KPLZ has switched to SANTA FM with all Christmas music from now until we can’t stand it anymore. Shortly after the holiday is over, Star 101.5 is to roll out a new format. Promos ask “Listen to the NEW sound of Star 101.5 for 30 days…” There is no money back guarantee included with the offer and not a hint of what is to come…How much ABC Radio Network programming can KOMO 1000/97.7 carry? There are a lot of year-end reports being offered by the network:
Playback 2016 is a one-hour special anchored by ABC News Radio’s Cheri Preston and Aaron Katersky featuring an inside look at the biggest stories of the year and the newsmakers behind those stories.
Perspective, ABC News Radio’s weekly news magazine, reports on the year in politics, the terror attacks in Brussels, the Pulse Nightclub attack, and the sniper attacks on police in Dallas.
World News This Year takes a look back at the major news events of the past year in 2016’s final edition of this weekly show.
2016 As It Happened is a three-hour retrospective of some of 2016’s top stories, as told through highlights of our breaking news coverage, providing listeners the opportunity to hear how some of the biggest events of the year unfolded live on ABC News Radio.
In Donald Trump: The Making of a President, ABC World News Tonight Sunday Anchor Tom Llamas, who spent over 500 days on the campaign trail covering Trump, takes listeners through the making of the president-elect. The report includes interviews with Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s campaign manager; Lara Trump, Eric Trump’s wife; Omarosa Manigault, former contestant on The Apprentice; Lynne Patton, Director of the Eric Trump Foundation and former Trump assistant; and Richard LeFrak, Trump’s friend for 50 years.
ABC Radio will also offer many short-form 2016 wrap-up reports.
This year marks the 28th anniversary of national syndication for Rush Limbaugh. The 2016 election must have helped the ratings as Premier Networks just signed a three year/multi-million dollar extension with Cumulus [33 stations]. The program is heard locally on 570 KVI 770 KTTH.
KPLZ Stunts With Santa FM Closing 2016
lonergan says:
December 19, 2016 2:31 pm at
I’m sure KVI wishes Rush Limbaugh was still heard on 570. He started there, but has been a mainstay on KTTH 770 for years now.
And an interesting historic sidelight–28 years ago when Limbaugh first went national, he was first heard on lil’ ol’ KLAY in Lakewood/Tacoma before being picked up by KVI. I remember Clay Huntington asking me what I thought of the guy. I told Clay I wasn’t impressed because Rush’s voice was too high and kind of irritating to listen to for 3 hours.
toddmitchell says:
December 19, 2016 6:12 pm at
Not sure KVI needs Rush, as it has a half-share lead on KTTH. That said, lonergan is correct: Rush is on KTTH…
pugetsound says:
December 19, 2016 9:09 pm at
Oops! My mistake. Yes, I bet KVI does want Rush.
pugetsound says:
December 19, 2016 9:13 pm at
Mike, you are NO judge of great talent! You do realize Rush operates with “half my brain tied behind my back” — Wait! Now it all makes sense. Maybe you were right in some respects.
pugetsound says:
December 19, 2016 9:22 pm at
I think Rush’s delivery has become more irritating since he lost his hearing and with age.
pugetsound says:
December 26, 2016 8:47 am at
No change in format. 10 commercials in a row, mostly for hearing aids and weight loss schemes. Any hint of a format change was only clever wording in a promo. False flag.
mikec says:
December 26, 2016 11:18 am at
In my warped opinion, best Xmas Music award to a Sea-Tac broadcaster: KXPA 1540!!! That’s right…their ethnic block programming was suspended for a few days & their music selection was most eclectic: classical guitarist Liona Boyd’s beautiful rendition of “Greensleeves”, obscure British folksters Fairport Convention’ “I Saw 3 Ships A-Sailing”, Gene Autry’s original “Rudolph…”jazz pianist Bill Evans’ “My Favourite Things” all in the same set is just one example. My wife & I had KXPA for background music during dinner using a line-out cord from my communications receiver to a small FM transmitter and quite enjoyed it.
I was quite disappointed to hear so little music “DXing” the AM band at night this year. It seems most of the big sticks stuck to the usual vitriolic talk or mind-numbing jocktalk, with only a few breaking format for a few days of Xmas music. Too bad…
pugetsound says:
December 29, 2016 6:55 pm at
I didn’t hit the AM band at all over the holidays. I didn’t expect music of any kind to be found there, but for KIXI AM [here in the South Sound]