KUVO 89.3-FM, named the nation’s best large-market jazz station for the past two years, is undergoing changes in staffing and finances.
Listeners won’t notice. “Not a bit,” promised Mike Marez, who becomes board president at year’s end, replacing station founder Flo Hernandez-Ramos, on-air voice of the station’s popular “Cancion Mexicana” program.
While not critical, money was a consideration.
“We’ve been looking at our budget,” Marez said Monday. “We’re trying to cut costs. We thought we could outsource some of our in-house functions.”
Hernandez-Ramos, president and CEO of the station’s board, declined comment, other than to say she wants “what’s best for the station.” She’ll continue to host “Cancion Mexicana.”
Frontline infantry
“The Simpsons” is getting more strident in its attacks on the war in Iraq.
Sunday night’s episode had Homer joining the Army in place of Bart, who has promised to join up when he turns 18 as part of the military’s drive to enlist schoolchildren.
Highlight of Sunday’s show: A sneak peek at “The Simpsons: The Movie,” with Homer swinging on a wrecking ball stuck, literally, between a rock (Iraq?) and a hard place. The movie doesn’t hit theaters until July 27. D’oh!
Going and coming
Award-winning reporter Sari Padorr leaving full-time work at KDVR-Channel 31 at year’s end “for family reasons.”
Those with sharp eyes and long memories will notice longtime Denver television reporter Julie Hayden doing investigative work for Channel 31 after several years running her own business. She replaces Charles Leif.
Pick me!
Lewis & Floorwax (weekday mornings, KRFX 103.5-FM) part of a national drive by NBC to pump up its ratings for “Sunday Night Football.”
The popular morning jocks are giving away DVRs for seven weeks to callers who give them to-die-for reasons why they have to record the game.
One reason may be NBC’s dogfight with ABC and “Desperate Housewives.” “SNF” re-took the Sunday primetime lead with the Chicago-New York Giants game earning a 14.4 rating, narrowly eclipsing “DH’s” 14.2.
Around the dial
Garrison Keillor’s “We Gather Together,” recorded last year, returns to KCFR 1340-AM at 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Nov. 23 as part of the station’s Thanksgiving celebration, featuring traditional hymns and songs of the season. … Weather, national and international news rank 1-2-3 with viewers, according to a Radio and Television News Directors Foundation survey. Sports and entertainment at the bottom. … Denver’s Curtis Hannum is one of four finalists in the Progressive Radio Star national hunt for a talk-show host. He won the local tryouts at KKZN 760-AM. … Quotable: “Management by objective works – if you know the objectives. Ninety percent of the time you don’t.” Peter F. Drucker
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-954-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
