Indiana RadioWatch: November 10, 2001
Northeast
Rumors turn to reality as Kovas Communications sells 4 of its Fort Wayne radio stations to Travis Broadcasting Corporation. Included in the sale are N-T/WGL(AM) (1250am, Fort Wayne), 1980's/WCKZ (94.1fm, Roanoke), Country/WWWD (96.3fm,
Churubusco), and Alternative/WXTW (102.3fm, Auburn). IRW hasn't heard what's become of Kovas' 5th station: WGLL(AM) (1570am, Auburn) - IRW has heard it on the air once in the past year. As for the financials, no purchase price was
mentioned, according to both Rhea Edmonds article in The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, and Lynne McKenna Frazier's article in The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. Both newspaper articles mention an LMA between Kovas and Travis
until the sale is closed (this planned for the first quarter of 2002). George Hays, formerly GSM at Rock/WFWI (92.3fm, Fort Wayne) is now GM of the 4 stations.
Rock/WBYR (98.9fm, Van Wert, Ohio) and Classic Rock/WFWI (92.3fm, Fort Wayne) GM Bob Schutt retires after 5 years with the Federated Media stations. Also, Production Director "Tuna" Jon Rose (Earl Rolling) exits. Rose has opened up
his own production company.
Before we leave Production Road, Carol Kovach is now GSM at Rock/WFWI (92.3fm, Fort Wayne). Kovach arrives from FOX affiliate WSJV-TV (Channel 28, South Bend) where she was Local Sales Manager.
Where Are They Now? Former WJFX PD, and WMEE APD Ange Canessa is now PD at WLTO in Lexington, Kentucky.
Northwest
Changes at Artistic Media Partners' Lafayette stations...J.J. Davis adds PD duties at Country/WLFF (95.3fm, Brookston). Davis continues programming CHR/WAZY (96.5fm, Lafayette). Also at WLFF, they've dropped Radio One's "Go Country"
format and will program in-house. Production Director Mike Warner returns to the airwaves, doing middays. Also, Matt Ryan handles afternoons (2pm - 6pm), in addition to his night slot at sister WAZY.
Eastcentral
Former Hot AC/WTGR (97.5fm, Union City, Ohio) PD Keith Wade is now handling mornings at AC/WZZY (98.3fm, Winchester).
Central
Kelli Thompson departs mornings at Country/WMDH-FM (102.5fm, New Castle) for morning co-host at Religious/WGNR(AM) & FM (1470am, 97.9fm, both Anderson).
Where Are They Now? Former Country/WGRL (93.9fm, Noblesville) weekender Matt Carter is now APD/MD/Afternoons at KDAO in Des Moines, Iowa.
Southeast
A correction from last issue...we erroneously reported that WRZQ and WYGB are sister stations of WWWY - they're not. WRZQ/WYGB are owned by Keith Reising.
Employment Opportunities
Fort Wayne's Rock Powerhouse WBYR/WFWI has a rare Production Director opening. The last guy parlayed this position into a freelance business that will net him millions (over his lifetime). We wish him well, but now the opportunity is
yours! If you can write & produce and add to the creative collective that keeps these two stations dominant, send your production demo & resume along with anything else you think might impress us to: Jim Fox, Operations Manager,
Federated Media, 1005 Production Road, Fort Wayne, IN, 46808 - or e-mail jfox at wbyr dot com EOE.
That's it for this issue. See you in a week!
Blaine Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch
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