MINNESOTA:
KKLN/94.1 (Atwater) dropped Country for Classic Rock as "The Loon." It sounds live `n' local. (7/28/99)
NEBRASKA:
The Imperial Media Association has been granted a new station on 102.9 in Imperial, which is in the southwestern part of the state. It will be a class C station, with 100kW at 305m. (7/28/99)
IOWA:
The FCC has made the following frequency allocations:
SOUTH DAKOTA:
The FCC has allocated 99.1 C3 (25kW) to Lennox. Since Lennox is located 15 miles southwest of downtown Sioux Falls, it's likely any new station using this facility will serve that market. The Ken Mills Agency requested the allotment, which has a site restriction of 1km west of Lennox to aviod short-spacing with KEEZ/99.1 (Mankato, MN). Here's the FCC Report and Order. (7/28/99)
MINNESOTA:
WBJI/98.3 (Blackduck-Bemidji) has applied for an upgrade from class C2 (50kW) to C1 (100kW). (7/28/99)
NEBRASKA:
The American Family Association is asking the FCC to change the city of license of its KAYA/91.3 from Hubbard to Sioux City, IA. The change would not involve any transmitter location or power adjustments. (7/28/99)
MINNESOTA:
KMSP/9 has hired Robin Wolfram as a news anchor for their new morning show. You may have seen her doing previews on USSB. (7/27/99)
MINNESOTA:
Angela Davis is returning to KSTP-TV/5 to anchor the morning and midday news shows. (7/27/99)
WISCONSIN:
WTMJ-TV/4 (Milwaukee) welcomes Matt Ackland as a general assignment reporter who will cover crime. Crosstown WISN-TV/12 welcomes Clark Barton, who comes from WGBA/26 (Green Bay) and will write, produce, and edit news promos. (7/27/99)
MINNESOTA:
There's a new unlicensed station in the Twin Cities. "Free Radio Twin Cities" broadcasts on 92.9 from 4 to 10 p.m. weekdays, and longer on weekends. It's been around since June. (7/26/99)
MINNESOTA:
Don't be surprised if you hear Christmas music on KSMM/1530 (Shakopee). They're having "Christmas in July." (7/24/99)
MINNESOTA:
The new transmitter building at KQDS's site in Duluth is almost complete. Workers were put in footings for the new FM-TV tower this week. (7/24/99)
MINNESOTA:
An outfit called "Starcom" (is that the same as St. Cloud Broadcasting, or is it a different organization?) is applying for translators on 91.7 in Alexandria, 90.5 in Bemidji, and 91.3 in Worthington. They would relay WJFM (Baton Rouge, LA), which is owned by Jimmy Swaggart Ministries and is apparently the flagship station of Sonlife Radio. (7/24/99)
NEBRASKA:
High Plains Broadcasting is selling KUVR/1380 and KMTY/97.7 (Holdrege) to John C. Mitchell. (7/24/99)
MICHIGAN:
S&S Broadcasting's WUPY/101.1 (Ontonagan) has applied to upgrade from class C2 (50kW) to C1 (100kW). (7/24/99)
MINNESOTA:
There's been talk here and there for a long time that Dennis Carpenter is selling St. Cloud Broadcasting's stations (KASM/1150, KXSS/1390, KLZZ/103.7, and KDDG/105.5), but the rumors a little stronger lately. (7/23/99)
MINNESOTA:
Southpoint Educational Radio has been granted a new station on 89.5 in Montevideo. It will be 500W from 46m. (7/23/99)
WISCONSIN:
Earlier this week I drove past the tower site for WAQE-FM/Rice Lake's new 99.1 facility near Barron, and it appeared they were in the very early stages of building the tower, possibly putting in footings. WAQE currently operates on 97.7, and once it moves to 99.1, co-owned WKFX/97.7 (Barron) will sign on. (7/23/99)
WISCONSIN:
Gerald James Hackman is buying WNXR/107.3 (Iron River-Ashland-Superior) from Capital Broadcast Services. Hackman owns WATW/1400, WBSZ/93.3, and WJJH/96.7 in Ashland. Capital also owns W25CA (Ashland). (7/22/99)
WISCONSIN:
Good Karma Broadcasting is buying WTTN/1580 (Watertown) from Watertown Radio. Good Karma owns WBEV/1430 and WXRO/95.3 (Beaver Dam) and WTLX/100.5 (Columbus-Madison). (7/22/99)
MINNESOTA:
The American Family Association has been granted a new station on 88.1 in Worthington. It'll be 250 Watts at 44m. This'll probably squash Educational Opportunities' recent application for a station on 88.1 in Windom. AFA already has a translator in Worthington on 88.1, which is 250 Watts at 47m, so listeners won't even notice a change. The change will protect the translator from being bumped off by a different full-power station. (7/22/99)
WISCONSIN:
WXWX/107.5 (Brillion-Green Bay) has increased its antenna height and slightly dropped power, bringing it from class A (6kW) to class C3 (equivalent of 25kW). (7/22/99)
MINNESOTA:
KQKK/101.9 (Walker) is on the air with a Light AC format, using the slogan "KQ102." The format is satellite delivered. The station is targeted at the Walker area, making it the only station targeting that area. (7/21/99)
SOUTH DAKOTA:
Pheasant Country Broadcasting's KNBZ/97.7 (Redfield) is on the air. (7/20/99)
IOWA:
The FCC has approved Waitt Broadcasting's purchase of KAYL AM-FM (Storm Lake), KUOO (Okoboji), and KUQQ (Milford). Saga Broadcasting had filed a petition against the sale. Waitt owns KMEG/14 (Sioux City), and Storm Lake is in the Sioux City TV market. (7/20/99)
IOWA:
Tiger Eye Broadcasting is buying a bunch of LPTV stations in Cedar Rapids: K55HF, K57GQ, K65HB, and K67GY. Tiger Eye owns K60EZ (Duluth, MN), which is off the air, and other LPTV's around the country. (7/20/99)
IOWA:
Clear Channel/Jacor's Mix 100.3 (KMXD Des Moines) sounds like it's softened up quite a bit to make room for new sister Kiss 107 FM (KKDM). The new sound of the New Mix seems to be dangerously close to Mix's other sister, Light AC Sunny 106-3 (KYSY Ankeny). Plus, Clear Channel has to worry about the adjustments at Mix sending more listeners to Saga's Star 102.5 (KSTZ) than to Kiss 107, with additional competion coming from Saga's Lite 104.1 (KLTI Ames). As for Kiss, it was still jockless as of Saturday, two weeks after the format's debut. (7/18/99)
MINNESOTA:
Shelley Miller, who worked at the old KJ-104 and REV 105, is back in the Twin Cities at Zone 105 from 7-10 p.m. (7/18/99)
MINNESOTA:
A July 15 article in the Duluth News Tribune, reprinted in the Pioneer Press on July 16, confirms that Northland Broadcasting is buying KUSZ/107.7 (Proctor). (7/16/99)
MINNESOTA:
The Music Director chair at WNCB/89.3 (Duluth) will be vacant at the end of the month when Jake Ryan leaves to become Program Director at WAYK Kalamazoo and WAYG Grand Rapids, MI. (7/14/99)
MINNESOTA:
Here's some dated but interesting reading concerning the sales of Duluth's KQDS and channel 21: FCC reports from 1998 and 1996. (7/14/99)
MINNESOTA:
KDLH/3 (Duluth) has apparently begun 24-hour programming. They've been carrying the Shop at Home network, and then Headline News from 4:30-5:30. (7/13/99, schedule corrected 7/14)
MINNESOTA:
WXXZ/95.3 (Grand Marais) signed on Sunday (7/11) rebroadcasting 92.1 Kiss FM (WWAX Hermantown-Duluth). (KAOD/106.7 Babbitt is rebroadcasting WWAX as well.) WXXZ should have a fair signal into Thunder Bay, a city of 120,000 with only three commercial radio stations, but it doesn't appear WXXZ will pursue that market. Also, the FCC has approved Red River Broadcasting's purchase of WXXZ, KAOD, and KBAJ/105.5 (Deer River), which is not yet on the air. (7/13/99)
MINNESOTA:
Call letters: the CP for 91.9 in International Falls is assigned KBOG; KCUT-LP/39 (Fisher) becomes KCPM-LP. (7/10/99)
IOWA:
Clear Channel is buying KASI/1430 and KCCQ/105.1 (Ames) for $4 million. Since they just bought KKDM/107.5 (Des Moines) for $7.35 million and flipped the format to Contemporary Hits, will KCCQ continue to spin the hits? KKDM comes in loud and clear in Ames, while KCCQ is fair to poor in Des Moines. Clear Channel is also buying KWMT/KKEZ in Fort Dodge and already owns WHO/KMXD/KYSY/KWKY in the Des Moines market. The price tag for KWMT/KKEZ was $7.5 million. (7/7/99)
WISCONSIN:
The Wisconsin Broadcast Page is reporting that WHPN/UPN57 (Janesville-Madison-Rockford) is now officially on the air. (7/7/99)
IOWA:
Iowa Public Television is the first recipient of a digital TV Construction Permit in Iowa. It's for KDIN-DT/50 (Des Moines). (7/5/99)
IOWA:
KKDM/107.5 (Des Moines) dumped its Modern Rock/AC format for Contemporary Hits at 6 p.m. on Friday 7/2. Their slogan is "Kiss 107 FM." Clear Channel/Jacor is buying the station, adding it to the WHO/KMXD/KYSY/KWKY group. Des Moines has not had a full-blown CHR since Q102 became Star 102.5 more than five years ago. (7/3/99)
NORTH DAKOTA:
The FCC recently allocated frequencies for 100kW stations in six communities, at the request of High Plains Broadcasting. The allocations are as follows: Belfield 93.9 C1, Burlington 103.1 C1, Gackle 99.1 C, Hazelton 103.9 C, Medina 92.3 C, and New England 95.7C. The Hazelton allocation has a site restriction 20.4 km north of town to avoid interference with KGIM-FM/103.7 (Redfield, SD). The FCC will open up windows for applications to be filed for these allotments sometime in the future. (7/3/99)
MINNESOTA:
The FCC has agreed to reconsider its decision not to renew the licenses of KMSR/94.3 (Sauk Centre), KMGK/107.1 (Glenwood), and KSTQ/99.3 (Alexandria). All are owned by Branstock Communications. (7/3/99)
WISCONSIN:
WMVS/10 (Milwaukee) has received the Construction Permit for its digital facility on channel 8. It will be one of a very few DT stations in the VHF band. Its also the first CP to be granted for a digital station in the Milwaukee market and the second in the state, after WHA-DT. (7/3/99)
WISCONSIN:
New to WITI/FOX6 (Milwaukee) is Matt Close, who is originally from the area but last worked at WBAY/2 (Green Bay). (7/3/99)
MINNESOTA:
Lite Rock 103 (WLTE Minneapolis) added the syndicated Delilah show a while back. (7/2/99)
MINNESOTA:
As speculated here in January, KARP/96.3 (Glencoe) has applied to upgrade from class C2 (50kW) to C1 (100kW). The specifics of the application are not yet available, but the transmitter will probably have to be located near Howard Lake. Such a facility would have a good signal in the western half of the Twin Cities and a fair signal in the eastern half. The upgrade would be possible if the FCC approves a downgrade and frequency change application from WJMC-FM/96.3 (Rice Lake, WI). (7/1/99)
WISCONSIN:
WPW Broadcasting is buying WSLD/104.5 (Whitewater) from SLD Broadcasting. (7/1/99)
NEBRASKA:
Neuhoff Broadcasting is buying KSYZ/107.7 (Grand Island) from Mid-Nebraska Broadcasting. (7/1/99)
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