Feb 13.cwk

Airwaves: February 13, 2009

Classical KGIL

I can’t tell you the number of calls and letters I have received over the years asking for classical music to be played on a weak-signaled AM station during the interference-prone evening hours. Well, actually I can: none. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a demand for it, even though there isn’t.

KGIL (540 and 1260 AM) is fulfilling that demand with a one hour program each weeknight at 8:00. It’s called Exploring Music with Bill McGlaughlin, and all jokes aside, I think it a neat addition to the lineup at the station.

McGlaughlin takes listeners on a journey into a wide range of topics involving classical music, from composer biographies to explorations of various cultures, musical styles and time periods. Kind of a Behind the Music, classical edition.

The program removes an hour a night of old standards heard as part of The Great American Songbook. Songbook now starts at at 10:00, right after an hour of old time radio on When Radio Was!, hosted by OTR expert Greg Bell. That’s right, old time radio is back on the regular airwaves courtesy of KGIL.

So, what do you do if you have trouble hearing KGIL clearly outside of the San Fernando Valley ... and who doesn’t, especially at night? Easy: Buy an HD Radio. KGIL’s AM signal is simulcast on KKGO’s digital HD-3 channel, so if you have a good shot of Mount Wilson and receive KKGO (105.1 FM) cleanly, you can hear KGIL static-free.

Shakeup

Lots of changes going on over at KABC (790 AM) and KLOS 95.5 FM). New programmer David Hall has let go of longtime KABC news voice Rob Marinko and has replaced him with Mark Austin Thomas. Thomas will take on Marinko’s morning news anchor duties as well as being the station’s news director.

But the big news is the arrival of Bob Moore, who just left CBS last week is the new General Manager of both KABC and KLOS. Moore replaces John Davison, who left the Titanic, err, stations last Monday.

Both moves are interesting, as they complete a total transformation of upper management at both stations. New GM over both, new programmers at both, new news director at one, and potentially even more changes in various positions in the next few weeks.

I said on January 30th that KLOS will probably be a totally different station by the years end. You can add KABC to the same list.

Sirius Problem

Sirius Satellite Radio is fighting a takeover attempt from EchoStar, the company that brings you satellite television’s Dish Network.

Dish carries Sirius as part of its music channel lineup ... is this a case of liking the product so much that EchoStar CEO Charlie Ergen wants to buy the company?

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