April 2005

IOWA:
Clear Channel's KCZE/95.1 (New Hampton) has switched its slogan from "Chickasaw Country" to "The Bull." (4/30/2005)

WISCONSIN:
WGLX/103.3 (Wisconsin Rapids) has applied for a facility change that would drastically improve the Classic Rock station's signal to Wausau. The NRG Media station currently broadcasts with 100kW at 99m from a site in Wisconsin Rapids; the application calls for 65kW at 244m from a site midway between Wisconsin Rapids, Marshfield, Wausau, and Stevens Point. (4/29/2005)

IOWA:
80-Watt KOUR-LP/92.7 (Coralville-Iowa City) has signed on, carrying EWTN Radio. (4/29/2005)

MICHIGAN:
10kW Trinity Broadcasting Network station W27CQ/27 (Houghton) has begun broadcasting. (4/29/2005)

WISCONSIN:
WDMP/810 (Dodgeville) is now broadcasting 24 hours per day, using 10W nondirectional at night, in addition to the 250W daytime signal. The station rebroadcasts WDMP-FM "D99.3." (4/26/2005)

NEBRASKA/MIDWEST:
One of the biggest stations in the country has a new format today: KOMJ/590 (Omaha) has become "Big Sports 590" KXSP. The new lineup includes a simulcast of Z92's Todd 'n Tyler morning show, local sports shows in late morning and afternoon drive, Jim Rome, and FOX Sports Radio. KXSP's 5kW daytime signal stretches all the way from the southern Twin Cities metro to northern Oklahoma, in situations without manmade interference. The WestwoodOne Soft Oldies format, which had been heard on 590 since the legendary WOW callsign was dropped in 1999, moves to 1490 along with the KOMJ callsign. Chuck Urban's local morning show moves with the format to 1490. (4/25/2005)

MINNESOTA:
$445,000 is the price the Bois Forte Tribal Council will pay for WELY/1450 and WELY-FM/94.5 (Ely). The sale was first announced in January, but documents were only recently filed with the FCC. (4/23/2005)

NORTH DAKOTA:
Programmers Broadcasting has received construction permits for two new stations to serve the Minot market. 94.9 (Velva) and 102.9 (Burlington) will use 100kW at 156m from a tower south of Minot, delivering strong signals to the city. Programmers Broadcasting also owns KBTO/101.9 (Bottineau). (4/22/2005)

MINNESOTA:
"Jack" has arrived in the Twin Cities: Infinity/Viacom's "Mix 104.1" made the switch to "Jack FM, Playing What We Want," kicking off with Pink's "Get the Party Started" at 9 a.m. today (4/21). The Classic Hits/Hot AC hybrid isn't too drastic of a musical change from the previous `80s Hits format. The flip was preceded by a few hours of stunting with things and people named "Jack." Mix 104.1 was one of the longest-running `80s Hits formats in the country, having launched in November 2000. (4/21/2005)

MINNESOTA:
Radio K's FM signal has gotten a boost. The U of M's KUOM-FM/106.5 (St. Louis Park) has moved to a higher antenna a few miles east of the old site. Though the power remains just 8 Watts, the antenna height increase to 77m above average terrain is enough to expand the station's main coverage area to include much of Minneapolis. KUOM-FM shares time with St. Louis Park High's KDXL/106.5, using the same transmitter. KDXL broadcasts on weekdays, while Radio K uses the frequency at night and on weekends. (4/20/2005)

ANOTHER FM AUCTION PLANNED:
The FCC has announced another auction of vacant FM allotments to begin November 1, 2005. Auction 62 will include 173 allotments around the country, including new stations that would serve the Waterloo, Bismarck, Fargo, and Sioux Falls markets. The complete list of allotments to be auctioned and preliminary minimum bids can be found here; Upper Midwest allotments up for auction are also noted on this site's Vacant FM Allotments page. (4/19/2005)

WISCONSIN:
One of the co-owners of Hometown Broadcasting, licensee of WISS/1090 (Berlin) and WAUH/102.3 (Wautoma), is buying out the other co-owner. Thomas G. Boyson will pay Margaret Corrente $200,000 for her half of the company. The sale agreement indicates the owners have been in talks with Lyle Evans, a part-owner of WMBE/1530 (Chilton), but does not say whether any agreement with Evans is planned. (4/19/2005)

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN/MICHIGAN:
Friday (4/15) was Deb Shold's last day as morning weathercaster at Duluth ABC affiliate WDIO/10. She's leaving the industry after several years at the station. (4/16/2005)

MICHIGAN:
WUPY/101.1 (Ontonangon) won't be sold after all. S&S Broadcasting has withdrawn its application to transfer the station's license to JBS, Limited. (4/14/2005)

NORTH DAKOTA:
KQDJ-FM/101.1 (Valley City) has received a construction permit to upgrade from class C2 to C1, using 100kW at 197m from a tower closer to Jamestown. Co-owned KXGT/95.5 (Jamestown) will transmit from the same antenna. (4/12/2005)

NEBRASKA:
Salem Communications is adding a third station to its new Omaha group with the purchase of KHLP/1420 from Journal Broadcasting for $900,000. Salem plans to run a conservative News/Talk format on the station, which currently carries Advice Talk. Salem recently took ownership of KGBI/100.7, and is in the process of purchasing KCRO/660. (4/7/2005)

IOWA/MINNESOTA:
Three Eagles Broadcasting swapped two of its northern Iowa formats at the beginning of the month. The locally-orignated "Eagle Country," launched seven months ago on KRIB/1490 (Mason City), moves to KYTC/102.7 (Northwood). KRIB picks up Jones Radio Networks' Oldies Station format, which had aired on KYTC for more than a decade. (4/3/2005)

NEW FM CONSTRUCTION PERMITS: