Weekly Log: Madison Freq. Change; New Green Bay, Marquette Anchors

Posted on by Jon Ellis

Stations and companies

Wisconsin Public Radio announced that Ideas Network station W215AQ/90.9 (Madison) will move to 90.5 on July 1. As previously reported here, the frequency change includes an upgrade from 26 to 250 Watts and a callsign change to W213CE. W215AQ first signed on in 1997 to bring the Ideas Network to the FM dial in Madison; the Ideas Network is now also heard on W300BM/107.9, which transmits from the same tower with 170 Watts.

Midwest Communications’ stations in Green Bay and Sioux Falls are replacing Dan Bongino with Clay Travis & Buck Sexton in the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. timeslot effective July 3. The stations include WTAQ/1360 (Green Bay), WTAQ-FM/97.5 (Glenmore-Green Bay), KELO/1320 (Sioux Falls), and KELQ/107.9 (Flandreau-Sioux Falls). (Bongino’s show continues to be listed on the schedules for Midwest’s stations in Wausau and Sheboygan.) In a Facebook post, WTAQ said the decision was made because Bongino had announced that he was leaving his syndicator.

Many Scripps-owned stations are now carrying an hour of Scripps News on their primary channels. Listings indicate WTMJ-TV/4 (Milwaukee) is carrying it at 2 p.m. while WGBA/26 (Green Bay) airs it at 11 a.m. Scripps News is also available 24/7 on broadcast subchannels and free streaming services.

People

A commemoration was held outside KIMT/3 (Mason City) to mark the 28th anniversary of the disappearance of anchor Jodi Huisentruit.

WITI/6 (Milwaukee) reported that former longtime anchor John Drilling has died at the age of 86. Drilling worked at the station for 31 years until retiring in 1998.

Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and California broadcasting veteran Edmund Berven, who used the on-air name Eddie Hudson, has died at 79. His obituary says Berven began his career in Sioux Falls at the age of 14.

Meteorologist Lauren Larsen has joined NBC 26 Today on Scripps’ WGBA (Green Bay).

Mandy Koskela has joined the morning newscast at Gray NBC affiliate WLUC/6 (Marquette) as the station expands its morning team to three anchors.

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters announced that retired WLUC anchor and news director Steve Asplund and Midwest Communications president Peter Tanz will be added to its Hall of Fame.

Gray NBC affiliate KTIV/4 (Sioux City) announced that morning anchor Claire Bradshaw is departing the station for a job in Kansas City.

After announcing his retirement last year, John Stofflet anchored his final newscast on Gray’s NBC 15 (WMTV Madison) on June 27.

NRG Media appointed Keely Byars as general manager of its seven-station Omaha group.

KVNO/90.7 (Omaha) announced that Sherry Browrigg has been promoted to general manager.

The Star Tribune reported on KSTP-TV/5 (St. Paul) anchor Chris Long working dozens of Taylor Swift song titles into his sports report, on a dare from his daughters.

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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.