October 2004

IOWA/WISCONSIN:
DirecTV's Cedar Rapids-Waterloo market package has launched, including KCRG-ABC, KGAN-CBS, KFXA-FOX, KWWL-NBC, IPTV-PBS, and KWKB-WB. KWWF-UPN and KPXR-PAX are not yet carried. DISH Network has been serving the market since early 2003. (10/27/2004)

NEBRASKA/IOWA:
Salem Communications is buying KGBI/100.7, Omaha's most-listened-to Christian station, from Grace University for $10 million. Salem did not say whether changes would be made to KGBI's format. Edward G. Atsinger III, President and CEO, said in a press release, "We look forward to continuing Grace University's tradition of public service to the greater Omaha community with Salem's distinctive Christian and public affairs programming." Salem owns no other stations in Nebraska or Iowa. Last year, Grace University sold its other station, KROA/95.7 (Grand Island), to Mission Nebraska for $1.5 million. (10/26/2004)

MINNESOTA/ONTARIO:
The FCC is considering a proposal to allot 94.5 to Baudette for a future class C1 station (100kW/299m). A station using the allotment would provide a strong signal to Baudette, Warroad, and the Lake of the Woods. The FCC will accept comments on the proposal through December 16. If the allotment is made, an auction will be held for the frequency in the coming years. (10/26/2004)

MINNESOTA:
Spanish-language broadcast TV is about to come to Minnesota. Equity Broadcasting plans to convert WBWX-CA/13 (Minneapolis) to an Univision affiliate by mid-January, according to the Fort Myers News-Press. Equity is buying the 110-Watt station from Viacom for $1.25 million. WBWX-CA has a construction permit to upgrade to 1.25kW; an earlier CP to move to channel 33 has expired. The station currently carries MTV2. (10/24/2004)

WISCONSIN:
Mary Jo Berner is selling her two Eagle River stations, WERL/950 and WRJO/94.5, to Heartland Communications for $2.2 million. Heartland also owns two stations in Iron River, MI, two stations in Park Falls, and four stations in the Ashland area, and is buying three stations in Houghton, MI. (10/22/2004)

MINNESOTA:
KZGX/1600 (Watertown) has returned to the air, targeting the Twin Cities with a spanish-language format. 1600 delivers a strong signal to the far west metro, and can be heard on some radios in the core of the metro. The station, formerly known as KWOM, had been off the air since April following a sale to WM Broadcasting. (10/21/2004)

NEBRASKA:
DirecTV has added its Lincoln-Hastings-Kearney market package, including KLKN-ABC, KHGI-ABC, KOLN-CBS, KTVG-FOX/UPN, KHAS-NBC, and ETV-PBS. DISH Network launched a package for the market earlier this year. (10/20/2004)

WISCONSIN:
WJJQ/810 (Tomahawk) has added nighttime service, broadcasting with 13W nondirectional. (10/20/2004)

DIRECTV ADDS MORE LOCALS:
DirecTV has added a local station package for Wausau-Rhinelander, including WAOW-ABC, WSAW-CBS, WFXS-FOX, WJFW-NBC, and WPT-PBS. In the coming weeks, DirecTV will also launch locals packages for Lincoln-Hastings-Kearney, Cedar Rapids-Waterloo, the Quad Cities, and Sioux Falls. DISH Network already serves the markets. (10/15/2004)

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN/MICHIGAN:
Friday (10/15) was sportscaster Steve LePage's last day at ABC affiliate WDIO/10 (Duluth). LePage, who has been with the station since 1980, is taking a job outside of the media industry. (10/15/2004)

MINNESOTA:
Duluth translator K292EZ/106.3 moved to 94.1 as K231BI as expected on Tuesday, changing slogan to "94X" for the Hard Rock format that originates on KZIO/104.3 (Two Harbors). (10/12/2004)

NORTH DAKOTA:
KNDS-LP/105.9 (Fargo) will sign on Monday, according to the Fargo Forum. 54-Watt KNDS will carry student-produced "Thunder Radio" programming from North Dakota State University, which has been without a broadcast home since KDSU/91.9 was turned over to Prairie Public Broadcasting in 1999. (10/9/2004)

MINNESOTA:
The Duluth News-Tribune reports that "X106" will make the move to 94.1 next Tuesday, October 12. (See the earlier item below for a detailed explanation of the change; the newpaper article hugely generalizes the situation for the public.) (10/8/2004)

IOWA:
KKNL/97.3 (New London) has completed an upgrade, and is now using 3.8kW at 125m (class A) from a tower south of Lowell. The upgrade gives KKNL a stronger signal in Burlington and Fort Madison. The station is owned by John T. Pritchard and rebroadcast KKMI/93.5 (Burlington) at last report. (10/8/2004)

MINNESOTA:
KQDS/1490 (Duluth) has added the Ed Schultz from 2-5 p.m. Dr. Laura moves to the 11 a.m.-2 p.m. slot, replacing a rebroadcast of KQDS-FM's morning show. (10/8/2004)

MINNESOTA:
Duluth's "X106" will soon become "94X," and the Hard Rock format will get a slight power upgrade. 106.3 is actually 19-Watt translator K292EZ, which has a construction permit to move to 94.1 as K231BI, using 250W. No exact date for the move has been announced. KZIO/104.3 (Two Harbors) serves as the primary station for the "X106" format. (10/6/2004)

MINNESOTA:
Educational Media Foundation has received a construction permit for a second FM translator to broadcast from Minneapolis. 10-Watt K273BH/102.5 will actually be licensed to Fridley, but will transmit from downtown Minneapolis, and is expected to carry EMF's "Air-1" network. EMF already has a translator on 90.7 in Minneapolis (licensed to Golden Valley) carrying the "K-Love" network. The non-profit also holds construction permits for two new translators to broadcast from St. Paul, as well CP's for new translators to broadcast from Cottage Grove, Plymouth, and Shoreview. EMF also has pending applications for new translators broadcasting from Bloomington, Columbia Heights, and north Minneapolis. (10/4/2004)

MINNESOTA:
The latest Twin Cities-area FM translator construction permit is for a "Radio K" translator. W264BR/100.7 (Falcon Heights) will broadcast with 10 Watts from the Falcon Heights tower used by KUOM/770. It will relay 8-Watt KUOM-FM/106.5 (St. Louis Park), which simulcasts with 770. (KUOM-FM shares time on 106.5 with St. Louis Park High's KDXL, which uses the frequency during the day; it's not clear whether the translator will remain on the air during KDXL's hours.) The Regents have also applied for a 99-Watt translator on 104.5 in Minneapolis, and KUOM-FM also has a construction permit to increase its tower height. (10/2/2004)

NEW FM TRANSLATOR/LPFM CONSTRUCTION PERMITS (9/27-10/1):