Indiana RadioWatch: July 8, 2011

From the mailbag: One of our website visitors asked, "We were trying to remember who the popular WIBC talk host was in the late 1960s or early 1970s?" If you know, please e-mail us.

Do you have a contact for WLTH Radio? We tried their info at wlth1370 dot com address, which bounced. If you have a contact there, please e-mail us.

Now, onto the news...

Northeast

After starting out when Fox Broadcasting debuted its fledgling FOX TV network in 1986, Nexstar's WFFT-TV (Channel 55, Fort Wayne) drops its FOX affiliation on 31 July. The FOX affiliation will move to Granite's WISE-TV (Channel 33, Fort Wayne) on its 33.2 channel, which has MyNetworkTV programming on it now. Once the FOX affiliation debuts on the WISE-TV subchannel, the MyNetworkTV programming in prime time will shift to 10:35PM each night, after the local 10:00PM newscast.

Let's try this again: Summit City Radio Group's WGL (1250am, Fort Wayne) is not adding Laura Ingraham at this time. IRW's last issue said she would "soon appear," but that is now untrue.

After just over three years as a talk station, and after a failed $350,000 sale to a local organization, Independence Media sells its Talk/WNUY (100.1fm, Bluffton) to Bott Broadcasting for $275,000. Independence put WNUY up for sale last September, but the first announced sale never closed. The sale to Bott includes an LMA, so the "FM 100 Talks" talk format ended late Thursday night into Friday morning on 24 June. Twelve hours of construction sounds followed, before the Noon Friday kickoff of Religious/WFCV-FM at 100.1fm. Bott entered the Fort Wayne market in 1980 with daytimer WFCV (1090am, Fort Wayne). Dallas, Texas-based Independence Media owned WNUY since 2006. With this sale, Independence completes their role in radio broadcasting ownership.

On 9 May, after a little over a year on the schedule, Northeast Indiana Public Radio's Talk-Jazz/WBOI (89.1fm, Fort Wayne) bumps "On Point" and adds the BBC's "World, Have Your Say" program, on weekdays from 1:00PM until 2:00PM.

Gregg Henson is the new OM/PD at Federated Media's N-T/WOWO (1190am, Fort Wayne) and Sports/WKJG (1380am, Fort Wayne). Mr. Henson arrives from Dallas, Texas, where he co-hosted mornings at KRLD-FM.

A tip of the IRW cap to Dean Pantazi, Sports Director at Malara Broadcasting's ABC affiliate WPTA (Channel 21, Fort Wayne) on his induction into the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame. Beside Mr. Pantazi, the rest of the 2011 Class includes Phil Richards (The Indianapolis Star), Joe McConnell (Purdue Football Network, though he worked at WIBC), Bob Lovell (Network Indiana) and Dick Denny (retired, but worked for The Indianapolis News). Mr. Pantazi started in Fort Wayne TV in 1974 and became Sports Director at WPTA in 1994.

Northwest

While building a new tower for Schurz's CHR/WXXB (102.9fm, Delphi), two tower workers fell and died. The 13 April accident claimed the lives of 32-year-old Paul Aliff and 29-year-old Ernest Garcia, both from Texas. The crew worked for Chandler-based ERI (Electronics Research, Inc.) Both men wore required safety equipment and fell over 300 feet, from a platform along a gin pole, used to raise a tower segment. The new tower replaces the current WXXB site, that site will become part of the new Hoosier Heartland Corridor (expanding IN-25 and US-24). At the new site, the CP specifies the same 2750 watts, but at 493 feet, instead of 489 feet.

Eastcentral

Adams County Radio's WPGW(AM) (1440am, Portland) adds Dennis Miller from 2:00PM until 4:00PM, weekdays, replacing the syndicated Doug Urbanski Show.

Central

32 years at one Indianapolis radio station. Unbelievable, eh? After 32 years, JD Cannon exits as PD and afternoons at Cumulus' Country/WFMS (95.5fm, Fishers). Mr. Cannon became part of the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame in 2002 and in 2009; he won the Academic of Country Music "Large Market Personality of the Year."

Don Riley is now a part time host at Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Broadcasting's N-T/WFYI-FM (90.1fm, Indianapolis).

Radio One/Indianapolis OM Brian Wallace exits. Mr. Wallace also was PD for both Urban AC/WTLC-FM (106.7fm, Greenwood) and a Radio One sister Urban AC station in Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Wallace was with Radio One for over fifteen years.

Fritz Moser replaces Nicki Barker as MD at Emmis' Country/WLHK (97.1fm, Shelbyville).

After over three years in mornings, Scotty Davis exits Radio One's CHR/WNOU (100.9fm, Speedway).

Tribune Broadcasting names Larry Delia as VP/GM of FOX affiliate WXIN-TV (Channel 59, Indianapolis) and CW affiliate WTTV (Channel 4, Bloomington). Mr. Delia was VP/GM at Tribune's WPMT-TV in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania before moving to Indianapolis.

Where Are They Now? Former Indy DJ John Trout is now doing TV weather on WBOC-TV in Salisbury, Maryland.

Westcentral

Midwest Communications' CHR/WMGI (100.7fm, Terre Haute) moves weekender "Just Plain Joe" to evenings.

Southcentral

Brent Lee is new to the PD chair at Reising Radio's Country/WYGB (100.3fm, Edinburgh) and Classic Hits/WXCH (102.9fm, Columbus). Mr. Lee arrives from PD/mornings at Brothers Broadcasting's Oldies/WIBN (98.1fm, Earl Park). In addition, Mr. Lee takes the morning co-host slot at WYGB, alongside Dave Wilson. Finally, APD/morning co-host Keith Maddox exits the company after nearly five years.

Southwest

Henson Media's Classic Hits/WSON (860am, Henderson, Kentucky) adds a newly relocated FM translator, W297BE (107.3, Madisonville, Kentucky), but Ed Henson has a FCC application in, which if granted, would move the translator to 96.5fm, licensed to Sebree, Kentucky, with call letters W243CU.

After 6 years at Townsquare Media's Oldies/WJLT (105.3fm, Evansville) and 21 years in Evansville radio, Joe Blair will retire in June. Before Evansville, Mr. Blair worked in Philadelphia and Chattanooga, but started in radio in Indiana at WPGW(AM) and FM (1440am, 100.9fm; both Portland).

Nexstar will drop its FOX affiliation on their WTVW (Channel 7, Evansville) and FOX will move to Comcorp's WEVV (Channel 44, Evansville).

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

=============== Indiana RadioWatch ===============

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