Good Morning:
From the Indiana Broadcasters Association:
The Indiana Broadcasters Association will bring the Hoosier broadcasting industry together for a day of learning and celebration on Friday, November 3 at the 502 East Event Centre in Carmel. Admission to the event is $40, which includes the awards luncheon. Registration for the annual Indiana Broadcasters Conference is now open at www.IBAConference.com.
The Friday, November 3 event includes informational and entertaining sessions, including with Mark Levy of Revenue Development Resources, IBA FCC Attorney David Oxenford, Fred Jacobs and Seth Resler of Jacobs Media Strategies, Speed Marriott of P1 Learning, Kevin Robinson of Robinson Media and more.
Part of the Indiana Broadcasters Conference is a program specifically for engineers assembled by the Indianapolis-based Society of Broadcast Engineers.
At lunch, the IBA will honor the "Best in Broadcasting" over the past year during the 30th annual Spectrum Awards and induct the newest class into the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Richard M. Fairbanks Hall of Fame: Sportscaster Joe McConnell, TV reporter Jack Rinehart, radio personality Ken Speck, and TV videographer Steve Starnes.
Northeast
While Char Binkley was Executive Director of Taylor University Broadcasting's Contemporary Christian/WBCL (90.3fm, Fort Wayne), she started "Mid Morning. Talk Worth Talking About." Lynne Ford produced the show. After Ms. Binkley retired in 2011, Lynne Ford began hosting the show. Last Friday, after 33 years with WBCL, Lynne Ford hosted last "Mid Morning" program and retired from the WBCL Radio Network, which includes 5 stations and 4 translators. The "Mid Morning" show also retired; there won't be another host. The WBCL website has more on Lynne's retirement (including a video from Char Binkley).
Starting today, middays will be hosted by McKalia and Ken. McKalia joins the WBCL family from mornings at WFCJ-FM in the Dayton, Ohio market. Finally, this is the first time in WBCL's history that they have live and local broadcasters from 6am until 6pm.
Central
An IRW reader e-mailed us about the sign on of King Forward's WSDI-LD (Channel 30), with the following subchannels:
.1: AccuWeather
.2: Decades
.3: Tuff TV
.4-.6: Unknown.
.7: Jewelry TV (JTV)
Nexstar's CW affiliate/WISH-TV (Channel 8, Indianapolis) adds Stephanie Zepelin as an investigative reporter. Ms. Zepelin last worked as an investigative reporter in Las Vegas at KTNV-TV.
LeSEA Broadcasting's WHMB-TV (Channel 40, Indianapolis) moves World Harvest TV to their .3 subchannel and adds Light TV to their .2 subchannel.
John Widmann ("Nick Sommers") passed away last week at age 59. Nick (along with another famous Indiana voice actor, the late Billy Moore) built much of the success of Tour Design, which began as a division of Sunshine Promotions in downtown Indianapolis and now thrives in Fishers, as one of the world’s top production houses for concert and live events promotions. Nick’s voice graced a myriad of concert and monster truck ads over nearly the past four decades (Paul McCartney, AC/DC, Poison, Richard Marx, et al.) He began his broadcasting career as a teenager in Ocala, Florida, and worked for major stations in Jacksonville, Denver and Phoenix. In 1996, he established Nick Sommers Productions and moved to Florida. The organization handled the radio and TV for WWF/WWE, Celine Dion, Feld Entertainment, Barry Manilow, Disney, Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Baily Circus, Cher, Champions on Ice, and The Commodores, among others. Arrangements are pending.
Westcentral
DTV America's WUDZ-LD (Channel 28, Terre Haute) adds "Movies!" to their .7 subchannel.
Where Are They Now? Former WTHI-FM DJ Mandi Michaels will begin hosting afternoons at KBKB in Burlington, Iowa, along with an airshift at sister KGRS. Ms. Michaels did on-air work in Fort Wayne, New Castle and Richmond, among other stops.
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's something we need to add to the "calendar," please let us know. Please e-mail us if you have updated information.
October 1: In 1954, 90.1fm in Indianapolis signed on as WIAN. Today, it's WFYI. In 1962, 98.9fm in Van Wert, Ohio signed on as WERT-FM. Today, it's WBYR. In 1967, Palladium Printing Co. president Stanley Banyon dies. Age 81. Palladium owned WHFB(AM) and WHFB-FM in Benton Harbor, Michigan. In 1971, Fort Wayne's 1380am WKJG and 97.3fm WKJG-FM became Rock/WMEE(AM) and Easy Listening/WMEF-FM. In 1975, 105.5fm in Bedford signed on as WBIF-FM. Today, it's WQRK. In 1994, 100.5fm in Princeton signed on as WSJD, and remains so today. In 1996, Samuel Smulyan dies. Age 76. Mr. Smulyan owned WNTS (1590am, Beech Grove) and KCRO(AM) in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2003, WAMW(AM) (1580am, Washington) changed formats from Salem Radio Network's "Solid Gospel" to their "Today's Christian Music" format. In 2012, Thy Word Network/Evansville president Don Chagle dies. Age 81.
October 2: In 1937, WHIP (1480am, Hammond) signed on this date. It signed off in 1943. In 1958, 91.1fm in Goshen signed on as WGCS, and remains so today. In 1989, 105.9fm in Marshall, Illinois signed on as WMMC, and remains so today.
October 3: In 2016, 98.3fm in Plainfield flips format from country (WUBG/Big 98.3) to urban (WZRL/Real 98.3).
October 4: In 1970, Channel 20 in Indianapolis signed on as WFYI-TV, and remains so today. In 2001, all Contemporary Media/Terre Haute stations sign off.
October 5: In 1900, Sarkes Tarzian was born.
October 6: In 1967, 105.5fm in Valparaiso signed on as WAKE-FM. Today, it's WLJE.
October 7: In 1963, 1550am in Sullivan signed on as WKQV. Today, it's WNDI.
Employment Opportunities
Adams Radio Group - Fort Wayne, IN is seeking an experienced Director of Sales to lead an accomplished team of Account Executives. Adams operates a cluster of 8 radio stations in market #113 and the DOS will be responsible for driving revenue for the cluster. This is not a stay behind the desk position as the DOS will be out in front of customers each week training and presenting ideas that drive business revenues for all. This individual will be in charge motivating and leading our team in the attainment of budgets, presenting a full menu of products including digital and events. This person must have a proven track record of success in selling, recruiting, training and a full understanding of marketing trends prevalent to our business and customer base. Attractive Salary plus Bonus Structure and Full Benefit Package including matching 401K plan. The DOS will also be active in the community and represent the interests of our company and our customers always. Send your resume to kmusselman@argfw.com. Adams Radio Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer
WZBD in Berne is looking for an individual to be the voice and face of the radio station mainly in Wells County with some work in Adams County. This would include on air reporting, sales, and news and sports coverage from Wells County. Interested individuals should send resumes to Rob Weaver at rob.weaver@wpgwradio.us. Adams County Radio, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
WITZ Radio has a very rare full time mid-day opening for an announcer to join our family. Duties include a live air shift from 9AM-2PM Monday through Friday and 7AM-12N on Sunday. Strong interview, writing and production skills are key to this position. Knowledge of website design and social media is also important. This individual needs to get involved in the local community. Minorities especially females are encouraged to apply. WITZ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please send air check and resume to:
Gene Kuntz
General Manager
WITZ Radio
1978 S. WITZ Rd.
Jasper, IN 47546
Take a pleasurable trip up US-31 to Ludington, Michigan. We are looking for a morning show for our CHR station. It’s locally owned and operated. We cover area news, sports, promotions, and have a unique music mix. Send demo and resume to patrick@wmom.fm. EOE/M/F
That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.
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