Indiana RadioWatch: March 5, 2018

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Sad news this morning out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Broker Ray Rosenblum died on Tuesday February 27. He's brokered several Indiana radio station and FM translator sales. Last year, the United States Bankruptcy Court appointed Mr. Rosenblum to sell the licenses and assets of LaPorte County Broadcasting's Oldies/WLOI (1540am, La Porte) and Country/WCOE-FM (96.7fm, La Porte).

Eastcentral

In December 2004, we wrote about Backyard Broadcasting creating a radio studio inside the Mounds Mall, located in Anderson.

Backyard Broadcasting stations (WLBC WERK WURK WHTI WHTY WHBU WXFN) with studios in Muncie and Daleville now have an additional studio in the Mounds Mall. IRW reader Sean Mattingly, Backyard Broadcasting Director of Technical Operations, has the details:

The new "Special Events Studio" is constructed in a storefront at the Anderson Mounds Mall. It is used on a regular basis by NewsTalk 1240 WHBU, Anderson. The morning show is there every weekday. Starting at 6pm, live evening shows are performed from the mall as well. Passers-by have an open view of the 5-microphone setup. Mall shoppers can stop and comment during a live show via a specially mounted microphone in the hallway on a studio window frame.

The "Special Events Studio" is shared amongst the seven commonly-owned stations. The Oldies format (WERK 101.7 & 104.9) and the Classic Rock format (MAX 93.5 & 96.7) will be using the studio for live remotes on a heavy shopping day: the day before Christmas.

The graphics along the 60-foot wide storefront are impressive. People stop by to watch a live radio show and say "Wow!, this is cool." Sometimes, shoppers will pause, whip out their cell phones and dial into the talk shows.

Late last week, the Mounds Mall in Anderson announced they will close at the end of March. Now owned by Woof Boom Broadcasting, News-Talk/WHBU (1240am, Anderson) and FM translator: W279CL (103.7fm, Anderson) morning host Doug Zook will move his show back to the WHBU main studios in Daleville. Woof Boom plans on an additional studio location.


Central

After just over two years, meteorologist Brittany Rainey exits WXIN-TV.. Ms. Rainey joined "FOX 59" in November 2015 after working in Tulsa, Oklahoma at KJRH-TV. She posted on Twitter that she's heading home to Tampa, Florida.

Westcentral

After agreeing on a last minute plea agreement, Donald Feathersone pleads guilty to the 2016 murder of popular Terre Haute DJ Matt Luecking. Mr. Featherstone will learn his sentence on April 4 in Vigo Superior Court. Between the law and his plea agreement, Mr. Featherstone will spend between 45 and 50 years in prison. Mr. Featherstone would have stood trial next Monday. The other two co-defendants (John Collins and Kathleen Featherstone) both signed plea agreements, and both will be sentenced this Friday (March 9).

Southcentral

Roughly 68 years ago, Syndicate Theatres signed on WCSI radio in Columbus at 1010am, as a 250 watt daytimer. White River Broadcasting (Findlay Publishing) purchased WCSI for $150,000 from Syndicate Theatres in 1957, and owned WCSI ever since. The FCC recently granted WCSI's application to add a 250 watt FM translator: W251CK (98.1fm, Columbus). The translator will increase coverage, as WCSI(AM) only operates with 330 watts during the day, scaling back to 20 watts at night. White River plans to have the FM on the air later this year.

That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.

Blaine Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch

Back to the Archive Index
All pages Copyright Blaine Thompson. Articles, photos, corrections, and other contributions should be e-mailed to the editors.