Broadcasting Industry News
WKAR’S Elkins Re-elected to APTS Leadership Position
Susi Elkins, Director of Broadcasting and General Manager of WKAR Public Media at Michigan State University, has been re-elected as Professional Vice Chair on the board of America’s Public Television Stations (APTS). The announcement was made by APTS on Wednesday (2/2). Elkins’ term begins on Monday, February 28, 2022. APTS is a nonprofit membership organization…
Read MoreWBMI/West Branch Sold to Smile FM
This past week (2/1), Peggy Warner’s 105.5fm, LLC has filed an application with the FCC to assign the license of WBMI-FM (West Branch) to non-commercial station operator Smile FM for $95,000. According to press reports, once the deal closes, the format will be flipped from its current classic country format to Smile FM’s noncommercial religious…
Read MoreWNEM-TV Welcomes Elisse Ramey
Former WJRT-TV (Flint) Anchor/Reporter Elisse Ramey has joined WNEM-TV (Saginaw) as Anchor/Reporter. Ramey will be co-anchoring the station’s 5:30 and 10 p.m. newscasts. She spent over four years at WJRT. Prior to mid-Michigan, Ramey was an Anchor/Reporter for WITN-TV in Washington, North Carolina. Ramey also was Anchor/Reporter/Producer at WXVT-TV in Greenville, Mississippi; and also served…
Read MoreWBKB-TV Adds NBC to Menu of Subchannels
On January 24, Thunder Bay Broadcasting’s WBKB-TV (Alpena) became, what may be the first station in the nation to carry all four major networks on separate digital subchannels. The station added NBC (on channel 11.2) to its roster of networks that include CBS (11.1), ABC (11.3), Fox & MyNetworkTV (11.4). The station welcomed NBC to…
Read More“Smokin’ Joe” Joins Krol’s WJSZ
Longtime Lansing air personality Joe Schneider has joined the airstaff of Krol Communication’s WJSZ-FM (Ashley/Owosso) as afternoon (3-7 p.m.) personality. A 2002 graduate of Specs Howard School of Media Arts, Schneider got his start at then-oldies WJIM-FM (Lansing), hosting the 60’s at 6 and 70’s at 7 as Smokin’ Joe. He later moved on to…
Read MoreSaga CEO Ed Christian Signs Contract Extension
Inside Radio reports (1/28) that Ed Christian, CEO of Michigan-based Saga Communications, has inked a two-year extension to his contract that will keep him as head of the company he founded through March 31, 2027. The previous contract would have expired March 31, 2025. The new amendment also adds a new “change of Control” definition…
Read MoreWYCD Scores Two Nominations in ACM Radio Awards
The Academy of Country Music® announced this past Monday (1/24) Radio Awards nominees for the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards™, including a double nomination for Audacy’s WYCD-FM (Detroit). WYCD was nominated for Major Market Radio Station of the Year. Its morning show, Josh, Rachael & Grunwald In the Morning with Josh Holleman, Rachael Hunter…
Read MoreCBS Affiliate Swap in The U.P.
On January 20, Nexstar Media Group’s WJMN-TV (Escanaba) announced that effective January 21, the station will no longer be affiliated with the CBS Network. In a story on its website, the station said it will “continue to provide the news, weather, sports and entertainment that we have for over 50 years across the Upper Peninsula.” …
Read MoreWFQX Adds Three New Subchannels
Cadillac Telecasting’s WFQX-TV (Cadillac), which is operated by Heritage Broadcasting Group (WWTV/WWUP-TV) through a shared services agreement, has announced that it has added three new subchannels to its roster. WFQX, a dual Fox/CW affiliate, has added Newsy, Court Mystery and Defy TV for viewers in northern Michigan. The station says, “Newsy offers coverage of top…
Read MoreFormer WXYZ VP/GM Jeanne Findlater Pens Op-Ed in Detroit Free Press
Former WXYZ-TV Vice-President and General Manager (1979-1987) Jeanne Findlater recently penned an op-ed piece for the Detroit Free Press celebrating the elevation of women to key roles in media and other corporate environments. Headlined “One responsibility of women leaders in the 1980s – don’t spoil it for other women.” In her post, Findlater writes about…
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