Weekly Log: More Channels in Mpls.; Minn. News Staff Additions

Posted on by Jon Ellis

Stations and companies

Nexstar has announced a deal to acquire 75% of The CW network. Nexstar owns TV stations in nine Upper Midwest markets, including several where it carries The CW as a secondary affiliation. It also runs the NewsNation cable channel.

Tegna’s KARE (Minneapolis) has added Twist on channel 11.7 and HSN on 11.8.

The My Network TV program block is no longer appearing on the schedule of Scripps’ WACY-TV/32.1 (Appleton-Green Bay), which is instead running syndicated repeats of Dateline and Monk in prime time.

Nexstar CBS affiliate KELO-TV/11 (Sioux Falls) will launch an hourlong 4 p.m. newscast on Tuesday, Sept. 6, according to a news release posted by TVNewsCheck. The newscast will displace Dr. Phil, who will move to 3:00, replacing Ellen.

Gray TV CBS/FOX/NBC affiliate KEYC/KMNF (Mankato) is undergoing a studio renovation project, explaining to viewers that its newscasts are originating from a temporary set while the work is underway.

“The North 103.3” (WDSE-FM Duluth) reported that it switched to a new transmitter on Aug. 11, replacing a tube-driven transmitter that had been in service for more than 50 years. The station continues to use 95kW/250m (class C1). Upgrades to the station’s studio-to-transmitter link and studio facilities are also in progress. The improvements follow the Duluth-Superior Area Educational Television Corporation’s purchase of the station, formerly KUMD.

Wisconsin Public Radio issued a service alert stating that WPNE/89.3 (Green Bay), which carries its News and Classical network, will be at reduced power this week and next for an antenna and transmission line replacement project. The station’s HD signal is off the air during the work.

Radio People

Companywide job reductions affected Audacy stations in Minneapolis and Milwaukee. The Star Tribune and other outlets reported that Mike Max was cut from WCCO/830 (Minneapolis), and BringMeTheNews reported that producer Craig “Hammer” Schroepfer is also out.

As previously reported, Bart Winkler, Gary Ellerson, LeRoy Butler, Steve “Sparky” Fifer, and Tim Allen were cut when Audacy’s “The Fan” (WSSP/1250 Milwaukee) dropped all of its local programming. The Journal Sentinel posted a remembrance of the station’s impact on Thursday.

Rusty Ray, who currently anchors news at North Metro TV, announced he is joining WCCO radio as a member of its news team:

Minnesota Public Radio has hired Sarah Thamer and Regina Medina for its Race, Class, and Communities team.

Mike Burns-Gilbert has retired from COW 97 (WCOW Sparta-La Crosse) after 45 years.

KNEI/103.5 (Waukon) announced the death of “Lil’ Dale” Sweet, who had hosted a Saturday morning Classic Country show. A celebration of life will be held Sunday, Aug. 21.

RadioInsight reported that Taylor Walet has been named Area President for iHeartMedia’s stations in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and the Quad Cities, adding to the same duties he already held for iHeart’s Omaha, Sioux City, and Ogallala stations.

TV People

Will Hall has joined Tegna NBC affiliate KARE 11 (Minneapolis) has a sports anchor and multiskilled journalist. Hall, an Iowa native, had previously worked for Tegna’s station in Boise.

KARE also announced the addition of visual storytellers Lizzy Campbell and Willow Buckner-Guadynski and multi-skilled journalist Meghan Reistad.

Red River’s FOX 21 (KQDS-TV Duluth) has promoted Rusty Mehlberg to chief meteorologist.

A belated note that Gray’s KBJR (Superior-Duluth) has added Paul Brown as evening anchor of its CBS3 newscasts.

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