Indiana RadioWatch: February 24, 1999

Northeast

This in just before presstime...News-Talk/WOWO (1190am, Fort Wayne) will begin a live audio stream on the Internet, starting next week. All local programs and network programs, with the exception of Dr. Laura and Rush Limbaugh will be available. WOWO's website is http://www.wowo.com

Classic Rock/WFWI (92.3fm, Fort Wayne) midday guy Joel Navarro departs for the mountains of Colorado. There, he'll be joining The Word in Music Satellite network, as assistant production director.

Alternative/WEJE (96.3fm, Churubusco) morning guy J.J. Fabini adds MD Stripes. He's half of the morning show (the other half being Chad Silvieus). The show is called (appropriately, IRW thinks) "Extreme Morning Sickness."

CHR/WMEE (97.3fm, Fort Wayne) loses 1/3 of the morning show "Butcher & Baker [& Regis]". J.C. Baker departs, effective 12 March to become a full-time mommy.

Community radio station WZBD (92.7fm, Decatur) now has a website: http://www.wzbd.com There, you can listen to the station, live, if you've got Windows Media Player (IRW heard it using Version 6 with Windows 98, and it sounded decent).

Northcentral

WCNF (94.9fm, Benton Harbor, Michigan) has signed on with a Hot AC format, calling themselves "94.9 The Coast."

AC/WAWC (103.5fm, Syracuse) adds Joe Casper as station voice. Also, congrats to sports director Jason Samuel, as he wins "Sportscaster of the Year" from the Indiana Sportscasters Association.

Pam Reed is promoted to Sales Manager at Oldies/WNIL and Classic Rock/WAOR (1290am, 95.3fm, both Niles, Michigan).

Over on the 'radio with pictures' side, NBC affiliate WNDU-TV (Channel 16, South Bend) has received FCC approval to increase power to 3800kw.

Northwest

WJOK (101.7fm, Kentland) changes calls to WZRK.

Central

With the sale of several stations in the Anderson/Muncie area, we expected some call letter changes. AC/WAXT (96.7fm, Alexandria) changes calls to WHTI (M-Street says this stands for "Hit"). Classic Rock/WWWO (93.5fm, Hartford City) changes calls to WHTY. IRW expects a simulcast of WAXT & WWWO. Oldies/WLHN (101.7fm, Elwood) changes calls to WURK. Oldies/WERK-FM (104.9fm, Muncie) drops the -FM and forces 990am (which is off the air) to come back with new call letters, so we're told.

Mystar Communications (owners of WMYS, WTPI and WZPL, all metropolitan Indianapolis stations) files a Petition to Deny with the FCC over the proposed changes by Bill Shirk's WYJZ (100.9fm, Lebanon).

Classic Rock/WNAP (93.1fm, Indianapolis) PD Peter Smith exits to join Philadelphia, PA-based Demers Programming, as a consultant.

The Bob & Tom Show add another affiliate: Rock/WQTL (106.3fm, Lima, Ohio). Also, they sign a long-term deal with Capstar and AM/FM Radio Networks, to provide marketing and affiliate support for the show.

R&B-Oldies/WTLC(AM) & R&B/WTLC-FM (1310am & 105.7fm, both Indianapolis) welcomes Maria Tobler and Michelle Mercer as Salespeople. Tobler arrives from Columbus, Ohio. Mercer was formerly PD at Emmis' co-owned KPWR (105.9fm, Los Angeles, California).

Educational Opportunities applies for a new station on 88.3fm in Tipton.

Westcentral

R&R says that AOR/WZZQ (107.5fm, Terre Haute) promoted PD Jim Stone to GM. Taking Stone's place in the PD chair is Production Director Jeff Strange.

Speaking of Terre Haute, their Fall, 1998 Arbitrons were just released. Leading the way is Country/WTHI, followed by CHR/WMGI and Classic Rock/WWVR.

In nearby Veedersburg, a call letter swap to report. M-Street says that WKLO switches calls with a CP in Marengo. The new calls for WKLO are WARL.

Southwest

Last issue, IRW told you about CHR/WSTO (96.1fm, Owensboro, Kentucky) afternooner Jimmy Ocean, taking on MD duties. Now we know why. Former afternoon guy Jack Baldwin leaves for the PD post at CHR/WHOB (106.3fm, Nashua, New Hampshire). Also, MD Cindy Mercer leaves.

Hot AC/WSJD (100.5fm, Princeton) is granted a new CP to move their tower north of town, near IN-65.

Southeast

Modern AC/WQSH (93.1fm, Clarksville) adds Dave Stone for mornings. Stone was most recently at CHR/WWST (93.1fm, Knoxville, Tennessee).

Oldies/WSFR (107.7fm, Corydon) PD Dennis Dillon exits to Rock/WKQQ (100.1fm, Lexington, Kentucky). He'll be PD there, also.

Good Shepherd Radio applies for a station on 89.9fm in Hope.

That's it for this issue! See you in two weeks...

Blaine Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch

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