News items are obtained from a variety of sources including newspapers, industry publications, the World Wide Web, the Iowa Media Message Board and visitors to this site.  This page will be updated once a week or whenever there is something to report.

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August 19, 2002

KXNO Des Moines announced that Steve Deace will join the station on September 3, the same day KXTK is set to cease as a Sports station.  Deace had been afternoon drive co-host on rival KXTK.  He will handle the 4-7 pm shift while Larry Cotlar moves from that slot to 6-9 am.  Cotlar will replace syndicated programming from Fox Sports Radio.  

August 15, 2002

Longtime WOI Radio announcer Doug Brown died on August 14.  Brown was at the Ames station for 35 years and hosted "The Book Club" and The Music Shop."  Brown was also the play-by-play announcer for Iowa Public Television's college wrestling broadcasts for 25 years.  Doug Brown, who had also been fighting Parkinson's disease was 66.....All Access reports that Brian Marshall is out as middays/Assistant Program Director at KCRR Waterloo.  Bill Hahn leaves KFMW (Rock 108) to take his place.....Jim Walden has left the PM Drive program at KXNO Des Moines.  The former Iowa State football coach will continue to host the Sunday night "Two Guys Named Jim" show with Jim Zabel and may fill in at KXNO from time to time.  Larry Cotlar will serve as solo host on the afternoon show on KXNO.  

August 6, 2002

Des Moines is about to lose one of its Sports stations.  Steve Deace and Tim Darrah announced during their PM Drive show today that KXTK-AM will undergo a format change.  The station, which is owned by Saga and operated by the Iowa Cubs broadcasting arm Riverside Radio, will drop Sports Talk on September 3 for what Deace described as a Christian Talk format.  Reportedly some sports play by play such as Nebraska football and Drake University men's and women's basketball will remain on AM 940.  There are unconfirmed reports that the station is being sold.  

August 2, 2002

The Waterloo Courier reports that KWWL-TV co-anchor Bobbi Earles will leave the station to accept a job in the development office at her alma mater, Loras College in Dubuque.  She has agreed to stay at KWWL until her contract expires at the end of the year.....WMT-AM marked its 80th anniversary on July 31 with a live broadcast and open house from the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids.  The WMT studios were once housed in the historic theatre.....Veteran sportscaster Bob Brooks has been named the recipient of the 2002 Chris Schenkel Award by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Inc.  It will be presented on August 9 as part of the College Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend in South Bend, IN.....Longtime Philadelphia Phillies announcer and voice of NFL Films Harry Kalas was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as the recipient of the 2002 Ford Frick award.  Kalas is a 1959 graduate of the University of Iowa and did play-by-play of Iowa athletics on WSUI as a student. 

July 21, 2002

Sinclair Broadcast Group and Second Generation of Iowa have entered into an outsourcing agreement.  Second Generation's station KFXA in Cedar Rapids will provide certain non-programming related sales, operational and managerial services for Sinclair's station KGAN.  KFXA general manager Joe Denk will oversee those parts of KGAN's operation.  Sinclair will continue to program KGAN and produce it's newscasts.  The arrangement is to take effect August 1.....Dave Benton is the new weeknight co-anchor at KGAN.....A couple of morning show changes in Cedar Rapids radio, Tommy Lang moves from afternoons to join "Big D" Don Black on KRNA's Morning Rock.  WMT-FM (Mix 96 and a Half), after a revolving door in the mornings has opted to go the syndicated route picking up Kidd Kraddick's show from KHKS in Dallas.....Gregg "The Shark" Scharnau has returned to KRNA as program director and PM drive air personality.....Andy Shaw left KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids to become chief meterologist at a station in Casper, WY.....KWOF's Cedar Rapids FM signal is now on the air at 89.1.....All Access reports that Ace McKay is filling in during middays at KZZQ Des Moines while music director Rachel Leigh is on maternity leave.....Upper Midwest Broadcasting reports that George Flinn, Jr. has received a construction permit for a new station licensed to Vinton at 107.1.  It would be at 6,000 watts with coverage of the Cedar Rapids area.    

June 25, 2002

WHO-TV Des Moines General Manager Mike Bock is no longer with the station after his arrest for drunken driving.....KGAN-TV Cedar Rapids General Manager Les Vann has been named the GM at WLOS Asheville, SC.....KRTI Grinnell-Marshaltown-Newton has reimaged itself as "The New Energy FM."  The Hot Adult Contemporary format stays in place but it is a combination of local air talent and automation.  KRTI has dropped Jones Satellite Network's Adult Hit Radio service.....For information on the history of Des Moines radio, visit desmoinesbroadcasting.com    

May 23, 2002

Two longtime managers at KUNI Cedar Falls are retiring in August.  General Manager Doug Vernier is leaving after 30 years and Program Manager Carl Jenkins will retire after 40 years of service.  The retirements are not related to budget cuts that have hit the public radio station.  University of Northern Iowa president Robert Koob announced a series of budget cuts impacting many university departments.  The university's subsidy to the station will be cut $250,000 which is a sixth of the station's operating budget.  The Waterloo Courier adds that John Hess will be interim GM and Wayne Jarvis will serve as interim PD.....A new television station affiliated with the United Paramount Network (UPN) is scheduled to sign on in the Quad Cities on or before July 1.  WBQD is a low power station that will broadcast on channel 26.  WBQD is owned by Four Seasons Broadcasting, the owner of WAOE a UPN station in Peoria, IL.  Since it is a low power station, it is not certain if Mediacom, the local cable provider will add the station.  Low power stations do not have must-carry protection.....KSCJ Sioux City Program Director Gary Erickson resigned to take a position with South Dakota Public Radio.....Construction on the new tower for KKEZ (Mix 94.5) Fort Dodge is underway.  The old tower was destroyed by vandals.      

May 7, 2002

All Access reports that Cory Ford is the new Program Director at KCRR Waterloo.  Ford was previously in the Cedar Rapids market at doing mornings at KDAT and then WMT-FM.....KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids morning anchor Scott Sanborn returned to the station's newscasts on May 6.

May 3, 2002

Changes in the Omaha-Council Bluffs market as Journal Broadcasting drops KMXM (Max Country) and moves Rhythmic CHR KQCH from 97.7 to the stronger 94.1 frequency.  The Nebraska Radio Page reports that Spanish KBBX which broadcasts at 1420 AM will take the 97.7 frequency becoming the first Spanish formatted FM station in Nebraska or Iowa.....KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids morning anchor Scott Sanborn is recovering from a heart attack suffered April 11.    

April 30, 2002

KRNA Cedar Rapids morning man and long time Program Director Joe Nugent is out.  Morning Rock co-host "Big D" Don Black is solo.....New to middays at KSTZ (Star 102.5) Des Moines is Brittany.

April 27, 2002

Edward De Fontaine, a Dubuque native who was instrumental in putting the Associated Press radio network on the air died April 23 in Alexandria, VA after a long illness.  He was 72.....Nominations have been announced for Radio & Records 2002 Industry Achievement Awards.  One Iowa station has been nominated.  KVJZ (V 106.3) Des Moines has been nominated as Smooth Jazz station of the year and Mike Blakemore is a nominee for Smooth Jazz Program Director of the year.  The winner will be announced at the R&R Convention in June.

April 22, 2002

WMT-AM (NewsRadio 600) Cedar Rapids Program Director Randy Lee has added similar duties at KMJM-AM (Magic 1360).

April 20, 2002

Longtime WMT-AM Cedar Rapids personality Jim Doyne resigned this week to pursue other interests.  Doyne had been with the station since 1978 and hosted the "Afternoon Edition" news and talk show.  He also hosted the Sunday afternoon "Musical Memories with Jim Doyne" for almost 20 years and was station manager for KMJM-AM.....Marc Hansen of the Des Moines Register reports that Jack Emerson, formerly of KGGO and briefly with KXNO has resurfaced.  He is the new afternoon producer at KXTK (The Big Ticket).....KJMC (K Jams) Des Moines presents the K Jam Funk Fest on April 26 at 9 p.m. at the Val Air Ballroom.  Featured performers are '80s funk bands Zapp and Lakeside plus comedian Lavelle Crawford.  This is one of many concerts being held in conjunction with the Drake Relays.  Most of the acts are Iowa or Midwest based groups with a pair of major label rappers.  Jadakiss performs on the 26th as well while chart topping Ja Rule's April 18 concert was before a sold out Knapp Center.    

April 16, 2002

Melissa Martin and KATF (Kat FM) Dubuque part ways.  Replacing her as co-host of the morning show is Elle Neiman.....After six years of hosting call-in shows on KCNZ Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Greg Alan heads to Charleston, SC to become Program Director and afternoon host at WSCC-AM.   

April 6, 2002

Friendship Communications is one step closer to bringing Christian Hit Radio back to the Cedar Rapids area.  In March, the FCC granted Friendship, the owners of KWOF Waterloo, a construction permit for the 89.1 frequency after they agreed to pay American Family Radio of Tupelo, MS and KUNI of Cedar Falls $15,000 each to drop out of the running.  Friendship is currently raising funds from listeners and churches to cover those costs as well as start-up expenses for the new station.  The transmitter will be in suburban Hiawatha and will broadcast at 400 watts.  KWOF was simulcast in the Cedar Rapids area on KTOF-AM 1360 until December when Clear Channel exercised its right to terminate the LMA.  KWOF hopes to begin the Cedar Rapids simulcast in May.....The latest on proposed UPN station KWWF is that the Waterloo based station will be on the air by November.  Owner Bill Smith is in negotiations with KWWL about using the KWWL tower.  The station must be on the air by November 29 as the construction permit expires on that date.....Charles and Ella Mae Putbrese is selling 437.18 shares in Putbrese Broadcasting to John and Debra Putbrese for $387,573.  Putbrese Broadcasting operates Des Moines Religious station KWKY.....The tower for KKEZ (Mix 94.5) Fort Dodge collapsed on March 18.  The station is broadcasting on a temporary tower while a new one is under construction.  Webster County Crimestoppers is offering up to $1000 for information leading to the arrest or indictment of the person or people responsible.  They can be reached at 515-573-1444.

March 9, 2002

Former KJJC (The Jock) personality Steve Deace signed with rival sports-talk station KXTK (The Big Ticket).  He made is KXTK debut on March 8 and will co-host the PM Ticket with Tim Darrah weekday afternoons beginning March 13.  Meanwhile KJJC has filled the afternoon slot with David Bingham formerly of WOI-TV and Todd Roland formerly of KCCI-TV.....Morning Drive Time changes in Cedar Rapids.  Cory Ford leaves KDAT for WMT-FM (Mix 96 1/2) where he joins Katheryn  Foxx as the new Morning Mix.  Former morning man Jay Myers and WMT part ways.      

March 3, 2002

The Des Moines Sunday Register reports that Steve Deace may be headed for KXTK (The Big Ticket) as host of its afternoon show.  The station has confirmed that Mike Newell has been removed as a host on the sports-talk station.  KXTK officials say that they hope Newell will stay with the station as play-by-play voice of Drake basketball.  There are unconfirmed reports that Deace has the job but Iowa Cubs general manager Sam Bernabe told the Register that no offer has been made.  KXTK is operated by the Iowa Cubs ownership.   

February 25, 2002

A 31 year tradition came to an end at the conclusion of the Iowa State High School Wrestling Tournament.  Iowa Public TV broadcast the championship finals for the last time.  The Iowa High School Athletic Association has sold the rights to future championships to commercial television.  Thompson Source Productions will pay an $10,000 annual rights fee to produce and distribute the 2003-2006 championships.  It is IPTV's policy not to pay rights fees for such events.....WHTS (All Hit 989) Quad Cities was named small market Top 40 station of the year and WHTS's Tony Waitekus was named small market Top 40 Operations Manager/Program Director of the year at the recent Gavin Convention. 

February 24, 2002

KJJC (The Jock) fired Steve Deace as host of the Afternoon Daily February 19.  The outspoken sports talk host was fired by General Manager Bob Dyer during his show.  Deace said in interviews with the Des Moines Register and WHO-TV that he didn't know why he was fired.  However, according to Marc Hansen's Register column, it was due to a dispute between Deace and Dyer over Deace's treatment of his board operators.....KWWL-TV Waterloo has hired a new News Director.  John Shelby comes from KEPR in Pasco, WA and has worked for stations in St. Louis and Chicago.  He will begin his duties March 1.....Rick Thames is out as Music Director at KBEA (B100) and KORB (93 Rock) Quad Cities due to corporate restructuring.....The Country Radio Broadcasters announced that Billy Cole, who at one time was at WHO-AM Des Moines will be inducted into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame.....WHO-TV began testing a Digital TV signal during the Winter Olympics.....A bill has been introduced in a subcommittee of the Iowa Senate Commerce Commission that would void non-compete clauses in broadcaster's contracts.  Similar legislation has been passed in Illinois, Maine and Massachusettes and is under consideration in Arizona and Missouri.  The Iowa Broadcasters Association is opposed to this proposal.  Click here to read the bill.....Wennes Communications Stations is buying KVIK-FM Decorah and KNEI-AM & FM Waukon from Marathon Media Group.        

February 7, 2002

KWWL-TV Waterloo announced its plans for High Definition TV.  The station will test it's HDTV signal during the Winter Olympics with full time HDTV programming beginning May 1.  KDIN Des Moines and WQAD Quad Cities are already offering programming on the HDTV format.   

February 5, 2002

KXTK (The Big Ticket) Des Moines has named Rich Gilman as its new station manager.  He comes from the Des Moines Radio Group where he was sales manager for KOIA, KLTI and KRNT.  KXTK is also owned by Saga's Des Moines Radio Group but is operated by the parent company of the Iowa Cubs.....Steve Winkey announced his retirement after 30 years in radio.  Winkey finished his career with Clear Channel as Regional Vice President for Iowa and eastern Nebraska.  He will be succeeded in that position by John Laton who comes from Clear Channel Wichita and has experience in station ownership.  Laton will also be the day-to-day general manager of Clear Channels stations in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City a position that Winkey also held.....Upper Midwest Broadcasting reports that KSMA (98.7 Kiss FM) Osage-Mason City has completed its upgrade from 6kW to 25kW providing a better signal into Mason City.....All Access reports that former KMXD (Mix 100.3) Des Moines Program Director Rich O'Brien is now doing nights at Top 40 WAOA Melbourne, FL.....Longtime KBBG Waterloo air personality Bill "The Jazzman" Jackson is retiring at the end of the month.  Jackson has hosted the Midday Jazz Show and the Sunday night Metropolitan Jazz Show on the listener supported station for 24 years as well as serving as the station's production manager.  Jackson plans to continue to be a volunteer DJ on a part-time basis.  In honor of Black History Month the Waterloo Courier ran a profile that can be found here.....Our message boards host Radio-Info has launched daily updates of radio news throughout the country.  Check it out at http://radio-info.com     

January 22, 2002

The Waterloo Courier reports that KWWL Waterloo's News Director Mike Beecher resigned on January 18 after a little more than a year on the job.....Keith Clifton of KKDM (Kiss 107) Des Moines has been hired as researcher/producer for Randi West whose show is based at WFKS Cincinnati and heard on 13 Clear Channel stations including KKDM.....Some Marshalltown radio news,  KFJB-AM has moved its format to all-News/Talk and KDAO-AM (Swing 1190) has received FCC approval to begin broadcasting at night.....All Access reports that Rick Thames has been named Promotion Director for the Cumulus Quad Cities cluster.  He will continue as Music Director at KBEA (B 100).....A pair of legendary radio personalities that were part of KMRY Cedar Rapids programming on the ABC Stardust network are no longer on the air due to corporate downsizing and a move from live to voice-tracking on the part of ABC.  Eddie Hubbard and Joe Lacina were let go by ABC Radio in favor of voice-tracking.  

January 11, 2002

Chet Randolph, a veteran farm broadcaster, died of pneumonia on January 2.  Randolph was the original host of Iowa Public Television's "Farm Digest" now known as "Market To Market" and served as host from 1974 to 1991.....Former KJJY Des Moines Program Director Beverlee Brannigan is on the move again.  After three months of programming Journal Broadcasting's KMXM (Max Country) in Omaha,  Journal has named her Director of Programming for their Country stations in Wichita, KS.....KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids sports reporter/anchor Jason Rogers has left to accept a job out of the broadcasting industry.....Subscribers of Mediacom's  high speed Internet service will have a change in service by the end of February.  Service will continue under the name Mediacom Online.  The move was necessary due to the pending closure of the current provider Excite@Home.   

January 4, 2002

Clear Channel has changed the format of AM 1360 in Cedar Rapids.  KTOF-AM, which aired Contemporary Christian Music simulcast from KWOF-AM Waterloo as part of a leased market agreement with KWOF owners the Friendship Connection, is now KMJM-AM "Magic 1360" with an Adult Standards format they have dubbed American Music Classics.  KMJM will compete directly with locally owned KMRY.  The Friendship Connection plans to air programming for the Cedar Rapids area at 89.1 FM in February pending FCC approval......Brad Dodge leaves KRNA Cedar Rapids for a job doing mornings at WESP in Dothan, AL.  "Big D" Don Black moves from middays to replace Dodge as Joe Nugent's "KRNA Morning Rock" co-host while Gail Lewis does double duty, middays at KRNA and PM Drive at KDAT.....All Access reports that KKIA Storm Lake Program Director Curtis Sawyer has been named the new PD at KTWB in Sioux Falls, SD.....Jen Myers, formerly of KSTZ (Star 102.5) Des Moines, has joined KYKY (Y98) St. Louis.  She will be the nighttime personality at the Hot AC station.      

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