Indiana RadioWatch: March 6, 2005
A few stories pending, and we'll catch up with those next week. We didn't
publish over the weekend or yesterday, hoping they would iron out, but no
dice.
There's one new feature to tell you about: If you regularly read the
Indiana RadioWatch blog, at http://indianaradio.blogpsot.com, and you
click on the "time stamp" for a posting, you can leave a comment for all
to read. An IRW reader e-mailed us about the feature and encouraged us to
turn it on, so we are trying it out.
Now, onto the news...
Northeast
Joe Kelly replaces 9 year vet George Robinson as the station "voice" at
Federated Media's Classic Rock/WFWI (92.3fm, Fort Wayne).
Damon Bruce joins N-T/WOWO (1190am, Fort Wayne) as anchor/reporter. He's
also worked for the Buckeye News Network and the ESPN Radio Network.
Northcentral
Ericka Jaye segues from middays at the former WLRX (95.7fm, Nappanee) to
sister Federated Media AC/WLEG (102.7fm, Ligonier). At "Froggy 102.7" (See
the call letters. Get it?), Jaye is APD/middays under PD Jeff DeWeese.
As reported in AllAccess, Federated Media's Country/WBYT (100.7fm,
Elkhart) makes some airstaff changes: The "Early Morning Buzz" - now has
Rick Hummer and Deb Miles (Miles moves from middays). Middays are now
Stinger's responsibility, as he moves from Hummer's co-host chair. Stinger
also now tackles Imaging.
The CP application for 91.3fm, Kokomo, originally awarded to Broadcasting
for the Challenged is dismissed by the FCC at the applicant's request.
Northwest
The CP applications for 88.5fm, Michigan City, 91.1fm, Chesterton, and
89.1fm, Lowell, all originally awarded to Broadcasting for the Challenged
are dismissed by the FCC at the applicant's request.
Central
Central Indiana lost one of the "good guys" recently, as Rod Brooks passed
away on 15 February. Brooks, 50, was bureau chief of Metro Networks News
Source. He was also well known for high school sports play-by-play, as he
was heard on various stations throughout his career, including WAXT, WEEM,
WHBU, WLHN, and WXXP. He was also the first voice heard in 1971 when WEEM
(91.7fm, Pendleton) signed on the air. Brooks was honored in 1989 with the
Marv Bates Award as the top Hoosier Sports Broadcasting by the Indiana
Sportswriters and Sportscaster Association. Brooks is survived by his wife
Christina, two children, family, and friends, and broadcast colleagues.
Radio One welcomes Charles Williams as VP/GM for their Indianapolis
properties (WHHH/WTLC-AM + FM/WYJZ/WNDI-LP). Williams arrives from
Chicago, where he was VP/GM of Bonneville's WNND (now WILV).
Moves about as Susquehanna files with the FCC to move
Contemporary Christian/WISG (93.9fm, Fishers) to Lawrence and
increase from Class A to B1. WISG's sister station Country/WFMS (95.5fm,
Indianapolis) would shift city of license from Indianapolis to Fishers.
Finally, Religoius/WPFR (93.9fm, Clinton) would move to 93.7fm, still as a
Class A.
Mike McKay signs on as imaging voice of Contemporary Christian/WISG
(93.9fm, Fishers).
A quick peek at the "radio with pictures" department reveals that Tim
Larson exits as News Director of McGraw-Hill's WRTV (Channel 6,
Indianapolis [ABC]). Larson had been with RTV6 since November, 2002.
Before arriving at WRTV, Larson was VP and News Director at KSDK-TV in St.
Louis, Missouri. Rick Gevers, a colleague of ours, points out that
Larson's replacement becomes the fifth news director at RTV6 in eight
years.
The CP application for 91.9fm, Lebanon, originally awarded to Broadcasting
for the Challenged is dismissed by the FCC at the applicant's request.
Westcentral
Two Terre Haute radio stations will soon be in the hands of new owners.
Bright Tower Communications (owned by attorney's Marvin Frank and Donald
Foster) announced the sale of both its broadcast properties: CHR/WMGI
(100.7fm, Terre Haute) and Hot AC/WWSY (95.9fm, Seelyville) to Green Bay,
Wisconsin-based Midwest Communications. The $3.39 million sale reflects
Midwest's first entry into the Hoosier state. Finally, the sale was
brokered by Greg Guy of Patrick Communications.
Southcentral
Mike Shannon is now Group PD for simulcasted Oldies/WQRJ-WQRK (102.5fm,
Mitchell; 105.5fm, Bedford), adding responsibilities as PD for sister
N-T/WBIW (1340am, Bedford). Current WBIW PD Miles Flynn is now APD.
Shannon's new responsibilities have him in charge of programming, the news
department, and promotions department.
The CP application for 88.3fm, Trafalgar, originally awarded to
Broadcasting for the Challenged is dismissed by the FCC at the applicant's
request.
Southwest
Former Oldies/WJPS (93.5fm, Chandler) PD Cindy Patrick lands on her feet
at the new Oldies/WJLT (105.3fm, Evansville. Also, former WJPS and WIKY
(104.1fm, Evansville) morning man Joe Blair joins WJLT in mornings. Mike
Sanders, OM of WJLT, comments to IRW: "We are just very pleased to have
landed someone with the talent and community ties that Joe Blair has."
DLC Media, owners of Contemporary Christian/WAMW (1580am, Washington) and
Standards/WAMW-FM (107.9fm, Washington) add the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway Radio Network to their lineup. Both stations will broadcast The
Indianapolis 500, and The Brickyard 400. Also, DLC Media President Dave
Crooks tells IRW that all 16 Indy Racing League races will clear on WAMW,
with the majority of the coverage falling on the AM frequency.
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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