April 2000

MINNESOTA:
KZNT/105.3 (Cambridge) is no longer out of phase. (See below). (4/29/2K)

MINNESOTA:
WCCO-TV/4 has made some changes to its imaging. The long-familiar has been replaced with a newly styled version of a logo WCCO used in the `70s. There have been some changes to the news set and color scheme, with more of an emphasis on dark blue and green. (4/29/2K)

MINNESOTA:
KDUL-LP/12 (Duluth) is now planning to sign on June 1. The station had last set May 15 as sign-on date, but delays in equipment deliveries have delayed the sign-on date. They are also planning an open house at their Fitger's Complex studios on Friday, June 16, from 2-6 p.m. (4/28/2K)

NATIONWIDE:
Clear Channel stockholders approved the merger with/purchase of AMFM, Inc. at their meeting yesterday. Clear Channel expects the merger to be finalized by September 30, 2000. (4/28/2K)

MINNESOTA:
KSMM/1530 (Shakopee) is being sold by North Star Broadcasting to Las Americas Corporation of St. Paul. Selwin Ortega, president of Las Americas, said KSMM will keep its current programming, with the addition of some programming to serve the Hispanic community in the Twin Cities. That programming will be added before the final transfer of ownership takes place. No immediate changes in staff or programming are planned, with more details on new programming to be announced in a few weeks. (4/28/2K)

MINNESOTA:
Control of Digital Broadcasting, owner of the Construction Permit for KAYF/97.3 (Starbuck), is being transferred from Emily Moore to Thomas Ingstad. Ingstad is also in the process of purchasing KDJS AM-FM Willmar, KDUZ Hutchinson, and KKJR Dassell. KAYF's 50kW signal will be strong in Alexandria, Morris, and Benson, and fair in Willmar. (4/27/2K)

MINNESOTA:
Kathy Gerhardt is joining KSTP-TV/5 as sports anchor for the Saturday 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts and reporter for the weekday broadcasts. Gerhardt last worked at WKBW-TV in Buffalo, NY. (4/27/2K)

MINNESOTA:
The Radisson Hotel in St. Paul will be the site for the FCC's Indian Telecom Training Initiative seminar on September 25-28, 2000. The goal of ITTI 2000 is to provide information to American Indian Tribal Leaders and other interested parties to help increase telecommunication services to tribal residents. (4/27/2K)

WISCONSIN/NATIONWIDE:
Cumulus Media, the Milwaukee-based company that owns 324 radio stations in 64 markets, is looking for new auditors. PricewaterhouseCoopers resigned following its issuance of an unqualified audit report, and informed the company of two areas of material weakness in its internal controls relating to revenue recognition and related-party transactions. Cumulus says its Audit Committee has already undertaken the implementation of strengthened controls in the areas identified by PwC. (4/26/2K)

MINNESOTA:
Zone 105 station KZNT/105.3 (Cambridge) has been out of phase since Zone's long period of silence last week. (Out of phase means that the wiring for the left and right channels are reversed, leading to anything that's not true stereo being cancelled out on mono receivers.) The other Zone stations, KZNR/105.1 (Lakeville) and KZNZ/105.7 (Eden Prairie), are fine. (4/26/2K)

IOWA:
The Construction Permit for the new station on 95.7 in Atlantic has been assigned the call letters KSWI. (4/26/2K)

NEBRASKA:
KOLT (Gering) will be moving from 103.9 to 95.7 following a three-year battle with TSBII, Inc. In 1997, TSBII proposed moving KOLT from 103.9 to 95.7 and keeping the station at 25kW in order to allocate 103.9 to Cheyenne, Wyoming, as a 50kW station. Tracy Broadcasting, the owner of KOLT, KASX/105.3 (Pine Bluffs), and KAWQ/101.3 (Bridgeport) proposed an alternate set of changes: KOLT-FM would move from 25kW at 103.9 to 100kW at 101.3, KAWQ would move from 100kW at 101.3 to 25kW at 95.7, and KASX would move from 50kW at 105.3 to 100kW at 103.9. Tracy said that the proposed upgrades to its stations would offer service to unserved and underserved areas, while the Cheyenne proposal would be the sixth commercial FM in Cheyenne. The FCC found flaws in Tracy's claims of service to unserved areas and instead allocated the 103.9 to Cheyenne as a 50kW station, forcing KOLT to move to 95.7. (4/25/2K)

MINNESOTA:
WCCO-TV/4 has promoted John Daenzer from 10 p.m. News Producer to Executive Producer. (4/25/2K)

MINNESOTA/NORTH DAKOTA:
The FCC has issued Construction permits for WDSE-DT/38 (Duluth), KVLY-DT/58 (Fargo), and KXMA-DT/19 (Dickinson). (4/25/2K)

IOWA:
KLKK (Clear Lake-Mason City) has moved from 103.1 to 103.7 and upgraded from 6kW to 25kW. (4/23/2K)

MINNESOTA:
I mis-identified the satellite format that WKLK-FM/96.5 (Cloquet) uses when I said it was ABC Hot AC. It's not ABC, and apparently not Westwood One. If anyone knows which service it is, I'd like to know! Their positioner is "Today's Best Music." (4/21/2K)

MINNESOTA:
The FCC has denied Jimmy Swaggart's Family Worship Center Church's application for a new translators on 89.9 in Canby and 89.9 in Madison (MN). (4/21/2K)

MINNESOTA:
Some of ABC/Disney's Twin Cities stations broadcast nothing for a good chunk of the afternoon and evening hours on April 18th after a phone line was cut near its Golden Valley Studios. The Zone 105 stations (KZNR/105.1 Lakeville, KZNT/105.3 Cambridge, and KZNZ/105.7 Eden Prairie) and KDIZ/1440 were affected. (4/19/2K)

MINNESOTA:
KZIO/104.3 (Two Harbors-Duluth) is now announcing that it will begin its regular format on Monday, May 1. (4/19/2K)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
1570 Vermillion is still KOSZ and has not yet changed to KVTK, as was reported last week. (The station has received FCC permission to change to KVTK.) (4/19/2K)

MINNESOTA:
KMSR/94.3 (Sauk Centre) is being purchased by Main Street Radio from Branstock Communications. KMSR was one of three Branstock stations that the FCC had initially denied a license renewal a few years ago, but a new license was eventually granted. (4/18/2K)

IOWA:
KELR (Chariton) has moved from 105.5 to 105.3 and upgraded from 1.7kW to 50kW. The upgrade expands KELR's primary coverage area across south central Iowa and gives the station secondary coverage of Des Moines and Ottumwa. (4/17/2K)

IOWA:
Waitt Radio is buying KHBT/97.7 "The Bolt" (Humboldt) from Signature Communications. Nearby, Waitt owns stations in Webster City and Algona. (4/17/2K)

MINNESOTA:
No changes yet at KZIO/104.3 (Two Harbors-Duluth), which is still broadcasting ABC's "Stardust Nostalgia format. They'd better get going on this "commercial-free spring" before summer comes! (4/17/2K)

MINNESOTA:
The Main Street Tattler reports that Steve Woodbury has been hired as General Manager of Blue Chip Broadcasting's Twin Cities move-in at 96.3. Woodbury was most recently the Station Manager at KFAN/1130. The FCC approved Blue Chip's purchase of the Glencoe station from Roosevelt Broadcasting a month ago, and the rumor mill is saying 96.3 will debut its new format targeted at the Twin Cities, probably "Urban"-based, in about a month. (4/17/2K)

MINNESOTA:
KSTP-TV/5 is airing a few episodes of Mudslingers Ball, a locally produced political comedy debate featuring two teams of comedians. The winning team gets $4,000 worth of advertising on KSTP for the cause of their choice. The first episode aired last Saturday (4/15) at 10:35 p.m., with the second to be aired next weekend at the same time. (4/17/2K)

MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Public Radio is acquiring Marketplace Productions, a nonprofit organization which produces the show Marketplace. MPR is a subsidiary of the Minnesota Communications Group. (4/17/2K)

MINNESOTA:
WTIP/90.7 (Grand Marais) is looking to expand its coverage into the Gunflint Trail area. They've applied for a translator on 91.7 there. (4/17/2K)

NORTH DAKOTA:
KHOL/1410 (Beulah) is being sold from Mercer Broadcasting to Two Guys Broadcasting. (4/17/2K)

WISCONSIN:
WITI/6 (Milwaukee) has been granted its digital facility, which will operate on channel 33. (4/17/2K)

MINNESOTA:
"Reliable sources" say that the new format at Red Rock's KZIO/104.3 (Two Harbors-Duluth) will be a Rock format intended to battle Shockley's KRBR/102.5. KRBR is the primary competitor to Red Rock's KQDS/94.9, which leans more towards Classic Hits. Rumor is the change will take place this weekend, with the Nostalgia format being retained at KQDS/1490. (4/13/2K)

MINNESOTA:
KDUL-LP/12 (Duluth) is now planning a May 2000 sign-on as an affiliate of UPN and AmericaOne. Local programming will include "The Average Guys," a sports-talk show hosted by Station Manager Jon Donahue that moves from Public Access Community Television. Although KDUL will be a low-power TV station, residents of the Twin Ports should have no problems picking it up, and the signal will be carried by Charter Communications on channel 16. The station is owned by Duluth Broadcasting Partners, a division of ESI Broadcasting, and will broadcast from the Fitger's Brewery Complex. (4/12/2K)

MINNESOTA:
FOX Sports is expanding into the Minneapolis area, and has hired Eric Nelson away from WCCO-TV/4. (4/12/2K)

IOWA:
After a few years of battles, the Educational Media Foundation has been granted a translator on 90.7 in Pleasant Hill for its K-LOVE network (K214DQ). Iowa State University had petitioned to deny the application, probably because the translator will be close to ISU's WOI-FM/90.1 (Ames). Pleasant Hill is an eastern suburb of Des Moines. (4/11/2K)

MINNESOTA:
The FCC has returned Minnesota Public Radio's application for a new station on 89.7 in Fergus Falls. (4/11/2K)

MINNESOTA:
The construction permit for 90.1 Worthington has changed from WEXR to KSXR. Solid Rock Broadcasting owns the station. (4/11/2K)

SOUTH DAKOTA:
KOSZ/1570 (Vermillion) becomes KVTK - Vermillion's Talk? (4/11/2K)

MINNESOTA:
Kat Country 98-9 (KTCO Duluth) unveiled new imaging today. They've got new jingles, a new logo, and a new positioner -- "The Twin Ports' New Country Leader." (4/10/2K)

NATIONWIDE:
Buzz is that Milwaukee-based Cumulus Media has ordered each of its 321 stations (not groups) to reduce monthly operating expenses by $5,000 - $8,000. That means a lot of people out on the street. (4/10/2K)

MINNESOTA:
Something's apparently up at KZIO/104.3 (Two Harbors-Duluth). The station is running occasional liners during its satellite-fed Nostalgia programming that say "the all new KZIO - coming soon" and "a commercial-free spring - coming soon." (Here's a .WAV file.) KZIO was one of the Duluth stations sold to Red River Broadcasting last year. A few months ago, 104.3's Nostalgia programming began being rebroadcast on KQDS/1490 and KZIO stopped running liners. The original KZIO, at 102.5, had a CHR format in the `80s and early `90s, and 104.3 picked up the call letters in 1997, shortly before it began the current Nostalgia format. KZIO has a translator at its Canal Park studio at 106.3. (4/7/2K)

MINNESOTA/NORTH DAKOTA:
T&J Broadcasting has a Petition for Rule Making before the FCC that would result in moving KRVI/95.1 from Detroit Lakes to Barnesville, which is about 20 miles southeast of Fargo on I-94. The FCC would have to approve the petiton to move the allocation from Detroit Lakes to Barnesville, and then KRVI would have to apply to make that change. T&J say in the Petition that they would also apply to move KRVI's tower closer to Barnesville, and coincidentally, closer to Fargo, where KRVI's studios are located. Comments to the FCC are due May 15. (4/7/2K)

WISCONSIN/IOWA:
Jason DeRusha joins WISN-TV/12 (Milwaukee) as a general assignment reporter. He last worked at KWQC/6 (Davenport), where he was a weekend anchor/reporter. DeRusha worked on the assignment desk at WISN when he was a student at Marquette. (4/7/2K)

WISCONSIN:
Lyle Robert Evans' Escanaba Broadcasting company has a Petition for Rule Making before the FCC to allocate channel 232C2 (94.3 50kW) to Hayward. Any station that would operate on the proposed frequency would have to locate its transmitter at least 26.4 kilometers north of Hayward to prevent interference to WIAL/94.1 (Eau Claire) and KSTP-FM/94.5 (St. Paul). The proposed facility would have some signal into Duluth and Ashland, though it would not be strong. Comments to the FCC had to be made by April 3 (sorry for the late notice), and replies to the comments are due April 18. (4/6/2K)

WISCONSIN:
At FOX11 WLUK (Green Bay), Brooke Bradley has been promoted to anchor of the 5 and 9 p.m. newscasts. (4/6/2K)

WISCONSIN:
WQOW/18 (ABC, Eau Claire) began broadcasting from its new transmitter site at sign-on this morning. The new site is WEAU/13's tower in Eau Claire, which is a move of 15 miles from the old site near Colfax. The change intensifies WQOW's signal in Eau Claire, while slightly expanding the coverage area to the southeast and slightly limiting it to the northwest. (4/5/2K)

MINNESOTA:
The upgrade application for WNCB's K220EG/91.9 (Bloomington) is for 250 Watts, the maximum power for a translator. The antenna would not move. The upgrade would allow K220EG to reach much of the Twin Cities audience WNCB had with it's Minneapolis translator that operated at 96.3 and 97.7. In other WNCB translator news, MPR filed a petition to deny WNCB's application for a translator in Clara City, saying it would be too close to MPR's Appleton station. WNCB will modify the application to have the translator be in Prinsburg. They also plan to use the Prinsburg translator to feed a Willmar translator. (4/5/2K)

MINNESOTA:
Contrary to multiple reports in other media last week, Beat Radio's case is not done. Beat Radio's Alan Freed sorted things out: "The three-judge panel merely reversed itself from an earlier decision that favored Beat Radio. The issue currently at hand is not the merits of the case, but where the case should be heard. There has been no trial and no decision has been made about the equipment or the actual issues. This case has bounced back and forth for almost four years, with both the government and Beat Radio gaining court victories in the process. The reports imply, if not outright state, that the case is finished and that Beat Radio has lost, notwithstanding the factual errors highlighted above. That is wrong." Beat Radio may be able to return to the air as an LPFM station. If you're unfamiliar with the history of Beat Radio, visit their website. (4/4/2K)

MINNESOTA:
KLZZ/103.7 (Waite Park-St. Cloud) has upgraded from 6kW (class A) to 9kW (C3). The change also involved an increase in antenna height, giving the station a coverage area that is normally associated with a 25kW station. (4/4/2K)

IOWA:
North Central Christian Broadcasting has been granted a translator for its WNCB on 91.9 in Spencer (K220HY). (4/4/2K)

MINNESOTA:
KMSP/UPN9 debuted a new format for its 10 p.m. newscast Monday (4/3). Their "10 at 10" includes news, complete weather, and sports in a 10-minute block before the first commercial break. (4/4/2K)

LPFM:
There's a movement opposing the movement opposing the FCC's LPFM plan. First, the FCC approved the LPFM plan, which the National Association of Broadcasters, among other organizations, opposed. Then, legislation was drafted that would stop the FCC from implementing the LPFM plan (S. 2068 or HR 3439). Now, the organizations that originally supported the LPFM plan oppose the opposition to the plan. The NAB says LPFM will cause interference because third-channel adjacencies will not be protected, meaning that LPFM stations could be .6 MHz away from a local station, as opposed to the .8 MHz spacing required of full-power FM stations. The NAB says less selective radios will receive interference from LPFM stations because of the smaller spacing, and they're circulating a CD to representatives and senators that contains a simulation of possible interference. However, the NAB fails to mention that current FCC regulations allow translator stations to be just .4 MHz from local stations. (K214DF/90.7 Golden Valley-Minneapolis and KNOW/91.1 Minneapolis-St. Paul is one example.) Further, LPFM stations will be limited to 100 Watts, while translators can be up to 250 Watts. Those who are less informed will not realize that interference is also caused by computers, CD players, and intermodulation of existing radio stations. It is my informed opinion that there would be little, if any, interference from LPFM stations, and the benefits to the public good would far outweigh any interference. The major problem will actually be that LPFM stations will prevent reception of distant stations. FM Atlas publisher Bruce Elving is encouraging Minnesota representatives and senators that have supported the bill to reconsider their support of the legislation with this letter. Americans for Radio Diversity is (obviously) opposed to the movement against LPFM. Incidentally, REC Networks has an engine that searches for possible LPFM frequencies. The possible frequencies listed for downtown Minneapolis are 91.9, 93.1, 97.7, and 103.5. (4/4/2K)

MINNESOTA:
An attempt to answer last week's question: 'Why has MPR applied for a translator on 91.9 in Minneapolis?' First possibility: WNCB translator K220EG/91.9 (Bloomington) has reportedly applied for a power increase that would greatly expand its Twin Cities area coverage. Second: 91.9 is a possible frequency for an LPFM station in Minneapolis, and some think MPR doesn't want the competition. (4/4/2K)

MINNESOTA:
The Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota recently applied for a new class D station on 106.5 in St. Louis Park. The station would share time with St. Louis Park High School's KDXL/106.5. (originally posted 4/4/2K, corrected later in the day)

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
Catholic Family Radio is widely reported to be breaking up after only a little more than a year on the air. WWTC/1280 (Minneapolis) and WZER/540 (Jackson-Milwaukee) are up for sale. (4/4/2K)

MINNESOTA:
96Lite FM (KDAL-FM Duluth) has added the syndicated "Delilah" request and dedication show, which airs from 7-Midnight. (4/4/2K)

MINNESOTA:
The positioner war between AMFM and CBS in the Twin Cities continues. Recall that AMFM's KDWB and CBS' 104-1 The Point both decided to go to "Today's Hit Music" at about the same time. Now, AMFM is using CBS' WLTE positioner, "The Station at Work," on most of its stations. (4/3/2K)