Indiana RadioWatch: December 8, 2016

Northeast

In a story you'll first see here, Quincy Broadcasting's ABC affiliate WPTA-TV (Channel 21, Fort Wayne) lays off about a dozen employees. Some of these folks took an early retirement (buyout) package.

Broadcast Engineer Jerry Schmidt
Commercial Producer Benjamin Tiede
Creative Services Director Ngozi Rogers
Engineer Billy Jones
IT Manager Bill Schneider
Marketing and Promotions Coordinator Kathi Albahrani
Master Control Operator Gary Applegate (30+ years)
Master Control Operator Doug Dewey (40+ years)
Master Control Operator Steve Carothers
Master Control Operator Jim Helm
Master Control Operator Dean Sebastian
Programming/Master Control Manager Jim Turkovsky

Also, in an unrelated move, Creative Services Director and Brand Manager Tad Frank exits.

Taylor University Broadcasting's Contemporary Christian/WBCL (90.3fm, Fort Wayne) and their network go all holiday music. Also, in mid-November, the network added a 250 watt FM translator on 99.5fm, licensed to Findlay, Ohio (W258CE).

Southwest

After 36 years, Mike Sanders exits as PD/Brand Manager at Townsquare Media's Rock/ WGBF-FM (103.1fm, Henderson, Kentucky). Three years ago, Evansville Living profiled him.

Townsquare Media's ESPN/WJLT (105.3fm, Evansville) flips format to all holiday music. After Christmas, they announced a format change to AC ("My 105.3") under PD/Brand Manager Bobby Gates. Here's their new website.

Jim O'Neal exits as News Director for Jasper on the Air's AC/WITZ-FM (104.7fm, Jasper) and Country/WQKZ (98.5fm, Ferdinand) along with Regional Mexican/WITZ(AM) (990am, Jasper). Also, we missed that WITZ(AM) signed on an FM translator over the summer. Meet 250 watt W256DA (99.1fm, Jasper).

Thank you for your continued support.

Blaine Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch

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