NEBRASKA/IOWA:
NRG Media has moved its Hip-Hop/R&B format in the Omaha market to KCTY-FM/106.9 (Plattsmouth) as "Power 106.9," ending the "Bob FM" Classic Hits/Hot AC format that had aired on the station since May 2005. The change happened Friday afternoon (12/29). NRG has programmed Hip-Hop/R&B since 2002 on KBLR/97.3 (Blair), which is relayed by separately-owned Omaha translator K299AK/107.7. The move gives the format a stronger signal in the market and also clears up some uncertainty: K299AK will be forced to leave the air when Connoisseur Media signs on its new station on 107.7 licensed to Pacific Junction, Iowa. It's unclear what KBLR's next format will be and whether it will continue to target Omaha listeners after K299AK signs off. (12/29/2006)
IOWA:
The Sioux City market is moving from three radio groups to two: Powell Broadcasting is buying NRG Media's two stations in the market, "Y101" (KKYY/101.3 Whiting) and "Bob FM" (KZSR/102.3 Onawa). The purchase price was not immediately disclosed. Powell already owns Y101's main competitor, 105.7 "K-Sioux" (KSUX Winnebago, NE), as well as KSCJ/1360 (Sioux City), "Kool 99.5" (KKMA Le Mars), and KLEM/1410 (Le Mars), which targets its community of license. Powell will take over operations of KKYY and KZSR on January 1. The other five commercial stations targeting Sioux City are owned by Clear Channel and are up for sale. (12/29/2006)
MINNESOTA:
"Refuge Radio" translator K293BA/106.5 (Elko) has signed on, bringing the Christian Hits format to Lakeville and the far south Twin Cities metro area. "Refuge Radio," which originates at WJRF/89.5 (Duluth), is also heard on K218DK/91.5 (Bloomington) and 22 other translators in the region. (12/28/2006)
NEBRASKA:
FCC filings indicate KRKR/95.1 and KFRX/102.7 (Lincoln) are the two stations being transferred to Chapin Communications, LLC, as Three Eagles Communications buys Clear Channel's group in Lincoln. Chapin is acting as a qualified intermediary and will seek a buyer for the stations. Three Eagles currently owns four stations and is buying Clear Channel's four stations, but must sell two FM stations to fall below ownership caps. Here's the agreement. (12/28/2006)
MANITOBA:
CKFE/100.7 (Winnipeg) is now "Hank FM" with a Country Variety format. Newcap switched the station from Big Band/Soft Oldies to Adult Alternative after buying it one year ago, but closed "The Cafe" for Country Christmas music several weeks ago. The Winnipeg market has only one other Country station, Standard Radio's "QX104" (CFQX/104.1 Selkirk). (12/27/2006)
MINNESOTA:
Kool 108 (KQQL/107.9) emerged from its all-Christmas programming with another tweak to its Oldies/Classic Hits format. The playlist now includes more pop and rock hits from the `80s, but still includes many of the `60s hits that have been a mainstay for two decades. The Clear Channel station also tweaked its Oldies format five years ago. (12/27/2006)
MINNESOTA:
The FCC has approved a community of license change that will improve a new station's potential signal to Mankato. Radioactive, LLC, won a construction permit for a new class A station on 94.1 in Vernon Center in Auction No. 37 and petitioned to move the allotment to Eagle Lake, MN. In order to get the change approved, Radioactive had to prove that Eagle Lake and Mankato are separate communities, though the new station will not be required to target Eagle Lake listeners. Here's the FCC's entire report and order. (12/26/2006)
MINNESOTA/SOUTH DAKOTA:
American Family Association is selling some construction permits for new stations to Educational Media Foundation, operator of the "K-Love" and "Air-1" Christian networks. KQRW/88.1 (Windom, MN), KSPF/90.9 (Spearfish, SD), and 16 other stations are included in the $2.5 million deal. (12/26/2006)
CONSTRUCTION PERMITS APPROVED:
MINNESOTA:
The "K-Love" Christian AC network has added a second signal in the Twin Cities area: W227BF/93.3 (Shoreview). 93.3 signed on Thursday morning (12/21), relaying K-Love translator K214DF/90.7 (Golden Valley), which broadcasts from Minneapolis. K-Love owner Educational Media Foundation has construction permits for several more new stations in the Twin Cities area; check the Twin Cities Class D FM Stations page for more information. (12/22/2006)
WISCONSIN:
The Associated Press reports that Clear Channel will announce Friday it's not dropping the Liberal Talk format on "The Mic 92.1" (WXXM Sun Prairie-Madison) after all. The company had announced in November that 92.1 would switch to FOX Sports at the beginning of 2007. The decision comes after an outpouring of protest by listeners. (12/22/2006)
WISCONSIN:
Midwest Communications' WRIG/1390 (Schofield-Wausau) is promoting a flip from Soft Oldies to Oldies on December 26. Central Wisconsin has been without an Oldies-formatted station since Midwest's WOFM/94.7 (Mosinee) and WIZD/99.9 (Rudolph) flipped to Classic Hits/Hot AC. (12/21/2006)
MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Public Radio has added four translators in Hinckley, filling in the gap between its Twin Cities and Duluth stations:
WISCONSIN:
Radio and Records reports that WYMS/88.9 (Milwaukee) now plans to launch its long-awaited "Radio Free Milwaukee" format in February. (12/19/2006)
NEBRASKA:
The Lincoln Journal-Star reports that Three Eagles Communications has agreed to buy Clear Channel's radio group in Lincoln. The Clear Channel stations are KTGL/92.9 (Beatrice), KZKX/96.9 (Seward), KIBZ/104.1 (Crete), and KLMY/106.3 (Lincoln); Three Eagles already owns KFOR/1240, KLMS/1480, KRKR/95.1, and KFRX/102.7 (all licensed to Lincoln). FCC ownership limits will require Three Eagles to sell off two of the FM stations. Company director Rolland Johnson told the paper he didn't yet know which two stations would be sold. The purchase price is not yet available. Triad Broadcasting owns the other four commercial stations targeting Lincoln. (12/13/2006)
NEBRASKA:
Arbitron will add Grand Island-Kearney as a market beginning with the Spring 2007 survey. It'll be market 264, with an estimated 12+ population of 111,300. NRG Media, Legacy Communications, and Platte River Radio run a total of fourteen stations in the area. (12/13/2006)
IOWA:
Amid a retransmission dispute with Sinclair Broadcasting, Mediacom has announced plans to add CBS affiliate WHBF/4 (Rock Island-Quad Cities) to its Iowa City-area cable system on channel 19 beginning January 2, 2007. Sinclair owns Cedar Rapids CBS affiliate KGAN/2, which could leave Mediacom's system on January 5, 2007, unless the two sides reach a deal. Mediacom can carry WHBF in Iowa City because the FCC lists the station as "significantly viewed" in Johnson County. FCC rules allow cable systems to carry out-of-market network affiliates if the stations are significantly viewed or if the cable system is a certain distance from the in-market affiliate. Mediacom also carries a second CBS affiliate on its Dubuque system (WISC/3 Madison) because it is far enough from KGAN. However, Mediacom does not have any other options for CBS in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, or for FOX in Des Moines and Ames, where Sinclair's KDSM/17 is the affiliate. (12/12/2006)
WISCONSIN:
WACD/106.1 (Antigo) has applied to upgrade to 50kW/150m (class C2) from a site near Summit Lake north of Antigo. The move would put Rhinelander in WACD's main coverage area. The station is owned by Bruce Grassman's Results Broadcasting, which also owns WATK/900 (Antigo) and WLSL/93.7 (Three Lakes-Rhinelander), and stations in other areas. (12/11/2006)
WISCONSIN:
The FCC has granted the Estate of Lyle Robert Evans a construction permit for a new station on 1520, licensed to the Green Bay suburb of Howard. The new station, as currently permitted, would be one of the few in the country to use different day and night transmitter sites, and would actually have a stronger signal in Green Bay at night. The 250W directional daytime signal would come from a site south of Howard, while the 3kW directional nighttime signal would come from a site south of De Pere. However, the station may eventually be able to modify its CP to use just one site since the station limiting 1520's daytime signal, WMBE/1530 (Chilton), has a construction permit to move to 840. (12/9/2006)
WISCONSIN:
CBS affiliate WSAW/7 (Wausau) has launched "24/7 Weather" on WSAW-DT subchannel 7-3 and Charter digitical cable channel 247. WSAW-DT also carries My Network TV and syndicated programming on 7-2. (12/9/2006)
IOWA:
KHDK/97.3 (New London) is now "The Hit Music Channel, Hot 97-dot-3." 97.3 had rebroadcast the Adult Contemporary format of sister station KKMI/93.5 (Burlington) since signing on five years ago. KHDK's main coverage area includes Burlington, Fort Madison, and Mount Pleasant. It's owned by John T. Pritchard, who owns three other stations in the area: WKQK/92.1 (Carthage, IL), KKMI, and KDMG/103.1 (Burlington). (12/8/2006)
IOWA/ILLINOIS:
WKBF/1270 (Rock Island-Quad Cities) has dropped "Progressive Talk" for non-secular Christmas music following its sale to Quad Cities Media, LLC, owned by Randall R. Melchert of Brookfield, WI. The station plans to carry a Christian Talk format as "Truth 1270" after Christmas. WKBF is the seventh Christian station in the Quad Cities area, but will be the only one to operate commercially. (12/7/2006)
NEBRASKA:
Christian broadcaster Mission Nebraska is set to take over operations of KPNY/102.1 (Alliance-Scottsbluff) on January 15, 2007 under a time brokerage agreement, as it purchases the station from Halstead Communications for $360,000. KPNY currently carries a Hot Adult Contemporary format as "Powerhouse 102." The deal also includes KPNY translator K269DO/101.7 (Scottsbluff). Mission Nebraska also operates KMMJ/750 and KROA/95.7 (Grand Island). (12/7/2006)
TV TRANSLATOR CHANGES:
WISCONSIN:
WWIS-FM/99.7 (Black River Falls) has dropped its local Adult Contemporary format for Classic Country from Jones Radio Networks as "The Star." The AC format had run since WWIS-FM signed on in 1991. (12/5/2006)
ONTARIO:
The Manitoba-based NCI-FM network, which targets the Aboriginal community, is expanding into northwest Ontario. Owner Native Communications has received authorization for a new transmitter on 100.5 in Kenora, ON, broadcasting with 40kW. The Kenora transmitter will be NCI's third full-power station. Kenora is currently served by two commercial FM stations and two CBC transmitters. Though NCI carries some commercials, it will not be allowed to sell advertising in the Kenora area. (12/4/2006)
IOWA:
KGRA/98.9 (Jefferson) has switched from ABC's "Real Country" format to Classic Rock. The station's main coverage area stretches from Perry to Carroll. (12/1/2006)
RETRANSMISSION CONSENT DISPUTES:
Despite a lot of threats that some stations would disappear from cable or satellite providers on December 1, the stations remain:
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