Indiana RadioWatch: August 8, 2016
New Scholarship
The Vincennes University Foundation creates The Brad Deetz Broadcasting Scholarship. This scholarship will honor Deetz, a VU graduate who started in radio at age 16 with WBTU in Fort Wayne. Mr. Deetz graduated from Prairie Heights High School in LaGrange and attended VU. After VU, Mr. Deetz had a 30-year career in radio. Beginning this academic year, the scholarship will be awarded to one student annually at the Vincennes campus "who demonstrates great earnestness for a career in the media world." The recipient must be a full-time broadcasting major in either his or her freshman or sophomore year and must maintain a 2.0 GPA while receiving the scholarship. Graduates of Prairie Heights High School may receive priority consideration.
Northeast
One correction from last Monday's issue: Matt Leach won't be joining WISE-TV. He recently exited. Over the weekend, we also noticed Ball State grad and meteorologist Holly Beemer on WPTA-TV.
Friends of Christian Radio sells their CP for translator W256CO (99.1fm, Angola) to Salem Media Group for $50,000. Salem will pair the FM translator up with one of their Cleveland, Ohio AM stations.
Northcentral
Three former WSJV-TV personalities have joined the Sinclair's CBS-affiliate WSBT-TV (Channel 22, South Bend) and FOX-affiliate WSBT-TV (Channel 22.2, South Bend): Molly Jirasek (Reporter), Veronica Jean (VJ) Seltzer (Reporter) and Sports anchor and reporter Dean Huppert. Also, former WSJV-TV Senior EP Allison Gibson joins as Assistant News Director (with former WSJV-TV News Director Perry Boxx) in Peoria, Illinois (WEEK-TV and WHOI-TV).
Urban AC/WUBU (106.3fm, South Bend) will soon have new ownership. Currently, Abraham Thompson and Phoenix Thompson of Focus Radio Inc. have 51% and John Dille III has 49%. The Thompson's will sell their 51% of Partnership Radio Inc. to Mr. Dille for $336,500. Doug Ferber of Dallas, Texas-based DEFcom Advisors brokered this deal.
Mid-West Family Broadcasting's AC/WNSN (101.5fm, South Bend) adds Traci Capellman as a morning co-host. Ms. Capellman last worked in South Bend as the evening anchor for WSJV-TV's "Fox 28 News at 10" for almost twenty years. Ms. Capellman succeeds Abby Weppler exits radio, but remains in television, as a meteorologist for Sinclair's CBS-affiliate WSBT-TV (Channel 22, South Bend).
Progressive Broadcasting System sells its translator W292DO (106.3fm, Middlebury) for $34,000 to Goodrich Radio, LLC. Goodrich will pair the FM translator up with a Grand Rapids, Michigan AM radio station.
Northwest
Friends of Christian Radio sells their CP for translator W249CQ (97.7fm, Cofax) to Salem Media Group for $45,000. Salem will pair the FM translator up with a St. Louis, Missouri area AM radio station.
Eastcentral
Indiana Community Radio Corp. sells its translator W283AJ (104.5fm, Connersville) for $40,000 to Delmar Communications. Delmar will pair the FM translator up with a Marysville, Ohio AM station. Broker on this deal: Roehling Broadcast Services for Indiana Community Radio Corp.
Taylor University Broadcasting's Religious/WBCL (90.3fm, Fort Wayne) adds a Marion translator: W267BN (101.3fm, Marion). The 170 watt translator (94 feet; horizontal only) has their antenna on the south side of Marion.
Central
We learned that former WZPL-FM Morning DJ Dave McKay passed away last week at age 55. Mr. McKay (Steve Ehmke) worked at various radio stations around the nation – most recently in mornings alongside Veronica at WQYK-FM in Tampa, Florida. We also believe he may have worked over in Richmond at WQLK-FM (Or, that was a different Dave McKay?)
Last Winter, Radio One's Gospel/WTLC (1310am, Indianapolis) had the unenviable task of replacing Amos Brown, after Mr. Brown died rather suddenly at age 64. In March, Radio One chose Rev. Michael K. Jones, pastor at Progressive Baptist Church. Sadly, Rev. Jones passed away on Tuesday morning (Age 52) of an apparent heart attack. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Rrv. Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Harvard University and a master’s of divinity degree from Christian Theological Seminary.
E.W. Scripps' ABC affiliate WRTV-TV (Channel 6, Indianapolis) has several departures: First, reporter Chris Proffitt exits. Mr. Proffitt worked in the Indianapolis TV market for more than a quarter century (and since November 2011 at "RTV 6"). Senior reporter Jack Rinehart retired after nearly 41 years on the air at WRTV on Friday. Rinehart primarily worked the late-afternoon and evening news shifts. Anchorman Todd Connor ended a nearly six-year run with the station late last month.
Tribune Broadcasting's CBS affiliate WTTV-TV (Channel 4, Bloomington)/WTTK-TV (Channel 29, Kokomo) sports anchor Mike Berman joins WMAQ-TV in Chicago, as a sports reporter and fill-in anchor.
Saying it was completely his decision, Dispatch Broadcasting's NBC affiliate WTHR-TV (Channel 13, Indianapolis) reporter Kris Kirschner exits after 19 years (and 27 years in broadcasting.)
Tribune Broadcasting's FOX affiliate WXIN-TV (Channel 59, Indianapolis) sports reporter Charly Arnolt exits and relocates to Orlando, Florida. Ms. Arnolt joins WWE as a host.
Entercom's AC/WNTR (107.9fm, Indianapolis) PD and Hot AC/WZPL (99.5fm, Greenfield) afternoon host Chase Daniels exits and joins sister Entercom/Madison, Wisconsin cluster as OM, effective Monday, August 15.
The Joe Walsh Program adds Creative Data Management's Talk simulcast WXLW (950am, Indianapolis) and Pilgrim Communications' WFDM-FM (95.9fm, Franklin). Mr. Walsh's syndicated program airs on "Freedom 95" weeknights from Midnight until 2am, with a Saturday evening encore.
Where Are They Now (Part 1)? Former WISH-TV anchor and reporter Eric Halvorson joins The Kroger Co. as public affairs manager and media spokesman for the company's Central Division.
Where Are They Now (Part 2)? Former then-WNOU (now WNOW-FM) PD Mike Klein becomes the OM at SummitMedia in Greenville, South Carolina.
Where Are They Now (Part 3)? Former Radio One/Indianapolis Morning Show Producer Jeremy Gold joins KQKS-FM in Denver, Colorado for nights.
Westcentral
Terre Haute Seventh-Day Adventist Church's CP on 107.5fm, licensed to Terre Haute now has call letters WYLJ.
Emmis Communications' Country/WTHI-FM (99.9fm, Terre Haute) adds Julie (Jules) Dunbar in middays. Before joining "Hi-99", "Jules" worked crosstown at WMGI and at WBOW.
Media General's CBS affiliate WTHI-TV (Channel 10, Terre Haute) promotes Rondrell Moore from morning and Noon anchor to early and late evening news anchor.
Indiana State University's CHR/WZIS (90.7fm, Terre Haute) wants to upgrade their signal from a Class A (860 watts at 226 feet) to a Class B1 (6000 watts at 367 feet) from their same transmitter site, along the Indiana/Illinois state line, west of Terre Haute.
Media General's CBS affiliate WTHI-TV (Channel 10, Terre Haute) promotes Melissa Crash from reporter/weekend anchor to morning co-anchor ("News 10 This Morning").
Where Are They Now? Former WMGI night jock Brion O'Brion joins KIXY-FM in San Angelo, Texas for nights.
Southeast
New Albany Broadcasting's Regional Mexican/WNDA (1570am, New Albany) changes call letters to WLRS(AM).
In mid-July, Midnight Hour Broadcasting's AC/WZZB (1390am, Seymour) added a 250 watt FM translator to simulcast the AM station: W257DO (99.3fm, Seymour).
Diamond Shores Broadcasting's Oldies/WSEZ (1560am, Paoli) adds a 250 watt FM translator to simulcast the AM station: W254CO (98.7fm, Paoli).
Southwest
The University of Southern Indiana adds a 250 watt FM translator to simulcast their AAA/WSWI (820am, Evansville): Meet W239CI (95.7fm, Evansville).
New call letters for LPFM Construction Permits: Mark down WCRY-LP (102.5fm, Evansville).
This Week in Indiana Radio History
If there's something we need to add to the "calendar," please let us know. Also, errors do sometimes occur. Please e-mail us if this information is not correct!
August 7: In 2011, former WZZQ APD/MD/DJ Debbie Hunter (Debra Meeker) passed away at age 47.
August 8: In 1967, 95.3fm, Morganfield, Kentucky signs on. Today, it's WKVN.
August 10: In 1947, 1420am, Michigan City signs on. It's still WIMS. In 1982, 95.3fm, Sullivan signs on. It's still WNDI-FM.
August 11: In 2000, Richard Fairbanks died. Fairbanks Broadcasting owned 1070am and 93.1fm in Indianapolis. In 2003, Muncie radio GM Greg Delmonaco died. In 2014, WKBV(AM) 1490am signs on their FM translator (W266CE at 100.9fm)
August 12: In 1985, 91.5fm in Columbia City signed on (and it's still WJHS). In 2003, Jason Samuel begins as GM at WGCS-FM in Goshen.
August 13: In 1953, 106.3fm, Crawfordsville signs on. Today, it's WCDQ. In 1979, WIFE(AM) (1310am, Indianapolis) flips format from Top 40 to Soft AC.
That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.
Blaine Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch
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