Programming Newsline

journal buys great empire. Journal Broadcast Group pacts to buy Great Empire Broadcasting's 13 stations for an undisclosed price. Although Great Empire consists mostly of country stations, album KICT and classic hits KLLS Wichita, Kan., are included in the deal. After this acquisition, Journal will have 36 radio stations and three TV outlets in 11 states. Meanwhile, Big City's latest round of acquisitions of stations in the Chicago area has developed a new wrinkle. The company, which just picked up WDEK, will reduce the station's power and then spin it off, most likely to Connoisseur Communications.
fcc investigates minority claims. Several months after the initial leak of a Katz Media memo that urged clients not to buy advertising on stations targeting black and Hispanic audiences, the Federal Communications Commission's Office of Communications Business Opportunities is investigating claims that agencies discriminate against minority-owned and ethnic-formatted stations. Expect the office, under a directive from commission chairman Bill Kennard, to gather information from broadcasters, ad agencies, and advertisers.
doctor dre 'perplexed' by firing. Former WQHT (Hot 97) New York morning co-host Doctor Dre tells the New York Daily News that he's "perplexed" that the station would fire him after a successful five-year run in mornings. "I guess Ed [Lover] and I selling out six shows at [comedy club] Caroline's doesn't say we're fresh. I guess our ratings going up in the spring means we weren't fresh," Dre said at his recent press conference, in response to station VP Judy Ellis' remarks that changes were made to keep the station sounding fresh. Dre announced his new job as entertainment correspondent for local NBC affiliate WNBC-TV and says he's considering two film projects.