Indiana RadioWatch: January 15, 2005
Two announcements:
1. Thank you for your comments on the 2004 Year-End issue and the notes of
congratulations on our new domain name. We enjoyed putting the year-end
issue together. The domain name should make both resources we maintain
easier to access.
2. Are you an Indy radio veteran? "Radio's Best Friend" Art Vuolo is
looking for someone who might have some 1960's vintage airchecks of WIFE.
Contact us and we'll put you in touch with Mr. Vuolo.
Now, onto the news, and there's plenty of that.
Northeast
Another hurdle cleared, as the Federal Communications Commission approves
the somewhat complicated transaction involving Fort Wayne local television
stations: Granite Broadcasting's WPTA-TV (Channel 21, Fort Wayne [ABC])
and New Vision Television's WISE-TV (Channel 33, Fort Wayne [NBC]). The
transaction has Granite selling WPTA-TV to Malara Broadcasting while New
Vision sells WISE-TV to Granite. Granite is selling WPTA-TV for $45.9
million while they will purchase WISE-TV for $44.2 million. Granite will
enter an SSA (Shared Services Agreement), operating WISE-TV and retaining
the operation of some aspects (for instance, sales) of WPTA-TV. IRW
readers have asked us questions: What does viewership have to do with
this? (The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette's Sylvia A. Smith reports that the
two stations have a combined viewership of 58 percent.) How do WISE and
WPTA implement a Shared Services Agreement? What becomes of each stations'
news operation? (IRW read that WISE-TV isn't filling a vacant News
Director opening) What about staffing? (The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel's
Doug LeDuc reports that WPTA employs 70-80, and WISE employs 60-70.) Is
this a last ditch effort to save Granite Broadcasting (which closed Friday
at 41 cents a share.) Even though our primary focus isn't television,
we'll keep an eye on this one.
Ron Gregory, veteran Fort Wayne broadcaster (most notably at WOWO), joins
Soft AC/WBZQ (1300am, Huntington) and Hot AC/WLZQ (101.1fm, South Whitley)
in mornings. A reminder that the stations simulcast in mornings, but
deviate to their respective formats at 9am each morning.
Before we leave those fine stations, we'll note that WBZQ has a new URL:
http://www.wbzq.com
A victim of the ice storm of two weeks ago was Wells County Radio's
AC/WADM (1540am, Decatur). PD Rob Caylor tells IRW that transmitter parts
should be on hand by the end of this week.
Marti Taylor adds MD duties at Hot AC/WAJI (95.1fm, Fort Wayne).
J.J. Fabini, OM at Alternative/WXTW (102.3fm, Auburn), Classic Rocker/WCKZ
(94.1fm, Roanoke), and Sports/WGL (1250am, Fort Wayne) is promoted to
Assistant Director of Programming for all six Summit City Radio Group
stations. He'll add oversight of Rhythmic CHR/WNHT (96.3fm, Churubusco),
Hot AC/WYLT (103.9fm, Fort Wayne) and Standards/WXKE (102.9fm, Huntington)
to his plate. Fabini will assist Director of Programming Bill Hunter.
Where are they now? Victor Locke, former radio newsperson (but more
recently Morning Anchor/Assistant News Director) at Granite's WPTA-TV
(Channel 21, Fort Wayne [ABC]) is now a news anchor/producer/reporter at
NPR affiliate KSUT in Durango, Colorado.
Northcentral
LeSea Broadcasting, owners of Religious/WHPZ (96.9fm, Bremen) have
purchased WDOW-AM + FM (1440am, 92.1fm, both Dowagiac, Michigan) and are
simulcasting WHPZ's programming on WDOW-FM.
Carrie McCaffery was recently named National Sales Manager for Artistic
Media Properties in northern Indiana (South Bend: WNDV/WZOW/WHLY/WDND and
Fort Wayne properties WBTU/WDDB.) She rises from a 20+ year career in
sales for WNDV-AM/FM (1490am/92.9fm, both South Bend.)
Northwest
Radio One Communications' Standards/WAKE (1500am, Valparaiso) has received
FCC approval for 24 hour operation. WAKE had historically been a daytimer,
receiving pre-sunrise/post-sunset authority only within the last few
years. In a press release to IRW, WAKE President/GM Leigh Ellis said:
"Having a 24-hour operating schedule for WAKE is a huge step forward for
our company. The full-time signal and [WAKE] being on the AM dial will
give our company more options for expanded local broadcast coverage. This
sort of came as a surprise - even though we had been working on it for over
40 years now."
Newsweb's Talk/WNDZ (750am, Portage) applies to the FCC to add a third
tower, increase to 15kW - daytime (and critical hours). Note that this is
a separate application from its city of license change filing last year
(WNDZ wants to move city of license to Calumet City, Illinois.)
Dan Somers takes middays at Oldies/WASK (98.7fm, Battle Ground).
Eastcentral
With all the recent weather challenges (ice storm, snow, flooding...),
many radio stations in the Marion/Anderson/Muncie corridor were affected.
Among them were the Ball State University stations of Indiana Public Radio
(WBST/WBSB/WBSW/WBSJ/WBSH). During IRW's trip last week, we heard WBSW
(90.9fm, Marion) on the air with an open carrier. IPR GM Anthony Hunt
explained to IRW that IPR's main station, WBST (92.1fm, Muncie) is housed
on Ball State's campus and WBST lost power when the university lost power
(Wednesday 5 January at Noon). A temporary fix for WBST was found Thursday
night (9pm) when Hunt journeyed to the WBST transmitter site (which had
power) and started to play music and relay information on the storm and
its effects. However, the university had no power, so WBST had no way to
relay its programming to WBSW and WBSJ (91.7fm, Portland). The other two
stations in the IPR network (WBSB 89.5fm, Anderson and WBSH 91.1fm,
Hagerstown) had power, but no programming through WBST's time off the air.
Hunt reports that all is back to normal and IPR even had a news reporter
in Marion today, covering the worst flooding that city has seen in over
ninety years.
Lora Armstrong takes middays at simulcast Oldies/WERK + WURK (104.9fm,
Muncie; 101.7fm, Elwood) and afternoons (call her "MacKenzie Lee" there)
at sister Classic Rock simulcast WHTI + WHTY (96.7fm, Alexandria; 93.5fm,
Hartford City). This is her second stint in the area, having previously
done nights at WHTI/WHTY when it was "Hit Radio" in 1999-2000.
Central
"Billy" of the morning duo "Billy and Marco," heard on Emmis' CHR/WNOU
(93.1fm, Indianapolis) exits. In June, 2004, the morning duo joined "Radio
Now" from WQZQ in Nashville, Tennessee. (Keep reading...but see
"Employment Opportunities" below if this job interests you.)
Details have emerged as to possible circumstances involving Billy Breeze's
departure from mornings at Emmis' CHR/WNOU (93.1fm, Indianapolis). Vic
Ryckaert's article in the Indianapolis Star states that an 18 year old
woman has sued Emmis Communications and Billy Breeze (real name: Dennis
Grubbs). The suit claims that Breeze aired her telephone number and
encouraged listeners to harass her. The woman claims she received numerous
phone calls and death threats. The lawsuit is for an unspecified dollar
amount as compensation for pain and suffering.
Franklin College's Alternative/WFCI (89.5fm, Franklin) recently signed an
agreement with Indianapolis NPR affiliate WFYI-FM (90.1fm) that allows
WFCI to carry WFYI's signal on its station, thereby enhancing WFYI's reach
into Johnson County. Jon Murray's article in the Indianapolis Star points
out an interesting point to this deal: The deal is a start at thwarting
broadcaster Marty Hensley's attempt to force several Indianapolis (and
suburban) non-commercial stations to share time with him for part of the
day. Murray's article states that the "FCC minimum to avert time-sharing
is 12 hours." John Krull, the Director of the Franklin College Pulliam
School of Journalism says the WFCI-WFYI deal will provide "at least that
much programming."
Pilgrim Communications will sell Sports/WXLW (950am, Indianapolis) to
Jonathan and David Byrd's Raven Broadcasting, Inc. No purchase price or
other information was offered from our source: a story in the online
edition of Indianapolis Star.
Robert Feder reports in his Chicago Sun-Times column that Khrishna
Henderson is leaving Clear Channel's WGCI-FM (107.5fm) for middays at
Radio One's Urban AC/WTLC-FM (106.7fm, Greenwood). Henderson replaces
Garth Adams, who exits for middays at sister WFUN in St. Louis.
WEEM (91.7fm, Pendleton) segues from oldies to 1980's AAA under station
manager Jeff Dupont. WEEM also debuts 24 hour operation as of last month,
using a Prophet Systems "NexGen101."
Chris Burnham, Promotions Director for the Emmis Communications stations
in Indianapolis, exits. (See "Employment Opportunities" below if this job
interests you.)
The Creative Services team at Susquehanna Indianapolis captured the
Communicator Award's "Award of Excellence" 1st Place for their Radio Show
Reel in the IBA's international competition. The "Show Reel" is the demo
CD they give to clients to judge for themselves what Susquehanna's
Creative Services department is capable of doing for their advertising
campaign. IRW congratulates to thee whole team: Johnny George (Creative
Services Director), Bob Simpson (Commercial Production Director), Buzz
Craven (Assistant Commercial Production Director) and former Assistant
Production Director Steve O'Brien (who has moved over to afternoon drive
on Contemporary Christian/WISG (93.9, Fishers).
Where are they now? Former Sports/WNDE (1260am, Indianapolis) morning man
Mark Patrick will start hosting a show on XM Satellite Radio (Major League
Baseball channel) on 1 February.
Westcentral
Aaron Green is new to nights at CHR/WMGI (100.7fm, Terre Haute) . A few
years ago, he did part time work for them, and is remembered for his tenure
as MD/APD/nights at the former Rock/WZZQ (107.5fm, Terre Haute).
Southwest
Regent Communications' Country/WYNG (94.9fm, Mount Carmel, Illinois)
switches to sports, as "ESPN 94" on 1 November. An e-mail to IRW from a
Regent official states Regent felt WYNG's marginal city grade signal
necessitated the station becoming more of a niche format - not one of three
Regent country-formatted stations in Evansville. (The other two? WBKR and
WKDQ).
Country/WNUF (102.5fm, Mitchell) stunted with New Year's music from Friday
31 December through noon on Sunday 2 January. According to PD Mike
Shannon, "New Year's" music includes versions of Auld Lang Syne, Abba's
"Happy New Year," etc. After twelve years as a country station, at noon on
2 January (1/02/[0]5...get it?), WNUF switched formats to Oldies, as
"Super Oldies 102.5" and the call letters are now WQRJ. The station drops
Jones' "US Country" format and now uses ABC's "Oldies Radio." Also, in
mornings, the new WQRJ will simulcast sister Ad-Venture Media station
Oldies/WQRK (105.5, Bedford) - "Shannon in the Morning and Deb." PD Mike
Shannon remains in that chair for both stations. One final change: WQRJ
drops NASCAR coverage.
AllAccess reports that Regent Communications VP/GM Mark Thomas exits
Regent's Flint, Michigan cluster for the Regent stations in Evansville
(WDKS/WGBF-AM + FM/WJLT/WKDQ/WYNG). Thomas replaces Bob Dakin. Dakin
heads to Biloxi, Mississippi as Station Manager at the Triad Broadcasting
stations.
A quick glance over at the television (erm..."radio with pictures,"
right?) news shows that Bill Cummings was recently named News Director at
Liberty's WFIE-TV (Channel 14, Evansville [NBC]).
Employment Opportunities
Emmis Top 40 WNOU (Radio Now 93.1)/Indianapolis PD Chris Edge needs an
amazing morning co-host to team with Marco. Mail your package to him at
WNOU, 40 Monument Circle, Suite 600, Indianapolis, IN 46204, or e-mail your
material to him at cedge at wnou dot emmis dot com
Emmis Communications Indianapolis is looking for a promotions director. If
you're interested, e-mail your resume and something dazzling to
Emmis/Indianapolis VP Marketing Jo Robinson at jorobinson at wnou dot
emmis dot com
That's it for this issue. See you in a week!
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Blaine Thompson. Articles, photos, corrections, and other contributions should be
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