Indiana RadioWatch: October 10, 2010
Northeast
After 23 years at LIN-TV's CBS affiliate WANE-TV (Channel 15, Fort Wayne) and over 25 years in Fort Wayne, weatherperson Sandy Thomson exits. Her contract was not renewed. WANE plans to replace her with a meteorologist. WANE GM Alan
Riebe tells The Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly: "What drives it is accuracy and great content. I truly believe the days of great television personalities doing the news, weather, and sports are over."
Also at 2915 W. State Blvd., WANE-TV promotes Tom Antisdel to Director of Sales and adds Michael Thena to the management team, as Digital Sales Director.
Might a Fort Wayne radio GM exit soon? Mark your calendars for later this year, but this exit does not involve an AM frequency (...that sound you hear? That's the sound of three Fort Wayne GM's exhaling).
When the puck drops on the 2010-2011 Fort Wayne Komet hockey season, all games are on Federated Media's N-T/WOWO (1190am, Fort Wayne). In recent years, some Komet games were aired on sister Sports/WKJG (1380am, Fort Wayne). Bob
Chase
will call the games this year; his 58th season with the Komets (as best we can tell, that ranks him #2 nationwide, behind the Los Angeles Dodgers' Vin Scully).
After two and a half years, morning co-host Shelly K. exits Federated Media's Hot AC/WMEE (97.3fm, Fort Wayne). Shelly's morning show partner Zack Skyler continues in mornings with midday host Nichole Roberts providing fill in, until
WMEE OM/PD Rob Kelley names a replacement.
Fallen Timbers Communications' AC/WFGA (106.7fm, Hicksville, Ohio) morning co-host Taylor Brooks exits. The new airstaff lineup includes GM "Woodrow" and Chuck in mornings, Maggie handling middays (10:00AM until 2:00PM), Jeff DeWeese
in afternoons (2:00PM until 7:00PM), and Carrie Cruise at nights (7:00PM until 12:00AM).
WFWA-TV (Channel 39, Fort Wayne) adds HD on its channel 39-1, while keeping the other three channels in standard definition (SD).
Where Are They Now? The "interim" is gone from former WBYR and WFWI DJ Jack Hammer's title, as he is now the Executive Director of Fort Wayne's Three Rivers Festival.
Northcentral
In South Bend, Schurz Communications' WSBT Radio Group takes a gamble, literally, by hiring Bill Gamble (from the press release) "to consult [the] group [and] act as Operations Director of the South Bend properties." Mr. Gamble brings
over thirty years broadcast experience to South Bend. Mr. Gamble's last stop was PD in the Chicago, Illinois CBS Radio properties.
Jill Ferraro exits as LSM for Schurz Communications' N-T/WSBT (960am, South Bend) and is now Sales Manager for Federated Media's N-T simulcast/WTRC and WTRC-FM (1340am, Elkhart; 95.3fm, Niles, Michigan).
Kankakee Valley Broadcasting's Hot AC simulcast of WKVI and WKVI-FM (1520am, 99.3fm; both Knox) adds Tom Berg in mornings. Mr. Berg started on 2 August.
Northwest
Brothers Broadcasting Corp's Oldies/WIBN (98.1fm, Earl Park) returns to the airwaves in early August, after their tower fell in April. In addition, Mark Allen is the new PD/morning host. Mr. Allen returns to the Lafayette area from a
brief time as PD at Federated Media's Country/WBYT (100.7fm, Elkhart).
Lakeshore Public Broadcasting's News-Talk-NPR/WLPR (89.1fm, Lowell) adds Dan Bindert as PD, replacing Len Clark. Bindert's last job was as a local news anchor with Chicago, Illinois' WBEZ radio.
Eastcentral
You might feel bad for Vox's Classic Hits/WXXC (106.9fm, Marion). Earlier this month, the screen voltage in the transmitter went down (temporarily reducing them to 6,000 watts). Earlier in the summer, the transmitter took a lightning
hit, and was off the air for several days. As a WXXC insider told IRW "Big Transmitter = Big Problems."
Central
Horizon Christian Fellowship of Indianapolis signs on its WWDL (91.3fm, Plainfield) as a simulcast of WHZN (88.3fm, New Whiteland). WWDL is broadcasting from a tower on the south side of I-70, southeast of Plainfield. This tower site
gives added coverage to Indianapolis' west side that WHZN may not quite hit from its Trafalgar transmitter site.
The Bob and Tom Show executive producer Marty Bender exits. Mr. Bender had been with the show and flagship Clear Channel's Rock/WFBQ (94.7fm, Indianapolis) since 1986, serving first as PD, then executive producer from 2008 until his
departure. Also at The Bob and Tom Show, their TV show on Chicago's WGN-TV ends.
PD/midday host Vicki Murphy exits at Cumulus' Country/WFMS (95.5fm, Indianapolis. Replacing Ms. Murphy in the PD chair is sister Classic Hits/WJJK (104.5fm, Noblesville) PD Steve Cannon, who adds WFMS to his programming roster.
Replacing Ms. Murphy in the on air chair is Tammy Lively. Ms. Lively was middays at Citadel's Country/WWKI (100.5fm, Kokomo), but is no stranger to the market, having once worked for several Indianapolis radio stations (including the
late WKLR).
Before we leave Shadeland Avenue, also at Cumulus' CHR/WRWM (93.9fm, Fishers), morning host Marco moves from mornings to afternoons, starting last week Monday (20 September). No replacement named for the morning drive shift, which
moves to a more music intensive format.
"Riggs" exits as MD/nights at Radio One CHR/WNOU (100.9fm, Speedway) and is now the Imaging Director at WQBW-FM in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Where Are They Now? (Part 1) Former WIFE/Indianapolis night jock Buddy Scott is now PD at WUSN in Chicago, Illinois.
Where Are They Now? (Part 2) Former Indianapolis PD and DJ John Trout is now handling mornings at WWFG in Ocean City, Maryland.
Westcentral
Crossroads Communications' Country-Rock hybrid/WSDM-FM (92.7fm, Brazil) flips format to Sports, airing ESPN Radio. ESPN Radio is also on sister WBOW (1300am, Terre Haute). Sometime this month, Crossroads will silence WSDX (1130am,
Brazil), which has been on the air since 1959 as WSDM, WBZL, and WWCM (and perhaps a few other call letters).
Southeast
Reising Radio Partners sells Country/WTRE (1330am, Greensburg) to WTRE, Inc. for $550,000. WTRE, Inc. is comprised of WTRE station manager Sandy Biddinger, WTRE assistant station manager Kathy Verseman, and WTRE morning jock Mark
Gravely.
Southcentral
Sarkes Tarzian's AAA/WTTS (92.3fm, Bloomington) moves "Little Steven's Underground Garage to Thursday evenings from 10:00PM until 12:00AM.
Where Are They Now? Former Bloomington radio veteran (WGCL, WTTS, WBWB) Pam Thrash is now the co-host of "The Weekly Special," a local issues and events program airing on Indiana University's PBS affiliate WTIU-TV (Channel 30,
Bloomington). The show airs each Thursday at 8:00PM, with a 6:00PM Friday rebroadcast.
Southwest
The FCC dismissed an LPTV application for Channel 12 in Elberfeld from Hispanic Community Education Consortium.
Employment Opportunities
Promotion Director
Entercom Indianapolis is looking for an experienced Promotion Director to lead the WZPL Promotions Department. The position is responsible for: All on-air contesting and prize fulfillment, communicating with both listeners and
clients, On-site presence at events in the community and at client locations, working with sales department to create customized sales promotions, and Overall execution of station events and promotions.
Position reports to the Marketing Director. Candidate must have a minimum of 3-5 years promotions or event experience (radio experience preferred), excellent organizational skills and the ability to work non-traditional hours.
To apply for this position go to http://www.entercom.com and click on the "careers" tab at the top.
Entercom Indianapolis is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Program Director
Entercom Indianapolis is looking for an innovative leader and talent coach to become the next Program Director of WZPL! Candidate should have a successful track record of driving station ratings growth and listener engagement, Hot AC
experiences a plus. Responsibilities include providing strategy, organization, execution, and creativity for the station brand, including the talent, music, production, promotion, digital and social media content necessary to continue
to produce our highly marketable and sellable radio station. Minimum 5 years Program Director experience required. Selector and Audiovault background is preferred.
If you are a qualified candidate, please go to www.entercom.com (click on "Careers" to apply).
Entercom Indianapolis is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Radio & TV Services
WFIU/WTIU News Bureau
News Producer/Director
Job Description: Reports and produces content for radio, TV, and online; anchors NPR programs such as Morning Edition and All Things Considered and local news cut-ins during PBS programming; hosts, moderates, and guides the production
of public affairs programs. Supervises news Intern reporters and student reporters as part of the WFIU/WTIU News Bureau team that identifies, trains, supervises, and evaluates WFIU/WTIU, part-time and student staff. Has specific
oversight for training and editing students who serve as reporters in the newsroom; work is performed in conjunction with IU's School of Journalism, Telecommunications Department, and other departments which have students interested in
journalism or broadcasting. In technical areas, instructs in the use of audio, video and Internet material, proper public broadcasting journalistic practices, reporting, production, and sometimes on air presentation. In specific
areas of content, produces or oversees the production of original spot news and features for WFIU radio, WTIU Television, station web sites, Indiana State News, NPR, and other news entities by the Interns and student reporters.
Determines the value and content of local news, assigning the project to Interns and students and ensuring that it is prepared for dissemination through multi-platforms including radio, TV, Internet.
Qualifications:
REQUIRED: Bachelor's degree in journalism, telecommunication, or a related field and one year public broadcasting or journalism experience required. In-depth understanding of journalistic principles, particularly as they apply to
public media; hands-on experience in writing, reporting, editing, production and on-air delivery in radio and TV; ability to teach news room protocols to students; experience working with multi-platform technologies; ability to adapt
material to a variety of platforms; ability and judgment to produce a large quantity of work to deadline that matches the quality of NPR and PBS productions; and the ability to function in a fast-paced 24/7/365 news environment needed.
Applicants considered for interview should be prepared to provide audition materials (CD or MP3 files) upon request.
Other Information: WFIU Radio and WTIU TV seek a News Producer/Director to join its News Bureau team, consisting of award-winning radio, television, and Internet news professionals. Located on the Indiana University campus in
Bloomington, the stations serve south-central and central Indiana through broadcast and a national/international audience through streaming. The bureau has a News Bureau Chief and five full-time employees, several part-time staff, and
a team of student interns, volunteers, and statewide stringers. The Bureau incorporates radio, television, and Internet news in an integrated fashion.
Open to applications until September 23, 2010 or until position is filled.
Interested parties should apply through Indiana University's Human Resource Services website, http://jobs.indiana.edu/, position #2416. Indiana University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Full Time Engineer for WBAA
We have an opening for a full time engineer at WBAA. The stations include AM and AM-HD, FM, FM-HD1 and FM-HD2 with facilities designed by the Russ Berger Design Group.
Minimum required qualifications include a Bachelor's degree with five years of experience in radio studio and transmission maintenance.
Go to http://www.purdue.edu/jobs for more details and to apply online; Click on "Staff Positions," then "Basic Search". In the "Job Number" field, enter 1000589.
The position is open until filled. Purdue University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Artistic Media Partners is looking for a Director of Sales for its four-station cluster in South Bend. Candidates must be able to build and train a professional management team, set and achieve reasonable sales goals, manage local
and national sales, hire and train sales people, identify and execute promotional plans, and devise and implement short and long-term strategic sales planning. Qualified candidates must have a successful track record of sales
management. E-mail your resume to arthur at artisticradio dot com. Artistic Media Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.
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