Indiana RadioWatch: July 21, 2001

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Northeast

Bob Swinehart is the new GSM at Country/WQHK (105.1fm, Decatur), moving over from sales at sister Rock/WBYR (98.9fm, Van Wert, Ohio).

Jim Dunn is the new host of "PM Praise" on Religious/WBCL (90.3fm, Fort Wayne) and its network. Dunn, formerly "Pat Thomas" in secular radio, was last at Rock/WFWI (92.3fm, Fort Wayne). Dunn replaces Mandy Leach, but Leach remains with The WBCL Network.

Condolences to the family & friends of Ron Powers, former Farm Director at WOWO (1190am, Fort Wayne). Powers, 63, passed away last Sunday after a long battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). In addition to WOWO, he was a member of The National Association of Farm Broadcasters. In media, he worked at WIMA Radio & TV in Lima Ohio, WRED Radio (Columbus, Ohio), WDAY Radio (Fargo, North Dakota), and KCNN Radio (Grand Forks, North Dakota).

Where Are They Now? Mac, formerly mornings at Alternative/WEJE (102.3fm, Auburn) is now doing nights at WCHZ in Augusta, Georgia.

Northwest

CSN's station in Hanna now has calls - WHLP (89.9fm, Hanna).

Central

That big shakeup in Indianapolis that we briefly mentioned last week? Susquehanna Broadcasting has applied to the FCC to move the City of License for both WGRL (93.9fm, Noblesville) and WGLD (104.5fm, Indianapolis). Under the proposal, WGRL would move to Fishers, while WGLD would move to Noblesville. Neither transmitter site would be moved, according to the FCC's Notice of Proposed Rule Making. Is Susquehanna doing this to move in WQKC (93.7fm, Seymour)? Stay tuned...

A note from the TV side as Karen Rariden is named News Director at FOX affiliate WXIN-TV (Channel 59, Indianapolis), according to The Chicago Sun-Times' Robert Feder. Both stations are owned by Tribune Co.

Southwest

News from the Television side, as CBS affiliate WEVV (Channel 44, Evansville) eliminated its local news department on Tuesday. According to Joe Atkinson's article in The Evansville Courier & Press, all of the stations' local news personnel (40 people) were released with 30 days severance pay, company benefits, and reporters were given use of WEVV's facilities to make resume tapes. A spokesperson for owner Communications Corp. of Indiana said the decision to close down the news department was made in part due to low ratings. WEVV has had a local news program since February 23, 1992, when they were a FOX affiliate. WEVV switched affiliations to CBS on December 4, 1995.

WVUB (91.1fm, Vincennes) flips formats from Soft AC to a musical variation of Hot AC (6am - 3pm), Hot AC/CHR (3pm - 6pm) and CHR (6pm - 6am). The Vincennes University station made the switch at 6am, Monday morning.

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

Blaine Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch

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