This plan started in motion earlier this week, as Radio-Info previously reported, when Emmis Communications fired the on-air staff of “Hot 93.3” KDHT and announced they're dropping the hip-hop format. Here’s the latest – Emmis will move “Radio Austin” KGSR from 107.1, a Class C2 licensed to Bastrop, to 93.3, a full Class licensed to Cedar Park. In its place at 107.1 will be a new regional Mexican format. Austin 360.com says that for the next ten days, Emmis will simulcast KGSR on both frequencies, to conduct current listeners to the new spot on the dial. New call letters, slogan and DJs to be announced for the Spanish-language station at 5pm local time on Monday, November 30.

Midday lady Trina Neely exits Hot AC WMEE (97.3) Ft. Wayne, which recently went all holiday music … Boston’s WTKK “Talk 96.9” adds “The Big Money Show” hosted by Steve Cordasco. The show will air on Saturdays from 8 -10 am, starting this Saturday, Nov. 21 … According to the San Francisco Chronicle, KTRB “XTRA Sports 860” extends their deal with the Oakland A’s to air games through the 2019 season – another ten years. Discuss it … The holiday format flip of the day: Huntington, West Virginia’s WMGA-FM (97.9) will drop “Soft Rock” for Christmas music starting Friday morning … KID-FM (96.1) in Idaho Falls, Idaho drops the syndicated Big D & Bubba in mornings for the local Jeff & Josh, according to their website … Astoria, Oregon’s KMUN-FM (91.9) lost their signal when a storm toppled their antenna. Sister-station KCPB-FM (90.9) is carrying their programming until the tower can be repaired, says Oregon Media Central.

John St. John takes over the programming reigns of Dial Global’s syndicated “Mainstream Country” format. He succeeds Penny Mitchell, who remains a member of the format’s programming team as APD and air personality. St. John returned to Dial Global earlier this year as PD of its “Classic Country” format. He has also programmed the company’s Denver-based “Hot Country” format. The veteran broadcaster is well known as the former PD of KYGO Denver. He has also worked at country stations in Kansas City, Birmingham, Ala., and Jacksonville, Fla. “Mainstream Country” is Dial Global’s largest music format, with more than 230 affiliate stations.

Starting Friday afternoon at 4:00pm, Orlando radio listeners will gain a new full-time news/talk format on non-commercial WMFE-FM (90.7). President and CEO Jose Fajardo writes, “People are increasingly interested in knowing what’s happening around the world … Now, they will be able to count on us through the day to connect them to what’s happening in their world – be it Central Florida or around the globe.” Florida Today reports the new programming will include shows such as the BBC World Update, The Diane Rehm Show, Fresh Air with Terry Gross and All Things Considered. WMFE will move its existing classical music format to their HD-2 radio channel starting Friday afternoon.

The government of Hungary has shut down Emmis Communications-owned Slager Radio (100.8FM), transferring the license to a Hungarian political party, despite a higher bid from Emmis. In the 12 years Emmis has owned what was the most popular Hungarian radio station, the company spent nearly $170 million on the station, and employed an all-Hungarian staff. Ratings show Slager reached nearly 3.5 million listeners per week, out of a national population of 10 million. Emmis Chairman & CEO Jeff Smulyan says, “We are deeply disappointed, not only for Emmis and our people, but most of all for the people of Hungary. Whenever freedom and democracy are taken away, every citizen suffers immeasurably. All of Hungary has suffered today.” Emmis announced they plan to file a lawsuit in the courts of Hungary and the European Union, demanding relief for what it calls process that was “politically corrupt and contrary to the interests of the Hungarian people.”

It’s a complete overhaul of the body that supervises Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia, Radio and TV Marti, and Alhurra and Radio Sawa. For the chairman’s position, President Obama has nominated Walter Isaacson. The journalist and best-selling author is currently the chair of Teach for America and president of the Aspen Institute, and he’s been the editor of Time Magazine, the Chairman/CEO of CNN and the vice-chairman of the post-Katrina Louisiana Recovery Authority. Other nominees include Sony Pictures Entertainment Chairman/CEO Michael Lynton. Former Harry Reid chief of staff Susan McCue, who’s the founder of the ONE Campaign to combat global poverty and who had previously nominated by George W. Bush. Blue Line Strategic Communications President Michael Meehan. Former Knoxville mayor and former Bush Administration ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe. And Dana Perino, current Fox News contributor and former press secretary to Bush during his second term. All the nominations are subject to approval by the Senate.

S. 592 is the Local Community Radio Act, and it would allow the FCC to issue hundreds of new Low Power FM licenses, even in larger markets where that’s not possible now because of the interference rules. The bill would relax those rules by removing the third-adjacent protection for full-power FMs. All five members of the current FCC have told Congress they're in favor of the change, and now the bill sponsored by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and John McCain (R-AZ) moves to the full Senate. The grassroots Free Press group says “today’s vote brings us one step closer to a new golden era of radio.” On the other side, the NAB is re-doubling its lobbying efforts to keep the bill from coming up for a vote.

Batchelor’s topical show is already airing on two Citadel-owned AMs (KSFO, San Francisco at 560 and WMAL, Washington at 630) as well as Greater Media’s WTKK, Boston (96.9). The New York-based WABC Radio Syndication office says some people characterize Batchelor’s show as “Matt Drudge meets Coast to Coast.” His own quote: “Bankers are always suspect, and the only mistake we make is not to be cynical enough about Wall Street.” His satellite-distributed show airs 9pm-1am, Saturdays and Sundays.

“Throwdown" is hosted by Jagger, who also holds down two other gigs in New York City: He’s night jock at Clear Channel’s WKTU (103.5) and MD at top 40 sister “Z100” WHTZ. Jagger has been self-syndicating his weekend “Throwdown” since 2008, and currently has 22 stations including KZZP Phoenix and KONN Denver. Now he’s got a home at Superadio.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, even before Thanksgiving. In Philadelphia, while no station has officially flipped, Greater Media’s WPEN-FM (97.5) has converted their HD-2 signal to Christmas music. In Fort Wayne, Indiana, listeners have WAJI-FM (95.1), WMEE-FM (97.3) & WJOE-FM (106.3) all playing holiday songs. In Raleigh, North Carolina, WRDU-FM (106,1) has flipped from country music to Christmas music – ahead of a later change to talk as “Rush Radio.” Clear Channel’s KHLX-FM (93.1) in Sacramento, California has also turned to holiday hits. And, internet radio’s AccuHolidays is launching a new holiday-themed music channel each day for the next 40 days through Christmas, according to their website.

They'd worked together for more than five years prior to the May 2009 shutdown of the training and coaching facility for Clear Channel sellers and managers. They won’t be accepting any media clients until April 1, 2010, but they're pursuing business in the transportation, senior living and sectors. The goal is “performance acceleration” done in collaboration with senior management. The principals of ClearWater are Gayle Treichel Bunge, Dennis Douglass and Heather Richetto-Rumley. Managing Partner Richetto-Rumley is at Heather@ClearwaterPG.com, and the website is here.

Fontana paid $975,000 for the Kings Mountain, NC station in 2005 and turned it into a conservative talker with Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly, but was forced to take it silent in January for financial reasons. Fontana tells the Charlotte Observer, “It was a noble effort in a difficult economic time…I wish I’d never done it. I lost a lot of money.” He’s selling WDYT (25-kw days, 100 watts at night) for just $425,000. It will become the second Spanish-language religious station operated by High Point-based Iglesia Nueva Vida. Last year the church bought WGOS, High Point (1070) for $750,000. Fontana continues to be a contributor to Fox Business Channel and has a daily business show on the Inspiration Network cable channel. The Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill Board of Radio-Info.com is here.

Country WVIM (95.3 the Rebel) Memphis PD/morning man Tim Jones was laid off Nov .18. Prior to joining the station in June, Jones programmed crosstown country station WGKX. Jones can be reached at 901-216-3617 or showdawg_1@yahoo.com. A 25-second welcome video from Jones remains on the home page of the station’s site.

He faced charges of having sex with a teenage boy, and after a three day trial, a jury found Doug Wilhite not guilty. Wilhite, the owner of Daytona-area WELE-AM (1380) Ormond Beach, was accused of raping and molesting a 15-year-old boy at his home. Following the acquittal, Wilhite’s attorney told the Orlando Sentinel, “The evidence in this case was that all these children made false accusations of rape in the past, for personal advantage .. the jury was able to get through that and see it was just allegations.” Wilhite still faces further allegations of contributing to the delinquency of a child, showing obscene material to a minor, lewd conduct and lewd or lascivious exhibition.

Sirius Canada launches the first official satellite radio application for iPhone and iPod touch users in Canada. It will be available for free from Apple’s App Store for Sirius Canada subscribers … Vancouver’s CKNW-AM (980) adds the syndicated “Coast to Coast AM” with George Noory for overnights … Four-decade radio veteran and longtime Toronto CHUM-FM (104.5) morning show co-host Roger Ashby will be inducted to the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame … The hot topic on the Radio-Info Canada board is the flip of Hamilton, Ontario’s CING-FM (95.3) from country to the “Greatest Hits of the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s” – Discuss it.