Stations and companies
Several HD Radio subchannels have left the dial in Minneapolis, including one carrying “Lite” branding that dated back to the 1980s. Some of these changes are recent, while some happened a while back but have not yet been noted here. These HD subchannels, on stations owned by multiple companies, are no longer being heard:
- 92.5 KQRS-HD2: Classic Country “The Bear”
- 100.3 KFXN-FM-HD3: “K-Love” network, which moved to KTCZ-HD2 (HD2 continues, relaying KTLK/1130)
- 102.1 KEEY-HD2: Soft Adult Contemporary “The Breeze” (HD3 continues, feeding K294AM/106.7)
- 102.9 HD3: CBS Sports Radio (HD2 continues, relaying WCCO/830)
- 104.1 HD2: Adult Contemporary “Lite FM,” which had been moved from 102.9 in 2011
- 106.1 KLCI-HD2: Christian “Hope” and KLCI-HD3: Oldies “The Big Q”
Nine Upper Midwest stations have been named finalists for the National Association of Broadcasters’ Crystal Radio Awards, which recognize year-round community service. Ten winners will be selected from among the 50 finalists nationwide and announced during the NAB Show in Las Vegas next month. The finalists include:
- iHeartMedia’s WHO/1040 (Des Moines)
- Audacy’s WCCO/830 (Minneapolis)
- iHeartMedia’s KDWB/101.3 (Richfield-Minneapolis)
- Hubbard Radio’s “KS95” (KSTP-FM/94.5 St. Paul)
- Hubbard’s “100.7 Kick FM” (KIKV-FM Sauk Centre-Alexandria)
- Hubbard’s WJJY/106.7 (Brainerd)
- Hubbard’s “KB101” (KBHB/101.1 Bemidji)
- KXLG/99.1 (Milbank-Watertown, SD)
- Good Karma’s WTMJ/620 (Milwaukee)
Gray TV’s Local News Live relaunched with an updated format and graphics on March 6. The service runs in between local newscasts on Gray stations’ video streams, featuring content from Gray’s Washington news team and its stations around the country. LNL had first launched from Omaha but is now located in Washington.
Kory Hartman and Maddy Jones addressed rumors about the future of “99.7 MAX FM” (WRPQ/740 Baraboo) amid the pending sale of the station, saying that the station will continue to offer local news and programming and none of the station’s announcers are leaving:
People
Jay Philpott and Cumulus Media have parted ways after his position as program director of “Love 105” (WWWM-FM/105.7 Eden Prairie-Minneapolis and others) was eliminated. Philpott, a Minneapolis market veteran who has also worked in other cities across the country, had joined the group eight years ago to work at KQRS and later moved over to “Love 105.”
Dave Ryan announced that he has extended his contract at iHeartMedia’s KDWB/101.3 (Richfield-Minneapolis) until 2026. Ryan has hosted mornings at the Contemporary Hits outlet since 1993.
Allen Media ABC affiliate WKOW/27 (Madison) announced that Brandon Taylor will return to the station as an evening news anchor. Taylor had previously anchored the station’s morning news from 2014 to 2018. The station also announced that Lance Veeser and Sara Maslar-Donar have been promoted to the evening anchor team.
Longtime reporter Jerry Oster announced plans to retire from WNAX/570 (Yankton) this summer.
Thanks for all the kind thoughts and words after I made mention of my plans to retire early this summer.
— Jerry Oster (@570WNAXNEWS) March 6, 2023
I appreciate it! To put perspective in my time in radio, I am the last still working reporter to interview a sitting SD democratic Governor! Long time ago! More to come..
Gigi Sohn withdrew her nomination to the FCC after the confirmation process went on for 16 months. The FCC continues to be split between two Democratic appointees and two Republican appointees.
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Disclosure: Jon Ellis is an employee of Gray Media Group. The statements and views expressed in this posting are his own and do not reflect those of Gray Media Group.