Indiana RadioWatch: March 6, 2005
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 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 attorneys 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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