Indiana RadioWatch: February 6, 2011

Northeast

Summit City Radio Group's Standards/WGL (1250am, Fort Wayne) moves morning host Pat White to afternoons (3:00PM until 6:00PM), beginning Monday 14 February. Is this move the beginning of more changes at WGL?

A former Fort Wayne local daytime TV talk show host (who later made it very big) passes away. Ms. Adams (then known as Marcia Sicard) hosted a daily women's show on WPTA-TV (Channel 21, Fort Wayne) in the late 1960s. After leaving WPTA, she found success at PBS as she hosted her namesake show "Marcia Adams Kitchen" on PBS along with writing several books and producing documentaries. Ms. Adams passed away early Saturday at age 75.

Northcentral

Talking Stick Communications' Classic Rock/WAOR (95.7fm, Nappanee) adds the United Stations' syndicated "Live in Concert" each Saturday night from 10:00PM until Midnight.

Calvary Radio Network files an extension on its STA with the FCC for its silent W254BG (98.7fm, Warsaw), while Calvary finds a new tower site for the translator, which typically simulcasts their Religious/WQKO (91.9fm, Howe).

Northwest

Bethel Christian Life Center, Inc. earns a CP for a new station on 88.9fm, Class B1 station licensed to Battle Ground. The CP calls for a 21,000-watt directional pattern (at 167 feet) from a tower south of IN-38, alongside I-65, southeast of Lafayette.

Central

The weather claims one tower at 3 Towers Broadcasting's Adult Hits/WSVX (1520am, Shelbyville) on Tuesday evening (1 February). The easternmost tower in the three-tower array fell. Luckily, it was a phasing tower, not the tower that has WSVX's FM translator W243CL (96.5fm, Shelbyville) on it (that's on the center tower). Both WSVX and its FM translator remain on the air, but 1520AM is running non directional from one of the two remaining towers, at 25% of licensed directional power, so that's 250 watts day and 62 watts at night, instead of their usual 1000 watts day and 250 watts night.

Dispatch Broadcasting's NBC affiliate WTHR (Channel 13, Indianapolis) promotes VP/GM John Cardenas to President/GM of WTHR.

Westcentral

Horizon Christian Fellowship sells its W262BA (100.3fm, Spencer) to Ron Unkefer's First Ventures Capital Partners. The $12,000 price tag includes five other translators. The other translators are located in Illinois, Kansas, and California.

Julie Henricks exits middays at Crossroads' AC/WBOW-FM (102.7fm, Terre Haute). Also, the ESPN simulcast of WBOW (1300am, Terre Haute) and WSDM-FM (92.7fm, Brazil) retools their local sports talk show (formerly known as "The Drive"). The new show is "Sports Talk with Scott Jones." Mr. Jones hosts the show, and Jim Osborn remains involved, while Zack Keyes contributes to the show. Stephen Paul formerly co-hosted "The Drive" with Mr. Osborn and continues with Crossroads as play-by-play on their Oldies/WAXI (104.9fm, Rockville).

Southcentral

Reising Radio Partners' Country/WYGB (100.3fm, Edinburgh) also fell victim to the winter weather. No power at the WYGB tower took the station offline for nearly a day.

Chad Carrothers is the interim GM, replacing the recently departed Will Murphy at Bloomington Community Radio's Variety/WFHB (91.3fm, Bloomington).

Southwest

Townsquare's Oldies/WJLT (105.3fm, Evansville) morning host Joe Blair is now simulcast on Communications Corp. of America's MyNetworkTV affiliate WTSN-LD (Channel 36, Evansville).

Where Are They Now? Former WFIE-TV producer and WTVW reporter/producer Shannon Maze is leaving the News Director chair at Yuma, Arizona's KSWT-TV and will become the Assistant News Director at WBRC-TV in Birmingham, Alabama.

This Week (and last week) in Indiana Radio History

If there's something we need to add to the "calendar," please let us know.

As this information strictly from our archives, and because we are human and errors do sometimes occur, please e-mail us if this information is not correct!

Thank you.

30 January: In 1975, 104.9FM/Columbus (today it's WINN) signs on.

31 January: In 2001, Crawfordsville's WCVL/WIMC GM Dick Munro retires as GM, but remains in mornings. In 2006, WYNG 94.9FM 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; now coincidentally WJOE), among others.

1 February: In 1948, 1230AM/Tell City (where it's still WTCJ) signs on. In 1982, 88.3fm/Evansville (today it's WUEV) signs on.

2 February: In 2001, former Federated Media "South" WQHK(AM)/WMEE GM Robert Elliott dies.

4 February: In 2005, two different 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 to Country.

5 February: In 1965, 97.3FM/Fort Wayne (today it's WMEE) signs on.

6 February: In 2006, WUBU (106.3fm, South Bend) changes format from Smooth Jazz to Urban AC.

7 February: In 1972, 91.9FM/Lafayette (where it's still WJEF) signs on.

8 February: In 2002, WNOU/Indianapolis afternoon host Chris Ott exits.

9 February: In 2005, former Indianapolis, South Bend, and Lafayette air personality Steve Bokor ("Bobby Rivers") dies.

11 February: In 1991, 106.1FM/Newburgh (today it's WDKS) signs on.

12 February: In 2002, former Booth American (WRBR and its predecessors) South Bend GM Vincent Fasolo ("Vince Ford") dies.

Employment Opportunities

Northeast Indiana Public Radio in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is searching for a part-time "Morning Edition" host. Announcing, along with editing of local newscasts. Internet skills necessary, along with ability to multi-task. Must be familiar with pubradio style and format. On-air experience required. Familiarity with local market preferred. Familiarity with AudioVault a plus. Submit resume/cover letter/references, with demo if possible, to: manager at nipr dot fm, by Feb. 14. Northeast Indiana Public Radio, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.

That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.

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