As previously reported, the “Fonz” Oldies format at WZTI/1290 (Greenfield-Milwaukee) and “Froggy” Country format at W262CJ/100.3 (Milwaukee) and W297BY/107.3 (Franklin) came to an end Sept. 17 as Civic Media took over operation of the stations while it awaits formal FCC approval of their purchase from the Milwaukee Radio Alliance. W262CJ now relays Civic’s News/Talk network from WAUK/540 (Jackson) while WZTI and W297BY will simulcast Full Service Oldies from WRJN/1400 (Racine).
Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Radio Alliance’s “B93.3” (WLDB) has ended Christmas music and gone back to a jockless version of its Adult Contemporary format while it awaits transfer to K-Love Inc. Sister station WLUM/102.1 is holding a “Homecoming” counting down to the station’s sale with revivals of earlier formats and themed days through the end of the month.
Fast-growing Civic Media, which will have 29 full-power stations in three states after purchases are completed, announced numerous new appointments:
- Kory Hartman is promoted from VP of Operations to Chief Operating Officer
- Chris Moreau, President, Southern Region
- Darla Isham, VP, Northern Region
- Aaron Carreno, Senior VP of Product
- John Scott, VP of Marketing
- Drew Smith, VP of Technology
Minnesota Public Radio has named Clay Masters the new host of afternoon news magazine “All Things Considered” beginning Sept. 29. Masters has served as one of the fill-ins since previous longtime host Tom Crann moved over to Classical MPR earlier this year. Masters worked at Nebraska Public Media and Iowa Public Radio before joining MPR as political reporter last year.
The New York Times featured KILI/90.1 (Porcupine, S.D.) in a story on how broadcasters are being impacted by the federal clawback of public media funding.
PBS Wisconsin won the award for Overall Excellence in Innovation at the National Educational Telecommunications Association’s 57th Annual Public Media Awards.
With “To The Best of Our Knowledge” airing its last episode on Sept. 28, North Dakota’s Prairie Public announced that “The Pulse” will take over the former “TTBOOK” timeslot at 6 p.m. Sundays. Meanwhile, Prairie Public will add “The Middle” at 8 p.m. Thursdays to take over the former “Pulse” timeslot.
A belated note that Coastal TV FOX affiliates KVRR/15.1 (Fargo) and KQDS-TV/21.1 (Duluth) returned to DirecTV on Sept. 5.
Following its sale to Major Market Broadcasting, a viewer in Bismarck reports that KRDN-LD/23.1 has switched from Outlaw to Cozi TV. KRDN is also carrying Bounce on 23.5, OAN Plus on 23.7, Get TV on 23.8, AWE Plus on 239, Diya TV on 23.10, and Jewelry TV on 23.11. Most of the channels had previously been carried on BEK’s KNDB/26.
In case you missed it here:
- Local Sports Talk in Milwaukee Rises to 32 Hours Per Day
- WPR Announces New Lineup Following Program Cancellations
- Broadcaster Donates U.P. AM Station, FM Translator to K-Love
- FCC Monitor: Callsign Change Hints at Northern Minn. Simulcast
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