Gray NBC affiliate KNOP/2.1 (North Platte) is now simulcasting midday and weekend newscasts from sister NBC station KSNB/4.1 (York-Hastings), with KNOP’s local newscasts continuing weeknights at 6 and 10 p.m. The announcement was made at the end of KNOP’s 10 p.m. newscast on Jan. 3, which was also the last newscast for meteorologist Justin Fanfarilli as he departs for a new job at a Gray station in Idaho. Justin Craft has been promoted to the chief meteorologist at KNOP. Meanwhile, weekend news anchor Ashanti Allen and weekend sports anchor Aron Geml announced that they are longer with KNOP.
Mid-West Family Madison promoted Randy Hawke to general manager and Lyndsey Bishop to vice president of business development. Hawke has been with the eight-station group for 22 years and previously served as VP of programming. Meanwhile, Bishop says, “My focus will be on driving sales growth, improving client retention, holding our team accountable for outstanding results, and recruiting talented individuals to help us achieve our goals.”
Sinclair promoted Jon Kramer to president and general manager of FOX 47 (WMSN Madison). He had been the station’s general sales manager since 2019.
Hearst ABC affiliate KETV/7.1 (Omaha) announced the hiring of Allison Smith as general manager. Smith was previously the news director at Hearst CBS affiliate KCCI/8.1 (Des Moines).
Danny Wild, longtime host at “The Power Loon” (KLIZ-FM/107.5 Brainerd), has died after a battle with cancer. Wild had left the air in mid-2024 and returned to tell his story in early December.
Scripps announced that it has renewed affiliations for its 11 NBC affiliates, which include WTMJ-TV/4.1 (Milwaukee) and WGBA/26.1 (Green Bay).
Nexstar announced that it has renewed NBC affiliations in 33 markets. Nexstar NBC affiliates include WHO-DT/13.1 (Des Moines).
Gray Media announced that 11 of its stations in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri will carry three St. Louis Blues NHL games this year. The Iowa stations include KCRG (Cedar Rapids), KWQC (Davenport), and KYOU-TV (Ottumwa).
Telemundo Wisconsin has been added on channel 31.6 of Weigel’s WMEI (Shawano-Green Bay). Telemundo Wisconsin originates on Weigel’s WYTU-LD/63.1 (Milwaukee) and is distributed to several other Wisconsin markets on cable and satellite.
In addition to leaving the air in Minneapolis, as noted here last week and seen to the right, TheGrioTV has also disappeared from WQOW (Eau Claire), WXOW (La Crosse), and WAOW (Wausau). The DT6 channels that had carried the network are now showing tower cameras. No announcement was made about the status of TheGrioTV nationally but its website no longer has program listings and its social media feeds have been taken offline.
In case you missed it here:
- Sault Ste. Marie Station Drops Longtime Country Format
- FCC Monitor: Two Small New FM Stations Sign On
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Disclosure: Jon Ellis was an employee of Gray Media Group at the time this item was posted. The statements and views expressed in this posting are his own and do not reflect those of Gray Media Group.