Bill Virgin's Radio Beat August 31, 2006

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Thursday, August 31, 2006

On Radio: 'The Commentators' rush in where Limbaugh deigned not go

By BILL VIRGIN
P-I REPORTER
Rush Limbaugh's show isn't moving -- so several other programs on competing stations are.

Entercom's KTTH-AM (770) announced recently that it had signed Limbaugh's nationally syndicated talk show to a three-year extension, much to the disappointment of Fisher Communication's KVI-AM (570), which had been trying to get him back.

Although a Fisher release made some slighting remarks about Limbaugh's recent legal troubles, as well as "a penchant in recent years for mailing it in," Limbaugh remains a powerful ratings generator, and KVI hasn't come up with a strong replacement since losing the show three years ago.

As program director Dennis Kelly acknowledges, KVI comes off its strongest daypart with local host Kirby Wilbur in morning drive and goes "straight to oblivion" in the 9 a.m.-noon slot. Most recently, KVI has been running Fox News' "Brian and the Judge" at that time.

So in an effort to make a better showing, Kelly is moving "The Commentators" from sister station KOMO-AM (1000), expanding it by an hour (it'll air 9 a.m.-noon) and adding listener calls. The changes start Tuesday.

Kelly says the program, hosted by Ken Schram and John Carlson, has increased its audience since its January debut, but listeners have thought "there was something missing" -- their participation. Carlson says the callers will act as "a third commentator."

"The Commentators" will be moving into a crowded talk environment, going up against not only Limbaugh but Dave Ross on KIRO-AM (710), "Weekday" on KUOW-FM (94.9) and Thom Hartmann on KPTK-AM (1090). Kelly said he believes in "putting your strongest show up against your most competitive environment," and hopes to steal audience share from each of the other shows. Carlson and Schram also will do commentaries on KOMO-AM and appear on KOMO's noon news. There's also talk of doing something with "The Commentators" on KOMO/4 television.

Carlson admits to mixed feelings about the move from afternoons, where he has presided off and on for 13 years. "Afternoons were very comfortable; I had a solid base of support," he says. "On the other hand, I really like new challenges. ... It'll be sad to say goodbye to the afternoon audience. Hopefully, they'll be around earlier."

Carlson's afternoon drive slot will be filled by moving Bryan Suits to 3-6 p.m. (the nationally syndicated Sean Hannity show, which KVI has signed through 2010, airs noon-3 p.m.). Kelly says the show will change in an effort to take advantage of his sense of humor and style. ABC political analyst Mark Levin's show will be added 6-8 p.m. weekdays.



As for KOMO, the station operates as an all-news station with few exceptions, including the Mariners and "The Commentators." Kelly said moving the latter show likely will "make the all-news junkies happy," since putting a talk show on KOMO "for some was not a positive." Kelly said doing so was an experiment; whether he would repeat it would depend on the right show to fit that format.

In other radio notes:


KMDD-FM (107.7) has brought back DJ W. No Name as its midday host. Jim Keller, who had been the host in that segment, will be assistant program director, the station said.


With a power boost to 50,000 watts due next week, KKOL-AM (1300) continues to adjust its lineup, after taking the syndicated Laura Ingraham show from KTTH for 6-9 a.m. Michael Reagan's show now airs 9 p.m.-midnight weekdays. To replace Ingraham, KTTH has added Portland-based Lars Larson 8-11 p.m.


KNDD-FM and KEXP-FM (90.3) will be broadcasting performances from the Bumbershoot Music Lounge. KNDD-FM will present performances by Hawthorne Heights, Yellowcard and Best Week Ever 2:30-5 p.m. Saturday. KEXP-FM airs performances by Halou, Badly Drawn Boy, Cloud Cult, Zero 7 & Jose Gonzalez, Spoon, Saturday Knights, Abyssinian Creole and Macklemore noon-9 p.m. Sunday. Performers noon-6 p.m. Monday on KEXP include Jeremy Enigk, Rocky Votolato, Dengue Fever, Mates of State and Nouvelle Vague.


Kazutaka Nomura performs on "Sonarchy" at midnight Saturday on KEXP-FM.


Kate Daniels interviews John Tirman, author of "100 Ways America Is Screwing up the World," on "Sunday Morning Magazine" at 5:30 a.m. on KRWM-FM (106.9).


Lizz Sommars' guests on "Conversations" at 6 a.m. Sunday on KISW-FM (99.9), KBSG-FM (97.3) and KKWF-FM (100.7) include Bruce Knecht, author of a book on fish poaching, "Hooked."


Tami Kosch interviews Tina Podlodowski, executive director of the Northwest AIDS Alliance, on "Community Matters Weekend Edition" at 6 a.m. Sunday on KPTK-AM.


Jim Wilke's "Jazz Northwest" at 1 p.m. Sunday on KPLU-FM (88.5) features a Jazz Port Townsend performance by The Buddy DeFranco Quintet.

P-I reporter Bill Virgin can be reached at 206-448-8319 or billvirgin@seattlepi.com.

Bill Virgin's Radio Beat in the Seattle P-I