Phoenix Airchecks » KTAR

Former news anchor Diane Brennan auditioning for Oprah reality show

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:10:31 +0000

Former KTAR-FM news anchor, Diane Brennan, is auditioning for Oprah’s reality show under the category of “traditional talk show” and has an entertaining video on Oprah.com explaining why she should get a talk show.

She talks about how she has been in radio for twenty years and been a “sidekick” to talk show hosts.

“Never have I had the opportunity to host my own show, and it’s been a dream of mine since I was little,” Brennan said.

Her audition video is here and Brennan is asking for voter support: http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=video_details&response_id=11072

KTAR-FM takes home some Mark Twain Awards

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:00:26 +0000

ANAHEIM — On Saturday night the Associated Press Television and Radio Association honored Mark Twain Awards for achievements in news. The awards were given out to people and stations in the twelve Western states.

KTAR-FM’s news team members took home two Mark Twain Awards:
- Colton Shone for the Best Use Of Sound, Feature: “AZ Scream Farm”
- Jayme West for the Best News Broadcast (less than 15 minutes), Feature: “News/Talk 92.3 KTAR 4 p.m. News”

For more information on the awards and complete list of winners, visit the Association’s website here.

Darrell Ankarlo hospitalized

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:24:10 +0000

Former KTAR-FM talker Darrell Ankarlo was hospitalized yesterday being treated for pneumonia.

Ankarlo had been dealing with strep throat since last week, Ankarlo’s wife Laurie posted on his Facebook, when conditions worsened.

“Because of Darrell’s lowered immune system from the head injury he has contracted pneumonia and is in the hospital, so please pray,” Laurie wrote yesterday.

No word on Ankarlo’s current condition. This comes just less than two weeks before his son’s wedding.

Get well wishes can be posted on Ankarlo’s Facebook account, found here.

Edit 6/10/10 – Darrell Ankarlo is out of the hospital and on oxygen.

Bonneville Phoenix fills PD position

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Sat, 01 May 2010 04:43:45 +0000

Bonneville Phoenix has filled the open PD position left behind by Ryan Hatch, who moved to Bonneville’s Seattle cluster. Kevin Graham will take over as PD of Sports 620 KTAR-AM. Graham is a sports talk programming veteran and was most recently an afternoon co-host on sports 1280 The Zone in Salt Lake City.

Austin Hill gets WMAL in DC

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 04:51:35 +0000

Valley veteran talker Austin Hill lands two hours in the morning on AM 630 WMAL as the station searches for a permanent talk show host. He can be heard filling in for the Midday Show, weekdays from 10am to noon.

Hill has been a go-to host for fill-ins, as he has most recently in Phoenix filling-in frequently for Darrell Ankarlo on 92.3 KTAR-FM.

A battle of Phoenix morning radio

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 20:31:16 +0000

AZCentral.com’s 4th annual Best Of poll is out, asking readers for their best choices around the Valley, from food, to entertainment, resorts, hotels, and the best of in radio.

One question asks,
“WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE MORNING DJ(s)?”

Options (and percentages as of 5:45 this evening):
Ankarlo (Darrell Ankarlo), KTAR
2%
Barry Young, KFYI talk radio
2%
Ben and Matt , KNIX
30%
Beth and Bill, KEZ
5%
Dave Pratt, formerly of KMLE
31%
Doug & Wolf, KTAR
1%
Holmberg’s Morning Sickness, KUPD
4%
Howard Stern, Sirius Satellite Radio
2%
Johnjay and Rich, KISS
21%
Tim and Willie, KMLE
2%

You can place your vote here.

PhoenixAirchecks.com Analysis:
- Where’s everybody else? Surprised to not see Chris & Amy. What about JR & Mary? And why not Tom & Maria? Dave Pratt is still an option, yet it’s been fifteen months since he’s been on the radio. (Yeah, but he also blogs for AZCentral.)

- Speaking of Dave Pratt, Pratt is beating Holmberg’s Morning Sickness over septuple! (that means times seven)

- Johnjay and Rich seem to be the ones most pushing for their followers on Twitter to vote for them on this one. So far it’s gotten them to 21%.

- Why can AZCentral never spell Willy’s name right?

Bob Shomper to KTAR-FM

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 03:51:30 +0000

KTAR-FM is bringing in well-known news/talk programmer, Bob Shomper, as News Dir./APD of the station. He fills the gap left by Jon Zimney, who left the station in late February.

Bruce St. James to KTAR-FM full-time

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:53:41 +0000

Radio veteran and most recent program director of CBS Radio Phoenix’s KMLE and KZON, Bruce St. James, made the announcement today that he will get his start on 92.3 KTAR-FM on Monday.

St. James will take care of the 9am to noon shift– a shift that most recently belonged to Darrell Ankarlo. He is no stranger to KTAR-FM as he had been one of a few wheel of hosts filling in for the 9am to noon shift while Ankarlo continued to recover from a serious injury suffered over a year ago.

Bruce St. James will take late mornings over beginning Monday, May 3.

Glenn Beck visits KTAR studios, listeners

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 04:30:23 +0000

Glenn Beck visited the KTAR studios this morning. In a contest via Facebook, 10 listeners won the opportunity to meet him.

Pictures are here.

Last day of Ankarlo Mornings

PhoenixAirchecks.com — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 04:20:54 +0000

PD Russ Hill was on this morning on KTAR-FM talking to Jim Sharpe, who has been filling in for Ankarlo often. Hill discussed the decision about Ankarlo’s future with KTAR and their continued friendship and support to him. Hill also announced a special hour dedicated to Ankarlo on Friday, beginning at 11am.

More info here: Darrell Ankarlo, KTAR-FM part ways