KSL (AM-1160) earned some excellent ratings in the past Arbitron book, according to Russ Wood, general manager.
"The format is building, and people have learned how to use our format and understand we're unique," Wood said. "We are the only full-service news and information format in the market."Wood also explained that KSL has become more news oriented, spending less time on authors and more with newsmakers and analysts. Interview segments are also shorter. He stressed there's been no reduction in news and traffic reports since "Sportscentral" moved to an earlier afternoon position.
What all this means is that AM radio isn't dead and that KSL, despite its considerable fine-tuning in recent years, has re-established itself as the kingpin of AM radio and news radio in the Mountain West.
- Regarding KSL radio's quest to purchase an FM radio station in this market, Wood said there are no definite possibilities. He said the FCC still believes KSL radio should not be granted approval to buy an FM station in the Salt Lake area because the LDS Church already owns other media properties in the same area.
Although Wood didn't specifically mention the LDS Church's ownership of KBYU-FM and KBYU-TV, sources at other stations believe the FCC regards those public radio- and PBS-affiliated properties as reasons not to grant KSL radio a waiver to purchase an FM station.
Wood said KSL is hoping to gain approval someday to rent air time on another local FM station through "time-brokering," a trend in radio today. Wood is also working with the National Association of Broadcasters to persuade the FCC to relax ownership regulations because so many radio stations are in financial trouble.
- Here are highlights for KSL's Saturday, Feb. 22, programming:
7-10 a.m. - "Greenhouse" will answer any gardening question. This week's guest is Sterling Herman, water plant expert from Glover Nursery.
10-11 a.m. - "Car Radio" will answer listeners' auto questions, with guests Boyd Ennis and Clay Liston from Tunex.
11-11:30 a.m. - "Your House" will feature Eugenia Chapman, "The Queen of Clean."
11:30-noon - "KSL's Cooking Show" will provide delicious Chinese recipes with Sue Ann Chow from Charlie Chows.
- KKAT (FM-101.9) - Nothing much is usually written in this column about "Kat Country 102," maybe because the station is the most-listened-to station in Utah (according to Arbitron) and so it's taken for granted.
In any event, the "Morning Guys," Cano and Simmons, have been doing some very entertaining things lately, including a "Jazzy" song about Karl Malone.
News-traffic reports by Simmons are not only informative, they are entertaining, too, because he's such a fast, smooth-talker. If you need an auctioneer who's also a radio personality, Simmons might be your man.
Cano has perhaps the deepest voice in Utah radio, kind of like Doug Miller's voice.
Together, Cano and Simmons really complement each other. No wonder KKAT has so many listeners.
- MORE RADIO ON TV - One important radio personality who is also currently on TV regularly was omitted in last week's "Radio Dial" - Mike Runge, of KALL-AM/FM. Runge, the co-host for Tom Barberi's morning show, is the regular sportscaster on KSTU Ch. 13's Fox-TV news at 9 p.m.
Runge is one of the most versatile people in broadcasting. Several weeks ago I ran across a newspaper advertisement from May 1969, and there was Runge, shown working as the assistant manager for the Ogden Freight Outlet on Riverdale Road. It seems Runge can do it all - sports on TV/radio, hockey play-by-by announcer, newsman, radio personality and even store manager.
- TV ON RADIO - Tim Ross, part-time KUTV Ch. 2 weathercaster, is doing a KTKK (alias "K-Talk," AM-630) talk show every Saturday from noon-2 p.m. He started his radio work on Feb. 15 and will also fill in on other KTKK talk show shifts depending on vacations, etc.
"I was very impressed with him last Saturday," said Starley Bush, KTTK general manager. "He's very friendly as a talk show host and has the ability to draw people out without being controversial, but he asks some incisive questions."
Bush also said he is in the process of renegotiating a contact with afternoon host Danny Kramer. Bush said he'd like Kramer to stay, but Kramer's contract expires at the end of the month. Numerous rumors have been circulating about Kramer's departure, but Bush said nothing definite has been decided.
- KUTQ (alias "The Q," FM-99.5) - Gary Waldron, new program director for the station, will likely not be doing an on-air shift. Starley Bush, part-owner of the station, said the matter has not been finalized but he and Waldron realize that doing a morning on-air shift would hinder a program director's activities for the rest of the day.
Al Taylor, former KZHT disc jockey, is currently doing the morning show on the Q. Former morning man Mark Christiansen left KUTQ to go with the modern music group at "X-96" (KZOL).
Shawn Michaels, formerly of KZOL, started doing the midday shift on KUTQ this week. (These moves reaffirm the game of "musical chairs" in local radio.)
- KJQ (FM 92.7, 95.5, 104.9 and AM-1490) - The station is in the process of making more changes in its morning show. According to Scott Gilreath, station manager, Mo Mellady, the station's morning co-host with Kerry Jackson for only a couple of weeks, has left KJQ. Gilreath said she was hired away by a California station.
This leaves the morning show up in the air, but Gilreath said a change could be announced as soon as Friday, and it involves hiring a well-known personality from this market.
Although Gilreath declined to mention who the morning replacement is at this time, another source said it is apparently Clyde Lewis, formerly of KMGR.
KJQ has also lost some of the services of "Tattoe," hired to be its creative/production director a few weeks ago. He'll continue to do voice work for KJQ, but his primary job will be as production director for KITS radio in San Francisco.
Gilreath said he'll continue to make staff changes as necessary until he creates a stable staff with the best possible talent.
- SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT - Allison Strong is the midday personality at KJQ. In previous radio articles, I've mixed her up with another "Allison" (Allison Steele) and incorrectly stated she previously worked at KBER. Strong, who is on the air from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. weekdays, never worked for KBER. Strong also has a "Blue Plate Special" segment on her show at 12:20 p.m.
- MODERN MUSIC FAME SPREADS - I got a telephone call from a Pocatello broadcaster earlier this week who was interested in contacting the former KJQ staffers who are now at KZOL (alias "X-96") apparently to see if they would consider bringing their popular format there. He wasn't aware the modern music guys had already found a home at FM-96.1, but this proves the group's fame has spread beyond the boundaries of Utah.
- KRCL (FM-90.9) - The station's annual spring fund-raising campaign is under way. Pledge forms have been mailed to many listeners, and March 7-17 is "Radio Activist Week" when KRCL gives listeners some of the year's best programming. Listeners can receive a KRCL mug, chair, T-shirt, jacket or table as a pledge gift, depending on the amount donated to this non-profit community station, which provides programming found nowhere else in Utah.
- KUER (FM-90.1) - "Friday Edition" has moved to a new time. The new time will be 4-4:30 p.m. instead of 6:30-7 p.m.
KUER will also be airing a comprehensive 10-part National Public Radio series "In Spanish It's Called SITA," about AIDS among Hispanics, beginning Monday, Feb. 24, on "Morning Edition," "All Things Considered" and "Weekend Edition."
- KBZN (FM-97.9) - Robert Julian Horky will be featured on the Sunday, Feb. 23, edition of "Musical Starstreams," 8-10 a.m. Later in the day, Bela Fleck will be the guest on "Jazz Trax" (7 p.m.-midnight).
- Here's a schedule for next week's "7 O'Clock CD" show:
Monday, Feb. 24: "Larger Than Life," by Skywalk.
Tuesday, Feb. 25: "Niki Nana," by Yanni.
Wednesday, Feb. 26: "Pieces of a Heart," by Carl Anderson.
Thursday, Feb. 27: "Vintage BBs," by Flim and the BBs.
Friday, Feb. 28: "Power of Suggestion," by Richard Elliot.