Indiana RadioWatch: August 4, 2005
Northeast
Thunderstorms that hit Fort Wayne last Tuesday (26 July) affected several
radio stations, but the two suffering the most damage were Artistic
Media's Country/WBTU (93.3fm, Kendallville) and CHR/WDDB (106.3fm,
Columbia City). WBTU/WDDB GM Arthur Angotti reports that a lightning
strike at their Goshen Road studios caused fatal damage to both on-air
boards and took both stations off-air from 7:30pm Tuesday night through
2am Wednesday morning. Chief Engineer Bob Henning had to bring in
replacement boards from Artistic's properties in South Bend. Also,
Angotti reports that the stations' production facilities are still down
while repairs are completed.
Is a northeast Indiana area radio station about to be sold? Sources close
to the situation tell IRW Yes. Details soon - Stay tuned!
A pair of programming helm changes:
First, Mark Evans exits as OM/PD/Morning co-host at Federated Medias Hot
AC/WMEE (97.3fm, Fort Wayne). Rob Kelley, OM/PD of sister Country/WQHK
(105.1fm, Decatur) adds the same duties for WMEE. With Evans departure in
mornings, Erika Taylor is paired up with Steve Brelsford (Steve Starbrelz)
who is Production Director for all the stations. New OM Rob Kelley starts
a search for a morning show, and IRW has heard on-air auditions.
Second, across town at Federateds Production Road building, Classic
Rock/WFWI (92.3fm, Fort Wayne) PD Shannon VanRyn (Shannon Norris) exits.
Replacing VanRyn is Billy Elvis, afternoon drive personality at 92.3 The
Fort and well known from his long tenure as morning co-host at sister
Rock/WBYR (98.9fm, Van Wert, Ohio).
Summit City Radio Group Rhythmic CHR/WNHT (96.3fm, Churubusco) welcomes
Mojo to afternoons. Mojo arrives from sunny Florida where he was at
CHR/WXKB in Fort Myers.
Northcentral
Classic Rock/WAOR (95.3fm, Niles, Michigan) welcomes Mike Ragozino as PD.
Ragozino arrives from Elizabeth City/Nags Head, North Carolina where he
programmed WOBR (95.3fm, Wanchese). Ragozino has also worked with Clear
Channel, and Nassau Broadcasting in New Jersey. He's also on-air on WAOR,
afternoons, as Mike Ragz.
Before we leave 95.3 WAOR, Dicksons (Jeff Dickson) morning show, The
Morning Drive With Dickson adds Craig Williams as co-host/sidekick. He's
also a bartender across the street from the WAOR studios. Dickson tells
IRW: He has a great personality, like most bartenders, and knows
everything about sports.
Carol Kovach moves from GSM at Federated Medias Classic Rock/WFWI (92.3fm,
Fort Wayne) to GSM of sister stations N-T/WTRC (1340am, Elkhart) and
AC/WLEG (102.7fm, Ligonier). Kovach is no stranger to Michiana as she was
LSM at FOX affiliate WSJV-TV (Channel 28, Elkhart) before joining
Federated Media.
Schurz Communications/South Bend promotes Jim Roberts to OM at WNSN, WSBT,
and WHFB-AM+FM.
Northwest
Country/WKOA (105.3fm, Lafayette) overnighter Cole Thomas exits.
The FCC awards a tentative selection (their words) for Living Proof, Inc.
to build a 50,000 watt (Class B) station on 91.3fm in North Judson. As
proposed, they will broadcast from the WFRI-FM (100.1fm, Winamac) site
west of Rochester and just south of IN-14.
Central
The late Sam and Natalie Smulyan, parents of Emmis Communications Chairman
Jeff Smulyan, have sold their last radio holding Southern Gospel/WNTS
(1590am, Beech Grove.) Peter Davidsons Davidson Media acquires WNTS for
$2 million. A bit of history: WNTS was a News-Talk station (Thats the N
and T The S stood for Sports) before flipping to Religious/Southern Gospel
in 1976. Also, Inside Radio reminds us that Dave Letterman used to work
there. John Pierce and Company brokered the deal.
Earlier this year, Jonathan and David Byrd's Raven Broadcasting purchased
WXLW (950am, Indianapolis) from Gene Hood's Pilgrim Communications.
Recently, the Byrd's worked out an TBA with Hood's remaining Indianapolis
station - Contemporary Christian/WIJY (95.9fm, Franklin). As "ESPN 950"
grows its sports broadcasting operation, several sporting affiliations
move around. "ESPN 950" and 95.9 WIJY will have Butler University
basketball split between the two stations, Notre Dame Basketball (which will
bounce - no pun intended - between both frequencies, subject to
schedules), and High School Football/Basketball games of the week. WIJY
95.9fm will have Notre Dame football, IUPUI basketball, and Roncalli High
School football. WIJY will retain its contemporary Christian programming
around the sports broadcasts.
Emmis N-T/WIBC (1070am, Indianapolis) earns a nomination for the NAB
Marconi Awards in the Legendary Station category.
Southeast
The FCC approved a reallocation of Country/WMSK-FM (95.3fm, Morgantown,
Kentucky) over objections by Morgantown area residents to the FCC. While
the AM side (1550am) remains in Morgantown, the FM was approved to move to
Corydon and upgrade its power to 25,000 watts at 269 feet (Class C3).
Southcentral
The FCC awards a tentative selection (their words) for Good Samaritan
Educational Radio to build a 1500 watt (Class A) station on 90.3fm in
Columbus. As proposed, they will broadcast from a site west of Columbus,
just off IN-46.
Southwest
Indiana Community Radio Corp.-owned Contemporary Christian/WRFM (90.1fm
Wadesville) signs on the air with program test authority. Once the FCC
grants the license, WRFM will run 4500 watts from the WYFX-FM (106.7fm,
Mount Vernon) tower on Upton Road, northwest of Mount Vernon.
Employment Opportunities
WIKY-FM Evansville seeks a Sales Manager to lead the sales team of
Americas top rated A/C station, WIKY. South Central Radio Group is a
family-owned company with the resources and tools to win and grow your
career skills. If you're up to the challenge, email jobs at sccradio dot
com. EOE.
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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