Indiana RadioWatch: August 29, 2016
Northeast
Quincy Broadcasting's ABC affiliate WPTA-TV (Channel 21, Fort Wayne) welcomes Alexis Gray as evening co-anchor, alongside Brien McElhatten. Current co-anchor Angela Brown becomes a reporter on "21 Alive." Since 2014, Ms. Gray worked (weekend anchor and reporter) at sister WSJV-TV (Channel 28, Elkhart), which recently closed down their local news operation.
Tomorrow, Kayla Blakeslee will rejoin Federated Media's N-T/WOWO (1190am, Fort Wayne) and translator W298BJ (107.5fm, Fort Wayne) as News Director.
Calvary Radio Network sells its translator W293AL (106.5, Rochester) to Illiana Communications for $24,500. Illiana plans to add the translator to an AM radio station. Calvary's broker: Paramount Media Advisors.
Central
With GM Les Vann soon leaving Media General's CW affiliate WISH-TV (Channel 8, Indianapolis), Joe Abouzeid will be the interim GM. Mr. Abouzeid also works as GM of sister WDTN-TV in Dayton, Ohio. Today, Mr. Vann announced that he will join Scripps' WFTX-TV ("FOX 4") in Fort Myers, Florida, as their General Manager.
After four years programming Cumulus' Classic Hip Hop/WRWM (93.9fm, Lawrence) and later adding the PD role of Classic Hits/WJJK (104.5fm, Noblesville), Jay Michaels will in fact stay on at "93.9 The Beat" and "104.5 WJJK." Also, Zakk, Imaging Director/Afternoons at "93.9 The Beat" will exit after 18 months.
On October 1, E.W. Scripps' ABC affiliate WRTV-TV (Channel 6, Indianapolis) will shut down their Hometown Sports & News network on their .2 digital subchannel. Hometown Sports and News had a five year run of high school, college (Franklin College, Marian University, University of Indianapolis, Wabash College), Indianapolis Indians, and Indy Fuel programming, among other offerings. Replacing "HTSN" will be the Katz Broadcasting-syndicated network "Grit" (Old TV shows and films). This will be the first Indiana TV station for "Grit."
This Week in Indiana Radio History
August 28: In 1989, 99.3fm, Van Buren signs on as WCJC, and still is. In 2006, Indianapolis broadcaster Kevin Bradley dies. (ex-WTTV-TV, WIAN-FM, WTLC-FM, WTHR-TV, among others)
August 29: In 1948, 104.1fm, Evansville signs on as WIKY-FM, and still is. In 1971, 92.1fm, Rochester signs on as WROI-FM and still is.
August 30: In 2007, Andy Ober became PD at WOWO(AM) (1190am, Fort Wayne).
August 31: In 2006, Then-WGL-FM (102.9fm, Huntington) flips format from Variety Hits (Remember "Mike FM"?) to a simulcast of then-Standards formatted WGL(AM) (1250am, Fort Wayne) "The River."
September 1: In 1928, what's now WGL 1250am signs on (at 1280am). In 1965, both Channel 2 in Terre Haute signs on as WTWO-TV, and 103.1fm in Huntington signs on as WHLT-FM. Today, it's WJCI-FM on 102.9fm. In 1998, Fort Wayne's then-WHWD (1380am) flips format from Adult Standards to Sports. In 2006, there was a double Fort Wayne format change: WXTW 102.3fm/Auburn flipped from Alternative to Spanish, under new owners. Also, WYLT (103.9fm) returned to its WXKE call letters, flipping from pop CHR back to Rock as "Rock 104."
September 2: In 1994, 105.5fm, LaGrange signed on as WTHD. On the same day, WMEE (97.3fm, Fort Wayne) flipped formats from CHR to Hot AC, as "Mix 97.3." In 2002, Jon Zimney became OM/PD of WOWO(AM) and then-WONO(AM).
September 3: In 1968, 1570am, Auburn signed on as WIFF(AM). Today, it's WGLL(AM). In 1975, 89.1fm, Indianapolis signs on as WJEL. Today, it's on 89.3fm. In 1980, 96.7fm, Alexandria signs on as WAXT. Today, it's WBKQ. In 2007, WOWO broadcasting legend Bob Sievers died.
That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.
Blaine Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch
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