Indiana RadioWatch: November 21, 2016
Administrava: Next week, IRW will only publish on Monday.
If something looks different today, it's that IRW never published on November 21 before. Remember: We began covering the Hoosier state in February 1998.
From the Reading Pile: Is A Big Fight Brewing Over Performance Royalties?
We tip our IRW cap to all the winners at the Indiana Broadcasters Association 2016 Spectrum Awards, and Richard M. Fairbanks Hall of Fame event. WTHR-TV Indianapolis, WNDU-TV South Bend, WTRC Elkhart, WITZ Jasper were all named "Stations of the Year" in their respective categories. More, here.
Northeast
Last Friday afternoon, Adams Radio Group's AC/WWFW (103.9fm, Fort Wayne) flipped formats to all holiday music, and rebranded from "Soft Rock 103.9" to "Christmas 103.9."
Stew Hirsch joins Nexstar's FOX affiliate WFFT-TV (Channel 55, Fort Wayne) as News Director. For about 18 months between 2007 and 2008, Mr. Hirsch was the news director for WAFF-TV in Huntsville, Alabama. Mr. Hirsch also did two tours (Assignment Editor, Assignment Manager, Managing Editor, etc.) at all three Columbus, Ohio TV stations.
Northcentral
Sound Management's 1980s/WYXX (97.7fm, Goshen) rolls out their new website.
Northwest
Milner Broadcasting's Country/WIVR (101.7fm, Kentland) has a new website.
Eastcentral
Indiana Community Radio Corp. sells their translator W230AR (93.9fm, Muncie) for $40,000 to North American Broadcasting Company, Inc. Once the sale closes, the translator will move to Columbus, Ohio.
Central
This Friday, LeSea Broadcasting's WHMB-TV (Channel 40) will add a sub channel (40.3) as "All Sports."
Radio One/Indianapolis welcomes two new programmers:
Kelly Mac joins as PD of Gospel/WTLC (1310am, Indianapolis) and Urban AC/WTLC-FM (106.7fm, Greenwood), along with afternoons on WTLC-FM. Ms. Mac succeeds Karen Vaughn, who Radio One promoted to OM at their Philadelphia radio stations in September. Ms. Mac last worked for SummitMedia in Greenville, South Carolina, as APD of WJMZ.
Josh Raiford ("DJ J1") joins as PD of Rhythmic CHR/WHHH (96.3fm, Indianapolis) and Classic Hip Hop WNOW-HD2 (100.9fm-HD2, Speedway) and translator W275BD (102.9fm, Greenfield). Mr. Raiford last worked for Radio One/Atlanta, Georgia, as APD/on-air at WHAT. Mr. Raiford will also handle middays on "Hot 96.3."
Where Are They Now? Former Indianapolis PD (WKLU, WNTR, WXNT) and APD/MD (WLHK) and DJ (then-WGLD) Scott Roddy adds PD responsibilities for WARH in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Roddy also programmed WBTU in Fort Wayne.
Westcentral
Starting Wednesday at Midnight, Midwest Communications' AC/WBOW (98.5fm, Paris, Illinois) will flip formats to all holiday music.
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!
November 20: In 1989, 107.9fm in Washington signs on as WAMW-FM, and returned to those call letters in October 2001.
November 21: In 1953, Channel 33 in Fort Wayne signed on as WKJG-TV (for William Kunkel, who owned and published Fort Wayne's morning newspaper: The Journal Gazette). Today, it's WISE-TV. In 1960, 1550am in Morganfield, Kentucky signs on as WMSK (for the towns of Morganfield and Sturgis in Kentucky). Today, it's WUCO. In 2011, Indiana Public Radio (WBST) Production Manager Brian Eckstein dies.
November 22: In 1923, 1280am in Evansville signs on as WGBF ("G.B. Finke Furniture Company"), and returned to those call letters (remember WWOK?) about 20 years ago.
November 23: In 1953, 1570am in Frankfort signs on as WILO, and still is.
November 24: In 1972, 107.1fm in Lowell signs on as WLCL. Today, it's WZVN. In 1976, 89.1fm in Chesterton signs on as WDSO. It's now on 88.3fm, but remains WDSO (Duneland School Organization). In 2006, WAWC flips formats from AC ("Hoosier 103.5") to Country ("Willie 103.5"). In 2010, longtime Lafayette DJ "Fred Stuart" (Dennis Risk) dies.
November 25: In 2005, former WMEE midday personality Phil Lindsey dies.
November 26: In 1947, 1420am in Owensboro, Kentucky signs on as WVJS (for then-owner Vincent J. Steele), and still is. In 1959, 94.7fm in Indianapolis signs on as WFBM. Today, it's WFBQ.
That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.
Blaine Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch
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Blaine Thompson. Articles, photos, corrections, and other contributions should be e-mailed to the editors.