Chalk one up for the liberals. The voice of talk-show host Ed Schultz (1-4 p.m. weekdays, KKZN 760-AM) will make it to the troops after all.
Schultz’s show was yanked from Armed Forces Radio Network without warning the day it was to start, three weeks ago.
Last week, the Pentagon sent letters to a group of congressmen who went to bat for Schultz, saying it had changed its mind: Schultz’s voice would be added to those of Rush Limbaugh, Dr. Laura Schlessinger and James Dobson on AFRN.
“I am advised that (American Forces Radio and Television Service) managers are updating the program mix and have decided to include additional programs, including the ‘Ed Schultz Show’ …,” said the letter from Lawrence DiRita, deputy assistant secretary of defense.
Schultz, whose politics are left of center, blamed his criticism of President Bush for his show being left off the armed-forces network.
They do know ‘Jack’
KMXA 1090-AM last month flipped overnight to a new format called “Jose: Toca lo que Quiere,” touted as the first Spanish-language version of the we-play-what-we-want radio format. For English-only listeners, KMXA does know “Jack.”
“We started it at midnight so people could get up in the morning to a new station,” said general manager Mario Carrera.
“Jose” will aim at an audience of 25- to 54-year-olds with tunes from the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, focusing on the Mexican market. It’s another indication of the maturation of Spanish-language radio. KBNO 1280-AM, the city’s oldest Spanish-language station, landed eighth, its highest rating, in the newest Arbitron ratings.
Carrera sees even more growth but notes that it’s sometimes overlooked because of Arbitron’s measuring methods.
Around the dial
Gov. Bill Owens and talk-show host Mike Rosen crossed swords, politely, over Referendum C and D Monday morning during the guv’s regular appearance on KOA 850-AM. Rosen went to a commercial break by saying, resignedly, “I guess we’ll talk more about C and D,” to which Owens responded, “Before the election, you didn’t want to talk about it.” To which Rosen said, “That was the third time we had you on.” …
Voting takes place on-line at KHOW.com today for KHOW 630-AM’s “I Want to Be a Talk Show Host” contest. The two final finalists compete at the Gears, Games and Gadgets Expo at Colorado Convention Center at noon Sunday … Joel Edelstein hosts “Metro,” which holds a one-hour discussion on peak oil – rich nations competing with poor for a dwindling oil supply – and its implications for the Boulder Valley (noon today, KGNU 88.5-FM and 1390-AM) … Quotable: “Washington is a city filled with people who believe they are important.” David Brinkley
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
