7.4.2008
Former KSHB/KMCI personality Meredith Hoenes joins WDAF-TV as a per diem reporter next week.
7.2.2008
KMBZ will move talk show host Darla Jaye from her morning slot to an evening shift. Her new show will expand to three hours and air 7:00-10:00 p.m. starting July 14. The syndicated Glenn Beck show will air in the 9:00-11:00 a.m. slot.
6.28.2008
Local producer Andrew Yates is out at KCMO.
6.28.2008
For those of you north of Kansas City, a new station signed on ten days ago. KEXS-FM (106.1) is licensed to Ravenwood, Missouri, near Maryville. Like KEXS in Excelsior Springs, it broadcasts EWTN programs. A translator also exists on 106.7 in St. Joseph.
6.23.2008
KUDL shuffles the on-air talent. Former KYYS morning co-host Tanna Guthrie resurfaces for afternoon drive. Roger Carson is on the midday shift. Darcy Blake and Michelle Chase are out. Taylor Scott is hosting Smooth Jazz Saturday night for the moment.
6.23.2008
This month Tom Wachs joined KCTV as weekend morning meteorologist. Wachs last worked at WJHL in Johnson City, Tennessee.
6.20.2008
The new closing date for Local TV's purchase of WDAF is July 14, give or take a couple of days.
6.20.2008
UMKC dumps Danny Clinkscale as their basketball play-by-play man. Steven Davis, son of KU and Royals announcer Bob Davis, will take over.
6.10.2008
The FCC has given its final approval on the Local TV, LLC. purhcase of several FOX O&Os, including WDAF-TV. Local TV hasn't given a specific closing date yet.
6.6.2008
If you hang out on YouTube all day like I do, you know KMBC uploads old newscasts from time to time. However, YouTube is also where you can find video of KMBC's Larry Moore not quite understanding a prank call during the night of the petroleum fire. >>Video
6.6.2008
KTBG in Warrensburg has a CP to downgrade to 90kw, but upgrade to a much taller tower near Odessa, moving its coverage area beyond the Kansas border (though I can hear them just fine in Mission anyway).
6.1.2008
WIBW Chief Meteorologist Jeremy Goodwin will work some weekends at KSHB in place of vacationing meteorologists.
5.23.2008
KCXL will start airing the Jones Good Time Oldies feed overnight; the Music of Your Life feed ended in January.
5.15.2008
Topeka radio personality Jim Cates announced his retirement this week (effective at the end of the year). Cates currently works at KMAJ (AM).
5.6.2008
Reporter and one-time weekend morning anchor Nancy Lewis is leaving WDAF-TV for public relations with the Independence School District.
5.6.2008
We've heard KMBC won't renew weekend meteorologist Pete Grisgby's contract. First on the list of replacements is Erin Little, who left to do mornings in Denver, but apparently has a Kansas City "out" clause in her contract.
4.29.2008
Monday Entercom debuted its new syndicated country show, "Second Shift," which airs at night on WDAF-FM and other Entercom country stations.
4.28.2008
Radio personality Big Ron O'Brien died in Phildelphia from pneumonia complications. He was 56. Several articles stated O'Brien began his career at KUDL in Kansas City in 1969, which would've made him 17 or 18 at the time. The 1970 tape doesn't sound like the O'Brien I recognize from KIIS/Los Angeles, KWK/St. Louis, and so on. But, it was a very different presentation from anything done today. >>Article
4.28.2008
The Chiefs Radio Network hired former long snapper Kendall Gammon as a sideline reporter. However, it came at the expense of Bob Gretz, an 18-year veteran of the broadcasts.
4.24.2008
KKFI (90.1 mHz) plans to move to a new building, or at least select a new building by the end of the year. Their current midtown location is near one of my least-favorite intersections.
4.24.2008
No story seems to have generated more intensity on the message boards. Meredith Hoenes is out at KSHB (she wanted to leave anyway ... I think we can end the drama now). Taking a back seat was KSHB's debut of news in high definition, which started with the 11:00 a.m. show.
4.2.2008
KSHB will broadcast their news in high definition at the end of the month. This doesn't include KMCI's "Sports Spot" program.
4.2.2008
Former KMBC News Director Michael Sipes landed in Colorado Springs, as the ND at KRDO.
4.2.2008
Thieves knocked KCTO (1160 kHz) off the air this week after they broke into the tower array south of town and swiped the copper wire.
3.31.2008
New stations will soon hit the air. 89.7 in Paola, Kansas, received call letters KCPU. They will be a religious station. 91.7 in Marysville, Kansas, received call letters KMLL. They will be a religious station. KGLV (88.9) in Manhattan signed on with the K-Love network.
3.17.2008
KDVV is now (or soon will be) simulcasting on KDVB, 96.9 mHz in Effingham, KS. This is likely temporary, considering KDVB operates with 124 watts of power.
3.17.2008
Longtime radio personality and Kansas Speedway announcer Dave Munday died from cancer over the weekend. He was 53 years old. >>Article
3.7.2008
Former KKJO personality Greg Everett died this week in Hawaii of a heart attack. >>Article
2.28.2008
Lawyers filed an age discrimination lawsuit against Entercom, on behalf of Max Floyd, Tanna Guthrie, Traci Wilde and Slacker, all former KYYS air talent. Entercom fired them after changing the format of the former KYYS.
2.28.2008
KMBC launches its expanded morning news on KCWE Monday morning at 7:00. Jim Flink moves from weekend nightside anchor to the expanded morning show. Dion Kim will co-anchor. Jere Gish moves to weekend nightside anchor and Dan Weinbaum moves back to weekend morning anchor.
2.21.2008
The Pitch briefly put one over on KCTV earlier this month. Check out their "ambush" interview of Tracy Brogden-Miller, the KCTV News Director.
>>Article
2.21.2008
KFKF has apparently signed up for GAC's new syndicated radio show, "GAC Nights: Live From Nashville." ABC Networks distributes the show.
2.21.2008
Mark McKay is out at KCMO-FM. Mike O'Brien is now listed in his place on the website.
2.21.2008
WDAF-TV Sports Director Frank Boal is leaving WHB's "Crunch Time," however, he will continue to make appearances with the station.
2.8.2008
With husband Greg Sharpe heading for Nebraska to be the Huskers' play-by-play man, Amy Lietz will leave her anchor position at KSNT. Lietz spent 14 years at KSNT. Her last newscast is February 28th.
1.29.2008
Dan Verbeck is leaving KMBZ to pursue other opportunities.
1.26.2008
This and that in TV ... KMBC added a digital subchannel devoted to weather. KSHB has done this for quite a while. Speaking of 41, KSHB recently debuted its new weekend morning show, not long after the new midday show debuted. All four major newsrooms now air local news when I'm asleep on Saturday and Sunday morning. Could the eventual KMBC morning show on KCWE look internally for anchors? There's talk of moving some nightside/weekend talent to complement Ketz and Pittman. Look for more internet streaming of newscasts from WDAF-TV this year.
1.20.2008
The KYYS call letters won't leave Kansas City. Entercom will move them to 1250 kHz to make way for the KBLV call letters on 99.7 mHz.
1.15.2008
After listening for a few days, I'm reclassifying the future KBLV as "adult rock."
1.11.2008
At 1:00 p.m. today, KYYS flipped formats to a very classic-rock leaning adult alternative station. I'm making this presumption, even though I haven't heard any new music in the time I've listened, but that is what the imaging suggests. I might reclassify this as "adult rock" or even "classic hits" later. KYYS ended with "In the Dark" by Billy Squier, and started the new format with "On the Boulevard" by Jackson Browne. New call letters KBLV have been requested.
1.10.2008
Oh, the things that happen when one spends a week on jury duty. 997theboulevard.com is registered to Entercom Communications, and that appears to be the new name for KYYS, starting as soon as tomorrow. This would mark the second death of the "KY" brand. There is disagreement over the exact format, but it appears to be rock-based with more current music. I can't upload any updates tomorrow because of my important civi duties.
1.10.2008
Steve Stewart joins the Royals radio broadcasting team. The former Reds play-by-play announcer will substitute for Denny Matthews many times throughout the year.
12.26.2007
KCXM changed its call letters to KLRX this week.
12.23.2007
Why this was announced on a Saturday, I couldn't tell you. The worst-kept secret at Fox 4 became official when NewsCorp finally announced the sale of the station and eight others to Local TV, a branch of Oak Hill Partners equity group. Confusing the matter is the recent departure of the Local TV CEO to Tribune, which with Oak Hill created a parntership to share some of the operations of both companies' stations.
12.22.2007
D.A. and Tim Grunhard are both out at KCSP. Enter longtime ABC broadcaster Roger Twibell next month. Dave Armstrong is also thought to be joining on a part-time basis.
12.16.2007
Weekend anchor Tom Lawrence is leaving WDAF.
12.16.2007
When KCXM flipped to the K-Love network, KWJC in Liberty also changed networks, moving from K-Love to the younger-leaning Air-1 satellite feed. At last check, KLRQ in Clinton is still airing K-Love.
12.14.2007
Sherrie Brown is the new News Director at KMBC. She comes from KOCO in Oklahoma City.
12.8.2007
I saw a job listing for Chief Meteorologist at KSNT in Topeka. The ad is dated December 6th. It turns out Bruce Jones really is leaving for the weather alert radio business. Jones worked at KMBC in Kansas City prior to KSNT, but moved to Topeka because he knew he would never be a chief meteorologist with Bryan Busby in the picture.
12.8.2007
The shuffling continues. KCTV will move Dana Wright to their morning show next month. Carolyn Long moves dayside. Former 5er Sophia Wharton has surfaced in Topeka as Sophia Spencer on KTKA. The anchor she replaced, Jana Corrie, is on her way to report for KMBC.
12.8.2007
Van Patrick left KBEQ last month after a few months with the morning show. Apparently it was his decision.
12.1.2007
This week the Educational Media Foundation agreed to purchase KCXM from Union Broadcasting. While the government reviews the sale, EMF already has local control of the station. They proved that by switching KCXM from ESPN sports to the satellite-fed K-Love network - a Christian contemporary music station. In between, Union briefly resurrected 97.3 the Planet before joining K-Love at midnight December 1st.
11.23.2007
Look for more morning news out of the new KMBC palace. Sometime next year KMBC plans to add two hours of news from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. on KCWE in order to compete with WDAF. KCTV already does one extra hour on KSMO.
11.23.2007
KCKC Program Director Luke Jensen resigned, effective at the end of the year.
11.14.2007
I think we knew this day would come sooner rather than later. KSHB will cancel their "Kansas City Live" show in January. But, the station will add newscasts at 11:00 in the morning weekdays, and on the weekend at 8:00 in the morning.
11.1.2007
Happy Hallo ... err, Thanksgiv ... no, Christmas? KCKC rolled out the Christmas music yesterday, and sure enough, it's not a Halloween prank.
10.18.2007
WDAF-TV will debut new graphics on Tuesday the 23rd, during the noon newscast. This is the FOX O&O package that the O&O stations have gradually adopted (whether they are for sale or not).
10.18.2007
Andy Fales is leaving KMBC at the end of the year. It appears he will return to Des Moines.
10.15.2007
Despite interim management, major changes are on the way at KMBC. Kris Ketz will move to the morning show. Jere Gish moves to weekend mornings. Dan Weinbaum and Maria Antonia move off the anchor desk to full-time reporting. It appears Kelly Eckerman will remain on the 5:00 p.m. show Tuesday-Friday while taking over Friday and Saturday night shows. Larry and Lara remain the constants, keeping their Sunday-Thursday schedule, anchoring 6 & 10, and some 5:00 shows.
10.9.2007
Michael Sipes resigned today as News Director of KMBC, citing a family emergency. Garry Roberts and Brian Bracco will oversee the newsroom through the November book.
10.4.2007
It's been a slow month, huh? KTOP in Topeka has flipped to ESPN sports. They retain local broadcast rights to Topeka's minor league hockey team.
10.4.2007
This was expected: KCTV named Brad Stephens their permanent nightside male anchor, officially replacing Michael Scott, although Stephens has been "filling in" for nearly a year.
10.4.2007
Looking for Christmas music? KCXL will start playing such music on a part-time basis this Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
8.23.2007
There was a bit of a delay in equipment installation, so KMBC's newscasts from the new building start tonight at 5:00. Originally, I had reported they would start on the 20th.
8.23.2007
Van Patrick is returning to the Kansas City airwaves. The former AM talk show host will join KBEQ's morning show.
8.18.2007
Former WHB co-owner Jerry Green died this week at age 77. He had suffered a stroke in the last year.
8.17.2007
Rick Iler will be KSHB's new News Director. He comes from KPHO in Phoenix.
8.15.2007
If you want to see pictures of KMBC's new building, check out the Kansas City Star.
>>Article
8.1.2007
WHB said they had lost a lot of money airing the Royals the last few years. Union Broadcasting didn't even bid this time around (withdrawing its offer weeks ago) as the Royals will move to Entercom's KCSP starting next year. KMBZ will air some games during scheduling conflicts.
7.27.2007
You might've noticed Jim Flink doing sports tonight. KMBC's Karen Kornacki was injured when she got hit with a projectile fired from a pellet gun in the Royals locker room. Emil Brown had apparently aimed at something else, but missed. The pellet shattered Kornacki's contact lens, probably saving her from serious eye damage.
7.26.2007
Debbie Bush has resigned as KSHB's News Director. She'll become the general manager of a station in another market.
7.25.2007
New Vision Television has agreed to buy KSNT in Topeka, KSNW in Wichita, and a few other stations.
7.25.2007
Cumulus Broadcasting is the latest company with the intention of taking itself private. CEO Lew Dickey heads the group of investors.
7.18.2007
Entercom named Herndon Hasty and Dave Alpert as co-market managers. Both had worked for other owners in town. Hasty spent many years working for the CBS/Infinity cluster in Kansas City. Alpert worked for Cumulus.
7.1.2007
Last month KCWJ increased its daytime power to 5,000 watts.
6.13.2007
NewsCorp is selling WDAF-TV along with several other FOX O&O stations (Cleveland, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Denver, Salt Lake City, Memphis, Birmingham, Greensboro). There is no buyer yet. NewsCorp indicated they want to sell the stations as a group, not separately.
6.11.2007
KDVV will carry Chiefs Football for the Topeka market, starting this August.
6.4.2007
KYYS began promoting a record-setting performance of one song, nearly 1,700 guitarists played "Smoke On the Water" en masse Sunday. That might be a short-lived claim. A Polish group claims they set the record when over 1,800 guitarists played "Hey Joe" simultaneously on May 1. Both await verification.
6.4.2007
Former Entercom market manager Bob Zuroweste has landed in Dayton, OH, to manage the Clear Channel cluster there.
5.25.2007
KJTY in Topeka has flipped to Contemporary Christian "Family Life Radio" as Joy Public Broadcasting completes a sale to Family Life Communications.
5.20.2007
J.R. Ammons has resigned from his PD gig at KMXV, effective at the end of June.
5.14.2007
Dr. Laura's show has returned to the market ... sort of. KGNM (1270 kHz) in St. Joseph started airing her show, slotted from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
5.11.2007
Nicole Teich is leaving her KSHB television reporter job this month in favor of a gig at radio station KMBZ.
5.11.2007
J.C. is no longer at KDVV in Topeka. Midday host Kasey has moved to the morning show.
5.4.2007
KMBC has hired Andy Fales as a weekend sports anchor/reporter. Fales comes from WHO-TV in Des Moines. KMBC's top candidate for the weekend morning anchor position might also be from WHO (she was interviewing this week). I also forgot to mention Lisa Teachman, introduced on the air Friday afternoon as the new weekend morning meteorologist. She arrived from WBFF in Baltimore.
5.4.2007
Jesse Garcia is on his way out of Kansas City country radio, heading for the PD job at KCCY in Colorado Springs.
5.1.2007
KCTV has reportedly hired Tracy Brogden-Miller as their next News Director. Brogden-Miller works at KTVK, an independent station in Phoenix.
4.6.2007
KCFX appears ready to debut its new morning show. The rumor is KCFX hired Larry Moffitt and paired him with Frankie, allowing Doug Medlock to take over midday duties.
4.6.2007
Wilks Broadcasting has named Mike Rowen its Kansas City market manager. He replaces Herndon Hasty, who left last week after 28 years in the business. Mike Kennedy becomes the VP of programming and operations. Luke Jensen will take over the PD spot at KCKC.
3.24.2007
In case you wondered what happened to Steve Shaw, he will soon report for KSTP-TV in Minneapolis/St. Paul. For those who know the Minneapolis market, you know Shaw will fit in nicely at KSTP.
3.3.2007
Karli Ritter will join WDAF-TV as the midday meteorologist later this month. She comes from WAKA in Montgomery, AL.
2.21.2007
WHB shareholders have bought out majority owner Jerry Green. Green remains unable to handle day-to-day operations because of a stroke. Wife Betsy sued on his behalf, demanding to see the books, and WHB countersued. However, both sides dropped their lawsuits last week. WHB will pay through a long-term buyout.
2.17.2007
It appears KCFX has cut ties with the syndicated Bob & Tom show. Even the most popular of syndicated shows don't last long on the KCFX morning shift. It remains unclear what the station will do next.
2.12.2007
Regent Ducas is leaving KCTV for the News Director's job at KTVT (CBS O&O) in Dallas. He is actually KTVT's second choice. Their first choice backed out to stay in Cleveland.
2.3.2007
There are so many wrong ways to write this next story. However, Dick Dale and his morning show will come to KRBZ later this month. Dale most recently worked mornings at KOMP in Las Vegas. KRBZ has been without a morning show since Afentra moved with Lazlo to Seattle.
1.31.2007
KMBC will soon have another on-air opening. Meteorologist/reporter Erin Little is heading to KDVR in Denver for morning weather duties.
1.18.2007
KMXN in Topeka has re-imaged itself ... again. "X 92.9" is now more of a current rock station ("active rock" in industry-speak). This would represent their fourth format in the last few years.
1.12.2007
There are now dueling lawsuits over the future of Union Broadcasting. Primary owner Jerry Green is not physically able to run the company. Union sued his wife, claiming she was trying to install herself as sole director. Betsy Green countersued Union to force them to turn over their books, and possibly seek the sale of her husband's share of the company.
1.10.2007
WDAF adjusted its image today. They are now calling themselves "106.5 the Wolf." They are still playing country music. As far as I can tell, they haven't changed the active music titles.
1.10.2007
Bill Pikus is reportedly on his way out at KMBC. Pikus anchored weekend sports, and although held all the organizational duties for the sports department, had to play second fiddle on the air to Len Dawson.
1.4.2007
Happy New Year. I hope you like sports. Union Broadcasting ended the short-lived rock programming on KCXM last night in favor of ESPN sports' complete syndicated lineup. This allows WHB to carry its local sports programming without any conflicts. "Max FM" only lasted 15 months. While they carried the popular Mancow syndicated show, the station failed to make a dent in any ratings demographic.
12.1.2006
Merry Christmas, huh? KCTV fired primary anchor Michael Scott, and although we don't know what pushed them over the edge, the complaints ran high and deep. Scott hadn't been at the station very long, but his dismissal follows an established pattern of problems at previous stations.
12.1.2006
KCTV's not the only one swining the axe. Wilks Broadcasting, now in control of the CBS Radio properties through a local marketing agreement, let Rusty Walker, Tim Peters and the news director go from KFKF. Shotgun Jackson isn't on the air at KBEQ anymore; we hear he's sitting out a non-compete for another job in town.
11.28.2006
Mike Shannon and Scott Parks will take over Jerry Agar's slot on KMBZ. I apologize for the goof earlier, but Agar is really leaving this time, heading for Chicago.
11.20.2006
KCKC transitioned into its Christmas music format over the weekend. They almost made it past Thanksgiving without playing Christmas music.
11.4.2006
Darren Wilhite and Tim Wall join WDAF for morning drive on November 7th. The duo have worked together 18 years, most recently in Grand Rapids and Detroit. They replace the retired David Lawrence.
11.1.2006
Not surprisingly, the Christmas party started early again. As soon as the Halloween candy was sold, the stores couldn't put up Christmas decorations fast enough. Oh, and KUDL has already started playing Christmas music full-time. Expect KCKC to do the same soon.
10.30.2006
KCXL has started up the Christmas music machine, at least on a part-time basis. A few other stations around the country have already started playing holiday songs on a full time basis.
10.12.2006
CBS Radio has agreed to sell its Kansas City cluster (KMXV, KFKF, KBEQ, KCKC) to Wilks Broadcasting for $138 million. Wilks owns very few stations around the country. They recently owned stations in Des Moines and Springfield.
10.7.2006
Two former KCTVers move up at WDAF-TV. Laura Thornquist will take over the vacant morning co-anchor/midday reporter position. Sharita Hutton moves up to weekend anchor.
9.22.2006
After 33 years in radio, David Lawrence has decided to retire. Lawrence spent many of those years at WDAF (61 Country, then Country 106.5). Lawrence's last show will air October 13.
9.15.2006
Former KQRC morning co-host Murphy Wells has joined rival station KCXM. Wells will hold down a midday shift.
9.13.2006
Larry Moffitt has moved across the hall, going from mornings at KYYS to afternoons at WDAF. He'll replace Rick Miller, whose contract wasn't renewed.
9.13.2006
Another defection at WDAF-TV: Heather McMichael is leaving after 12 years. She has taken a public relations job. Meanwhile, Fox 4 has hired Paul Herdtner from WJBK in Detroit as a morning anchor/midday reporter.
8.30.2006
WDAF-TV will conduct a soft relaunch of their new website Thursday. The new URL is myfoxkc.com. They're still tinkering with it, so they won't promote it just yet. All the FOX O&O websites have the same look, and soon, they'll all have the same graphics.
8.30.2006
Jerry Agar is leaving KMBZ for a show of his own on WABC in New York.
8.30.2006
Last week Ally Francis pleaded guilty to money laundering. Each count carries a maximum of 20 years in prison. However, she'll likely receive a plea deal to testify against the others in her case.
8.20.2006
If you want to hear Christmas music a little early, KCTO (1160 kHz) will be testing with such programming starting Monday. KCTO will probably only be receivable in the southern part of the metro.
8.14.2006
This morning, Randy Miller returned to the air as KCTV's morning traffic "reporter", replacing the indicted Ally Francis. The longtime radio personality has been off the air for a few years working on his own business.
8.4.2006
The KU lineup is complete. Former player and current television analyst Chris Piper will take over Max Falkenstien's basketball color commentator position on the Jayhawk Radio Network. David Lawrence (football color commentator) will continue broadcast basketball pre-game shows.
8.4.2006
Another WDAF-TV departure: Shelly Slater is leaving for a weekend anchor position at WFAA in Dallas.
7.25.2006
University of Kansas men's basketball and football will air on KCSP, starting this fall. Another yet-to-be-determined Entercom station will air occasional women's basketball games, along with KCSP. Meanwhile, Entercom also hangs on to University of Missouri athletics. They'll air on KMBZ.
7.23.2006
The FCC has given KCXL permission to test KCTO (1160 kHz) south of Kansas City from now until September.
7.18.2006
One more note at Fox 4: Meteorologist Casey Curry is leaving for KTRK in Houston.
7.17.2006
Playing catchup (or ketchup, as I thought it was in preschool)...
After 8 years at WDAF-TV and 15 years in television, Toby Cook is leaving to become Media Relations Director for the Kansas City Royals. Cook starts his new job in August. The Royals could certainly use good media relations these days. Carrie Coogan also, mostly, left WDAF-TV to pursue a full-time radio career. She's already Johnny Dare's sidekick on KQRC. Coogan will still contribute occasional stories for Fox 4.
7.1.2006
Get ready for more changes in KU sports broadcasts. They've already moved Jayhawk TV Network basketball games to KSNT in Topeka. In Kansas City, the Jayhawk Radio Network will likely land on KCSP. An affiliate list recently released showed Kansas City as "TBA" under radio.
So what version are we on now...8? This has been the internet source for current Kansas City and Topeka information since 1996.