Indiana RadioWatch: April 7, 1999
Northeast
Chris Larko, owner of Hot AC/WLZQ (101.1fm, South Whitley) acquires WPDJ (1300am, Huntington) and changes calls to WBZQ. Larko is now simulcasting WLZQ's syndicated format onto WBZQ.
Rock/WBYR (98.9fm, Van Wert, Ohio) awards MD duties to Mid-Day guy Matt Talluto.
Classic Rock/WFWI (92.3fm, Fort Wayne) was giving away "100 Grand", once an hour, last Thursday morning (1 April). Only after callers had won and were off the air did the station inform them they won a "100 Grand" candy bar, not
money. The only other April Fools event in the Summit City, that we heard about, was News-Talk/WOWO (1190am, Fort Wayne) calling itself "1190 WEWE" (complete with urinary sound effects).
At CHR/WMEE (97.3fm, Fort Wayne), night guy Boomer and afternoon guy Joe Nasty flip shifts. Nasty's show is now called "Nasty at Night". Also, Keith Eubanks becomes their station voice, replacing Billy Moore.
Former Modern AC/WYSR (94.1fm, Roanoke) PD Kris Underwood is now doing fill-in work at Country/WBTU (93.3fm, Kendallville)
Condolences to the family of Robert Dudash, who died last Thursday at the age of 72. Dudash worked for Talk/WGL(AM) (1250am, Fort Wayne) and MOR/WAWK (1140am, Kendallville) as "Bob Dean".
Northcentral
Pensacola Christian College adds another translator in Warsaw. W204BC hits the air on 88.7fm.
Eastcentral
We found out some additional information on the Indiana Radio Partners properties. Here's how the story should read: AC/WHTI (96.7fm, Alexandria) and AC/WHTY (93.5fm, Hartford City) are now simulcasting as "Hit Radio", a locally
originated format. They're both known as "W-H-I-T" on the air. The only airstaff we've heard is mornings, and that's John & Gerri. John also does afternoons at WERK using the airname Tom Wilhoite. Oldies/WERK (104.9fm, Muncie)
and Oldies/WLHN (101.7fm, Elwood) are simulcasting a locally originated oldies format. Both are known as "WERK" on the air...this being a heritage set of calls in the area. Greg Budell takes mornings, having just arrived from
Florida. Budell also does afternoons on WHIT. Talk/WHBU (1240am, Anderson) keeps its format. We hear that a new facility to house all stations is being built in nearby Daleville and should be ready early this summer.
Central
Hot AC/WENS (97.1fm, Shelbyville) is now online at http://www.wens.com. Speaking of WENS, they pulled an April Fool's stunt, saying the Soldiers and Sailors Monument had collapsed. According to
The Indianapolis Star, jocks reported from the "scene" complete with helicopter sounds, sirens, etc. Over at Rock/WFBQ (94.7fm, Indianapolis) morning duo Bob & Tom aired a cricket noise over all of their programming. When
calls poured in, they told the listeners it must be on their end. They also did an encore presentation of "Catch It and You Keep It" where they threw items off of the roof at the Eastland Shopping Mall (hint: There isn't an Eastland
Shopping Mall). Finally, over at Classic Rock/WQFE (101.9fm, Brownsburg), they told listeners they were switching to an All-Elvis format.
Speaking of WQFE, they weren't lying totally. They recently changed format to Classic Rock, from Oldies. While The Indianapolis Star reported their calls to be WQFE, the FCC recently approved a change in calls to WKLU.
WARU (98.3fm, Peru) switches to 98.5fm. Along with this comes a new, taller tower, about 15 miles south of town. Power remains at 6,000 watts.
Syndicated morning gurus Bob & Tom add KRCH (101.7fm, Rochester, Minnesota) and KFMX (94.5fm, Lubbock, Texas) to their affiliate list.
Westcentral
Calvary Chapel of Crawfordsville applies for a translator on 88.1fm in Danville.
Southwest
Soft AC/WPCO(AM) & WBLZ-FM (1590am & 106.7fm, both Mount Vernon) are sold by Posey County Broadcasting to The Original Company for $360,000. The Original Company is also purchasing Country/WFPC (102.3fm, Petersburg).
Southcentral
Horizon Christian Fellowship of Indianapolis applies for a station on 88.3fm in New Whiteland. If approved, they'll be running 4600 watts on the same stick as WFCI and WTTS.
That's it for this issue! See you in two weeks...
Blaine Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch
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