Radio AM to FM

Radio AM to FM: August 4, 2000

New APD at KABC

Must be the water. Or the name. Or the rack signings.

KABC (790 AM) has selected Eric Stanger for the position of assistant program director, replacing Eric Braverman who became the official program director when Drew Hayes was let go earlier this year.

Aside from the fact that both programmers are named Eric, they both have the distinction of being former producers for The Tom Leykis Show, heard locally afternoons on KLSX (97.1 FM).

Coincidence? Yeah, probably.

Meanwhile, in Hollywood

Dave Cooke was released from his duties at KFWB (980 AM) due to "differences" of opinion with management in regard to the direction the all-news station. They always say that.

Cooke's replacement has not been selected; RadioDigest.com's Tomm Looney, who works at KFWB, says that news director Crys Quimby has the inside track. Of course Looney was scooped on the Cook firing by Don Barrett's laradio.com, so you never know ...

Meanwhile, in Philadelphia

KABC spent this week covering the Republican National Convention by having afternoon host Larry Elder broadcast live from the convention, while news anchor Carol Ramos phoned in reports throughout the day.

When the Democrats come to Los Angeles in August, the station will have John and Ken, Al Rantel and Elder broadcasting from the Convention Central. John and Ken will also be on the street talking with demonstrators and protesters.

Country Comeback

The verdict is not in quite yet, but Emmis executives traveled to Nashville on a fact-finding trip regarding the fate of country music on recently-purchased KZLA (93.9 FM). The fact they were hoping to find? Would country-music as an industry pay cash to keep the format on the station.

As it stands now, Emmis is strongly hinting that the format will indeed stay on. At least for now. "We're moving ahead with our Fall marketing plans for KZLA," programmer RJ Curtis told Don Barrett. "As a country station."

Onward

From the rumor mill, one source says that Channel 103.1's format may not be exclusive to the internet after it loses the 103.1 FM broadcast frequency. Could a small AM station that currently simulcasts KXTA's (1150 AM) amazingly bad and very low-rated sports format soon carry music?

Fish Report

One of the most asked questions I get via e-mail concerns the disappearance of Charlie Tuna from KLAC (570 AM). As mentioned previously, he's now the newscaster on Billy Burke's KBIG (104.3 FM) morning show.

///

To subscribe to The Daily Breeze, call (310) 540-5511