Indiana RadioWatch: January 30, 2017
Statewide
With the Media General/Nexstar deal now closed, Bob Prather's Heartland Media now owns three Indiana TV stations:
FOX affiliate/WFFT-TV (Channel 55, Fort Wayne)
CBS affiliate/WTHI-TV (Channel 10, Terre Haute)
CBS affiliate/WLFI-TV (Channel 18, Lafayette)
IRW hasn't yet seen any on-air changes. If you have, please send me an e-mail.
Northeast
Adams Radio Group signs on their 250 watt translator as a simulcast of Oldies/WLYV (1450am, Fort Wayne). The call letters for now are W300CF (104.3fm, Fort Wayne). This translator antenna hangs from an American Towers' tower that also holds the other two Adams Radio Group translators. This tower is on Cass Street, just north of West State Boulevard.
Northcentral
After two years working at "ABC 57 News," reporter Emily Kinzer exits Weigel Broadcasting's ABC affiliate WBND-TV (Channel 57, South Bend) and joins Nexstar's CW affiliate WISH-TV (Channel 8, Indianapolis) as a reporter.
Partnership Radio's Urban AC/WUBU (106.3fm, South Bend) closes on their sale to Federated Media. The WUBU studios move from a building on East Colfax Avenue in downtown South Bend to the Federated Media "Planet Radio" building, along West Edison Road in Mishawaka.
Central
In addition to Emily Kinzer joining Nexstar's CW affiliate WISH-TV (Channel 8, Indianapolis) as a reporter, WISH-TV also welcomes Jessica Winter as a reporter. Ms. Winter last worked in New Bern, North Carolina at WCTI-TV (weekend anchor, reporter, and producer).
A week from today, a new local sports talk show will launch on iHeartMedia's Sports/WNDE (1260am, Indianapolis), also heard on translator W248AW (97.5fm, Indianapolis). "Flagrant Foul" will be the only live and local Indianapolis morning sports talk show. Dave "Gunner" Gunn and Don Stuck (both from sister Classic Rock/WFBQ (94.7fm, Indianapolis)) will host the show (6am until 9am).
Westcentral
Let's repaint the Terre Haute radio market.
This afternoon, DLC Media will close on their separate deals with Emmis Communications and Midwest Communications. After they complete their technical work, here's how their radio stations will look:
ESPN affiliate Sports/WFNF (1130am, Brazil) and translator W258BA (99.5fm, Terre Haute) will remain as is. Throughout 2017, "The Fan" will add more local sports programming.
Adult Hits/WFNB (92.7fm, Brazil) will drop their format and the syndicated "Elvis Duran in the Morning" show. For the next few weeks, WFNB will simulcast Oldies/WAXI (104.9fm, Rockville). After that, WFNB will become a soft AC radio station "Lite 92.7."
Country & Western/WDKE (95.9fm, Seelyville) will remain in format, but will change call letters to WVIG and become "95.9 The Legend." Barry Kent, a Country Music Hall of Fame member will program this station and eventually host mornings live.
DLC Media had an unfortunate construction delay at their new radio facility on West National Avenue in Brazil. Once finished, that facility will house the studios for WFNB, WFNF and translator, and WVIG.
Finally, Classic Rock/WWVR (105.5fm, West Terre Haute) will drop their format and call letters and become Adult Hits "Jack" as WZJK. The syndicated "Bob and Tom" show will also move here.
At Midwest Communications, AC/WBOW (98.5fm, Paris, Illinois) will end their format and become Classic Rock/WWVR. Midwest Communications acquired that intellectual property from Emmis Communications.
This Week in Indiana Radio History
If there's something we need to add to the "calendar," please let us know. Also, errors do sometimes occur. Please e-mail us if this information is not correct!
January 29: In 2005, veteran Chicago and Fort Wayne station owner Frank Kovas passes away.
January 30: In 1975, 104.9fm in Columbus signs on as WWWY-FM. Today, it's WINN.
January 31: In 1974, Channel 34 in South Bend signed on as WNIT-TV, and still is. In 2001, Crawfordsville's WCVL/WIMC GM Dick Munro retired as GM. In 2006, WYNG (94.9fm, Mount Carmel, Illinois) changed formats from Sports to Adult Contemporary at 6:00PM. In 2010, Joseph P. ("Joe") Sweeney passes away. Mr. Sweeney started stations in Kokomo, Rochester (WROI), and Columbia City (WFDT), among others.
February 1: In 1948, 1230am in Tell City signs on as WTCJ, and still is.
February 2: In 2001, former Federated Media WQHK(AM)/WMEE GM Robert Elliott dies.
February 3: In 2006, former WLBC(AM) PD Lee Allerton dies. In 2015, 98.3fm in Culver signed on as WYMR, and still is.
February 4: In 2005, two different radio stations flipped formats on opposite ends of the state. First up, WLRX (95.7fm, Nappanee) flips format from Hot AC ("Magic") to Rhythmic CHR ("Power"). Second, WLFW (95.3fm, Chandler) flips format from Oldies ("Oldies 93.5") to Country ("The Wolf").
That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.
Blaine Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch
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