After extensive negotiations, the Twins announced today they have agreed to a 2 year extension of the broadcast rights with KSTP-AM 1500. The Hubbards flipped KSTP-AM from a News/Talk station to all-sports “1500 ESPN” last February. The two other main contenders for Minnesota Twins flagship station status were CBS’ WCCO-AM 830 and one of Clear… Read More »
Yesterday (8/4), severe storms brought down all 3 of the towers belonging to “The Big One”, Clear Channel’s WWVA-AM 1170 in Wheeling, West Virginia. WWVA’s programming has been temporarily diverted to WWBD-AM 1400. Of course, range has been greatly reduced since WWBD is a 1kW “graveyard” AM vs the 50kW regional voice of WWVA. According… Read More »
A fire at Three Eagles Communications’ complex in Mankato, Minnesota has destroyed the “Pavement Pounder”, a promotional vehicle used by 95-7 The Blaze. This “blaze” also torched the side of their studio building. This facility is home to KQYK-FM 95.7 (95.7 The Blaze), KEEZ-FM 99.1 (Z99), KYSM-FM 103.5 (Country 103.5), and KRBI-FM 105.5 (105.5 The… Read More »
Johnny Pirkle’s Oak Ridge FM, Inc. has “taken back” 100.3, ending the LMA with Citadel Broadcasting. The switch was flipped at midnight, following a week of unpredictable and sometimes bizarre stunting audio. We heard pigs, ‘Facebook Radio’, ‘Bill Clinton Radio’, instructions on how to put callers on-the-air, airchecks of vintage Knoxville radio broadcasts, a short… Read More »
Several readers have been asking me about the new WNOX facility. It is located at 8081 Kingston Pike in West Knoxville. From the outside, it appears to be a very nice facility. This is the old Danka building, located just off of Kingston Pike on the north side of the road. Owner Johnny Pirkle, General… Read More »
The Citadel 98.7/Pirkle 100.3 simulcast has ended. 100.3 is currently running a music loop of Big Band/Standards, interspersed with announcements that “News Talk has moved to 98.7 FM. Please change your radio dial now to 98.7 FM.” Johnny Pirkle’s 100.3 is expected to retain the WNOX call letters and debut their new News/Sports Talk format… Read More »
Are you attending the Conclave this year? If not, you’re missing out! Conclave 35 (or Conclave XXXV if you prefer) is being held from July 15-17, 2010 at the Doubletree Park Place Hotel in Golden Valley, Minnesota (suburban Minneapolis.) Full tuition is $379. Student/teacher/free agent (“on the beach”) tuition is just $159. If you prefer,… Read More »
I know we’ve got a few Knoxville Radio Geeks here, so I wanted to update you on the ongoing saga of WNOX 100.3: WBIR.com is reporting the format will remain News/Talk after control of the station’s programming reverts back to owner Johnny Pirkle and Oak Ridge FM, Inc. Most of the current programming will move… Read More »
Long time Oklahoma City radio personality, Mark Shannon, passed away early Saturday morning. Mark was a talk show host on Newsradio 1000 KTOK. He had been battling chronic lymphocytic leukemia since October, 2000. After spending time at the hospital, he was released Friday night to go home. Surrounded by his family, he passed away. Mark… Read More »
Yesterday, Rush Limbaugh predicted that the growing BP oil spill crisis in the Gulf of Mexico will become “Obama’s Katrina.” This of course is in comparison to the political damage suffered by former president George W. Bush as a result of the federal government’s delayed response to Hurricane Katrina. Rush stated that President Obama “does… Read More »
John & Heidi Small’s Sunny Radio is moving closer to it’s debut. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at noon. According to information posted on the “Sunny Radio” Facebook fan page, projected air date is May 15, 2010. Jim Hockett has been hired as Sunny’s news and sports person. Jim has recently been doing news… Read More »
Regardless of your political persuasion, you have to admit Obama’s signing of the controversial health care bill was a big deal. For Vice President Biden, it was a very big deal. So big, in fact, that Joe seemed to forget that he was on live radio and television, potentially being heard by millions. Sure enough,… Read More »
Score one more for local radio in South Dakota! The FCC reports that John E. Small’s Cup O’ Dirt, LLC is purchasing KSQB-AM 1520 from Backyard Broadcasting. Presumably, KSQB will become a joint venture with John’s online radio station “Sunny Radio – Where it’s Always in the 80s”, located in Brandon, South Dakota. The website… Read More »
This is big news, kids. KSTP-AM has been Talk since the 1980s. It has been owned and operated by the same Hubbard family since the 1920s. On Monday, February 15th, KSTP-AM will transition to “AM1500 The SportsTalk Station.” Patrick Reusse and Joe Soucheray will combine for a 6 hour block, weekdays from Noon-6. Reusse will… Read More »
Another downsizing casualty as Pete de Graaff’s OM post is eliminated at Treasure & Space Coast Radio. This Vero Beach, Florida cluster consists of WGYL-FM 93.7, WOSN-FM 97.1, WJKD-FM 99.7, WJBW-AM 1000, and WTTB-AM 1490. Central Florida readers who frequent this site will remember Pete from his days at XL106.7/Orlando. Reach out to Pete at… Read More »
Six of Radio Disney’s AM stations have been taken silent. The company has requested FCC authority to remain silent while the stations are sold off. The six stations affected are: KALY-AM 1240 – Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, New Mexico KMUS-AM 1380 – Sperry, Oklahoma WCOG-AM 1320 – Greensboro, North Carolina WHKT-AM 1650 – Portsmouth Virginia… Read More »
Figured I’d give a plug for the upcoming hobby electronics show in Buffalo. It’s the 29th annual Midwinter Madness, sponsored by the Robbinsdale Amateur Radio Club. Not just ham radio, but computers, hardware, software, components, peripherals, and a wide variety of hobby electronics. If you’re interested in obtaining an amateur radio license, VE testing will… Read More »
Thanks to Mike Johnson, Operations Manager of Aberdeen’s Dakota Broadcasting for providing these photos. This was an 820 foot broadcast tower, located northeast of Watertown, South Dakota. It had served as the transmitter site for KSDR-FM 92.9 Watertown, KIXX-FM 96.1 Watertown, and KKSD-FM 104.3 Milbank.
The severe icy conditions in central South Dakota have brought down a 1,905 foot TV and FM tower near Pierre. According to a station engineer, the guy wires snapped due to the weight of the ice buildup. The tower then crumpled and collapsed onto the ground. During the collapse, the top 300 feet of the… Read More »
A U.S. district court has reduced damages for Jammie Thomas-Rasset, the Minnesota woman whom a jury found liable of copyright violations last year. “The need for deterrence cannot justify a $2 million verdict for stealing and illegally distributing 24 songs for the sole purpose of obtaining free music,” wrote Michael Davis, chief judge for the… Read More »