MINNESOTA:
Hubbard Broadcasting announced a workforce reduction at its stations across the country Tuesday. 20 full-time and 4 part-time positions were cut at KSTP/KSTC, as well as 24 positions at CONUS Communications in St. Paul and Washington. The 7-8 a.m. and 6:30-7 p.m. weekday newscasts on KSTC/45 will end after this week, as well as the weekend morning newscasts on KSTP/5. Casulaties also include KSTC's "The Big Bad Movie" and the KSTP Broadcast Center store in the Mall of America. The Star Tribune reported that three people will be let go on the radio side. Hubbard attributed the layoffs to declining profits. (10/31/01)
IOWA:
Clear Channel's KSMA-FM/98.7 (Osage) as rescinded its application to upgrade from 6kW to 25kW. The upgrade would have improved the "Kiss" signal into its target market of Mason City. (10/31/01)
SOUTH DAKOTA:
A construction permit has been issued for KHSD-DT/10 (Lead). (10/31/01)
MINNESOTA:
A sign of things to come: KMSP/9 has been passing through FOX News Channel's bottom-screen ticker during its newscasts. The ticker includes the "FOX" logo between headlines. KMSP is expected to eventually become the Minneapolis market's FOX affiliate, but no date has been announced. (10/30/01)
NATIONWIDE:
Echostar Communications, which operates DISH Network, is buying Hughes Electronics, which operates DirecTV, from General Motors for $25.8 billion. The merger, if approved, would result in one company owning virtually the entire DSS industry. Echostar would use the DirecTV name for all services and would send new receivers to every DirecTV and DISH Network customer, though any changes are likely years away. Echostar CEO Charlie Ergen said the merger will allow the company to add local channel service to about 60 additional markets, which would expand markets covered by DSS to about the top 100. That means markets that could be added in the future include Cedar Rapids-Waterloo, Des Moines, the Quad Cities, Lincoln-Hastings-Kearney, Omaha, Green Bay, and Madison. (10/29/01)
WISCONSIN:
Cumulus Broadcasting has excercised its option to purchase WDUZ/1400 and WQLH/98.5 (Green Bay) from Green Bay-Laird Broadcasting. That option was reserved when Cumulus began a local marketing agreement to run the stations in 1999. (10/27/01)
NEBRASKA:
The KOLT-FM call letters move from 103.9 Gering to 101.3 Bridgeport (formerly KAWQ), and 103.9 changes to KOZY-FM. (The station is not related to KOZY/1320 Grand Rapids, MN.) The FCC says the call letters changed on October 9, but the Tracy Broadcasting website still lists KOLT as being on 103.9, with no mention of any station on 101.3. (10/27/01)
MINNESOTA:
A new low-power TV construction permit has been issued to the Cooperative TV Association of Southern Minnesota for 2kW K23FY (Frost). (10/27/01)
MINNESOTA:
Bill Satre joins Kiss 96 (KKSR/96.7 Sartell-St. Cloud) as program director, replacing Marshal Thompson. Bill E. Wild has taken over Thompson's midday shift, and Eric Grant is covering evenings following the departure of Joey Hoops. Satre last worked in Duluth at the Point 107.7. (10/25/01)
NEBRASKA:
Nebraska Public Radio Network flagship station KUCV (Lincoln) is planning to move from 90.9 to 91.1 on Thursday, November 1. With the move, the station will stay at the same site, but increase power from 16kW to 100kW, drop its antenna from 219m to 210m, and go from a nondirectional antenna to a directional antenna. (100kW will actually be the vertical power -- horizontal power will be 19.5kW.) The frequency change and upgrade should allow Omaha listeners to hear the station on car radios -- the current 90.9 signal suffers from adjacent-channel interference from KVNO/90.7 in the Omaha area. NPRN does not have an Omaha station. (10/25/01, corrected 11/2)
WISCONSIN:
WXCE/1260 (Amery) apparently plans to drop its remaining Oldies programming on Monday, October 29, in favor of an all-News/Talk/Sports format. The station already carries ESPN Radio in the evening and Art Bell overnight, and will add Sam Donaldson's new show at 10a and Sean Hannity from 2-5p. WXCE will rely on its locally-produced news presence from 6-10a, 11a-1p, and 5-6p. A local talk show from 1-2p also recently launched. (10/25/01)
WISCONSIN:
A construction permit has been issued for WLAX-DT/17 (La Crosse). (10/25/01)
MINNESOTA:
WFTC-DT/21 (Minneapolis) has signed on. There are now six digital TV stations broadcasting in the Twin Cities. (10/24/01)
MINNESOTA/NEBRASKA/SOUTH DAKOTA/WISCONSIN:
Several more low-power TV stations have been granted in the region:
WISCONSIN:
Pappas Telecasting's WMMF/68 (Fond du Lac) has received FCC permission to broadcast with 5000kW from the tower used by WWRS/52 (Mayville), which is midway between Fond du Lac and Mayville near Brownsville. WMMF currently broadcasts FamilyNet programming with just 35kW, while WWRS broadcasts TBN with just 10kW and has a construction permit for 5000kW as well. The new site would be about 45 miles northwest of Milwaukee, so the stations could be seen in Milwaukee with a rooftop antenna. Unfortunately, most people in Milwaukee don't have rooftop antennas, but the signals may still be strong enough to invoke the "must-carry" rule on cable systems. (10/24/01)
WISCONSIN:
The FCC has dismissed Gateway Technical College's application for a low power FM station on 92.9 in Elkhorn. (10/24/01)
MINNESOTA:
KSTC/45 will be broadcasting seven Minnesota Golden Gopher hockey games with assistance from FOX Sports Net this season. (10/22/01)
NEBRASKA:
The FCC has issued Pappas Telecasting a construction permit for a 20kW translator station on channel 33 (K33GL) in Valentine. No primary station was specified in the application, but the translator may rebroadcast Pappa's KHGI/13 (ABC, Kearney). (10/22/01)
SOUTH DAKOTA:
Red River Broadcasting has been granted a translator on channel 44 in Murdo. K44GG will likely rebroadcast Red River's KDLT/46 (NBC, Sioux Falls). (10/22/01)
SOUTH DAKOTA:
Amanda Orrick of Corpus Christi, Texas, has been granted a construction permit for a 5.1kW low-power station on channel 50 in Pierre, assigned the call letters K50GW. (10/22/01)
NEBRASKA:
Cory Kopsa is buying KRFS/1390 and KRFS-FM/103.9 (Superior) from Herbert Hoeflicker for $130,000. (10/18/01)
MINNESOTA CORRECTION:
The sale price for KCHK AM-FM (New Prague) is a total of $900,000, not $900,000 each. I misread "$900,000 cash" as "$900,000 each" on the faxed document filed with the FCC. (10/17/01)
MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
Family Radio's KCLH/94.7 (Caledonia-La Crosse) stopped the patriotic music this morning and began a Classic Hits format. (10/17/01)
WISCONSIN:
WBAY-DT/23 (Green Bay) has signed on. (10/17/01)
IOWA:
Waitt Radio has dropped the power of KAYL-FM/101.7 (Storm Lake) from 100kW to 50kW. The change was made because Waitt plans to move KZFX/101.9 (Lincoln) closer to its target market of Omaha, but the FCC hasn't approved that plan yet. (10/16/01)
MINNESOTA:
KBGY/107.5 (Faribault) began a Contemporary Christian format known as "Spirit 107-5" a few weeks ago. The station had been broadcasting a Jones Radio Network country format since it signed on last summer. KBGY is including Minneapolis and St. Paul in its legal ID. The signal is good in the south metro, but fair to weak in the rest of the metro. (10/16/01)
MINNESOTA:
Hometown Broadcasting is buying KQPR/96.1 (Albert Lea), KOWO/1170 (Waseca), and KRUE/92.1 (Waseca) from Cumulus Media for $1.9 million. Hometown Broadcasting is owned by Greg Jensen (57%), Gary Pastorious (28%), and Dennis Martin (15%), all of Albert Lea. KQPR currently simulcasts with Cumulus-owned KQCL/95.9 (Faribault), so the station may end up changing format. (10/16/01)
MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
KSFF/94.7 (Caledonia-La Crosse), which was recently purchased by Family Radio, stopped playing Soft Rock and switched to patriotic music on Sunday, with a few breaks for commercials and weather. The call letters have been changed to KCLH and a Classic Hits format is rumored. It also appears the station has been moved in with the other Family Radio stations, since jocks from Z93 have been cutting the weather on KCLH. (10/16/01)
WISCONSIN:
Word is that Faith Sound's purchase of WKBH/1570 (Holmen-La Crosse) and WFBZ/105.5 (Trempeleau-La Crosse) has fallen through. The FCC had already approved the sale. Riverview Communications still wants to sell the stations. (10/16/01)
MINNESOTA:
Kingsley Murphy's Northland Broadcasting is selling KCHK/1350 and KCHK-FM/95.5 (New Prague) to Radio Southern Minnesota for $900,000. Radio Southern Minnesota is owned 51 percent by James Ingstad of Fargo and 49 percent by James Lowe of Lakeville. (10/11/01, corrected sale price 10/17)
MINNESOTA/NORTH DAKOTA/SOUTH DAKOTA:
Clear Channel Radio Plains/Northwest Senior Vice President Jay Meyers has added Minneapolis cluster Vice President & Market Manager Mick Anselmo to his Regional Vice President group. Anselmo will oversee ten markets in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. In a press release, Meyers said, "Mick actually knows where Minot, Dickinson, Aberdeen and New Ulm are, and has promised to take me there soon." Clear Channel owns 1,225 radio stations in the United States. (10/11/01)
IOWA:
6kW KKNL/97.3 (New London) has apparently signed on, but the format is unkown. The transmitter is between New London and Mount Pleasant. (10/11/01)
IOWA:
KAYL-FM/101.7 (Storm Lake) has been granted a downgrade from 100kW to 50kW, but it's unclear if the construction permit will ever be used since the reason it was applied for was so KZFX/101.9 (Lincoln) could move it's transmitter closer to Omaha, but the KZFX application was dismissed. (10/11/01)
IOWA:
Clear Channel's KWMM/98.7 (Osage-Mason City) has changed to KSMA-FM, reflecting the "Kiss 98.7" name adopted two months ago. (10/11/01)
MICHIGAN:
The construction permit for a new 5000kW station on channel 19 in Marquette has been granted the call letters WMQF. (10/11/01)
NEBRASKA:
KAZP/1620 (Bellevue-Omaha) has changed to KOZN. (10/11/01)
MINNESOTA:
WCCO-TV general manager Jan McDaniel resigned Monday and was replaced by Rene LaSpina, who last worked at a Scranton, PA, station with very high ratings, something WCCO would like to see more of these days. Rumors are flying around town about how voluntary McDaniel's exit was. (10/9/01)
IOWA:
Gary Shore has joined KCAU/9 (Sioux City) as chief meteorologist. (10/9/01)
MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
FOX has named Carol Rueppel the new general manager of KMSP/9, WFTC/29, and FOX Sports North following Stu Swartz's retirement. Rueppel had been the general manager of FOX-owned WITI/6 (Milwaukee) since 1997. (10/8/01)
MINNESOTA:
The FCC has approved Granite Broadcasting's plan to move the allotment for channel 11 from International Falls to Chisholm. Granite holds a construction permit for KRII/11 (International Falls). The move will allow the station to increase the number of people in its coverage area. The station is expected to rebroadcast Granite's KBJR/6 (Superior-Duluth) and will compete directly with WIRT/13 (Hibbing), which rebroadcasts WDIO/10 (Duluth). (10/8/01)
MINNESOTA:
K-Love station KMKL/90.3 (North Branch) began regular broadcasting Saturday evening. The transmitter (195W at 111m) is located between North Branch and Chisago City. It's the first station in Chisago County. The sign-on may mean some north metro residents could have a hard time receiving KFAI/90.3 (Minneapolis). (10/7/01)
MINNESOTA/NORTH DAKOTA:
KZLT/104.3 (East Grand Forks) dropped the short-lived Hot Adult Contemporary format known as "Cities 104.3" for `80s Hits as "Z104" Saturday. The change was done in conjunction with the UND hockey game, with ads on the TV broadcast and fliers passed out at the game. (10/7/01)
MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN:
KRBR/102.5 "The Bear" (Superior-Duluth) has relaunched it's Rock format under new program director Justin Case. The new broad-based format is positioned as "Real Rock." Case oversaw the 102.5's initial switch to Modern Rock in 1996, and has been at Kiss 92.1 in Duluth, The Point in Omaha, and The Point/Jammin' 106.9 in Milwaukee since then. He's also PD of recently relaunched "Magic 95.7." (10/7/01)
MINNESOTA:
KHME/101.1 (Winona) is no longer "Lite FM", but instead "Soft Rock 101.1" following the recent sales of the station. (10/7/01)
IOWA/NEBRASKA:
KLNG/1560 (Council Bluffs-Omaha) has been granted a daytime power upgrade from 1kW to 10kW. The station would have to drop to 2.1kW during critical hours (the hours after sunrise and before sunset.) It will still be off the air at night. (10/5/01)
NEBRASKA/IOWA:
The FCC has dismissed an application to move KZFX/101.9 (Lincoln) closer to its target market of Omaha. No public reason was given for the dismissal. The move would have required KAYL-FM/101.7 (Storm Lake, IA) to downgrade from 100kW to 50kW. (10/5/01)
IOWA/NORTH DAKOTA/WISCONSIN:
Construction permits have been issued for KYIN-DT/18 (Mason City), KVRR-DT/19 (Fargo), and KBJR-DT/19 (Superior). (10/5/01)
MINNESOTA/NORTH DAKOTA/WISCONSIN:
Several new low-power TV stations have been granted. Three Angels Broadcasting Network has received a construction permit for 45kW K51GL in Vesta, MN, which is between Redwood Falls and Marshall. Prime Cities Broadcasting, the owner of FOX affiliates in western North Dakota, has been granted an 8.76kW translator on channel 38 in Dickinson (K38HA). Inspiration Television has been granted a construction permit for a 1kW station on channel 45 (W45CF) in Chippewa Falls, WI. (10/5/01)
WISCONSIN:
After a three-year dispute over who controlled the company following the death of a shareholder, Winnebago Broadcasting has agreed to sell its only station, WRJQ/1570 (Appleton), to Woodward Communications. Woodward currently owns one AM and three FM stations in the Appleton and Green Bay markets. (10/5/01)
SOUTH DAKOTA:
75-Watt K-LOVE translator K217DU/91.3 (Sioux Falls) has signed on. (10/5/01)
IOWA:
KGAN/2 (Cedar Rapids) added a 5 p.m. newscast this week, and is also repeating its 10 p.m. newscast at 5 a.m. (10/3/01)
NORTH DAKOTA:
Eric Grande has taken over as program director and morning co-host at Clear Channel's KFGO-FM/101.9 (Fargo). The station has changed it's name from "Moose Country 101.9" to "K102", using the same logo as Clear Channel's Twin Cities K102. The station has duplicated its website at http://www.k102fargo.com, though the old "Moose" logo is still on the page. (10/3/01)
SOUTH DAKOTA:
The FCC has cancelled the license of 710-Watt KTEQ/91.3 (Rapid City) for failure to broadcast for 12 consecutive months. The station was "a student-run, non-profit radio station on the campus of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology." (10/3/01)
MINNESOTA:
WXXZ/95.3 (Grand Marais) isn't silent after all as speculated earlier. The station is frequently off the air and has audio problems. (10/2/01)
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