Indiana RadioWatch: July 27, 2002

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While there's much more going on in Indiana radio, here is an partial update. We'll be playing catchup, so drop us an e-mail (irw@well.com) if you have an item to submit.

Northeast

CHR/WHTD (96.3fm, Churubusco) flips calls to WNHT.

Longtime morning duo "Elvis & Hammer" depart Rock/WBYR (98.9fm, Van Wert, Ohio). Billy Elvis exits the Federated Media station, while Jack Hammer remains with WBYR, sister station WFWI, and LMA'ed WFJZ (92.3fm, Fort Wayne; 106.7fm, Hicksville, Ohio) as Director of Non-Traditional Revenue. The new on-air lineup at WBYR is:

6am - 10am Gasman and "The Bear's" Dick
10am - 3pm Woody
3pm - 7pm Craven Morehead (fill-in)
7pm - 12am Irizarry

Irizarry joins "The Bear" from morning co-host duties at Rock/WKHY (93.5fm, Lafayette).

Geno Burgess exits as PD of Jazz/WFJZ (106.7fm, Hicksville, Ohio). Replacing him is Christopher Cain, formerly Promotions Director at WOWO/WONO/WQHK/WMEE. Which means...

Sean Bratton (that's "Boomer" to his listeners), night jock at Hot AC/WMEE (97.3fm, Fort Wayne) exits to become Promotions Director for WMEE along with sister stations N-T/WOWO (1190am, Fort Wayne), Sports/WONO (1380am, Fort Wayne), and Country WQHK (105.1fm, Decatur). And that means...

Chris Cage, middays at WMEE moves to nights and takes Sean's MD duties. WMEE OM Tommy Allen takes Chris' midday slot.

N-T/WOWO (1190am, Fort Wayne) has several changes. First, they drop WOR Radio Network's Ken & Daria Dolan, and Premiere's Michael Reagan. Replacing the Dolan's is Talk Radio Network's Michael Savage, while replacing Reagan is ABC Network's Sean Hannity. Also, all remaining WOR weekend programming, and The C.A.R. Show are gone. Replacing that is Cox Radio's Clark Howard.

Family Worship Center cancels their application for a translators on 89.7fm in Van Wert, Ohio and 90.1fm in Napoleon, Ohio.

Jim Tighe adds on GSM duties at Sports/WONO (1380am, Fort Wayne). He's already GSM at sister N-T/WOWO (1190am, Fort Wayne). GSM duties for "ESPN Radio 1380" were last handled by Mark Osborn.

A quick TV note: Chris Fedele is now President/GM at Granite Broadcasting's WPTA-TV (Channel 21, Fort Wayne [ABC]). He moves up from GSM and replaces Jerry Giesler who moves to Granite sister station KSEE in Fresno, California.

A 3-part "Where Are They Now?" this week:

1. Former Alternative/WEJE (then 96.3fm, Churubusco; now 102.3fm, Auburn) PD Kyle Guderian is now Marketing Director at KPNT and WMLL in St. Louis, Missouri.

2. Former WKJG-TV (Channel 33, Fort Wayne [NBC]) ND Bob Rockstroh is now EP & Asst. ND at WTIC-TV in Hartford, Connecticut.

3. Former Rhythmic CHR/WJFX (107.9fm, New Haven) midday lady Jordan Kline is now handling overnights at WSNY in Columbus, Ohio.

Northcentral

News from Country/WBYT (100.7fm, Elkhart) as Shaun Szymborski joins in nights. He'll be on-air as Shaun Kelly.

Family Worship Center cancels their application for a translator on 88.7fm in Sturgis, Michigan.

Northwest

The WBEZ Alliance, owners of Chicago's WBEZ-FM recently agreed to purchase WAJW (89.5fm, Chesterton) for $550,000. WBEZ plans to simulcast their programming on WAJW to expand their listener base.

Chris James, morning co-host at Rock/WKHY (93.5fm, Lafayette) exits for middays at Rock/WBYR (98.9fm, Van Wert, Ohio).

A bit of TV news as Jim Milner exits after 4 years as GM at WYIN (Channel 56, Gary).

Family Worship Center cancels their application for a translator on 91.1fm in Monticello.

Central

Ed Roehling, GM at The University of Indianapolis' WICR (88.7fm, Indianapolis) retired after 20 years at the station on June 20. Scott Uecker, Chief Engineer at WICR is now the GM.

Sports/WNDE (1260am, Indianapolis) drops ESPN Radio and adds The FOX Sports Network. Which means...

Religious/WXLW (950am, Indianapolis) flips to sports and adds ESPN Radio.

WBDG (90.9fm, Indianapolis) recently became "Giant 90.9, The New WBDG." The Ben Davis High School station had been using "Radio Spectrum B91." They also change formats from CHR/Variety to Hot AC.

Greg Browning is now production director at CHR/WZPL (99.5fm, Greenfield). He continues hosting evenings at "Z 99.5"

A Bob & Tom affiliate update as they add WSHK and WSHA in the Portsmouth, New Hampshire market, and WNJO in Trenton, New Jersey. They're no longer on KKCD in Omaha, Nebraska.

Southcentral

Brad Holtz, interim MD at AAA/WTTS (92.3fm, Bloomington) is named PD.

Southwest

Len Clark, GM at The University of Evansville's WUEV (91.5fm, Evansville) exits.

Where Are They Now? A TV one this time, as former WEVV-TV (Channel 44, Evansville [CBS]) News Director Doug Hogan is now nightside Executive Producer at WLWT-TV in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Employment Opportunities

Managing Editor of TV and Convergent News
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University seeks a Managing Editor to oversee a new, experimental local television and convergent news project. The successful applicant will oversee a small professional staff and work with students and faculty to produce a daily (Monday through Friday) half hour innovative newscast on the local public TV station as well as oversee a convergent news web site. We're interested in redefining local TV and Internet news, and with a research budget of $15,000 per month, we expect to generate substantial public knowledge about quality news and the local news audience. Failure is okay ... as long as we learn from it.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: bachelor's degree and five years experience in local or national news.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: master's degree and ten years experience in local or national news, including a news management situation.

Send (mail or email) letter of application and the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of at least four references to Bob Papper, Search Committee Chair, Department of Telecommunications, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

Ball State University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer and is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community.

WFMS/Indianapolis has an unbelievable opportunity open...they are looking for the right person to help a good morning show become great! The perfect candidate is likely to have produced another successful morning show or has PD experience or a Mornings background. If you think you have what it takes, contact David Wood, Director of Programming, or WFMS PD Bob Richards.

WNHT Hits 96.3 is staffing up. Get your package to PD Big Dave Eubanks, 2000 Lower Huntington Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46819.

WTTS is looking for an on-air personality/MD. Interested pros can get their T&R's to PD Brad Holtz, WTTS-FM Radio, 400 One City Centre, Bloomington, IN 47404.

That's it for this issue. See you in a week!


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