Indiana RadioWatch: June 12, 2017
Broadcaster Scott Fybush is based in Rochester, New York, but with in-laws in Fort Wayne, he's a frequent visitor to Indiana. Last Friday, his "Tower Site of the Week" column featured our December 2016 trip to Lafayette and Terre Haute.
Mr. Fybush also writes "Northeast Radio Watch," the weekly column that was the inspiration for IRW many years ago.
Northcentral
We offer a congratulatory tip of the IRW cap to Schurz Communications senior advisor (and former RTNDA Chair) Marci Burdick. Over the weekend, Ms. Burdick was inducted into the Missouri Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. Ms. Burdick has been with Schurz Communications for nearly 30 years, rising through the ranks as News Director, GM, and SVP/VP of Television.
Central
Update: Mr. Swan returned in front of the camera last week. Previous Story: Our best wishes to Dispatch Broadcasting's NBC affiliate/WTHR-TV (Channel 13) Noon and 5:30pm anchor Scott Swan. Mr. Swan was recently hospitalized with a form of vasculitis and has been off the air since late April.
Nexstar Broadcasting's CW affiliate/WISH-TV (Channel 8, Indianapolis) multimedia journalist Jessica Smith joins the Nexstar Bureau in Washington, DC, as a Washington Correspondent. Ms. Smith joined WISH-TV in March 2014 after nearly a year across town as an Associate Producer at Dispatch Broadcasting's NBC affiliate/WTHR-TV (Channel 13).
Southeast
Last Friday, Leeson Media's Country/WRBI (103.9fm, Batesville) celebrated their 40th anniversary. They held an community open house and had several special guests: Don Davis (the original owner) along with Kurt Heminger and Dave Glass from Findlay Publishing Company (Findlay owned WRBI for over 15 years), and longtime GM Ron Green, who arrived at WRBI several months after the station signed on in 1977.
Southwest
Dept. of Corrections: Music Ministries' Religious/WBGW (1330am, Evansville) files an STA with the FCC to temporarily decrease their power. WBGW has 5kW (non-directional) by day, with a 1kW directional nighttime pattern. Their directional antenna system has problems, so WBGW will use 250 watts non directional at night until they have their directional antenna system fixed.
This Week in Indiana Radio History
Sign-on dates seem to be a prickly matter, subject to great debate, and mostly impossible to confirm. If there's something we need to add to the "calendar," please let us know. Please e-mail us if you have updated information.
June 12: In 2007, Fort Wayne broadcaster (WGL(AM), WANE-TV) Ann Colone dies. Age 77.
June 13: In 1960, 100.7fm in Terre Haute signs on as WVTS. Today it is WMGI.
June 14: In 2011, former WOWO(AM)/Fort Wayne GM Jane Bartsch dies. Age 62.
June 15: In 1949, 1570am in New Albany signs on as WLRP. Today it is WLRS. In 1953, Channel 59 in Lafayette signed on as WFAM-TV. Today, it's on Channel 18 as WLFI-TV. In 1978, 89.1fm in Fort Wayne signs on as WIPU. Today it is WBOI. In 1992, 106.7fm in West Lafayette signs as WGLM. Today, it is WKHL. In 1998, Country/WIRE (100.9fm, Lebanon) splits from a simulcast of WWRE (91.1fm, Lebanon) and flips format to Jazz. 91.1fm, Lebanon took the WIRE calls (which remain today), while 100.9fm, Lebanon became WYJZ. Today, 100.9fm is WNOW-FM, licensed to Speedway.
June 16: In 2003, WOWO(AM)/Fort Wayne "SportsTalk" does its last weeknight show. In 2006, Steve Kerrigan exits as morning co-host at WMEE.
June 17: In 1968, 1090am in Fort Wayne signs on as WFWR. Today, it's WFCV(AM).
That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.
Blaine Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch
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