Indiana RadioWatch: December 18, 2013
A few housekeeping notes, before we begin:
Here's the entire list of winners from the Indiana Broadcasters Association 26th Annual IBA Spectrum Awards.
Here's a clarification from WGCS about their being named Radio Station of the Year by the Indiana Broadcasters Association (IBA): When GM Jason Samuel said this:
"This is a significant accomplishment for the radio station. I don't think it has ever been done by any college radio station in the country."
After some clarification, I realized that in 2013, Goshen College earned "Radio School of the Year" by the Indiana Association of School Broadcasting (IASB), "Radio Station of the Year" by the Indiana Broadcasters Association, along with earning "Best College Radio Station in the Nation" from the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS). That's the trifecta that makes WGCS unique.
From the weekend reading pile: "5 Investments Local TV Needs to Make in '14."
From the IRW Mailbag: A reader asked where former WFMS folks Larry Evans and Jenny Edwards are now.
Now, onto the news...
Northeast
Could it be another case of AM on FM? Northeast Indiana Public Radio sells its translator CP W258BY (99.5fm, Fort Wayne) to Redeemer Radio for $113,000. We make the AM to FM reference because Redeemer owns Religious/WLYV (1450am, Fort Wayne). Brokers for this deal are Bob Heymann (Media Services Group) and Jon Yinger (Broadcast Properties, LLC). In 2005, Mr. Yinger's Christian Broadcasting System sold WLYV to Redeemer for $700,000.
Larko Communications' AC/WMYQ (101.1fm, South Whitley) flips format from Hot AC ("Hot Q101") and briefly returned to an AC format as "My Q101," before going silent. A brief musical sample:
Searchin' So Long - Chicago (1974)
You Can't Change That - Raydio (1979)
The Look of Love - ABC (1981)
Don't Lose My Number - Phil Collins (1985)
Steal My Sunshine - Len (1999)
Alone Again - Gilbert O'Sullivan (1972)
Good Girls Don't - The Knack (1979)
The Safety Dance - Men Without Hats (1983)
867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone (1982)
Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers (1955)
The Candy Man - Sammy Davis, Jr. (1972)
Stephanie Todich becomes the new GSM at Federated Media's Rock/WBYR (98.9fm, Woodburn).
Mark Osborn moves from Director of Sales to New Business Director for the Oasis Radio Group/Fort Wayne radio stations.
Kristin Craft removes 'assistant' from her title and becomes the new Promotions Director for the Federated Media/Fort Wayne radio stations.
Where Are They Now? Former WBTU PD Chris Sargent recently exits as VP/Programming for Clear Channel's Portland, Oregon cluster. Mr. Sargent was OM for their seven stations over the past year along with most recently programming their KEX, KFBW and KPOJ.
Northcentral
Weigel Broadcasting makes a few corporate changes that entail their South Bend TV stations: ABC affiliate WBND (Channel 57, South Bend), CW affiliate WCWW-LD (Channel 25, South Bend) and MyNetworkTV affiliate WMYS-LD (Channel 69, South Bend). First, Bob Ramsey becomes EVP/Local Media for all Weigel Broadcasting stations. Also, Weigel promotes Kyle Walker from Director of Engineering to VP/Technology.
Where Are They Now? Former WBYT APD/MD/Morning co-host Lisa Kosty exits Chicago's WUSN.
Northwest
Purdue University's NPR-Classical-Jazz/WBAA and WBAA-FM (920am, 101.3fm; both West Lafayette) welcomes Mike Savage as their new GM. Mr. Savage moves to Lafayette from the Director and GM chair at Kankakee, Illinois' WKCC-FM.
Kaspar Broadcasting adds callsigns to their translator CPs: Meet W245CD (96.9fm, Lafayette) and W290CM (105.9fm, Lafayette).
Friends of Christian Radio, Inc. turns their translator CP for 97.7fm, licensed to Colfax into W249CQ.
Eastcentral
Cumulus' C&W/WLTI(AM) (1550am, New Castle) and Country/WMDH-FM (102.5fm, New Castle) GM Todd Merickel exits. Mr. Merickel led both stations since October 2008. Cumulus sister Country/WWKI (100.5fm, Kokomo) GM Kit Osborne adds oversight of the New Castle radio stations. Also, Cumulus promotes Val Abraham to Local Sales Manager at WLTI and WMDH.
Hoosier AM/FM promotes Ernie Caldemone to Regional VP, adding oversight of their Hot AC/WXXC (106.9fm, Marion), Talk/WBAT (1400am, Marion), Country/WCJC (99.3fm, Van Buren) and Sports/WMRI (860am, Marion).
South Madison Community School's Hot AC/WEEM (91.7fm, Pendleton) adds the syndicated Zach Sang & The Gang weeknights from 7pm until 9pm.
Hoosier Broadcasting's translator CP for 103.7fm, Anderson becomes W279CL.
Central
Continental Broadcast Group enters into an LMA with Davidson Media Group's Regional Mexican/WNTS (1590am, Beech Grove) and changes WNTS' format to high energy Latin Hits, as "Exitos 1590." Continental Broadcast Group also owns Spanish Oldies/WSYW (810am, Indianapolis) and Regional Mexican/WEDJ (107.1fm, Danville). Continental GM Bart Johnson says, "Acquiring the rights to broadcast on WNTS allows us to expand our on-air content to better serve the Spanish-speaking population of central Indiana."
Indianapolis broadcasters remember former WFMS overnight host Terry Fullen who recently passed away at the entirely too young age of 61. If you have a remembrance you want to share with me, I'll print them in the next IRW.
The FCC fines Hoosier Public Radio's WRFM (89.1fm, Wilkinson) $8,000, alleging that Hoosier never built the radio station. ("...the investigation at issue here has revealed that Hoosier never constructed the Station at the location authorized in the Station's license, which was granted in 2008.") Read the entire ruling.
"Crash" moves from nights to middays at Radio One's CHR/WNOU (100.9fm, Speedway).
Where Are They Now? Former WNOU Imaging Director and night jock Mikey V. was named nights/Creative Coordinator at WXKS in Boston, Massachusetts.
Westcentral
Doug Edge will soon exit Nexstar Broadcasting's NBC affiliate WTWO-TV (Channel 2, Terre Haute) and Mission Broadcasting's ABC affiliate WAWV (Channel 38, Terre Haute). Mr. Edge recently accepted a position as National Accounts Manager with Farm Journal Media.
Southcentral
While I don't have much information, I'm sad to say that Allan Hackney passed away on Tuesday morning. Mr. Hackney once worked weekends in Indianapolis at what was then WGRL, along with doing mornings for a bit over a year in Bedford at WBIW. The funeral service will be at 7::00PM Thursday, December 19, in the Memorial Chapel of Chastain Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 705 W. Warren St., Mitchell, IN 47446, with Brother Mike Collins officiating. Graveside service will be at 10:30AM Friday at Mitchell Cemetery. Visitation hours begin Thursday at 3:00PM until 7:00PM, at the funeral home. If you have a remembrance you want to share with me, I'll print them in the next IRW.
Southwest
Roberts Broadcasting's Silent WAZE-LP (Channel 17, Evansville) will return to the air after ION Media Networks announced it's buying the station along with two others (WRBU-TV in East St. Louis, Illinois and WZRB-TV in Columbia, South Carolina) for $7.75 million.
Turpen Communications' Easy Listening/WBNL (1540am, Boonville) and translator W249BP (97.7fm, Princeton) now has a CP in hand to move the translator tower site from Princeton to Boonville, and onto a new nearly three hundred foot tower. A six bay Shively antenna will go up, once the weather improves. Finally, for the thirteenth year, WBNL temporarily flipped format to all holiday music.
Where Are They Now? Former WSTO morning host Brad Booker will debut on January 6, 2014 in mornings at KAMX in Austin, Texas as the lead host of the new "Booker, Alex and Sara" morning show.
Employment Opportunities
Are you currently a news director ready to grab the wheel and jam your foot to the floor of an aggressively expanding news operation? WSJV, FOX for South Bend IN (market #96) has an immediate opening for an experienced news director. If you're a sleeves rolled up mentor who can drive compelling content and products on multiple platforms, and put this award winning team on a clear course to the future, we need to talk.
We're looking for a collaborator, a strategic thinker, a brand builder for this expanding organization. If you're someone that can effectively lead in this highly competitive market, apply now to wsjvnewsdirector at quincyinc dot com. FOX 28 is a Quincy station. Learn why our family owned broadcast group has a reputation as one of the best companies to work for in the industry today at http://www.careersatquincy.com.
WTWO (NBC) and WAWV (ABC) in Terre Haute, Indiana are looking for a News Director who is a dynamic leader and possesses a hands-on approach to local news. If you are inspired by producing quality, compelling local news that matters to the viewer's we need to hear from you. In recent years the station's work has been recognized with numerous awards including the Indiana Broadcasters Association, a Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Award and numerous RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Awards. Our reporters have covered the Super Bowl, the Country Music Awards, and traveled to Auschwitz with a Holocaust survivor. This is an incredible opportunity to continue excellence in local journalism while mentoring the next generation of storytellers and journalists while working for one of the fastest growing companies in the industry, Nexstar Broadcasting. Solid producing skills, the ability to coach and manage talent and superior communication skills are a must. Candidate will also be responsible for news content on our web portal www.mywabashvalley.com. Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work related experience required. We want a minimum five years' experience in News with at least two years in a leadership role. Terre Haute was named the Community of the Year in Indiana in 2010 and is a great place to live and raise a family. Cover letter and resume via email to tsturgess at wtwo dot com or via mail to: Tim Sturgess, VP/GM, WTWO-TV, PO Box 9268, Terre Haute, IN 47808. Nexstar Broadcasting Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Artistic Media Partners' WSHP (Your Country 95.7)/Lafayette, IN needs a PD to guide their new country station. Ideal candidates can relate to and generate ratings among Persons 35-44. Send your materials to Market Mgr. Bob Dakin bdakin at artisticradio dot com. Artistic Media Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
If you've always harbored a burning desire to someday call Terre Haute home, that day has arrived -- Midwest Communications Top 40 WMGI (100.7 Mix-FM)/Terre Haute, IN has an immediate fulltime night opening. Just Plain Joe is headed to another gig TBA, so Brand Manager Shawn Powers has already swung into action to find a qualified replacement that is a motivated, organized team player that loves both community and listener involvement and lives the Top 40 lifestyle. You will roll live for a minimum of five nights a week and be tracked as needed. "This is not a starter position... we are looking for superstars! Can you light up the phones, Facebook, Twitter, texting... and keep your listeners coming back for more? We are the market leader, so if you have an outstanding work ethic, great people skills and a proven track record of dominant ratings, apply today!" Send your resume, cover letter and MP3 demo (no longer than 2 minutes) to Shawn.Powers at mwcradio dot com or snail-mail to Shawn Powers, Brand Manager, WMGI-FM Radio, 824 S. 3rd Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807. Midwest Communications, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Live - Work - Play in Columbus, Indiana! Columbus is home to heritage stations WCSI - WKKG - WINN - WWWY. We seek our next market leader: a broadcast pro who has a verifiable track record of being able to motivate, train and, when necessary, personally foster the growth of accounts. We'll be very selective; we owe it to our incredible staff. Yes, we are looking for someone who lives to lead people and someone who understands the unique opportunity that LOCAL Radio provides, and a love for LOCAL sports is good, too! What do we offer? A stable environment, competitive compensation, fantastic staff, excellent community reputation and, when you add it all up, one fine opportunity! Please submit confidential information to David Glass, VP Findlay Publishing Company, P.O. Box 609, Findlay, OH 45840 daveglass at findlayoh dot com E.O.E.
Lake City Radio / Talking Stick Communications in Warsaw is looking for an On-Air Talent/ Assistant Program Director for our heritage Classic Hits Station, Lake City Rock107.3, WRSW! The ideal candidate must understand what it takes to run a live and local radio station in a small market. We are looking for someone who is a great talent coach, understand the Classic Hits format, loves putting together creative imaging, enjoys executing large promotions, and understands the importance of social media / multi-platform branding. This person must be detail oriented, lead by example and must demonstrate a positive attitude while establishing a fun working environment. WRSW is a successful 60 year brand. We are looking for someone with a track record of results. 2 years minimum experience required. If this sounds like you, email: Resume, Air-Check, and Programming Philosophy to: jmichaels at lakecityradio dot com. Talking Stick Communications L.L.C. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
WGTO AM-FM is looking for a salesperson to handle local and regional sports and general market sales. Position pays high commission rate but requires a self-starter who can operate without direct supervision. List is unrestricted and the right candidate can name his or her territory. This person will be responsible for prospecting and developing new business as well as growing and maintaining existing accounts. A positive attitude and excellent communications skills are a must. WGTO is the local voice of Cass County Michigan and the home of local high school sports. The music format is Classic hits with a live local swap shop program, Dowagiac High School Football and University of Michigan football and afternoon talk with Ed Shultz. WGTO is 3000 watts at 910AM and FM at 101.1 WGTO covers Cass County as well as Niles, And St Joe Benton Harbor in Berrien County and South Bend Indiana. Send letter of introduction and or resume to WGTO at larrylangford at aol dot com. WGTO welcomes applications from ALL interested persons as an Equal Opportunity Employer.
WZZY Winchester, Indiana is looking for our next Morning Show host. Not only will you be the morning "voice" of our A/C station but through your work and interaction within the community you'll also be the "face" of the station as well. Plus you'll VT evenings on our winning Adult Top 40 sister FM and do plenty of remotes and appearances on both stations. Even if you've never done Mornings before send along your best. Our former host has been with us for 13 years so we believe in longevity and loyalty. Send along an on-air sample (please keep it short) and resume to rickduncan at g1013 dot com. Or you can mail it to 2301 W. Main St. Richmond, IN 47374. Whitewater Broadcasting is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Hoosier AM/FM is seeking an experienced media Account Executive to join the sales team of our four-station cluster in Muncie-Marion, IN. This person will be responsible for prospecting and developing new business as well as growing and maintaining existing accounts. A positive attitude and excellent verbal and written communications skills are a must. This is a full time position. Hoosier AM/FM offers a competitive compensation package including Medical, Dental, Paid Vacations. Minimum education level is High School diploma or equivalent. Resume and letter of introduction are to be sent to indianaradiojobs at yahoo dot com. Hoosier AM/FM is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.
Blaine Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch
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