Stations and companies
Following its sale to On The Go Media, KQCR-FM/98.9 (Parkersburg, IA) has segued from Light Adult Contemporary to Soft Rock of the 1970s and `80s (commonly known as “Yacht Rock”) as “The Wave.” The new lineup includes the syndicated TJ Show from 6 to 10 a.m.
Good Karma Broadcasting’s “101.7 The Truth” (W269DL/101.7 Milwaukee and WGKB/1510 Waukesha) is changing its lineup effective Monday, April 3, to add two new local shows. “Truth Be Told” with Denise Thomas and Telly Hughes will air from 7 to 9 a.m. and “Nothin’ But the Truth” with Melanie Ricks will run from 12 to 1 p.m.
As planned, Sinclair’s KDSM-TV (Des Moines) converted its transmitter to ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) on March 28, carrying KDSM’s FOX programming along with simulcasts of the market’s CBS, PBS, and NBC stations. The other stations are hosting KDSM’s four channels on their ATSC 1.0 transmitters so over-the-air viewers can continue to receive them until NextGen receivers become more widespread.
WCCO-TV profiled WDGY/740 (Hudson-St. Paul-Minneapolis) about the 100th anniversary of the WDGY callsign and the family-owned station’s growing local presence. (For the record, the station license and business unit that used the WDGY callsign from 1923 to 1991 is unrelated to the current WDGY.)
WisBusiness profiled Civic Media‘s fast-growing network of talk and music stations.
TV News Check profiled the Milwaukee market, looking at station viewership and strategies.
As first noted by DX-midAMerica, Ontonagon Area School District’s WOAS/88.5 (Ontonagon, MI) is fundraising to change frequency before it is bumped off the air by future station WHWM/88.5 (Rockland). WOAS, which uses 9 Watts ERP, is a Class D educational license, a form of station which is no longer granted. Class D stations are subject to being bumped off the air by new full-power stations. WOAS has not yet filed an FCC application for a construction permit to change frequency.
Wisconsin Public Radio has launched a morning news podcast called “Wisconsin Today.” Similar daily news podcasts are also offered by the statewide public radio networks in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
People
Several Twin Cities radio broadcasters have won 2023 Gracie Awards, which recognize achievement and programming by, for, and about women.
- Jenny Luttenberger of The Dave Ryan Show on KDWB/101.3 in the Producer category
- MPR News with Angela Davis in the Talk Show category for the October 2022 program “Your Vote: Abortion is top of mind for many voters”
- MyTalk 107 (KTMY) in the Public Service Announcement category for “myTalkers for Ukraine”
The Minnesota Broadcasters Association announced that five people will be added to its Hall of Fame this fall: Jim Bartels of KNUJ radio (New Ulm), Mary Campbell of Omni Broadcasting (Bemidji), Boyd Huppert of KARE 11, former WCCO/830 host Tim Russell, and Lee Valsvik of “Kool 108” (KQQL/107.9). The induction ceremony will be held Oct. 3 at the Saint Paul Hotel.
InsideRadio reported that Mark Schecterle has departed NRG Media’s radio group in Omaha for a job at Cox Media Group’s cluster in Tulsa.
All Access noted that Gail Austin has joined Pritchard Broadcasting’s group of six radio stations in Burlington as general manager, sales manager, and midday host on “Big Country 103.1” (KDMG).
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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.