Update: Allen Media Weather Changes Postponed, Stations Report
Days after Allen Media Group announced plans to centralize weather forecasts at its TV stations, some Allen stations are reporting the plan is on hold.
On Jan. 18, Allen issued a news release saying that a team at The Weather Channel, which it owns, would produce forecasts for the company’s stations and that some local meteorologists would move to the network’s headquarters in Atlanta. The full impact on individual stations was not announced.
Two meteorologists from KIMT/3 (Mason City-Rochester) and three from KWWL/7 (Waterloo) had announced on social media that their jobs were being affected.
Allen Media also owns WQOW/18 (Eau Claire), WXOW/19 (La Crosse), WKOW/27 (Madison), and WAOW/9 (Wausau).
However, on Jan. 23, Allen’s WAAY/31 (Huntsville, AL) reported that Allen had “decided to postpone the full implementation of this strategy.” Allen’s WTVA/9 (Tupelo, MS) reported that the “decision has mostly been reversed.” The stations’ new statements were first reported nationally by NewscastStudio.
As of Thursday evening, an updated statement from Allen Media itself was not seen on the company’s website or the newswire which distributed the initial news release.
The changes would have been the latest in a series that included job cuts and the launch of regional newscast segments in some markets last month. The weather plan received national attention from NPR, CNN, and other outlets.
Weather has long been a leading driver of local TV news viewership. Stations of all ownership groups invest heavily in promoting their weather coverage and often position their meteorologists as local weather experts.
This item was first posted Jan. 20 and was updated Jan. 23. Due to the new developments, the names of meteorologists who had initially announced their impending departures have been removed.
Several Meteorologists Out Amid Allen Media Changes
Several Iowa and Minnesota meteorologists have confirmed that they are affected by Allen Media Group’s move to centralize weather forecasts.
The company issued a news release on Jan. 18 confirming that a team at The Weather Channel, which it owns, will produce forecasts for the company’s stations and that some local meteorologists will move to the network’s headquarters in Atlanta. The full impact on individual stations was not announced.
Hunter Donahoe and Sara Knox of KIMT/3 (Mason City-Rochester) and Mark Schnackenberg, Brandon Libby, and Josh Franson of KWWL/7 (Waterloo) confirmed in social media posts that they are among those affected.
Allen Media also owns WQOW/18 (Eau Claire), WXOW/19 (La Crosse), WKOW/27 (Madison), and WAOW/9 (Wausau). Any potential impacts at those stations have not been announced.
The changes are the latest in a series that included job cuts and the launch of regional newscast segments in some markets last month. The weather changes have received national attention from NPR, CNN, and other outlets.
Weather has long been a leading driver of local TV news viewership. Stations of all ownership groups invest heavily in promoting their weather coverage and often position their meteorologists as local weather experts.
FCC Monitor: Iowa Public Radio Surrenders New FM Permit
Iowa
Iowa Public Radio has surrendered the construction permit for new station KICQ/90.7 (Manly), which would have served the Mason City area. The permit had faced a Jan. 13 construction deadline. KICQ would have replaced IPR Classical translator K214BA/90.7 (Mason City); the network also operates full-power AM and FM stations in Mason City carrying the network’s News and Studio One services.
La Fiesta 971 LLC’s K246CJ/97.1 (Sioux City) applied to relocate from its current tower site in the northeastern part of the city to the KTFC/103.3 tower just east of the city, remaining 250 Watts and widening its coverage area due to the higher antenna height. K246CJ will continue to relay KZOI/1250 (Dakota City, NE).
Townsquare Media’s KBOB/1170 (Davenport) was granted another extension of special temporary authority to transmit with its nighttime directional antenna pattern 24 hours per day while it continues repairs. The latest filing says new components have been installed, but additional issues have been discovered with the antenna system.
FCC Monitor: Three Small New FM Stations Sign On in Minnesota
The following are updates to previously-reported items and other recent regulatory filings and actions concerning Upper Midwest broadcast stations. This report is created by the author and is not an official report of the FCC.
Iowa
iHeartMedia’s WOC/1420 (Davenport) requested an extension of special temporary authority to operate at an unspecified reduced power or variance, stating, “Due to lack of available manpower no additional work has been completed to repair this facility.” The station’s original 2021 filing said several array parameters suddenly went out of tolerance.
The FCC granted construction permits for Saga Broadcasting’s K252EX/98.3 (Spencer) and K273DD/102.5 (Spencer) to move their antennas 22 meters lower on their existing tower, remaining 250 Watts. As previously reported here, the project comes after the translators reported antenna damage that forced them to reduce power until the new antenna is installed.
New Catholic Radio Station Signs On in Northwestern Iowa
The Iowa Catholic Radio Network has signed on a new station in northwestern Iowa, its first in that region of the state.
An FCC filing indicates KCSL/89.9 (Spencer) began operating under program test authority on Dec. 10. The filing came a day after the network alerted social media followers that the new sign-on was imminent:
KSCL transmits with 22kW/84m (class C3) from a tower north of Spencer, also reaching the Iowa Great Lakes area of Spirit Lake and Okoboji. It was granted as a result of a 2021 FCC filing window for new non-commercial FM stations.
KCSL and Iowa Catholic Radio Network are operated by West Des Moines-based St. Gabriel Communications. The group owns four full-power FM’s, one AM, and one FM translator and has construction permits for additional full-power FM’s in Albia and Odebolt; the network is also heard on three low-power FM’s owned by local groups.
It is separate from Sioux City-based St. Gabriel Communications Ltd., which operates the “Siouxland Catholic Radio” network of KFHC/88.1 (Ponca-Sioux City) and KOIA/88.1 (Storm Lake).
New Buyer for Muscatine Radio Stations
The trustee for JAM Media Solutions has filed a new application with the FCC to transfer the licenses of three radio signals in Muscatine.
The deal calls for VMPP, LLC to pay $250,000 for KMCS/93.1 (Muscatine), KWPC/860 (Muscatine), KWPC translator K236CF/95.1 (Muscatine). The application includes a court order showing that a judge has approved the sale.
VMPP is owned by John Krieger and Joey Krieger of Muscatine, who have no other broadcast interests.
A previous proposal to sell the stations to Davis Media LLC was withdrawn in May 2024.
KMCS carries a mainstream Rock format while KWPC and K236CF carry Classic Country.
Muscatine is about 25 miles west of Davenport. The city also receives several strong commercial radio signals from the Quad Cities, including one which is licensed to Muscatine, as well as a few signals from Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.
Gray Media Group Seeks Purchase of Rochester FOX Affiliate
Gray Media Group is requesting a waiver from the FCC to purchase the FOX affiliate that it already operates alongside its NBC affiliate in Rochester, MN.
KXLT-TV/47.1 (Rochester) is currently owned by SagamoreHill of Minnesota and is operated alongside Gray NBC affiliate KTTC/10.1 (Rochester) through joint sales and shared services agreements. The agreements began more than two decades ago, prior to Gray’s purchase of KTTC from Quincy Media.
The asset purchase agreement filed with the FCC calls for Gray Local Media to pay SagamoreHill of Minnesota Licenses $490,500 for KXLT-TV, subject to prorations.
FCC rules normally prohibit a company that owns one top-four rated station in a market from buying a second top-four rated station. Gray says KXLT-TV meets the criteria for a failing station waiver that would allow the sale.
The criteria for a failing station waiver include a low all-day audience share, negative cash flow for three consecutive years, public interest benefits, and the lack of an “out-of-market buyer willing and able to acquire the station at other than an artificially depressed price.” Specific data is redacted from the public filing.
The filing also says that if the deal is approved, Gray intends to “explore the opportunities it has to expand local programming production” in the market, citing the fact that, as a FOX affiliate, KXLT-TV has fewer network commitments and more opportunities to insert local programming.
Competing stations in the market include Hubbard ABC affiliate KAAL/6.1 (Austin-Rochester), Allen Media CBS affiliate KIMT/3.1 (Mason City-Austin-Rochester), PBS station KSMQ/15.1 (Austin), and Iowa PBS station KYIN/24.1 (Mason City).
Iowa Station Switches from Rock to Hot AC
LA Communications’ KDHK/100.5 (Decorah) has started 2025 with a switch from mainstream Rock to Hot Adult Contemporary.
Keeping its “Hawk” monitor, the former “Hawk Rock” became “The Hawk” at midnight on the morning of Jan. 1. The new format is positioned as “the Tri-State’s best variety.”
“Hawk Rock” had launched in 2019 after a station sale, replacing an Adult Alternative format.
KDHK is part of a cluster that also includes Country, Classic Hits, and Adult Contemporary formats serving northeastern Iowa, southeastern Minnesota, and southwestern Wisconsin.