Indiana Radio Industry Pioneer Dies At 91

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A longtime Hoosier State radio broadcasting executive and member of the Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame has died at the age of 91.


petranoff-robertRobert Petranoff, who helped sign on Class A WBWB-FM 96.7 in Bloomington, Ind., after a stint as Program Manager of Sarkes Tarzian’s WTTS-FM 92.3 and CBS affiliated WTTV-4 in Indianapolis, passed away peacefully Jan. 11 in Westfield, Ind.

WTTV signed on the air in 1949, and five years later Petranoff had the honor of producing and directing the first-ever TV broadcast of an Indiana University basketball game.

Petranoff also taught production and station management at Indiana University’s radio and television department, joining in 1957. In the role, he produced radio and TV programs for the university for distribution to commercial stations.

In 1971, Petranoff then assumed a full-time position with the Indiana University News Bureau until his retirement in 1990.

Petranoff was also an investor and part-owner of various broadcast ventures, including Monroe All-Channel Cablevision and Indiana Communications Inc., former owner of WBWB and the original WKRY in Versailles, Ind.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bob’s memory to First United Church, 2420 E. Third St., Bloomington, Indiana 47401.