Indiana RadioWatch: November 7, 2005

A reader wants to know information on "Captain Starlight" who was a DJ on WIFF (then 105.5fm, Auburn) in the late 1970's. If you have any information, contact us.

Northeast

Federated Media Rock/WBYR (98.9fm, Van Wert, Ohio) morning co-host Tommy Collins exits. Replacing Collins on the "TNT" morning show is Parker, last the night host at WJXQ (Q-106) in Jackson, Michigan.

Federated Media N-T/WOWO (1190am, Fort Wayne) morning news co-anchor Damon Bruce exits for KNBR in San Francisco. There, he'll host the nightly "SportsPhone 680" show. West coast sports radio observers note that Bruce replaces Larry Krueger, who was fired from KNBR after he made insensitive comments during a San Francisco Giants radio broadcast back in August.

Northcentral

Artistic Media Partners' CHR/WNDV (1490am, 92.9fm, both South Bend) PD Tommy Frank exits for PD/PM Drive duties at WTBT in Saginaw, Michigan.

Northwest

Jerry Stifle returns to WRIN/WLQI (1560am, 97.9fm; both Rensselaer) as Production Assistant.

Eastcentral

Trevis Bird ("T-Bird") exits mornings at Backyard Broadcasting's Oldies WERK/WURK (104.9fm, Muncie; 101.7fm, Elwood). Bird also hosted middays on sister Classic Rock station "Max" WHTI/WHTY (96.7fm, Hannah; 93.5fm, Hartford City). Finally, WERK night guy Tony Piazza exits.

Central

In our last issue, IRW failed to note that Clear Channel Rock/WFBQ (94.7fm, Indianapolis) won its unprecedented twelfth NAB Marconi Award as Rock Station of the Year. IRW apologizes to GM Chris Wheat, Marty Bender and the Q-95 gang.

Mark down new call letters for Entercom's "The Track" which was WTPI and is now WNTR (107.9fm, Indianapolis).

A pair of new titles at Radio One/Indianapolis: First, midday lady Khris Raye is now MD at Radio One's Indianapolis Urban AC/WTLC (106.7fm, Greenwood). Second, Ian Banks is now Director of Sales for all the Radio One/Indianapolis stations. Banks was last in Chicago, as NSM for Bonneville's Chicago cluster.

A reminder that Ben Davis High School's WBDG (90.9fm, Indianapolis) is in the planning stages of a 40th Anniversary celebration in spring, 2006. If you're interested in participating, contact WBDG Station Manager Jon Easter.

Westcentral

A frequency swap among two owners recently happened. Crossroads Communications' Oldies/WSDM-FM (97.7fm, Brazil) swapped frequencies with Mid-America Radio Group's Country/WCLS (92.7fm, Spencer) (formerly WSKT). On Sunday afternoon (10/30), WSDM-FM went silent in preparation for the move and debuted at 92.7fm on Monday evening (10/31). WCLS went off the air at 9am Monday (10/31) and immediately moved to 97.7fm. WSDM-FM changed formats to a hybrid Country/Rock format, as "Crock 92.7," while WCLS remains a country station. Crossroads' Doug Edge tells IRW that the new format is a "Hank/Jack combo," referring to Emmis' Country/WLHK (97.1fm, Shelbyville) and the ubiquitous Bob Perry-created "Jack" format. The "Crock" moniker caused some controversy, as billboards with the words "Bite Me" were sighted in the Terre Haute area, upsetting some local residents. With these changes, WCLS becomes a city-grade Bloomington signal, as it increases power to 6kW and move its transmitter from west of Spencer to a site on IN-43 near Whitehall and Ellettsville.

There are several other related notes to this story. First, standards/WAXI (104.9fm, Rockville) changed formats on October 1, adopting WSDM's oldies format, as "Oldies 104.9." Second, WSKT's call letters moved to Mid-America sister station Country/WMCB (1540am, Martinswille) - WSKT (AM) remains a simulcast with sister WCBK-FM (102.3fm, Martinsville). Finally, Chad Brumfield ("Sketch") is now PD at WSDM.

Matt Luecking exits the Crossroads Communications' stations. Most notably, he was MD at Hot AC/WBOW (102.7fm, Terre Haute).

Replacing Ernie Caldemone at Crossroads Communications is new GM Doug Edge.

Emmis' Country/WTHI-FM (99.9fm, Terre Haute) and Classic Rock/WWVR (105.5fm, West Terre Haute) Production Director Steve Hall exits.

John Sigman is now interim PD at Oldies/WAXI (104.9fm, Rockville), as Lisa B. Knott exits.

Southwest

South Central's CHR/WSTO (96.1fm, Owensboro, Kentucky) night guy Fitz exits. Overnight DJ Franc is covering nights in the interim. Also, Josh Strickland is handling interim Imaging duties. IRW hears PD Stan "The Man" Priest is looking for a great Nights/Imaging expert...

That's it for this issue. See you in a week!

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