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Indiana RadioWatch
Serving Hoosier Broadcasters Since 1998
16 December 2024
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Good Afternoon:
Let's start this issue with an advertorial, then we'll jump into the latest news.
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Onto the news!
Hoosier Ag Today LLC appoints Eric Pfeiffer as President effective January 1, 2025. This is part of an ongoing management realignment that will position the company for future growth and sustainability. Company founder and current President Gary Truitt will assume the position of Chairman of the Board.
Pfeiffer joined Hoosier Ag Today in 2018 and will assume management responsibility for all aspects of company operation for Hoosier Ag Today, Michigan Ag Today, as well as the various web portals, mobile apps, and social media platforms. “I’m both thrilled and blessed for the opportunity to lead a tremendous group of talented individuals who care so deeply about our farmers in Indiana, Michigan, and around the country,” Pfeiffer said. “While management is changing, our core values won’t be. We’re still here to provide timely, relevant, and credible information to our farmer listeners and those who support them just as Gary intended when he created HAT in 2006.”
Pfeiffer will be assisted by Molly Nichols as Director of Sales and Manager of Station Relations along with C.J. Miller who will serve as Assistant News Director. Andy Eubank will continue in his role as farm broadcaster in addition to providing technical and operational support.
As Chairman, Truitt will provide strategic oversight and guidance, as well as maintaining majority ownership. “I am truly excited about the new management team which will provide outstanding leadership for the company. Their passion for agriculture and outstanding talent will build on the successes the company has made over the past 18 years,” said Truitt.
Effective January 2025, the company headquarters will move from Zionsville to West Lafayette. J.L. Farmakis will continue to be the National Sales representative for both Hoosier Ag Today and Michigan Ag Today.
Northeast
Joel Pyle becomes GSM of Federated Media’s N-T/WOWO (1190am, Fort Wayne) and W298BB (107.5fm, Fort Wayne) and remains GSM of sister stations Active Rock/WBYR (98.9fm, Woodburn) and Sports/WKJG (1380am, Fort Wayne) and translator W265CY (100.9fm, Fort Wayne). Mr. Pyle rejoined Federated Media last fall, after he was VP/MM for the Hoosier AM/FM radio stations in Marion and Kokomo.
Adams Radio Group's Gold AC/WWFW (103.9fm, Fort Wayne) and iHeart's AC/WDFM (98.1fm, Defiance, Ohio) both flip to all-holiday music.
Nexstar CBS affiliate/WANE-TV (Channel 15, Fort Wayne) News Director Jenna Huff exits after four years for a PR job with a local hospital. Succeeding Ms. Huff is WANE Assistant News Director Brian Greenwalt. Before joining WANE-TV, Mr. Greenwalt was a producer for WISH-TV (Channel 8, Indianapolis) which was then a WANE-TV sister station.
Taylor University Broadcasting's Contemporary Christian/WBCL (90.3fm, Fort Wayne) midday co-host Ken Church retires. Succeeding him in middays alongside McKalia Robinson is Glenn Goodwin. Before joining WBCL, Mr. Goodwin worked at a variety of radio stations around the Midwest and Southeast. Mr. Goodwin will also produce podcasts and assist with production across The WBCL Radio Network. The network includes these stations and translators:
WBCJ (88.1fm, Spencerville, Ohio)
WBCW (89.7fm, Upland)
WBCY (89.5fm, Archbold, Ohio)
WTPG (88.9fm, Whitehouse, Ohio)
WCVM (94.7fm, Bronson, Michigan)
W267BN (101.3fm, Marion)
W291AH (106.1fm, Muncie)
W258CE (99.5fm, Findlay, Ohio)
W249BT (97.7fm, Adrian, Michigan)
Where Are They Now? Former WPTA-TV weekend anchor, reporter, and producer Emilia Miles joins the Don Wood Foundation as a communications strategist.
Northcentral
Gray Television's NBC affiliate/WNDU-TV (Channel 16, South Bend) meteorologist Andrew Whitmyer moves from weekday mornings to weekday evenings (4pm, 5pm, 6pm, and 11pm). Also at WNDU, bilingual anchor and reporter Erika Jimenez exits after just over a year.
Weigel Broadcasting's ABC affiliate/WBND (Channel 57, South Bend) meteorologist Kolton Woods will exit and join WZZM-TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as their weekend evening meteorologist.
Where Are They Now? Former WBND-TV anchor Tim Spears is now a weekend evening anchor and investigative reporter at WISH-TV (Channel 8, Indianapolis).
Northwest
Allen Media Broadcasting's CBS affiliate/WLFI-TV (Channel 18, Lafayette) reporter and anchors Marlee Thomas and Joe Paul, both exit. Ms. Thomas had been there almost five years. Ms. Thomas recently joined Circle City Broadcasting's CW affiliate/WISH-TV (Channel 8, Indianapolis) as a lifestyle reporter and is part of their weekday lifestyle and entertainment show “Life. Style. Live!” Mr. Paul joined the Purdue University College of Engineering as their Senior Publicity and Promotion Manager.
Also exiting are reporters Vinny Martorano, sports reporters Brianna Shackelford, and Kelly Hallinin, and meteorologist David Siple (all these names were first reported by the Lafayette Journal and Courier’s Ron Wilkins).
Family First announces a $15,000 deal to buy translator W295AF (106.9fm, La Porte) from Family Stations. The translator currently rebroadcasts Religious/WJCH from Joliet, Illinois (“Family Radio”). Robert Branch was the broker of this deal.
Marion Williams closes on a $25,000 purchase of Talk/WLTH (1370, Gary) and FM translator W224EA (92.7fm, Gary) from Pluria Marshall.
Eastcentral
In January, 2025, Whitewater Broadcasting's Sports/WKBV (1490am, Richmond) and FM translator W265DN (100.9fm, Richmond) will add girls’ high school basketball games to the Wayne County Game of the Week. Coby Clark (“The Voice of Wayne County Sports”) will broadcast play by play coverage of both boys’ and girls’ high school basketball games.
Central
Urban One’s AC/WYXB (105.7fm, Indianapolis) ('B105.7') flips to all-holiday music.
Westcentral
Midwest Communications' Classic Hits/WBOW (102.7fm, Terre Haute) flips to all-holiday music.
Southwest
Gray Television's NBC affiliate/WFIE-TV (Channel 14, Evansville) afternoon anchor Caroline Klapp exits after two years and joins Gray sister NBC affiliate/WNDU-TV (Channel 16, South Bend) as an anchor and investigative reporter.
Midwest Communications' CHR/WSTO (96.1fm, Owensboro, Kentucky) adds the syndicated R. Dub’s Sunday Night Slow Jams.
This Week in Indiana Radio History
If there's something we need to add to the "calendar," please let us know. Also, errors do sometimes occur. Please e-mail us if this information is not correct!
December 15: In 1961, 95.9fm in Franklin signs on as WIFN. Today, it's WFDM. In 2012, former WTLC-FM News Director Gene Slaymaker died. Age 84.
December 16: In 1950, 1250am in Princeton signs on as WRAY, and still is. In 1966, 105.3fm in Scottsburg signs on as WMPI (for owner Montgomery-Phillips Partnership), and still is. In 1988, WOWO 1190AM flips format from MOR to Oldies. In 1991, 95.7fm in Nappanee signs on as WLRX. It's now WRDI.
December 17: In 1941, 860am in Henderson, Kentucky signs on as WSON, and remains so today (HenderSON). In 1960, 101.3fm in Richmond signs on as WKBV-FM (for founder William Knox who was from BrookVille, Indiana). Today, it's WFMG. In 1986, Martin Risser Williams, founder, and owner of WFMS (95.5fm) died. Age 81. In 1998, WISH-TV (Channel 8, Indianapolis) signed on in HD. In 2013, Allen Hackney died. Age 44. Mr. Hackney was a DJ at WBIW Radio in Bedford.
December 18: In 1998, Emmis unveiled their new $30 million world headquarters on Monument Circle in Indianapolis.
December 19: In 1948, 106.9fm in Marion signs on as WMRI(FM). Today, it's WXXC. In 1967, 107.1fm in Boonville signs on as WBNL-FM. Today, it's WJPS.
December 20: In 1955, Clarence Leich died. Age 71. Mr. Leich served as the longtime GM of Evansville on the Air, Inc./WGBF(AM), retiring in 1950.
December 21: In 1952, Channel 34 in South Bend signs on as WSBT-TV (for original owners The South Bend Tribune). WSBT-TV moved to Channel 22 in 1957, but remains WSBT-TV today. In 1977, Channel 55 in Fort Wayne signs on as WFFT-TV ('We're Fifty Five Television'), and still is.
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That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.
=============== Indiana RadioWatch ===============
Indiana RadioWatch is (c) 2024, Blaine E. Thompson
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=============== Indiana RadioWatch ===============
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