THE WASATCH FRONT is a hot spot for talk radio with four different all-talk stations. In addition, Utah has one all-sports station - KISN (AM-570) - anchored by Chris Tunis.
When it comes to national, syndicated talk radio, KALL (AM-910) probably boasts Utah's premier lineup. KTKK (alias "K-Talk," AM-630) has a complete all-talk format; KCNR (AM-1320) should become an all-talk station around-the-clock within a month; and KSL (AM-1160) focuses on news, information and sports with its personalities and reporters.On weekdays, KALL has Russ Limbaugh from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.; Gene Burns from 5-7 p.m. and Bruce Williams on "Talknet" from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m.
KALL also has other syndicated programming, including G. Gordon Liddy in the afternoons, the remainder of the day.
The station also has Utah's own veteran master of talk radio - Tom Barberi. He'll celebrate his 23rd year with KALL on July 5. Barberi airs weekdays from 6-10 a.m. with his "Voice of Reason" show.
He credits Limbaugh with single-handedly resurrecting talk radio and adding life back into AM radio. He said there has been some strong growth in local talk radio recently.
KTKK, Utah's original all-talk station, has a fleet of local hosts. Except for Saturdays from 6-8 a.m., when a syndicated gardening show by Jerry Baker airs, the station is all local.
Starley Bush, station manager, said KTKK is geared for discussions of local and national issues with lots of room for listener call-ins. He believes syndicated shows just don't allow for enough local listener input.
KTKK has Hank Hathaway (6-9 a.m.); Kay Henrie (9-11 a.m.); Donna Sparks Williams (11 a.m.-1 p.m.); and Randy Moore (1-2 p.m.).
Completing the day on KTKK are: John Harrington (2-5 p.m.); John Prince (5-6 p.m.); Bob Lesh (6-9 p.m.); Jim Kirkwood (9-10 p.m.); Craig Scott (10 p.m.-midnight); Art Bell (midnight-4 a.m.); and David Driesen (4-6 a.m.).
Brian Casey, operations manager for KCNR, said his station will be a 24-hour all-talk station within 30 days. He said KCNR is leaving some of its news focus in favor of becoming more like KTKK used to be. In fact, KCNR has three former KTKK hosts.
The station's morning show from 5:30-8 is being revised, while Simone Sikaly has a local talk show from 8-10 a.m. Other local talk hosts at KCNR are Joe Redburn (10 a.m.-noon); Martin Davies (noon-3 p.m.); Mills Crenshaw (3-6 p.m.) and Ron Shultz (6-7 p.m.).
Additional talk-show programming will be announced soon.
KSL, Utah's premier news station, is anchored by Grant Nielsen and Amanda Dixon in morning drive and Rod Arquette and Maria Shilaos during afternoon-drive time. Bob Lee (9 a.m. until noon) and Doug Wright (1-4 p.m.) are its two other premier personalities.
"The Gil Gross Show," a syndicated program, airs 8-11 p.m., and the "Road Gang" syndicated network is on from midnight until 5 a.m.