Good Afternoon,

A Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Nielsen Radio market rankings

Nielsen released their Fall 2018 radio market rankings by population.

Indianapolis remains #39.
Fort Wayne moves down one to #116.
Evansville moves down one to #164.
South Bend moves up one to #183.
Terre Haute moves up two to #212.
Muncie-Marion moves down one to #219.
Lafayette moves up one to #221.

Northeast

Sad news, as former WPTA-TV (Channel 21, Fort Wayne) meteorologist Chris Bradley announced over the weekend on Facebook that he's moving to hospice care.  In March 2017, doctors diagnosed Mr. Bradley with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.  He underwent chemotherapy, had a stem cell transplant, and went into remission.  Now, doctors told Mr. Bradley that they have run out of options to fight his disease.

Earlier this year, iHeart donated their WDFM-LP (Channel 26, Defiance, Ohio) to American Christian Television Services.  The sale agreement specified that the WDFM call letters had to be changed to mutually agreeable call letters.  That's because iHeart still owns AC/WDFM (98.1fm, Defiance, Ohio).  American Christian Television Services recently changed those Channel 26 call letters to WNHO-LP.

Central

After nine years leading the Entercom/Indianapolis trio of radio stations, SVP/Market Manager Jenny Skjodt exits.  Succeeding Ms. Skjodt is Entercom/Indianapolis Sales VP Ben Hoffman.  The cluster includes Sports/WXNT (1430am, Indianapolis), CHR/WZPL (99.5fm, Greenfield) and AC/WNTR (107.9fm, Indianapolis).

Brittany Lewis will exit Nexstar's CW affiliate/WISH-TV (Channel 8, Indianapolis) at the end of November.  Her husband has a new job in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Ms. Lewis joined WISH-TV in April 2016 after a stop across town at E.W. Scripps' ABC affiliate WRTV-TV (Channel 6, Indianapolis), the Quad Cities (WQAD-TV), and Rochester, Minnesota (KAAL-TV).

Westcentral

Update: Former Terre Haute broadcaster "Bouncin' " Bob Rouse died last Thursday, at age 77.  While we don't have a complete biography, he worked at WBOW (1230am, Terre Haute) and WAAC (1300am, Terre Haute).  At WAAC, he both programmed and served as News Director in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  By the late 1970s, Mr. Rouse owned what was then WVTS (100.7fm, Terre Haute) under the corporate name West Pines Broadcasting Corp.  In 1983, Mr. Rouse purchased WAXI (104.9fm, Rockville) under the corporate name Covered Bridge Broadcasting.

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.

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 still is.  In 2008, Ken Knapp dies at age 47.  Mr. Knapp worked in Fort Wayne, Lafayette, and Warsaw.

November 19: In 2007, WIAU (95.9fm, Franklin) flipped format from oldies ("Gold 95.9") to talk, as WFDM ("Freedom 959")

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, Kentucky).  Today, it's WUCO.  In 1996, Indiana Broadcast Pioneer and Fort Wayne broadcaster Hilliard Gates dies.  Age 80.  In 2011, Indiana Public Radio (WBST) Production Manager Brian Eckstein dies.  Age 40.

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 (remember WWOK?) about 20 years ago.  In 2012, former WOWO(AM) (1190am, Fort Wayne) PD John Picano dies.  Age 60.

November 23: In 1953, 1570am in Frankfort signs on as WILO, and still is.

November 24: In 1972, 107.1fm in Lowell signs on as WLCL.  Today, it's WZVN.  In 1976, 89.1fm in Chesterton signs on as WDSO (Duneland School Organization).  It's now on 88.3fm, but remains WDSO.  In 2003, Tim Huelsing becomes GM at South Central/Evansville (Now Midwest Communications).  In 2006, WAWC flips formats from AC ("Hoosier 103.5") to Country ("Willie 103.5").  In 2010, longtime Lafayette DJ "Fred Stuart" (Dennis Risk) dies.  Age 55.  In 2016, Indiana Broadcast Pioneer, Fort Wayne Komets broadcaster, and WOWO (1190am, Fort Wayne) Sports Director Bob Chase dies.  Age 90.

Employment Opportunities

Country 103.9 WRBI has an immediate opening for a Traffic Director.

Description: We are looking for a Full-Time Traffic Director to manage the daily preparation and maintenance of on-air logs.

Responsibilities will include:

• Daily use of Natural Log software to schedule inventory in order to maximize station revenue on high demand stations in sell out situations
• Data and order entry
• Scheduling ad copy
• Posting of daily commercial logs
• Preparation and maintenance of reports
• Weekly affidavit processing of network and syndicated programming

Competency:

• Innovative problem solving and decision-making skills used to achieve station revenue goals
• Dependable, responsible, excellent attention to detail, superior organizational skills, and excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong computer skills including proficiency in MS Office products
• Demonstrate ability to work under pressure while meeting multiple deadlines with minimal supervision
• Analytical skills, professional demeanor, proven ability to multi-task amid interruptions

Send your resume to careers@wrbiradio.com.  Leeson Media LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Entercom/Indianapolis has four jobs open: Account Executive, Assistant Promotions Director, Business Administrator and Part Time on their Promotions Crew.  You can read more about all four jobs here.

Sarkes Tarzian, Inc. has a rare and immediate opening for Bloomington Sales Manager, overseeing sales for heritage News/Talk WGCL (96.1 FM and AM1370) and directing the Bloomington-based sales of Adult Rock WTTS (92.3 FM). The ideal candidate will be a positive, forward-thinking leader with a results-driven background in media sales and management.  The next Bloomington Sales Manager will possess a solid track record of identifying and motivating a local sales team, growing station accounts and maintaining a consistent book of business. WGCL offers an array of attractive news, talk and sports programming, including The Dave Ramsey Show, Rush Limbaugh, Kim Komando, Sean Hannity, NBC Sports, Indianapolis Colts, NFL and NCAA football, Cincinnati Reds baseball, IndyCar races including the Indianapolis 500, NCAA basketball and March Madness and local programs like Glass In The Morning, In The Zone, The Bloomington Review, Your Money and Monroe County’s leading high school sports coverage.  Sarkes Tarzian, Inc. is independently owned and operated, placing the highest value in the listeners, clients and communities we serve. This is not corporate radio. Interested?  Send your materials to careers@wgclradio.com. No calls please.  EOE.

That's all for this issue. Thank you for your continued support.

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