5 (New Prague-Northfield) recently dropped ABC's "Oldies Radio" format and has returned to a locally-produced `50s-early `80s Oldies format as "Maxx 95.5." Programming comes from studios in both New Prague and Northfield. The lineup is Jeff & Sara 6-9a, Jeff Johnson 9-11:30a, "The Trading Post" 11:30a-Noon, Kevin Busse Noon-3p, Jennifer G 3-6p, Gordy Hayes 6-10p, and local automation overnight. (12/11/02)

WISCONSIN:
In Lancaster, a new record total has been set for the WGLR Holiday Auction: $25,013.07 will be donated to southwestern Wisconsin charities! (12/8/02)

ONTARIO:
"Max 104.5" (CFQK Kaministiquia) has received permission from the CRTC to add another transmitter on Mount Baldy. The 10W/127m facility on 103.5 will provide service to Shuniah Township and northeastern Thunder Bay. CFQK is difficult to receive in the city, but is the only Country-formatted station in the region. (12/7/02)

ONTARIO:
The CRTC has approved a new station for the Dryden District Chamber of Commerce. The station will transmit with 27W on 98.5 in Dryden. It will broadcast pre-recorded announcements promoting the tourist sites and community events in Dryden on a year-round basis. (12/7/02)

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
KDAL (Duluth) has changed its slogan from "AM 610 KDAL" to "NewsRadio 610 KDAL." The "NewsRadio" slogan has also been used by competitor KQDS/1490 since it started carrying Headline News in March. (12/4/02)

NEBRASKA/IOWA:
DISH Network is preparing to add Omaha to its lineup of "local-into-local" markets. Stations that could be offered are KETV/ABC, KMTV/CBS, KPTM/FOX, WOWT/NBC, KXVO/WB, KYNE/PBS, and KBIN/PBS. Just a few weeks ago, DISH added channels in an adjacent market, Des Moines. (12/4/02)

WISCONSIN/MINNESOTA:
After eight months of News/Talk, Midwest Communications' WDSM/710 (Superior-Duluth) has reverted to Sports Talk. The changes took effect Monday, December 2. Bruce Ciskie's local sports show has been moved back from KDAL/610, now airing on WDSM from 4-7. Don Imus continues from 5-9 a.m., while the rest of the schedule is filled with ESPN Radio and FOX Sports Radio with CNN News on the hour. FOX airs at other times on sister station KXTP/970. (12/3/02)

MINNESOTA:
KYMN/1080 (Northfield) has dropped its locally-produced Adult Contemporary format in favor of ABC's Stardust network, which was once labeled "Nostalgia" but is best described as "Soft Oldies" these days. CNN News runs on the hour. (12/1/02)