Good Afternoon:
Six honorees were inducted into the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame this year. Joining the 200 plus individuals and groups are:
• Radio and TV broadcaster Paul Page, best known as the radio voice of the Indianapolis 500 from 1977-1987 and 2014-2015, and on TV from 1988–1998 and 2002–2004.
• Dennis Jon Bailey, who for more than two decades has led the morning show at Midwest Communications’ AC/WIKY (104.1fm, Evansville), but previously worked in Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Boston.
• “AM 1310 The Light” WTLC-AM’s Tony Lamont, who also hosted the morning show and is known for his efforts to empower young people through motivational speaking and community action
• WBRI/WXIR OM, PD, and radio personality, WISH-TV religion news anchor, and president of the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers David White.
• Indianapolis Public TV WFYI’s “founding mother” Ardath Burkhart, who led a coalition of thousands of women to collect the funds needed to start a public television station in central Indiana.
• Three-time Emmy-winner Debby Knox, who anchored newscasts for 33 years at Indianapolis’ WISH-TV channel 8 and for eight years at WTTV channel 4.
Northeast
Weekday morning anchor Emily Dwire and her husband, anchor/reporter Rex Smith both exit Nexstar CBS affiliate/WANE-TV (Channel 15, Fort Wayne). Both joined WJW-TV in Cleveland, Ohio; Mr. Smith as a reporter, and Ms. Dwire behind the scenes.
Succeeding Ms. Dwire in early mornings is longtime anchor and reporter Sierra Tufts who returns to weekday mornings alongside anchor Pat Hoffman. Reporter Ethan Dahlen now anchors weekend evenings. Also, Meteorologist Camryn Leatherman exits WANE-TV. Meteorologist Lance Huffman returns in front of the camera succeeding Ms. Leatherman. Mr. Huffman was a WANE-TV weather specialist for 18 months in late 2022 through early 2024 (and graduated from Ball State University this year!)
Congratulations to Andy Beckman and Kat Walburn, morning hosts at ST Radio’s Hot AC/WAJI (95.1fm, Fort Wayne) on winning a National Association of Broadcasters 2024 Marconi Award.
Gray Television has both the ABC and NBC affiliations (among others) in Fort Wayne, with ABC on WPTA-TV (Channel 21.1, Fort Wayne) and NBC on WPTA-TV (Channel 21.2).
Tony Betton, Jr. will exit WPTA in January 2025. Mr. Betton, Jr. hosts
INsight, the weekday afternoon lifestyle and entertainment show, and moved into that role in early 2023, moving up from reporter/weekend morning anchor. Also, meteorologist Chris Daniels retires after over a decade at WPTA and over 30 years in meteorology. Succeeding Mr. Daniels weekdays at Noon and 4:00pm is meteorologist Michael Moranelli. Mr. Moranelli last worked the same weekday afternoon schedule at Gray sister station WDTV-TV in the Clarksburg-Fairmont-Morgantown, West Virginia market.
Heartland Media's FOX affiliate/WFFT-TV (Channel 55, Fort Wayne) anchor Briana Byus exits after three years. On her last newscast,
she announced a return to California, where she’s now a reporter for Nexstar’s KGPE/KSEE (CBS47/KSEE24) in Fresno, California.
Where Are They Now? Former WANE-TV reporter Briana Brownlee joined Graham Media Group’s WJXT-TV Jacksonville, Florida, as a weekday morning reporter.
Northcentral
Mid-West Family’s Classic Rock/WZOC (94.3fm, Plymouth) adds the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom Show in mornings (6am until 10am). Z94.3 also adds Classic Rock University hosted by Adam Reader, The Professor of Rock.
Northwest
A Hand Up, Inc. donates the CP for WSWC (91.1fm, Chesterton) to Diane Philpot and Linda de Romanett’s Family First. The construction permit for a Class B1 is for 23,500 watts at 89 feet.
Eastcentral
Mo Lightning joins Hoosier AM/FM’s Hot AC/WXXC (106.9fm, Marion) as PD/Afternoons. Mr. Lightning once programmed Classic Hits/WRSW-FM (107.3fm, Warsaw), among other broadcasting stops around the country.
Central
Urban One’s N-T/WIBC (93.1fm, Indianapolis) reporter Donnie Burgess exits. This week, he became a reporter for Indiana University's Classical-Jazz-News/WFIU (103.7fm, Bloomington) and PBS affiliate/WTIU-TV (Channel 30, Bloomington).
Cumulus’ Hot AC/WZPL (99.5fm, Greenfield) and AC/WNTR (107.9fm, Indianapolis) PD Jimmy Steele exits. Mr. Steele joined Cumulus/Indianapolis in 2022 after moving from the Cumulus sister cluster in Mobile, Alabama. Also, Country/WFMS (95.5fm, Fishers) morning host Kevin Freeman exits after 34 years, along with Classic Hits/WJJK (104.5fm) afternoon host Laura Steele, and WZPL Smiley Morning Show co-producer and midday host Carter Marshall.
Greg Chance exits as iHeartMedia’s SVP for the Indianapolis, Des Moines, St. Louis, and North Dakota areas. Mr. Chance rejoined iHeartMedia in Spring 2023.
Sarkes Tarzian's AAA/WTTS (92.3fm, Trafalgar) will soon move studios from the Lockerbie neighborhood (Fulton St.) to the Stutz building (N. Capitol Ave.) on Indy’s near northeast side.
Westcentral
Where Are They Now? Former WTWO-TV reporter Lauren Minor joined WLEX-TV in Lexington, Kentucky as a weekday early evening news co-anchor and reporter.
Southeast
At D.R. Rice Broadcasting's Country/WMPI (105.3fm, Scottsburg), midday host Mike Rogers retires, and Todd Richmond takes middays.
Southcentral
In Bedford, Ad-Venture Media held a celebration of life for their president Dean Spencer who died on January 21 at age 89. Per his wishes, Mr. Spencer’s ashes were spread at the WIBW tower.
Mr. Spencer moved to Bedford in 1974 and became GM of WBIW (1340am, Bedford). He added more radio stations WBIF-FM (now WQRK 105.5), and WWEG (Now WPHZ). Prior to Bedford, Mr. Spencer worked in Richmond, Indiana for an electric company while his father managed Central Broadcasting of Indiana, which owned WKBV (1490am, Richmond), among other radio stations.
Here is the complete obituary.
Southwest
Cromwell’s Classic Hip Hop/WXCM-HD3 (97.1fm, Whitesville, Kentucky) also heard on W263BG (100.5fm, Owensboro, Kentucky) did an all-Taylor Swift format (“Taylor 100.5”). After that ended, the stations flipped for a CHR format as “100.5 The Party.”
Michell Carter becomes co-anchor of 14 NEWS Sunrise at Gray Television's NBC affiliate/WFIE-TV (Channel 14) alongside Jamee French, meteorologist Byron Douglas, and reporter Haley Kerby.
Isaac Calvert joins WFIE as a reporter and weekend anchor. Mr. Calvert moves up from anchoring mornings and middays WBKO-TV in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
A double congratulations to Kat Mykals, PD and afternoon host at Townsquare’s WGBF-FM (103.1fm, Henderson, Kentucky). First, on winning a National Association of Broadcasters 2024 Marconi Award. And, she’s the new host of Loudwire Weekends, nationally syndicated on 30+ radio stations each weekend night.
This Week in Indiana Radio History
Sign-on dates seem to be a prickly matter, subject to great debate, and mostly impossible to confirm. If there is something we need to add to the calendar, please let us know. Please also e-mail us if you have updated information.
November 17: In 1958, 91.7fm in South Bend signs on as WETL ('We Educate Tomorrow's Leaders'),
and still is. In 1987, Sarkes Tarzian died. Age 87.
November 18: In 1931, 1340am in Elkhart signs on as WTRC ('Truth Radio Corporation'),
and still is. In 1956, 1400am in St. Joseph, Michigan signs on as WSJM ('St. Joseph, Michigan'), and is now WQYQ. In 2008, radio broadcaster Ken Knapp died at age 47. Mr. Knapp worked in Fort Wayne, Lafayette, and Warsaw.
November 19: In 2007, WIAU (95.9fm, Franklin) flipped format from Oldies to talk, as WFDM ('Freedom 95.9')
November 20: In 1989, 107.9fm in Washington signs on as WAMW-FM, and returned to those call letters in October 2001.
November 21: In 1953, Channel 33 in Fort Wayne signs on as WKJG-TV (William Kunkel Journal Gazette). Today, it's WISE-TV. In 1960, 1550am in Morganfield, Kentucky signs on as WMSK (for the towns of Morganfield and Sturgis in Kentucky). Today, it's WUCO. In 1996, Hilliard Gates died. Age 80. In 2011, Indiana Public Radio (WBST) Production Manager Brian Eckstein died.
November 22: In 1923, 1270am in Evansville signs on as WGBF ('G.B. Finke Furniture Company'). WGBF moved to 1280am in the 1940s, and 1280am returned to the WGBF call letters about 20 years ago. In 2012, former WOWO(AM) PD John Picano died. Age 60.
November 23: In 1953, 1570am in Frankfort signs on as WILO,
and still is.
Employment Opportunities
CLIENT MARKETING TEAM OPENING
If you’re looking for a fun and innovative workplace, consider this!
Brewer Broadcasting has an opening on their Client Marketing Team. Your day-to-day mission: develop community relationships, identify opportunities, and provide profitable marketing solutions to clients and prospects. We'll train and equip you with the tools to get results!
There's never been more opportunities to help local business owners and leaders uncover marketing objectives, brainstorm creative solutions using radio and digital assets, and create successful strategies and campaigns. That's what we do every day on the Client Marketing Team - and it is FUN! Come and join us!
The client marketing opening offers a competitive compensation plan with a commission guarantee and bonus, along with gas allowance, paid time off and insurance.
Now is YOUR time to join a team that values everyone at all levels. Join the team that embraces everybody. Join Brewer Broadcasting, a company with a long rich history of supporting their community.
Download the application
HERE and return completed, along with your cover letter & resume, to amyd@kicks96.com,
That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.
=============== Indiana RadioWatch ===============
Indiana RadioWatch is (c) 2024, Blaine E. Thompson
Indiana RadioWatch may not be reproduced, transmitted, or distributed in any way, shape, or form without the permission of the copyright holder (Thompson, above)
Indiana RadioWatch subscriptions are free. To subscribe, send an e-mail to irw@well.com and we'll add you. After publication, we archive Indiana RadioWatch on the Indiana Radio Archive at indianaradio.net. Please e-mail us your news stories and employment opportunities.
=============== Indiana RadioWatch ===============
