Longtime central Wisconsin radio station owner Rick Muzzy has died at 77. His obituary states Muzzy worked at stations in Ohio, Boston, and Colorado Springs before buying stations in Stevens Point and Eau Claire in 1988. Muzzy Broadcasting currently owns WSPT/97.9 (Stevens Point-Wausau), “B104.9” (WCWB Marathon-Wausau), and WPCN/1010 (Stevens Point). Muzzy hosted his final show last month.
Former Wisconsin Public Radio Wausau regional manager Rick Reyer has died at 64 after a battle with ALS. Reyer retired in 2023 after 35 years with WPR. “His proudest accomplishment was leading the design and construction of a state-of-the-art recording studio, located on the UW-Marathon County campus,” Reyer’s obituary says.
Wisconsin radio veteran Kelly Meyer has died at 59 following a seven-year battle with cancer. According to his obituary, Meyer began his broadcasting career in 1985 and worked at several stations in Wisconsin and Arizona before joining WHBL/1330 (Sheboygan) in 2001. At WHBL, he hosted mornings and became known as “the voice of Sheboygan.”
Nexstar CBS affiliate WFRV/5 (Green Bay) announced that Stacy Engebretson is joining the station as evening co-anchor beginning Oct. 13. Engebretson will co-anchor the 5, 6, and 6:30 p.m. newscasts and host a show for WFRV’s streaming platform. She has more than 20 years’ experience in the market, having worked at two other stations.
Monica Hannan has retired from Gray NBC/FOX affiliate KFYR-TV/5 (Bismarck) after 37 years at the station as anchor and news director.
News anchor Alex Loroff has departed Gray NBC affiliate WEAU/13 (Eau Claire) for a new job in Madison.
Sports anchor Alexis Bass announced her departure from Gray NBC/CBS affiliate KBJR/6 (Superior-Duluth).
Northwestern Media announced that David Christian will depart his role as creative services director at KTIS-FM/98.5 (Minneapolis) in January. He has been with the station for more than 20 years. Christian will continue voiceover work.
After more than a year off DISH Network in the Minneapolis market, Pioneer PBS announced that issues delivering their feed to the satellite provider’s Twin Cities headend have been resolved and their signal has been restored. (The service’s KWCM/10 Appleton is licensed within the Minneapolis market while its KSMN/20 Worthington is in the Sioux Falls market, where it had remained available. The combination of the two massive markets gives Pioneer a satellite viewing area stretching from central South Dakota to western Wisconsin and northern Nebraska to northern Minnesota.)
South Dakota Public Broadcasting announced that it has reached a new five-year agreement with the South Dakota High School Activities Association to carry high school championships and fine arts events.
Townsquare Media and Coastal TV’s FOX 21 (KQDS-TV Duluth) announced that FOX 21 staff will now provide news, weather, and sports updates for Townsquare’s five Duluth radio stations. The Townsquare group previously had a partnership with Hubbard ABC affiliate WDIO/10 (Duluth).
KMSP-TV reports that KMOJ/89.9 (Minneapolis) has launched a campaign to raise $17 million to build its “forever home” as its current rented space faces demolition for a light rail project.
The Star Tribune analyzed recent changes in Twin Cities TV news operations and how industry trends could further impact the market.
The Rochester Post-Bulletin looked back at when an NBC daytime program profiled Rochester in 1956, noting that the crew had a week to shoot the 21-minute segment in what was referred to as a “hurry-up job.” That amount of time would likely be considered a luxury by any crew today.
In case you missed it here:
- More Public Media Jobs Cut as CPB Funding Formally Ends
- Midwest Adds Third Twin Ports-Iron Range Radio Simulcast
- FCC/CRTC Monitor: FM Translator to Move Closer to Des Moines
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