When the three way Terre Haute move closes on Monday we now know what DLC Media will do with their newly acquired stations.
Once WWVR vacates 105.5 for 98.5, the newly minted WZJK West Terre Haute will become Variety Hits “105.5 Jack-FM“. The Bob & Tom Show will move from new sister “True Oldies 104.9” WAXI-FM Rockville to WZJK. WZJK will also carry Indiana University football and basketball starting this fall.
“95.9 Duke-FM” WDKE Seelyville will remain Classic Country, but rebrand as “95.9 The Legend” WVIG. Barry Kent, Operations Manager for WAXI-FM, will become Program Director and Morning host at WVIG.
Until the company’s new studios are completed in March, CHR “B92.7” WFNB Brazil will simulcast WAXI-FM. Afterwards it will flip to Soft AC “Lite 92.7“. WFNB will also carry High School Sports and auto racing.
“1130 The Fan” WFNF Brazil/W258BA Terre Haute will retain its current ESPN Radio programming, while intending to add additional high school play-by-play.
The deals are now expected to close on Monday afternoon.
Original Report 1/27: The three-way deal between DLC Media, Emmis, and Midwest Communications in Terre Haute IN is set to close leading to the start of a massive dial shake-up in the market.
The first move will see Classic Rock “105.5 The River” WWVR West Terre Haute move to 98.5 replacing AC WBOW Paris IL on Monday, January 30. Midwest acquired the intellectual property of WWVR from Emmis, while the 105.5 license will go to DLC Media.
DLC Media has applied for new call letters at two of the other stations it is acquiring. What is now Midwest Classic Country “95.9 Duke-FM” WDKE Seelyville IN will become WVIG. 105.5 WWVR will become WZJK (perhaps “Jack-FM“?).
Three of the staffers at the soon-to-be former Emmis stations will not be sticking around with either of the new owners. Jules Dunbar will exit as midday host at Country “Hi 99” WTHI-FM. Kyle West exits as midday host at CHR “B92.7” WFNB Brazil and night host at WTHI-FM. Jamie Dawson is out as afternoon host at WFNB. As the Terre Haute Tribune-Star reports, the trio all are Terre Haute natives who have known each other since middle and high school.
The three way deal has Emmis leaving the Terre Haute market as WFNB, Sports “1130/99.5 The Fan” WFNF Brazil/W258BA Terre Haute, and the license for 105.5 WWVR go to DLC Media and WTHI-FM and the WWVR intellectual property goes to Midwest. To make room for WTHI-FM in its cluster, Midwest sold 95.9 WDKE to DLC Media.
kent
The official word on WBOW’s Facebook page is that the AC format will not be returning. If it were me, I would’ve consolidated the two country stations and put The River on 102.7, but it wasn’t my money used to buy the stations. Maybe Duke will find its way to 102.7?