Recently in Northern Michigan / UP Category

Interlochen Public Radio expands reach

Interlochen Public Radio has signed on its newest radio station, WLMN FM 89.7 Manistee, adding to the coverage area of its IPR News Radio format to the West Michigan shorline areas near Manistee and Ludington. IPR News Radio 89.7 simulcasts WICA FM 91.5 Traverse City.

The organization's primary classical music station, WIAA FM 88.7, has recently been operating on auxiliary transmitter and listeners south and east of Cadillac and Manistee may be experiencing poor or no reception while repairs are made to the main transmitter.

Contemporary Hits 'KHQ shuffles afternoon and evening on-air lineup

MacDonald Garber Broadcasting's 106 KHQ has announced a new staff line up on the contemporary hits station after the departure of afternoon jock/promotions director Carl Anthony. Effective Monday July 12th, Fish (Eric Rae) will assume the 2 - 7 p.m. shift which was previously held by Anthony. Fish moves up from his night show that was previously heard from 7 p.m. - midnight. 'Artimis' (Art Smith) steps into the evening slot and will cover promotional duties for 106 KHQ, Artimis arrives from cross town WKLT.

Josh and Heather remain in the same time slot from 5 - 10 a.m. and Tim Nixon remains on the air from 10 a.m - 2 p.m.

"Artimis has some big shoes to fill but I have no doubt he can do it and be a vital part of KHQ's future", commented program director Josh Garber (no relation to MacDonald Garber Broadcasting).

The changes were made following Carl Anthony's resignation last month.

AllAccess.com:

With JIM and DIANE COURSOLLE closing on their purchase of 10 stations owned by HEARTLAND COMMUNICATIONS in WISCONSIN and MICHIGAN from GRANITE EQUITY PARTNERS, the new owners are changing formats at some of the new acquisitions. The company's four newly-acquired AMs, Sports WNBI-A (SPORTS/TALK 980, changing calls to WPFP-A)/PARK FALLS, WI; Adult Standards WATW-A/ASHLAND, WI, Adult Standards WERL-A/EAGLE RIVER, WI, and Adult Standards WIKB-A (changing to WFER-A)/IRON RIVER, MI, will flip to Talk in JULY as "FREEDOM TALK," with a syndicated Conservative lineup. At AC WIKB-F (99.1 THE BREEZE)/IRON RIVER, WI, the station's new format will be Country as THE BULL... New Owners Plan Changes At Heartland (Tue, 5/11)

The Captain helps celebrate 30 years of KHQ:

Longtime form morning host "The Captain" (Bill Vogel) returned to Northern Michigan's 106 KHQ on Friday to help celebrate the station's 30th Anniversary. Tim Moore, former station owner and man behind the calls along with Bob White joined Heather and Josh (who also double's as KHQ's program director) on the air. The audio of the Captain's visit is posted at feeds.feedburner.com/106khqmorningshow.

Ernie Harwell, Michigan's most beloved broadcaster ever, has died this evening at the age of 92 in his home in the Detroit suburb of Novi after an inspiring fight with bile duct cancer.

There will be countless accolades and articles written about the life of a man that cared for his family, friends, and fans in a way that no one ever has before or will again. Whatever it is that is written, it won't be enough to capture just how much Mr. Harwell meant to our state.

Godspeed Ernie and thank you.

Detroit Free Press:

In Ernie Harwell's voice, the South rose again and conquered Michigan in a way no one else ever has. When Harwell arrived in Detroit to join the Tigers radio broadcast team in 1960, he was an unknown to Tigers fans. When he died Tuesday night at his home in Novi, at 92, after nearly a year-long bout with cancer, he had a strong case as the most beloved figure ever in Michigan. He rose to that cherished place through the combined power of radio and baseball and just as importantly his own charm and warmth, which were as steady through the decades as his unchanging Georgia accent. Harwell did Tigers radio from 1960 through 1991, then -- after an ill-conceived dismissal by the Tigers that lasted only one season -- he did a combination of Tigers radio and TV from 1993 through 2002. He ended his 55-year big-league career at the end of 2002 season... Ernie Harwell dies at 92 (Tue, 5/4)

In a telephone interview tonight, Detroit Tigers legend Al Kaline was asked why Harwell was so overwhelmingly popular in Michigan. "There wasn't a nicer person," Kaline said. "He had time for everybody. He lived here and stayed here. He didn't just work here and then go away in the off-season. He would have young announcers up to his booth all the time and give them advice. He had time for everybody." Kaline worked as Harwell's broadcast partner on television in the 1990s... Dignitaries share warm memories of Ernie Harwell (Tue, 5/4)

Detroit News:

Ernie has died. After a battle against bile duct cancer, one he knew he would lose, Ernie Harwell died Tuesday. He was 92. With his death, Michigan -- and baseball -- loses one of its most beloved figures. For 55 years, Harwell was a major league broadcaster, 42 with the Tigers. He broadcast his last game Sept. 22, 2002. Instead of moving away from the Detroit area, he spent his final years in Novi, still being part of our lives as an author and corporate spokesman. William Earnest Harwell was born Jan. 25, 1918 in Washington, Ga. As a boy, his family moved to Atlanta, where he grew up loving newspapers and baseball, which is how and why he became a paperboy and a batboy for his hometown minor league club, the Atlanta Crackers... Legendary broadcaster Ernie Harwell dies at 92 (Tue, 5/4)

MLive.com

The voice that we fell asleep to while listening to baseball games on transistor radios, the one that called Detroit Tigers games for four decades and became part of our lives, has gone silent. Ernie Harwell died Tuesday of cancer. He was 92. Harwell was the 1981 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, placing him in the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown as a broadcaster. He said that his induction speech and the Christian testimony he gave at a Billy Graham Crusade in Tampa were the two most memorable speaking engagements of his life. He loved God, baseball, his family and countless friends. "When you met Ernie Harwell, you walked away feeling you were his best friend," said Tigers radio broadcaster Jim Price, who first met Harwell as a rookie catcher with Detroit in 1967. "People who never met him before would say, 'It's like I've known him forever.' "He was very unique that way." Harwell was a one-of-a-kind person and broadcaster, who had first-hand experiences with nearly every big name in the history of the game... Hall of Fame Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell dies at 92 after battle with cancer (Tue, 5/4)

Soft rock music is out and mainstream talk is in at Northern Radio's WSRT FM 106.7 Gaylord/Traverse City as of yesterday. The station, which will continue to brand itself as "You FM" simulcasts on WSRJ FM 105.5 Honor/Interlochen and on an FM translator at 95.3 in Boyne City (W237DA).

The weekday programming lineup includes:

• 7 - 9 a.m.: Mary in the Morning (local broadcast)
• 9 a.m. - Noon: Stephanie Miller
• Noon - 3 p.m.: Dave Ramsey
• 3 - 6 p.m.: Dr. Laura
• 6 - 9 p.m.: Jerry Doyle

General Manager Charlie Ferguson suggests that FM talk formats have been springing up across the country and are proving to be very successful.

AllAccess.com:

MacDONALD GARBER BROADCASTING Top 40 WKHQ (106 KHQ)/TRAVERSE CITY-PETOSKEY, MI MD/morning man JOSH GARBER tacks on those PD stripes in addition to the others he's wearing... WKHQ MD/Mornings Josh Garber Adds PD Duties (Mon, 5/3)

NewscastStudio.com

9&10 News, the CBS and Fox duopoly serving Cadillac, Mich., has become the first broadcast television station to launch an application for the Apple iPad. Much like the station's iPhone app, the 9&10 News app for iPad offers access to local news and weather information and now includes higher video quality, expanded content and higher resolution imagery for iPad users. The app is backward-compatible with the iPhone and iPod touch, and can be downloaded through the App Store. The app was created in partnership with News On iPhone. "We believe it is important to keep up with the technology our viewers are using and we hope this will serve their needs," says Eric Spencer, IT Director for 9&10 News, in a statement. "To be the first broadcast television station to offer this shows our commitment to bring our viewers the best"... Michigan station launches first local TV app for iPad (Wed, 4/28)

Fans of classic rock and Detroit Tigers baseball in the northern Lower Peninsula have two new frequencies to tune in with changes made this week by owner Northern Star Broadcasting.

WLJZ FM 94.5 Mackinaw City and WAVC FM 93.9 Mio are now in a full-time simulcast of each other with classic rock programming as 'The Bear'. Both stations are running jockless; neither are carrying the Bob & Tom Show in mornings or Alice Cooper's evening offerings that are currently heard on Northern Star's other 'Bear' stations (WGFN FM 98.1 Glen Arbor/Traverse City and WCKC FM 107.1 Cadillac). Another major difference between the new Bear outlets is the addition of play-by-play coverage of the Detroit Tigers.

In addition to being able to hear Bob & Tom on 98.1 and 107.1, Northern Star also clears the program on WGFM FM 105.1 Cheboygan/Gaylord.

Prior to the changes, WLJZ had been carrying a classic country format which has shifted to sister station WCBY AM 1240 Cheboygan and WAVC was simulcasting country WMKC FM 102.9.

The format change to WLJZ restores the classic rock format to the straits area where it previously was heard on either 97.9 WIHC Newberry, which was recently taken off the air, or WGFM which last year changed format from classic to mainstream rock.

Format changes coming to Mackinac Straits area

Classic country WLJZ FM 94.5 is informing listeners that the format will be moving to WCBY AM 1240 in the coming days, replacing the long-running standards/pop format on the AM outlet. Plans for what will air on WLJZ have not been revealed.

Detroit Tigers baseball returns to FM in Cadillac

MacDonald Garber broadcasting has announced that after several years on 1240 WATT in the Cadillac area, the Detroit Tigers are making a move back to the FM dial. The 2010 season will be heard on 93.7 WKAD (Cadillac's Oldies Station). This will allow area Tigers fans, especially those from Cadillac north to Traverse City, to again hear the Tigers on a high quality FM signal with better reach, particularly at night. Detroit Red Wings broadcasts will continue on 1240 WATT.

The Tigers will also be heard again this season on 1270 AM & 92.1 FM WMKT, with the signals effectively blanketing Tiger coverage from Reed City and Manistee all the way north to the eastern U.P.

The Tigers were heard for many years in the Cadillac area on what was then WKJF-FM 92.9 which at one time was owned by former Tigers' owner John Fetzer. The team left WKJF many years ago after the station was sold and the format changed.

Cadillac News:

A failed power supply blacked out the final seconds of a nail-biter as Michigan State took on Tennessee in the NCAA tournament Midwest Regional Championship game Sunday in St. Louis. Some local sports fans were stunned as the game deciding a trip to the Final Four froze as the Spartans were tied at 69 with 11.6 seconds remaining. Channel 9&10 Engineer Lowell Shore said power was lost in a rack that brings the signal from one building into WWTV. Power was restored by switching to another source. Programming returned around 5:30 p.m. during coverage of the Duke-Baylor South Regional championship game... Failed power supply blacked out Spartans (Mon, 3/29)

The Bear sleeps tonight in Sault Ste. Marie

Northern Star Broadcasting has pulled classic rock WIHC FM 97.9 Newberry/Sault Ste. Marie off the air and applied for remain silent authority with the FCC, stating in its filing, "Due to the depressed economy in Northern Michigan, WIHC has been operating at a loss and the licensee has decided to take the station silent while it considers whether it is possible to make the station economically viable."

Northern Star is in the process of selling 11 its 12 U.P. radio stations, excluding WIHC, to Sovereign Communications leaving that station as an orphan of sorts due to ownership concentration rules in the Sault Ste Marie market that wouldn't allow all of its stations to transfer to Sovereign. Sovereign already owns WNBY-FM/AM, WSUE FM, and WSOO AM and as part of purchase from Northern will be acquiring WYSS-FM, WMKD-FM, and WKNW AM in the Sault area.

UpNorthLive.com:

After forecasting the weather on 7 & 4 News for more than 13 years, 11 years as Chief Meteorologist, Greg MacMaster is stepping away from the studio cameras and preparing for a new path in politics. Greg announced he's leaving WPBN/WTOM Friday. Another announcement will be made Monday on his future plans as a candidate for the 105th State House seat. We wish him well on his future endeavors, and thank him for his many years as a co-worker and friend of the 7 & 4 News Team... 7 & 4 Chief Meteorologist Greg MacMaster Prepares For Next Chapter (Fri, 3/12)

Ironwood's WIMI broadens playlist

Upper Midwest Broadcasting reports that Hot AC WIMI FM 99.7 Ironwood has "moved to a broader Adult Contemporary format positioned as 'The Best Variety; following its sale to J&J Broadcasting" and rehired Uncle Al Rice for afternoons. J&J recently closed on its purchase of WIMI and sister station WJMS AM 590 from Baracuda Broadcasting.

Soo Evening News:

A half-dozen people are now out of work following Tuesday's announcement that Sovereign Communications has purchased the Upper Peninsula radio stations including WYSS-FM, WMKD-FM, and WKNW-AM formely owned by Northern Star Broadcasting. The list includes Station Manager Doug Laprade, Program Director Paul "Junior" VanWagoner, News Director Scott Nason and Disc Jockeys Jason Mapes and Melissa Krahnke. VanWagoner was willing to go on record with an account of how more than a dozen local employees lost their jobs in the transition. "Northern Star Broadcasting laid the entire staff off at 10:15, yesterday," said VanWagoner effective 5 p.m. Tuesday. President Bill Gleich of Sovereign Communications said the purchase of Northern Star Broadcasting was strictly for its physical assets and not for personnel. As a result, those employees were all informed they were being laid-off by their employer before the transition was made. Gleich said that 10 of those people were subsequently rehired including Program Director Tim Ellis, Jessie Sims, John Gilbert and Frank Blissett... Radio jobs lost in transition (Wed, 2/10)

One of the largest sales of radio stations in recent times, at least in terms of numbers of stations being dealt, was announced this week in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Sault Ste. Marie based Sovereign Communications has reached an agreement with Northern Star Broadcasting to purchase all but one of their Upper Peninsula radio stations for $3.5 million dollars.

The eleven station, multi-million dollar acquisition will give Sovereign a total of seven radio stations in the Sault Ste. Marie and Newberry area with the addition of WYSS-FM, WMKD-FM and WKNW AM where the company already owns WSOO AM, WSUE-FM, WNBY AM and WNBY-FM. Northern Star will maintain its ownership of WIHC-FM Newberry as the acquisition of that station by Sovereign would have pushed it over FCC ownership limit caps.

The cash deal also includes WJPD-FM, WUPK-FM, WNGE-FM, WDMJ AM, and WIAN AM in Marquette as well as WIMK-FM, WZNL-FM and WMIQ AM in Iron Mountain.

Bill Gleich, President of Sovereign Communications, said, "We couldn't be more excited about this purchase. Having these additional stations will allow us to serve the community as well as our advertisers and listeners in even greater ways. I believe we have the best people in the radio business; they're all very excited about our growth and ready to take on new challenges. I look forward to a smooth transition as we bring the Northern Star stations into the Sovereign Communications family. Personally, as a local kid that grew up in Sault Sainte Marie and started in the radio business at WSOO at 15 years old, this is a real dream come true for me."

David Simmons, President of Traverse City/Cheboygan based Northern Star Broadcasting, commented, "While we will miss the many warm relationships that have developed during our involvement in the Upper Peninsula markets, the transaction with Sovereign Communications provides Northern Star Broadcasting with the opportunity for a renewed sense of focus and commitment to the remaining radio stations in the Northern Star Broadcasting group. We look forward to our continued community involvement, presentation of entertaining and quality programming for our listeners while providing outstanding customer service to our advertisers and promotional partners."

Northern Star Broadcasting has owned and operated its eight Northern Lower Peninsula radio stations since the company's formation in 1998. All of the Lower Peninsula Radio Stations will stay intact as a Radio Station Broadcast Group and will continue to be owned and operated by Northern Star Broadcasting, LLC. The current management team, Del Reynolds, Vice President of Programming and Operations and Chief Engineer, and Mary Reynolds, Vice President of Marketing and Promotions and General Manager, will continue to lead the Northern Star Broadcasting team of dedicated broadcast professionals.

Del Reynolds tells Michiguide.com, "I think this group of UP stations will be taken to the next level under the direction of Bill "Curtis" Gleich. He is truly a radio guy through and through from programming to sales. His attention to detail with regard to programming is the best I've seen. He gets up early and stays up late to make his stations sound great and they do! Bill has a thorough understanding of how to market, promote and program radio stations no matter what the format. Since Yes FM in the Sault was the first radio station that I owned and named, it has a special place in my heart. Having a guy like Bill Curtis own Yes FM 25 years later makes me feel better about ever selling it. In retrospect, that's one of the 10 stations that I've owned that I should have kept. From the time it went # 1 back in 1985 to now it's continued to do well over all these years. Yes FM is in good hands!"

The deal still must go through the FCC approval process and closing.

Traverse City Record-Eagle:

A Feb. 4 broadcast of "A Prairie Home Companion" beamed live to Traverse City's State Theatre is sold out, so a Feb. 9 rebroadcast has been added. The Feb. 4 show will be performed in front of a live audience at the Fitzgerald Theatre in St. Paul, Minn., and beamed via satellite to theaters around the country. Because the local broadcast sold out, WIPR, the hosting radio station, scheduled a rebroadcast Tickets for the Feb. 9 rebroadcast, scheduled for 8 p.m., are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for students and children... Another 'Prairie Home' telecast added (Fri, 1/29)

Traverse City Record-Eagle:

A few days ago I was listening to WTCM, my favorite AM radio station, which has been broadcasting in Traverse City since 1941. It was getting dark when suddenly their signal level dropped significantly and I could hear the crackle of static coming from my radio along with another station, from some far-off place, in the background. What my ears had witnessed was their nighttime reduction of power from 50,000 watts to 1,100 watts. This station, like many others, is required by FCC regulations to reduce power at sunset. The reason for this is that AM radio waves travel farther at night and multiple stations across the country are assigned to the same frequency... Radio's 'golden age' (Sun, 1/24)

Traverse City Record-Eagle:

The Roundup radio variety show is hitting the road. The weekly program -- taped at the Hayloft Inn and broadcast on WNMC -- will be making its way to a location near you beginning in February, said show host Bill Dungjen. "We're going to take our Roundup radio show with Sour Mash, the (bluegrass) house band, to different venues around the area -- township halls, association halls, Elks clubs -- and we'll invite hand-picked guests a la Garrison Keillor," Dungjen said, referring to the host of the national radio variety show, "A Prairie Home Companion." The Roundup road trips will be more polished versions of the regular show, which generally airs at 7:30 a.m. on Saturdays and at 5:30 p.m. on Sundays, Dungjen said... Road Trip: Radio show on tour (Fri, 1/22)

Strong Tower Radio, WGCP FM 91.9, has been on the air since late last month offering listeners around Cadillac a new option in religious broadcasting. The station's web site, www.wgcpfm.org claims, "Strong Tower Radio WGCP 91.9-FM is not owned or operated by any church, denomination or organization, and we believe people from all cultures and backgrounds will appreciate our programming."

Much of the station's schedule is filled with shows from 3ABN (Three Angels Broadcasting Network) .

WGCP is a Class A station, broadcasting with 2,100 watts @ 144 feet that covers much of central Wexford county including the city of Cadillac. It is owned by West Central Michigan Media Ministries.

Traverse City Record-Eagle:

Faith Hershiser doesn't believe she's getting her money's worth from her satellite television provider. Nearly $80 a month goes toward her DirecTV bill. But Hershiser, of Bellaire, no longer can make it through her favorite TV shows without experiencing audio problems. Momentary sound glitches tied to her DirecTV service began in June, and haven't disappeared. "It's like watching TV, but somebody's swearing all the time," she said. "It seems like when you're really interested in something, that's when it happens." Hershiser said she only picks up the audio glitches on local channels. She called local NBC and Fox affiliates, but nobody's been able to fix the problem. Hershiser doesn't appear to be the only DirecTV customer in northern Michigan who's experienced audio problems. Lowell Shore, chief engineer for Heritage Broadcasting Group, which owns 9&10 News and Fox 32, said he's fielded several calls from DirecTV customers over the past month... Audio glitches impact DirecTV customers (Fri, 1/8)

Cadillac's WATT AM temporarily off-air

News-talk WATT AM 1240 Cadillac has been off the air since 1:30 Sunday afternoon after a snowplow inadvertently cut the power line leading from the transmitter to the tower. Repairs are scheduled for today and the station hopes to get back on the air later today.