Ever wonder why there are so many radio morning-show teams, yet so few afternoon-drive teams broadcasting in the Salt Lake market? Well, add one new afternoon team to the mix as "Mick and Allen" have returned to KBER (FM-101.1)
Mick Martin and Allen Handy, veteran DJs who were one of the market's best-ever morning teams with great compatibility and conversation, returned to the air March 10 for a weekday, 2-6 p.m. show.
Kelly Hammer, KBER program director, described it as "a morning show in afternoon drive."
"Mick and Allen" began on KBER before moving to "Rock 99" in May of 1996. After several years they were split up and went their separate ways. Allen joined the morning show on KFNZ (AM-1320) for three years. Mick stayed on KURR ("Rock 99") until the station's demise last October.
"We are thrilled to have Mick and Allen back on KBER," Hammer said. "They have a lot of heritage in the market and are the perfect complement to the Bob and Tom show in the morning."
KCPW CHANGES — This station is striving to be different than the other National Public Radio stations in Utah.
At FM-88.3/105.3 and AM-1010 on the dial, KCPW changed its weekday schedule significantly late last month, switching to include more news on a worldwide level.
"Our listeners said they wanted more international news," said Brian Schott, KCPW news director/host. "Our mission is news."
As a result, the "BBC Global Report" airs 11 a.m. for an hour each weekday, and the "BBC News Hour" is broadcast from at 2 p.m. "Nobody does it better than BBC," Schott said.
"Talk of the Nation" has left the air and "Day to Day" now airs from at noon each weekday.
The station has made other programming changes too. "The Connection" has moved to the 1-2 p.m. time period and "All Things Considered," airs at 3 and again at 6:30 p.m. each weekday. "Marketplace" moves to a new time, 6 p.m. "Fresh Air" is also on later in the day now, at 7-8 p.m.
Another new program, "On Point," a discussion of world implications in the news with Tom Ashbrook, is on from 8-10 p.m. each weeknight. More BBC programming continues to air in the overnight hours on KCPW.
Located in Library Square downtown, KCPW will now look at revising its weekend programming.
The station's full programming schedule can be accessed at www.kcpw.org.
NEW KBEE SCHEDULE — Marie Osmond has been off the radio for some time. After weeks of airing reruns, KBEE (FM-98.7) has recently reworked its weekday schedule to fill that gap. (After Osmond's syndication with the Jones Radio Network was dropped earlier this winter, KBEE was unable to work out a deal to have a Salt Lake-only version of Osmond's show.)
Program director Rusty Keys is now the DJ from 3-7 p.m., while the syndicated John Tesh program continues from 7 p.m. until midnight. Morning DJs remain — "Todd and Erin," from 5:30 to 10 a.m. and Shawn Stevens from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
CORRECTION — KUER's programming was reported two weeks ago to have been about the same 20 years ago as it is today. While some of the main show titles are the same ("All Things Considered," "Morning Edition"), there was a lot of classical music played 20 years ago in the daytime that isn't around today.
RADIO HAPPENINGS — Jon Smith, former KJQN afternoon DJ, is the new program director of KPLD, "The Planet," (FM-94.3) in St. George, an alternative music station. He is also the new morning personality there. Smith is a brother of Jimmy Chunga, morning co-host on KENZ.
— The Utah Junior Chamber International ("JCI") Senate will honor — "toast and roast" — Tom Barberi, Utah's "Voice of Reason," on Saturday, March 19, 6:30 p.m. in the Willow Creek County Club. Although Barberi hasn't landed another area radio job since he was let go from KALL — after a 30-plus-year career at the station — his long broadcasting career is well worth recognition.
E-mail: lynn@desnews.com