Indiana RadioWatch: June 3, 2014
Northeast
Let's recap today's developments, after the closing of several different radio station sales. This is a historic day, as six Fort Wayne radio stations have or will change format:
Oasis Radio Group sells its three FM radio stations for $3.5 million to Adams Radio Group.
Summit City Radio sells its three FM and one AM radio station for $2.9 million to Adams Radio Group.
93.3fm: Oasis Radio Group sells Country/WBTU (93.3fm, Kendallville) to Adams Radio Group. 93.3fm remains in format.
107.9fm: Oasis Radio Group sells Rhythmic CHR/WJFX (107.9fm, New Haven) to Adams Radio Group. 107.9fm remains in format, under new PD Robbie Mack. Mr. Mack last worked at WDJQ in Canton, Ohio.
106.3fm: Formerly owned by Oasis Radio Group, Rhythmic 1990s/WHPP (106.3fm, Columbia City) spins off to Fort Wayne Catholic Radio Group. At 12:36am this morning, WHPP flipped formats to a simulcast of FWCRG's Religious/WLYV (1450am, Fort Wayne), which will remain in place until 1 July. The 106.3fm spinoff was a trade for WLYV, which Adams Radio Group will begin programming after the simulcast. With this station swap, each property had to be valued: Pull out your scorecard and mark down $1.667 million for the Class A 106.3fm, and WLYV(AM) at $250,000. Of note: 106.3fm now broadcasts in mono.
103.9fm: Summit City Radio Group sells Classic Rock/WXKE (103.9fm, Fort Wayne) to Adams Radio Group. WXKE will move its format to 96.3fm.
96.3fm: Summit City Radio Group sells Rhythmic CHR/WNHT (96.3fm, Churubusco) to Adams Radio Group. Once WXKE moves its format here, they will profit from a stronger signal. 103.9fm is a Class A, while 96.3fm is a 6700 watt Class B1 station.
96.9fm: Adams Radio Group will pay $50,000 to CSN International to acquire the CP for translator W245CA (96.9fm, Fort Wayne). As proposed, this 250 watt translator will broadcast from the American Towers tower on Cass Street in Fort Wayne.
102.9fm: Formerly owned by Summit City Radio Group, WGL-FM (102.9fm, Huntington) spins off to Calvary Radio Network, in exchange for a translator (see below). WGL-FM now airs Calvary Radio Network programming, with an upcoming call letter change to WJCI. With this station swap, each property had to be valued: Pull out your scorecard again and mark down $550,000 for the Class A 102.9fm, and the 103.3fm translator at $50,000. Of note: 102.9fm now broadcasts in mono.
103.3fm: Calvary Radio Network exchanges its W277AK (103.3fm, Fort Wayne) translator for WGL-FM. This translator went off the air.
1250am: Summit City Radio Group sold its Oldies/WGL (1250am, Fort Wayne) to Adams Radio Group. WGL remained in format until Monday evening. After playing Don McLean's 1971 hit "American Pie," WGL flipped formats to Sports, using FOX Sports ("FOX Sports 1250").
Earlier Monday morning, Talking Stick Communications' FOX Sports affiliate Sports/WFGA (106.7fm, Hicksville, Ohio) dropped its FOX Sports affiliation and added ESPN Sports. That move brings ESPN Sports to both AM and FM, as Federated Media has ESPN on its WKJG (1380am, Fort Wayne).
As for facilities, all of the Adams radio stations now operate from the former Oasis Radio Group facility on Coldwater Road. Kevin Kilbane at The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel says once Adams renovates the former Summit City Radio Group facility on Lower Huntington Road, all of the Adams radio stations will relocate to Waynedale.
As for personnel, we quickly compiled this list:
Former Oasis Radio Group Co-Owner/GM Phil Becker exits to become the VP/Programming for the L&L Broadcasting radio stations, along with programming their Portland, Oregon CHR/KBFF ("Live 95.5"). Country Aircheck mentions that Mr. Becker will primarily focus on L&L's AC, Hot AC and CHR formatted radio stations.
Former Summit City Radio Group WNHT PD Shady exits.
Former WNHT on-air personalities Sara Lauer, Big Kess, Janay, Alibi, BJ Steele and Supa Dave exit.
Former WGL on-air personalities Pat White, Queen Diane and Rick Hughes exit.
Former Summit City Radio Group OM JJ Fabini now programs Classic Rock/WXKE (103.9fm, Fort Wayne).
Former Oasis Radio Group Director of Sales Tom Morgenthal exits.
Adams Radio Group welcomes GM Shel Leshner and Director of Sales Kevin Musselman. No stranger to Fort Wayne, Mr. Leshner once worked for Artistic Media Partners, when Artistic owned 93.3fm and 106.3fm. Mr. Musselman once worked as GM and GSM for Federated Media in Goshen and Elkhart.
Northcentral
After thirteen and a half years as an ESPN affiliate, Talking Stick Communications' WRSW(AM) (1480am, Warsaw) flipped format to a heavier dose of news and lighter dose of talk, as "1480 News Now." Phil Kuhn becomes News Director under OM/PD Jay Michaels and GM Woody Zimmerman. The result of a collaborative partnership between WRSW and the local Warsaw Times-Union newspaper, 1480 News Now does 15 minute news blocks with a mix of local and national news (FOX News). In the late night and overnight, WRSW will air "Ground Zero with Clyde Lewis" weeknights from Midnight until 1am, followed by Coast to Coast AM until 6am. Also, the Chicago Cubs broadcasts will move to Federated Media's ESPN affiliate Sports/WLEG (102.7fm, Elkhart). Finally, you can see the new 1480 News Now website. http://1480newsnow.com
Northwest
Where Are They Now? Former Artistic Media Partners/Lafayette Market Manager Rick Prusator becomes the GM at Cumulus Media's five radio stations in Columbia, South Carolina.
Eastcentral
Hoosier AM/FM's Hot AC/WXXC (106.9fm, Marion) PM Driver Rick Daniels exits.
Employment Opportunities
Full Time PM-Drive/Social Media Director opportunity available in Muncie-Marion, IN. We're a fully-staffed, multi-station small market cluster, with a strong "team" approach to all we do. This is your opportunity to really make a connection with listeners and have a direct, positive impact in the community. This is not a "starter job" - we're looking for experience and creativity, positive attitude, the ability to pull off awesome appearances and remote broadcasts, and be the brand of the station. This position also includes maintaining and growing all social media channels of WXXC, WCJC, WMRI, and WBAT. Pay is competitive. Benefits offered. How soon can you start? Email resume, cover letter, and on-air demo to vanessa at wmri dot com. We're EOE and ready to hire!
Looking for your dream job as a market leading News/Talk and Sports GSM? Federated Media/South Bend is a family-owned, innovative, and legacy media company based in Northern Indiana in the heart of Notre Dame country. You are 90-minutes away from Chicago and less than an hour from the beach. This market is a great place to raise a family and has some of the most affordable housing in the nation. We have all the top radio brands (Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Fox News, ESPN, etc.), plus a local all-news morning show, a great local PM-drive talk host, and one of the best interactive teams in America. The station already has ratings success. Now all we need is the right leader to take us to the next level. You'll need to show demonstrated experience at leading a spoken-word radio sales team and a proven track-record of success. Interested? Send your package to Market Manager Clint Marsh: cmarsh at federatedmedia dot com. Federated Media is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Radio One Top 40 WNOU (RadioNow 100.9)/Indianapolis hunts for a gifted evening entertainer, a.k.a. nighttime superstar! Qualified candidates for this big-time position must be social media monsters, have great phone skills and be ready to take over the city of Indianapolis. Liner jocks need not apply, and please, spare us from applicants who read "horror-scopes" as entertainment or think that reading the weather forecast counts as a content break. If this interests you, please send your resume aircheck to lbaldwin at radio-one dot com. Radio One is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
WIMC/WCDQ/WCVL, Crawfordsville, IN, is looking to hire a person ready to host a locally based morning show and assist the program director. Some of the responsibilities will include: Hosting a morning show from 6AM until 9AM each weekday, writing, editing and anchoring daily news broadcasts, scheduling on air guests from the local community, identifying saleable elements of the morning show, writing commercials and promotional announcements, producing commercials and promotional announcements, and personal appearances at remotes and community events. Must be able to handle multiple projects and meet deadlines. Email resume and references to dapeach at forchtbroadcasting dot com or mail to Dave Peach, GM, PO Box 603, Crawfordsville, IN 47933. Forcht Broadcasting, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Join the sales staff at WIMC Thunder 103.9, WCDQ True Country 106.3 and WCVL AM 1550! Forcht Broadcasting is looking for a self-motivated, enthusiastic sales person who enjoys working with others and the community. If you want to break from the normal routine, send your resume to dapeach at forchtbroadcasting dot com or mail it to PO Box 603, Crawfordsville, IN 47933. Forcht Broadcasting, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
WZZY Winchester, Indiana is looking for our next Morning Show host. Not only will you be the morning "voice" of our A/C station but through your work and interaction within the community you'll also be the "face" of the station as well. Plus you'll VT evenings on our winning Adult Top 40 sister FM and do plenty of remotes and appearances on both stations. Even if you've never done Mornings before send along your best. Our former host has been with us for 13 years so we believe in longevity and loyalty. Send along an on-air sample (please keep it short) and resume to rickduncan at g1013 dot com. Or you can mail it to 2301 W. Main St. Richmond, IN 47374. Whitewater Broadcasting is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.
WGTO AM-FM is looking for a salesperson to handle local and regional sports and general market sales. Position pays high commission rate but requires a self-starter who can operate without direct supervision. List is unrestricted and the right candidate can name his or her territory. This person will be responsible for prospecting and developing new business as well as growing and maintaining existing accounts. A positive attitude and excellent communications skills are a must. WGTO is the local voice of Cass County Michigan and the home of local high school sports. The music format is Classic hits with a live local swap shop program, Dowagiac High School Football and University of Michigan football and afternoon talk with Ed Shultz. WGTO is 3000 watts at 910AM and FM at 101.1 WGTO covers Cass County as well as Niles, And St Joe Benton Harbor in Berrien County and South Bend Indiana. Send letter of introduction and or resume to WGTO at larrylangford at aol dot com. WGTO welcomes applications from ALL interested persons as an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Hoosier AM/FM is seeking an experienced media Account Executive to join the sales team of our four-station cluster in Muncie-Marion, IN. This person will be responsible for prospecting and developing new business as well as growing and maintaining existing accounts. A positive attitude and excellent verbal and written communications skills are a must. This is a full time position. Hoosier AM/FM offers a competitive compensation package including Medical, Dental, Paid Vacations. Minimum education level is High School diploma or equivalent. Resume and letter of introduction are to be sent to indianaradiojobs at yahoo dot com. Hoosier AM/FM is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.
Blaine Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch
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