Indiana RadioWatch: November 1, 2003

A few weeks ago, IRW asked several N/T PD's for their opinion on Rush Limbaugh's sabbatical. One PD responded:

"Because of Rush's celebrity status and national notoriety, the guest hosts will work while Rush undergoes treatment. Of greater interest will be the investigations being conducted and possible criminal charges Rush might face. That could put Premiere and lots of radio stations in an interesting position. I don't think the bulk of Rush listeners will bail while he's being treated and I somewhat expect Premiere to use this time to "audition" potential replacements for Rush if he winds up with criminal charges. I also wonder if Rush will want to come back after the treatment is done."

John E. Foster
Director of Programming
White River Broadcasting, Inc,
Columbus, IN

Next issue, we'll fill you in on our question about WROC in Muncie.

Now, onto the other news:

Northeast

AC/WYLT (103.9fm, Fort Wayne) flips to Hot AC as "My 103.9, Fort Wayne's Variety Channel."

Kenny Edwards remains in mornings while former morning co-host Ron Gregory shifts to afternoons at Standards/WSHI (106.3fm, Columbia City.)

Northcentral

Casey Daniels, OM/PD at CHR/WNDV (1490am, 92.9fm; both South Bend), and Classic Rock/WZOW & WWLV (97.7fm, Goshen; 102.3fm, New Carlisle) is promoted to Director of Top 40 Programming for parent Artistic Media Partners. She will oversee WNDV, CHR/WAZY (96.5fm, Lafayette) and CHR/WBWB (96.7fm, Bloomington.)

Northwest

Alexis Vazquez-Dedelow and her husband James make an offer to buy the stations they're LMA'ing. N/T WJOB (1230am, Hammond) and sister N/T WIMS (1420am, Michigan City). Inside Radio reports that the stations have been in receivership since October, 2002 when former owner Saint George Broadcasting went bankrupt. The court-appointed receiver (Robert Maccini of Media Services Group) must consider any higher offer until closing. If accepted, the Dedelow's $1.2 million offer will put a partial dent in the $4.6 million that former owner Saint George Broadcasting owes lender Textron Financial. Inside Radio also reports that another former owner (M&M Broadcasting) is bidding on the two stations.

The auction will take place on 8 December at 2pm in Lake County Superior Court. If you're interested in the auction, or have questions, please contact Robert Maccini (maccini@cox.net)

Finally, you might check http://www.wimstalk.com and http://www.wjobtalk.com.

Beau Derek joins CHR/WAZY (96.5fm, Lafayette) as PD/afternoons, replacing J.J. Davis. Derek arrives from afternoons at Rhythmic CHR/WJFX (107.9fm, New Haven).

The Conclave's 2003 TalenTrack faculty included Country/WBYT (100.7fm, Elkhart) PD Tom Oakes. Congratulations!

Central

Several changes at Hot AC/WENS (97.1fm, Shelbyville):

* The Indianapolis Star reporter David Lindquist says that WENS morning duo Steve King and Julie Patterson were both let go last Thursday (23 October.) Also dismissed was midday lady Michelle Rivers. Finally, Chris Ott (afternoons) was also let go earlier this month.

* A new moniker (Real 97.1) and website to coincide: http://www.real971.com/

Mornings: Carmen & Mills (Carmen Conners and Ernie Mills) (5:30am - 10am) (Connors was last in mornings at WXPT in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mills was last morning show producer duties at KSTP in Minneapolis, Minnesota.)
Middays: Ann Duran (10am - 3pm) (From middays at WQSX in Boston, Massachusetts)
Afternoons: Monique and "The Man" (Todd Kangas) (3pm - 7pm) (Kangas arrives from mornings at WKQZ in Saginaw, Michigan.)
Nights: Allen Kabel (7pm - 12am) (Syndicated)

CHR/WNOU (93.1fm, Indianapolis) welcomes new PD Chris Edge. Edge arrives from PD duties at WDCG in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Main Street Tattler reports on a unique Indianapolis partnership between MyStar Communications and Radio One. MyStar Communications' Hot AC/WZPL (99.5fm, Greenfield) DJ's are now hosting a two-hour daily music video program on Radio One's WDNI-LP (Channel 65, Indianapolis). The show will air on WDNI, commonly known as Indy's Music Channel weekdays from from 4pm - 6pm.

A quick Bob and Tom Show affiliate update as they add KKEG (92.1fm, Fayetteville, Arkansas.)

Southwest

Radio & Records reports that Tim Huelsing will be VP/Market Manager for the South Central Communications' Evansville properties (WABX, WEOA, WIKY, WJPS, and WSTO.) Huelsing arrives from Market Manager duties at Clear Channel's Sandusky, Ohio cluster. He'll begin on 24 November.

Employment Opportunities

Operations Manager, Federated Media, Fort Wayne

In the past fourteen months three very talented programmers picked up their belongings and moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana to apply their trade and found programming paradise. We are looking for a fourth.

Can you get the most out of very talented on air personalities and make them even better? Do you have examples of really good branding, marketing, imaging, promotion and community involvement projects that you conceived and executed? Can you take the results of research, develop a strategic plan and implement it? Have you hired some one on your staff who is qualified to replace you if you took this position? Do you understand the value and the role of profit and what it takes to produce a healthy bottom line?

Programming paradise is Federated Media. Perhaps you read recently about the successful rock consultant, Greg Gillispie, who left the consulting business to work for us. We are a product driven company and are looking for the next Operations Manager of legendary 97.3 WMEE radio. This is not a fixer upper. WMEE is currently third 25-54 and number one in our target demo of women 25-44.

You will have all of the tools you need to achieve anticipated growth including a six figure promotional budget and the consulting services of Gary Berkowitz.

Preferred candidates will have some Hot AC programming or APD experience. Regardless of experience if you feel you have the talent and can prove it to us we want to hear from you. Knowledge of the five step Marketing Strategy Model is a plus.

Federated Media is an equal opportunity employer. Please fax or e-mail your resume to: Mark DePrez, General Manager, WMEE/WOWO/ESPN 1380/K-105, mdeprez@federatedmedia.com, Fax: 260-447-7546.

Whitewater Broadcasting is seeking a News Director for its cluster in Richmond (WFMG/WKBV/WZZY). Decent pay and benefits for the right person. We need you ASAP!! Please send writing samples along with tape & resume to:

Rick Duncan
Director of Programming
Whitewater Broadcasting
2301 W. Main St.
Richmond, IN 47374

Northwest Indiana radio cluster is looking for a person to head there creative department. The qualified candidate should have a creative mind to write and produce effect commercials that are more then words over music and generate mind blowing imaging for four radio stations. We are a very aggressive company always stepping out side the box and want a person who can think that way. This person would have a team of creative people working with them, giving them time to keep the creative juices running. We are broadcasters and marketing consultants not slam it through type of company. If you are that professional, creative broadcaster who knows how to run a department, not let it run you, then we want to talk to you. Please forward your tape and resume to: Leigh Ellis - Radio One Communications, 2755 Sager Road, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 or electronically to: lellis at indiana105 dot com.

That's it for this issue. See you soon!

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