News

High Plains Radio Network in Plainview, Texas, is expanding into a third state. After acquiring a three-FM station cluster in Mt. Home, Arkansas, Monte Spearman’s High Plains Radio Network is picking up another trio of FMs, this time in Altus, Oklahoma: KEYB-FM, KJOK-FM, and KKRE-FM from Altus FM Inc. The purchase price of $750,000 includes $600,000 for the assets and a $150,000 three-year consulting agreement.

According to The New York Times, Russian intelligence officers searched the office of Russia's most prominent independent radio station. Computer servers were also searched. They were looking for e-mails from Andrei Piontkovsky (pictured), who writes a blog for the station.

The Country Radio Broadcasters announced that Emmis Indianapolis Market Manager Charlie Morgan has been re-elected as President of the CRB board. R.J. Curtis returns as Vice President and Bev Brannigan as Secretary. The CRB is the organization responsible for organizing the very successful Country Radio Seminar every year in Nashville. CRS 2017 is set for Feb. 22-24 at the Omni Hotel.

In less than one week, registration will open for the 2017 Country Radio Seminar. The rate will be $429, which is the best price that will be offered and will only be available to a limited number of first-come, first-served registrants. The annual New Faces of Country Music Show will be included for the first limited number of full registrants. Last year, New Faces tickets were sold out the day they came available.

KTYM-AM in Los Angeles officially belongs to El Sembrador Ministries after it purchased the station for $5.875 million from Trans America Broadcasting.

Veteran programmer Tim Roberts has been promoted to Vice President of Programming for CBS's Detroit cluster, which includes WYCD-FM, WOMC-FM, and AMP Radio (WDZH-FM.)

Longtime Chattanooga sports reporter and talk host Gary Haskew passed away on July 4. The 74-year-old suffered a massive heart attack.

Talk Radio 680 WCBM in Baltimore announced on its website that Marr is on medical hiatus after suffering a stroke as a result of recent back surgery. Marr has been in Baltimore radio since 1967, and has been with WCBM since 1988.

Last week, the CMG Long Island station parted ways with morning hosts Dana and Jayson. On Tuesday, the station announced their replacement would be The Cooper Lawrence Show, featuring Cooper Lawrence and Anthony Michaels.

Cumulus has signed Shannon Burke to host a new 9 a.m.-Noon talk show on NewsRadio 106.7/WYAY-FM in Atlanta. Burke was the audience favorite in NewsRadio 106.7’s three weeks of auditions for the slot at the station.