August 2008

WISCONSIN:
WBAY-DT (Green Bay) will add programming from the Retro Television Network on a digital subchannel in October, in addition to an all-weather subchannel already offered by the ABC affiliate. RTN is run by Equity Broadcasting, which uses the brand on many of its own stations and is seeking additional affiliates in markets across the country. Each station will carry a different lineup of classic TV shows. (8/25/2007)

NEW TV MARKET RANKINGS:
Cedar Rapids and Rapid City are the big winners in the Upper Midwest of Nielsen Media's new market rankings, each rising two positions. Sioux Falls and Mankato each moved up one position. Duluth, Marquette, and Cheyenne-Scottsbluff each fell one position, while Traverse City-Sault Ste. Marie fell three spots. Other markets in the Upper Midwest did not change rank. When it comes to TV households, Marquette, Bismarck, Quincy, Ottumwa, Sioux City, and North Platte showed declines. (8/24/2007)

IOWA:
The heritage southern Iowa callsign KIIC has resurfaced at the former KLBA/96.7 (Albia), which is now Classic Country as "Thunder Country." The change follows the station's sale to Joe Milledge. The KIIC callsign was previously used on 106.9/107.1 Osceola and 97.9 Lamoni, both of which are now non-commercial. (8/24/2007)

WISCONSIN:
Power outages knocked out local news and information from WVRQ/1360 and WVRQ-FM/102.3 (Viroqua) as severe storms moved through the area Wednesday, several days after another storm caused widespread flooding in the region. The two stations were off the air for about 18 hours Wednesday. (8/24/2007)

WISCONSIN:
Magnum Radio's WDLS/900 (Wisconsin Dells) has dropped its tourist-oriented Oldies/Adult Contemporary format for Classic Country as "Country-Western AM 900." (8/22/2007)

IOWA:
The FCC has granted Joe G. Gregory a construction permit for a new station on 97.1 licensed to North English, which will be the first station in the Iowa/Keokuk County area. The station will use 6kW/100m (class A) from a tower between South English and Webster. The station's main coverage area will stretch from from Washington to Oskaloosa to Williamsburg. (8/21/2007)

MINNESOTA:
Midwest Communications has received construction permits to upgrade two of its stations on the Iron Range: KMFG/102.9 (Nashwauk) will increase to 42kW/163m (class C2), and WMFG-FM/106.3 (Hibbing) will increase to 100kW/143m (class C1). (8/21/2007)

MINNESOTA:
The FCC has approved Northern Lights Broadcasting's purchase of "B96" (KTTB/96.3 Glencoe-Minneapolis) from Radio One. Northern Lights is a subsidiary of a Pohlad family company, headed by KTTB general manager Steve Woodbury. (8/20/2007)

WISCONSIN:
Healthy's, Inc. is donating the license of low-power TV station W08CK/8 (Madison-Middleton) to the Science of Identity Foundation. The 36-Watt station is currently off the air, but the agreement calls for Healthy's to return the station to the air before the deal is completed. Both organizations are based in Hawaii. (8/20/2007)

WISCONSIN:
Lake City Church's WIXL-LP/97.1 (Madison) is on the air with a Contemporary Christian format as "97X." The station targets listeners age 12-36. (8/20/2007)

FM TRANSLATORS FOR AM STATIONS:
After taking in more than 500 comments on a petition from the National Association of Broadcasters, the FCC has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would allow AM stations to have FM translators. The idea is already being tested in a few locations, including in Berlin, WI (see earlier story below). Among the highlights of the proposed rule:

NEBRASKA:
NRG Media is set to take over Triad Broadcasting's Lincoln group through a local marketing agreement today (8/16) as it buys the stations for a yet-to-be disclosed price. The group includes News/Talk KLIN/1400, Country "Froggy 98" (KFGE/98.1), Classic Hits "105.3 Linc FM" (KLNC), Adult Contemporary "B107.3" (KBBK), and Full Service AC KWBE/1450, which targets Beatrice. NRG also owns Lincoln-licensed AC "Lite 101.9," which targets the Omaha market. KLTQ is one of seven stations in NRG's Omaha group. (8/16/2007)

NORTH DAKOTA/MINNESOTA:
KKAG/740 (Fargo) is now simulcasting with KVOX/1280 (Moorhead), as "The Fan" sports format moves to the larger 50kW signal. KKAG signed on earlier this year carrying continuous Classic Country music. James D. Ingstad's Radio Fargo-Moorhead bought 740 and is selling 1280 to Voice of Reason Radio, a non-profit Catholic group. KKAG's daytime signal can be heard throughout North Dakota, northern South Dakota, northwestern Minnesota, and southern Manitoba, and the station remains strong at night in the Fargo area. (8/15/2007)

WISCONSIN:
Central Wisconsin is part of an FCC experiment: FM translators for AM stations. W247AZ/97.3 (Berlin) is now carrying WISS/1100 (Berlin), under what WisconsinBroadcasting.com reports is a special temporary authority. The FM translator stays on the air carrying WISS programming even after 1100 signs off at sunset, though the FM's coverage area is not as wide as the AM signal. Current rules only allow FM translators to rebroadcast other FM stations. The FCC is considering a proposal to allow AM stations to have FM translators, which could be a boon for AM stations across the country. (8/15/2007)

ONTARIO:
It turns out CKPR/580 (Thunder Bay) is not off the air yet, after all. It's carrying a repeating message telling listeners to tune to CKPR's new home at 91.5 FM. 580 will have to leave the air permanently by early September. (8/15/2007)

MORE FM TRANSLATOR SIGN-ONS:

NON-COMMERCIAL APPLICATION LIMITS:
Fearing an onslaught of applications for new stations, the FCC is taking comments on a proposed limit of ten applications per party in the upcoming filing window for stations in the non-commercial portion of the band (88-92 MHz). Applications for major changes to existing stations will not count towards the limit. The filing window, the first in seven years, is set for October 12-19. (8/12/2007)

IOWA/MINNESOTA:
All Access and Radio and Records report that the sale of Clear Channel stations to Blue Point Media in eleven markets, including Burlington-Fort Madison and Duluth-Superior, has been terminated. Some of the station sales had already been approved by the FCC. No reason has been given. (8/9/2007)

FINAL DTV TABLE:
The FCC has released the final DTV Table showing which channels stations will use after the completion of the transition to Digital TV on February 17, 2009. Currently, most DTV broadcasts are on UHF, but many VHF stations will convert their current analog channel to digital. Most VHF high stations (channels 7-13) have opted to stay on VHF, switching their analog channel to digital and abandoning their current UHF facility. Stations leaving their longtime channel number, such as WCCO-TV/4 and KSTP-TV/5 in the Twin Cities, could continue to remap digital receivers to their traditional channel numbers. Here is the full table. (8/7/2007)

WISCONSIN:
The FCC has proposed a $7,000 fine of Radio Plus, Inc., owner of WFDL/1170 (Waupun), for "failing to enclose the WFDL antenna tower within an effective locked fence or other enclosures." WFDL's tower is a quarter-mile from Waupun Middle School. An FCC agent found the wooden fence around the tower to be in poor condition, and the gate not locked, in a February 6, 2007, visit. The Notice of Apparent Liability gives Radio Plus thirty days to pay the fine or ask for a reduction or cancellation. (8/7/2007)

ONTARIO:
Thunder Bay Television reports that CKPR/580 left the air for good on Friday (8/3) after moving its News/Adult Contemporary format to the new CKPR-FM/91.5. The change leaves Thunder Bay without any local AM stations. 580's silence does clear the way for fringe daytime reception of WJMS/590 (Ironwood, MI), which carries a Country format, not heard on any Thunder Bay station. (8/6/2007)

NORTH DAKOTA/MINNESOTA:
The FCC has given final approval of the sale of 50kW KKAG/740 (Fargo) to James Ingstad's Radio Fargo-Moorhead, clearing the way for Ingstad to move the sports programming of 5kW KVOX/1280 (Moorhead) to 740. KVOX was sold to Voice of Reason Radio, a Catholic group. (8/3/2007)

MINNESOTA:
Continuous breaking news coverage interrupted regular programming on all of the major Twin Cities TV stations Wednesday and Thursday after the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed at 6:05 p.m. Wednesday (8/1). There were five confirmed deaths as of Friday, with eight others missing. On radio, WCCO, KFAN, KSTP, KTLK, WFMP, and Minnesota Public Radio were among those offering continuous coverage, with several other stations offering updates and referring listeners to their sister stations. Elsewhere, Duluth TV stations carried live coverage from their Twin Cities counterparts when networks made it available. (8/2/2007)

WISCONSIN:
Weigel Broadcasting is buying WJJA/49 (Racine-Milwaukee) from Joel J. Kinlow for $7 million, adding a second full-power station in the market. Weigel owns CBS58 (WDJT), Independent WMLW-CA/41, and Telemundo affiliate WYTU-LP/63. WJJA currently carries the Shop at Home network and Jewelry TV. The asset purchase agreement calls for WJJA to seek special temporary authority to move its transmitter to the WDJT tower in Milwaukee. Weigel may take over WJJA programming sometime between now and September 15 if Kinlow chooses to activate a time brokerage agreement. (8/2/2007)

MINNESOTA:
FOX 21 (KQDS-TV Duluth) will add a Sunday 9 p.m. newscast on August 26. The Red River Broadcast Co. station launched Monday-Friday newscasts in March. (8/2/2007)

IOWA:
The Des Moines Register reports some shakeups at "Oldies 93.3" KIOA: morning co-host Polly Carver-Kimm is out after 20 years with the station, and afternoon host Dic Youngs will retire on September 30 after 42 years. Youngs hinted that the retirement was not his idea. Carver-Kimm said she was told after Tuesday's show (7/31) that it was her last because her contract would not be renewed. Saga Communications' Des Moines GM Bill Wells told the paper the two departures are not connected, and no format change is planned. (8/1/2007)

WISCONSIN:
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that WJZI/93.3 will drop the "Smooth 93.3" name in favor of "B93.3" by Thursday. The FCC database shows the station's callsign was officially changed to WLDB on Monday (7/30). The name change may avoid some confusion with the new "Smooth Jazz 106.9" (WJZX), which adopted the Smooth Jazz format after 93.3 transitioned to mainstream Adult Contemporary. (8/1/2007)

MINNESOTA:
Herbert M. Hoppe has received a construction permit for a fourth AM station licensed to Sauk Rapids. The latest CP is for 250W on 540, using different day and night directional patterns. Hoppe also owns WBHR/660, WVAL/800, and WHMH/101.7, and has a CP for WPPI/1010. (8/1/2007)