Indiana RadioWatch: September 12, 2016

Yesterday, Tom Berg passed away. Mr. Berg worked at Kankakee Valley Broadcasting in Knox: Country/WKVI and Hot AC/WKVI-FM (1520am, 99.3fm, both Knox), along with Soft AC/WYMR (98.3fm, Culver). Mr. Berg began his broadcasting career in Indianapolis as the first intern at The Bob and Tom Show. Before arriving in Knox, we believe Mr. Berg worked in:

Indianapolis: WFBQ-FM, WIRE-FM and WKLU-FM (both iterations of 101.9fm), then-WMYS-FM, WRTV-TV, WZPL-FM, Metro Traffic

Columbus: WRZQ-FM

Crawfordsville: WCVL

Martinsville: WCBK-FM

If you have a remembrance of Mr. Berg, or if you would fill in the blanks regarding his broadcasting history, please send me an e-mail. I hope to have a more complete story for Thursday's IRW.

Former then-WVXR (89.3fm, Richmond) and then-WVXI (106.3fm, Crawfordsville) Chief Engineer Jay Crawford recently passed away. This would have been when Xavier University owned the "X-Star Radio Network." John Kiesewetter writes extensively about Jay's life and impact. Visitation will be Wednesday September 14 from 10:30am until 12:30pm at Sardinia Church of Christ, 7130 Bachman Road, Sardinia, OH 45171. Services will immediately follow.

Eastcentral

To increase their coverage, Woof Boom Radio's Classic Rock/WMXQ (93.5fm, Hartford City) adds an FM translator in Anderson: Meet W252CY (98.3fm, Anderson). The 100 watt translator is on a tower along Ridge Road, on Anderson's south side. IRW notes that The Power Foundation currently owns the translator.

Central

At Radio One/Indianapolis, Karen Vaughn moves to Radio One/Philadelphia as OM for their cluster. In Indianapolis, Ms. Vaughn programmed Rhythmic CHR/WHHH (96.3fm, Indianapolis), Gospel/WTLC (1310am, Indianapolis), Urban AC/WTLC-FM (106.7fm, Greenwood), and was on the air in afternoons at "106.7 WTLC". Before joining Radio One/Indianapolis five years ago, Ms. Vaughn was APD and Middays for Radio One in Cleveland, Ohio (WZAK).

Southeast

Ryan Media pays $25,000 to settle the conflict with Anchor Radio over competing translator applications. Here's how the dominos fall: First, Anchor Radio withdraws their application to move translator W284AD (104.7fm, New Albany) to 96.1fm. Second, that withdrawal means the FCC grants Charles Anderson's application to move his translator W230CK (93.9fm, Bowling Green, Kentucky) to 96.1fm, license it to Jeffersonville. Finally, the 250 watt W230CK will become a simulcast of Ryan Media's Sports/WXVW (1450am, Jeffersonville).

Southwest

After 942 days (by his count), Midwest Communications' CHR/WSTO (96.1fm, Owensboro, Kentucky) morning host Joe Pesh exits. Joe posted a letter to his listeners and there's audio from when he announced his departure.

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!

September 11: In 1953, Channel 50 in Evansville signs on as WEHT-TV, but is now on Channel 25. In 1962, 102.7fm in Terre Haute signs on as WPFR-FM. Today, it's WDWQ. In 1973: 97.9fm in Anderson signs on as WLHN-FM. Today, it's WGNR-FM. In 1997, 88.1fm in Spencerville, Ohio signs on as WBCJ and still is.

September 12: In 1954, 1600am in Peru signs on as WARU and still is, though now it simulcasts WARU-FM. In 1960, WBST signed on at 90.7fm (it's 92.1fm now) and still is WBST. Twenty years later on this same day, WBST becomes an NPR affiliate. In 1996, 95.9fm in Seelyville signs on as WTHC. Today, it's WDKE.

September 13: In 1965, high school radio station WBDG in Indianapolis signs on with a partial broadcast schedule. In 1968, 95.3fm in Niles, Michigan signs on as WNIL-FM. Today, it's WTRC-FM.

September 14: In 1959, 92.3fm in Hammond signs on as WYCA. Today, it's WPWX. In 1962, 99.7fm in Frankfort signs on as WILO-FM. Today, it's WSHW. In 1963, 1560am in Rensselaer signs on as WRIN and still is. In 1970, two radio stations sign on: 91.1fm in Indianapolis signs on as WEDM and still is, while 93.3fm in Linton signs on as WBTO-FM. Today, it's WQTY.

September 15: In 1966, 95.9fm, Michigan City signs on as WMCB-FM. Today, it's WEFM.

September 16: In 2000, then-WEXI (102.9fm, Huntington) flipped formats to dance and club music, as "Energy 102.9."

September 17: In 1962, 88.9fm, Notre Dame signs on as WSND-FM, and still is.

That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.

Blaine Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch

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All pages Copyright Blaine Thompson. Articles, photos, corrections, and other contributions should be e-mailed to the editors.