April 2007

WISCONSIN:
The FCC has granted an application from "Classical 106.9" (WFMR Brookfield) to move its transmitter from Menomonee Falls to Milwaukee, changing its 6kW/100m facility to 4.4kW/116m. A directional antenna limiting coverage to the south will be used to prevent interference to WPPN/106.7 (Des Plaines, IL-Chicago). The move will improve WFMR's signal to the core of the market. (4/28/2007)

MINNESOTA:
Christian broadcaster EICB-TV is buying two construction permits for new low-power TV stations from Michael John Sullivan. EICB is paying $8,500 for K28IO (Mankato) and $3,000 for K30IN (Royalton). A change for the Royalton CP may be planned, since the asset purchase agreement refers to it as a St. Cloud station. (4/28/2007)

DIGITAL CONVERSION AND ANALOG CABLE:
The FCC is taking comments on whether to require cable systems to continue offering local broadcast stations in analog format even after over-the-air analog TV broadcasts end on February 17, 2009. Although cable systems can continue to use analog format, current regulations will not require them to offer local stations in analog after the transition, and about half of cable customers do not have digital cable. Under the proposal, systems would be required to offer both the digital HD signal and a downconverted version on analog cable. In related action, the FCC adopted an order requiring retailers to put a consumer alert on TV's that do not have digital tuners, warning that the TV will not work for over-the-air reception after February 17, 2009, without a convertor. (4/27/2007)

WISCONSIN:
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is selling its Sheboygan low-power TV station, W16BS, to Florida-based Sheboygan Community Broadcasting, LLC, for $220,000. (4/27/2007)

MINNESOTA:
The FCC has issued a Notice of Apparent Liability of $20,000 to Granite Broadcasting's KRII/11 (Chisholm) for alleged public file violations. KRII discovered at license renewal time in 2005 that children's television programming reports and issues/programs lists had not been prepared for the station since sign-on in 2002. The station is a satellite of KBJR/6 (Superior-Duluth), which did file the reports in that timeframe. Granite has 30 days to pay the fine or ask for a reduction or cancellation. (4/26/2007)

MINNESOTA:
DX-midAMerica reports that KSCR/93.5 (Benson) has flipped from Hot Adult Contemporary to Classic Hits. (4/26/2007)

NEBRASKA:
Legacy Communications is buying the construction permits for two new stations to serve the North Platte and Ogallala areas. Legacy will pay College Creek Media $475,000 for 93.5 (Paxton) and 100.7 (Sutherland), and will take over construction of the stations through a time brokerage agreement. Both stations will transmit with 100kW/230m from a tower south of Paxton. Legacy, owned by Joseph Jay Vavricek of Grand Island, also owns two stations in McCook and three in the Grand Island market. (4/26/2007)

WISCONSIN/MINNESOTA:
[Updated] Longtime Z93 (WIZM-FM La Crosse) morning duo Keith & Sam are moving to sister station "Classic Hits 94.7" (KCLH Caledonia, MN-La Crosse) on Wednesday. Todd Hunter and Holly Trafas recently left the shift at KCLH. (4/23/2007)

NORTH DAKOTA:
The Fargo Forum reports that Triad Broadcasting's KQWB/1660 (West Fargo) will drop News/Talk to become "1660 ESPN" on Monday (4/23). The lineup will include a local show hosted by Derek Hanson from 3-6 p.m. The talk format, launched in 2003, had included Ed Schultz's national show, Joe Soucheray, Glenn Beck, and Bill O'Reilly. (4/20/2007)

NEBRASKA/IOWA:
Chapin Enterprises and Hawkeye Communications have reached an agreement that would allow the current KRKR/95.1 (Lincoln) and KCSI/95.3 (Red Oak, IA) to both move into the Omaha market. KRKR would change its community of license to Valley, NE, and move to 94.9, delivering a rimshot 6kW/100m (class A) signal from a tower on Omaha's far west side. Meanwhile, KCSI would change its community of license to Treynor, IA, delivering a rimshot 22.5kW/105m (class C3) signal from a tower east of Council Bluffs. Chapin took over KRKR and KFRX/102.7 (Lincoln) as part of Three Eagles Communications' deal to buy Clear Channel's Lincoln group and has already applied to move KFRX to the Omaha suburb of Papillion with 100kW/299m. (4/18/2007)

IOWA/MINNESOTA:
Three Eagles Communications plans to sell KXLP/93.1 (New Ulm-Mankato) to the Linder family's Minnesota Valley Broadcasting as part of its purchase of Clear Channel's Mankato group. As previously reported, Three Eagles also plans to sell five of the Iowa stations its buying from Clear Channel to Coloff Media. Asset Purchase Agreements filed with the FCC show Three Eagles will pay $25 million for thirteen stations in the Mankato, Fort Dodge, and Mason City/Charles City markets. (The stations are listed below in previous reports.) Then Three Eagles will sell five Iowa stations to Coloff Media for $1.725 million and KXLP to Minnesota Valley Broadcasting for $3.1325 million. Three Eagles will retain seven stations, including the construction permit for a KXFT/99.7 (Manson-Fort Dodge) and CP's for translators in Allison, IA, and Coulter, IA, which were not listed in the original report on the sale. When the dust is settled, Three Eagles will own 2 AM and 4 FM stations in the Mankato market, 2 AM and 5 FM stations in the Fort Dodge market, and 2 AM and 4 FM stations in the Mason City market (including KAUS-FM/99.9 Austin, MN). The deals will reduce the number of radio groups in Fort Dodge from two to one and in Mankato from three to two. (4/18/2007)

MINNESOTA:
Matthew L. Ketelsen has applied to move his construction permit for a new station on 105.9 from Belview (Redwood Falls market) to Winthrop (New Ulm market). The station would get an upgrade from 6kW/100m (class A) to 25kW/100m (C3). In support of the community of license change, Ketelsen states that the move would double the number of people in the station's coverage area, provide Winthrop and Sibley County with its first broadcast license, and not result in a loss of serve to Belview since the station is not yet on the air. Ketelsen won the CP in FCC Auction No. 62 with a $288,000 bid. (4/17/2007)

NORTH DAKOTA:
KXMR/710 (Bismarck) has dropped the FAN Radio Network and replaced it with ESPN Radio. Marketing Manager Bob Denver tells KXMB-TV that FAN was dropped because Clear Channel, which is selling the station, wants the new owner to pay for the FAN programming. However, it has not yet been announced who will buy Clear Channel's Bismarck group. (4/16/2007)

IOWA/MINNESOTA:
CBS affiliate KIMT/3 (Mason City, IA) will launch the market's first 4 p.m. newscast on Thursday, April 19. The show will include segments from a new studio in downtown Albert Lea, MN. It'll be co-anchored by longtime 5 p.m. anchor Amy Fleming and anchor/producer Renee Sexton. (4/13/2007)

NEBRASKA:
KOHA-LP (Omaha) has moved from channel 65 to 48, getting a power boost from 41.4kW to 150kW. The station had previously carried the Home Shopping Network, but is now broadcasting a test pattern with a "48" logo and legal ID. Meanwhile, Christian broadcasters K53EY, K61GA, and KVSS-LP/67 appear to be either off the air or at reduced power. (4/13/2007)

IOWA:
The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that Three Eagles Communications will sell all but two of the northern Iowa stations its buying from Clear Channel to Coloff Media. Three Eagles already owns KRIB/1490 and KLSS/106.1 (Mason City) and KYTC/102.7 (Northwood-Mason City). It will retain Clear Channel's KGLO/1300 and KIAI/93.9 (Mason City), but sell KSMA-FM/98.7 (Osage-Mason City), KLKK/103.7 (Clear Lake-Mason City), KCHA/1580 and KCHA-FM/95.9 (Charles City), and KCZE/95.1 (New Hampton) to Coloff. No purchase price was immediately disclosed, and applications to transfer the licenses are not yet available in the FCC database. The Coloffs own a total of five stations in the Forest City, Waterloo, and Manchester markets, and are also buying a station in Britt. (4/11/2007)

CANADA:
Rogers Media has agreed to buy CBC affiliate CKX-TV/5 (Brandon), six "A Channel" outlets in southern Ontario and British Columbia, and three cable/satellite stations fron CTVglobemedia for a total of $137.5 million. CTVglobemedia bought CHUM Limited last year; CHUM had purchased CKX-TV and other Craig Media outlets in 2004. (4/10/2007)

IOWA:
Joe Milledge's Waveguide Communications is buying KLBA-FM/96.7 (Albia) from Harold Mick's H&H Communications for $160,000. Milledge lives in Oskaloosa. (4/9/2007)

NEBRASKA/IOWA:
Pappas Telecasting has announced it will end all of its Azteca America affiliations after June 30, 2007. Affected affiliates include KAZO-LP/57 (Omaha), KWAZ-LP/56 (Lincoln), K57HV/57 (Columbus), KAZS-LP/23 (South Sioux City), and KAZJ-LP/46 (Norfolk). CEO Harry J. Pappas said Azteca America's programming has not developed and ratings have not grown as expected. He said the company is considering its programming options for the stations. (4/9/2007)

MORE TRANSLATORS ON THE AIR, OR SOON TO BE: