Indiana RadioWatch: November 22, 2003
Northeast
Afternoon man Mark Evans was named OM/PD of Hot AC/WMEE (97.3fm, Fort Wayne).
Starting December 1, Wild Bill McKubby will join APD/MD Chevy Smith in mornings at Country/WBTU (93.3fm, Kendallville). McKubby arrives from afternoons at WNWN (98.5fm, Coldwater, Michigan). Chevy Smith is now doing mornings
with Guy Forrest who will segue back to nights.
Where Are They Now? Former WBYR & WFWI (98.9fm, Van Wert, Ohio; 92.3fm, Fort Wayne) OM Darren Arriens was named PD at WKLQ in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Arriens begins his duties on 3 December.
Northcentral
The Main Street Tattler reports that CHR/WNDV (1490am, 92.9fm; both South Bend) GM Greg De Rue is promoted to VP and assumes responsibility for "the continued growth of the South Bend cluster."
Northwest
As posted in various spots:
AUCTION BY COURT-APPOINTED RECEIVER
WJOB-AM, Hammond, IN WIMS-AM, Michigan City, IN
An auction of the assets of St. George Broadcasting, LLC, the licensee of radio stations WJOB-AM, Hammond, IN and WIMS-AM, Michigan City, IN, is currently scheduled to be held on December 8, 2003 at 2:00 pm in Lake County Superior
Court in Crown Point, IN. All offers in excess of $1,250,000 will be considered and the assets will be sold to the highest and best bidder(s) subject to the approval of the Court, and the FCC, following the auction. For additional
information regarding the stations, assets to be sold and the necessary requirements to participate in the auction, please contact:
Robert J. Maccini
170 Westminster St.
Providence, RI 02903
p: 401.454.3130
f: 401.454.3131
Expect silent/WWCA (1270am, Gary) to return to the air (perhaps Wednesday?) The Chicago Sun-Times' media guru Robert Feder reported last week that Starboard Network has purchased WWCA from Willis Broadcasting Corporation for
$1.5 million and expects to launch its "Relevant Radio" religious format this coming week.
N-T/WJOB (1230am, Hammond) adds former Chicago sports talk host Tommy Williams in nights (9pm - midnight) on the new "Region Sports Network." (An unnamed station owner in northwest Indiana recently educated IRW that the
Lake/Portage/La Porte counties area of Indiana is affectionately known as "Da Region.")
Central
An update to the 1980's/WGRL (93.9fm, Noblesville) application process: The M Street Journal says that WGRL is changing its city of license to Fishers and applies to move the antenna to a new tower on E. 38th Street, just north
of I-70 on the east side of Indianapolis. From that new site, WGRL would run 2950 watts at 145 meters (476 feet).
Also, Oldies/WGLD (104.5fm, Indianapolis) would change City of License to Noblesville but remain on its current tower.
This whole application process started after WGRL/WGLD owner Susquehanna Radio Corporation purchased Country/WQKC (93.7fm, Seymour) in March 2001. Susquehanna originally applied to change WQKC's City of License from Seymour to
Sellersville (near Louisvlle, Kentucky). That application is now kaput; "93.7 The Duck" (QKC = "QuaCK") will now replace its non-direction antenna with a directional antenna.
The Indiana Community Radio Corporation files four new translator applications relating to primary station Religious/WJCF (88.1fm, Morristown): 107.1fm, Connersville; 101.7fm, Muncie; 93.9fm, Greenwood; and 93.9fm, New Castle. One
wonders if the 101.7fm, Muncie application was overlooked by the FCC - Certainly the folks at Oldies/WURK (101.7fm, Elwood) might not appreciate the interference.
Southeast
The National Radio Club's DX News reports that Religious/WXLN (1570am, New Albany) is silent.
Southcentral
PD/morning man Kenny Ray (Howard) exits Country/WWEG (102.5fm, Mitchell). He was also PD at sister Oldies/WBIW (1340am, Bedford). Replacing Howard at WWEG is sister Oldies/WQRK (105.5fm, Bedford) morning man Mike Shannon. Shannon
gave up the position in April. Replacing Howard at WBIW is APD/morning man Miles Flynn.
Southwest
John D. Engelbrecht's South Central Communications has filed an objection with the FCC over an Evansville television station. This all started when WTVW (Channel 7, Evansville [FOX]) and WFIE (Channel 14, Evansville [NBC]) recently
announced a Joint Sales Agreement (JSA). Engelbrecht saw this as a full takeover of the station which he said would not be allowed as the two stations' would control too much advertising revenue. According to The Evansville
Courier and Press, GNS Media Evansville is buying WTVW from Quorum Broadcasting for $44 million. GNS Media is owned by Neil Smith who was once affiliated with Liberty Corporation, the owners of WFIE. Smith said that Liberty
will be an investor in GNS Media if they successfully purchase WTVW. IRW will keep tabs on this story, so stay tuned for updates.
According to The Main Street Tattler, Classic Rock/WYXY (107.1fm, Boonville) flips to all Christmas music.
That's it for this issue. See you soon!
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