The Portland Radio Guide 

Twisting the Dial -- 1998

stories ordered latest to earliest from the year

• New local night voice on KFXX
  Sports radio, the "Fan", KFXX AM 910 (and now also AM 1390 in Salem), celebrates expanded coverage with a new local sports talk show in December. Neil Buchan is the new host from 6 to 9 pm, replacing New York’s Scott Ferrall.
  
  
• Schonely returns to radio
  Veteran NBA announcer Bill Schonely returned courtside with play by play broadcasting, this time with the Oregon State Beavers. Schonely subbed for another excellent sportscaster, Darrell Aune, who underwent eye surgery on December 17th. Oregon State basketball games are broadcast on KEX, the station that also anchors Portland TrailBlazer games (when the abbreviated season begins).
  
  
• Sports radio adds Salem frequency
  Sports radio KFXX AM 910 expanded its coverage area southward by picking up the AM 1390 frequency in Salem. AM 1390 is Salem’s oldest radio station and began simulcasting with AM 910 on December 17^th. When KFXX swapped frequencies with KKSN (AM 1520) last March, scores of listeners to the south reported reception problems, due to the directional pattern of the signal, terrain and other factors. AM 910 transmits from a location east of the Portland airport.
  
  
• Fan lives on KEX billboard
  An avid fan of the Portland TrailBlazers, Marty Anderson, has pledged to live on a Portland billboard until the NBA lockout/players walkout ends and the season begins. Anderson began his round the clock residency on November 3rd.  The KEX live-in billboard is located at the East end of the Ross Island bridge on Powell boulevard.  KEX is the flagship station for Portland TrailBlazers basketball games. The lockout ended on January 6, 1999 and Marty was awarded a trip to Hawaii to thaw out.
  
  
• KOTK launches local talk shows
  KOTK adds a Portland originated talk show to its Saturday night lineup. Mike Chase (previously mornings on alternative KNRK), hams it up with weekend listeners from 8 to 10 pm. KOTK introduced its first weekday live and local talk show to the 50,000 watt lineup on November 2nd. Rick Emerson replaced Dallas’ Dr. Toni Grant in the afternoon from 12 to 3 pm. Emerson sounds like a cross between Tom Leykis and KXL’s Gary McNamara.
  
  
• Rich writes screenplay
  KINK morning newsman, Mike Rich has found himself being courted by Hollywood movie agents. Rich, a finalist in the Academy awards annual screenwriting competition, was awarded $25,000 by the Academy foundation on October 15th. Mike beat out 4,500 other entries to score as one of five finalists. It started for Mike when on the side, he began composing screenplays and submitted one called "Finding Forrester" to competition.  Pretty good effort considering Mike has no formal screenplay training; he started by picking up hints at the library. Mike says he feels "nervous and anxious" awaiting the final decision from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
  

• Jacor sells to Clear Channel
  In another move of large corporate acquisition, Portland’s largest radio owner, Jacor Communications, was sold to Clear Channel Communications. In a deal announced October 8th, Clear Channel will acquire Jacor’s 230 U.S. radio stations for $4.4 billion. Jacor’s radio division and name will stay intact, including outspoken C.E.O. Randy Michaels, who was recently quoted as saying, "we can focus more on making newspapers relevant primarily to those training pets".  See Portland Radio Ownership for the Portland ownership tally.

• Allen buys KXL
  Paul Allen, owner of the Portland TrailBlazers and other high profile activities in the Pacific Northwest, purchased KXL AM and FM from Les Smith for a rumored $50 million on October 6th.  Les has owned KXL since the mid-fifties, when it was just a daytime AM radio station transmitting on green fields where the Clackamas Town Center shopping mall is now located. During Les’s reign of KXL he co-owned the station for a time with celebrities Danny Kaye and Frank Sinatra.   As a tribute to hard working service, Les awards each KXL employee one week's salary for every year they've been with the station.  KXL is Allens’s first foray into radio broadcasting. 
  
  
• Ancheta does the blues
  Bob Ancheta moves his Sunday night blues show to KINK from 7 to 10 pm. Anchetta features live interviews and hoe-downs from KINK's Jefferson street studios.
  
  
• Mychal moves to KEX
  Former Portland NBA star Mychal Thompson signed with KEX to anchor the evening Sportsline show, replacing Mike Parker in early October. Thompson previously was at sports radio KFXX and teamed up with another ex-NBA athlete, Kermit Washington in the afternoon.
  
  
• Clinton offered $500,000
  K-News is offering President Clinton an easy way out of his troubles.  $500,000 to host a show at the station for one year. No word yet if Clinton may take up the offer.

• Marconi nominations
  Two Portland radio stations have been nominated for the 1998 Marconi awards – a citation of excellence sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters. K-103 (KKCW) was selected in the adult contemporary category and under contemporary hit radio,  Z-100 (KKRZ). Five stations from each category throughout the U.S. are nominated with the final winners announced on October 17th.
  
  
• JJ Changes
  KWJJ moved mid-day guy Craig Lockwood back to nights. Lola Montgomery is the new mid-day host. In cost cutting moves, morning show producer John Windus, late night guy Joe Casaveti, and night man Mark Lacy have been relieved of their duties. KWJJ’s ratings have dropped since last winter. See Portland Radio Ratings for more info.
  
  
• AM 1010 bucks talk for Cowboy Country
  AM 1010 KXYQ local talk took a sharp turn in format, changing to cowboy country on Monday, August 3rd. Cowboy music plays all day until sunset except from 11am to 1pm when the Dream Weaver local sports show continues on.
  
  
• Rosie-105 adds jocks
  Rosie-105 added live voices to the line-up in late July. Karina (formerly Daryl Summers, now music director) is the mid-day jock. Tim Taylor does afternoons, and Mary Rivers nights. Ex-105 program director Chris Miller was shown the door. The search is on for a new P.D. and morning show personality.
  
  
• New radio voice for the TrailBlazers
  Bill Schonely’s replacement for Portland Trail Blazer play by play broadcasting is Brian Wheeler. Wheeler, age 36, has previous broadcast experience in Chicago, Seattle, and most recently in Sacramento. He’ll begin Blazer broadcasting in October when the exhibition season starts.
  
  
• Chase out at KNRK
  Mike Chase was eased out of the morning show at KNRK at the end of June. Newcomer Bill Prescott, formerly with KUFO, takes over the duties along with Daria. Before joining the KNRK morning show in April, Prescott was the butt of many of Mike Chase’s jokes, during the time both were competing on opposite stations.
  
  
• K-Earth becomes K-Rosie
  KKRH (Earth 105) switched format on June 5th from classic rock to medium rock of the more recent eighties and nineties.  The new name for KKRH is "Rosie-105"  The format features popular artists, targeted towards women ages 18 to 35.  KKRH was recently acquired by Entercom communications. Entercom also owns KGON with a classic rock format.

  
  

• Radio web page gazette
  K-103 FM’s official web page went online Monday, May 12th. But, many Portland listeners trying to access the web site got a "no web page found" error for several days. Coincidentally, the web site could be accessed from other locations in the US. After straightening out the glitches, the K-103 web page is now open for viewing in Portland and across the entire Internet. The K-103 website address is www.k103.com.
  
  KGON, KFXX and KNRK moved into new state of the art "all digital" studios at the beginning of May. During the move, the web pages for each station became unavailable. A station representative says they hope to have the web pages back online in the next few days.

• Portland's first expanded band frequency
  Recently, the FCC opened up the right side of the AM band (1605 kHz to 1705 kHz) for commercial broadcasting. An "approved" AM station could move it’s frequency up to the less congested expanded band and also increase its transmitter power. Crawford broadcasting, owners of AM 1290 KKSL (5,000 watts) have taken up this offer and put AM 1640 KKJY (10,000 watts) on the air in May. KKSL and KKJY have duplicate programming. Crawford has 5 years to extinguish either AM 1290 or AM 1640. Only newer AM radios can pick up the expanded band frequencies.

  
  

• Schonely Says Goodbye
  Portland TrailBlazer play by play broadcaster Bill Schonely bid farewell to listeners and fans on Thursday, April 30th. It was Schonely's last broadcast of Blazer basketball as the season ended with the L.A. Lakers eliminating the Blazers in the first round of the playoffs.
  Schonely began NBA broadcasting the TrailBlazers first game in 1970. With 28 years of play by play announcing, Schonely held second place in NBA broadcast longevity. The TrailBlazers have decided to bring in a new voice for next season.
    Listen to Schonely's last broadcast with.  (You need the RealAudio player, version 3 or greater, and at least a 28.8 modem connection)
  
  
• Changes at KXL-FM
  Scott Thom leaves the afternoon shift at KXL-FM. Ruby Blake moves up from evenings, and Terri Magnuson fills the empty night chair.
  
  
• Prescott to KNRK
  Bill Prescott (formerly with KUFO) joins the morning team at KNRK on April 22nd.
  
  
• KKSN and KFXX trade frequencies
  KKSN AM 910 and KFXX AM 1520 swapped frequencies on March 30th. KFXX’s sports format shifts down the dial to AM 910, and the music of Sinatra, Neil Diamond and the Sandpipers swings up to the top of the AM radio dial to 1520. Transmitter power and facilities remain the same.  Recently, KKSN-AM was acquired by Entercom communications, owner of KFXX.  Portland radio owners shows ownership holders in Portland.  To hear what was on AM 1520 in 1964 see Portland Radio History.
  
  
• ABC's Jarrett comes to K-News
  ABC radio and television newsman Greg Jarrett began anchoring the K-News (KEWS) morning show on March 12th.  Jarrett, who has covered hot spots around the work like the Gulf War, is settling in Portland to enjoy the scenery and outdoor activities. "Besides, it will be nice to go to work without having to wear a bulletproof vest", Jarrett commented.
  
  
• Women duo begin at KBBT
  In a Portland radio first, KBBT (the Beat) began a morning show with a woman majority on March 16th. Gina Micciulla anchors, Rebecca Marshall does the news, and Cort Webber acts to balance the fairer sex.
  
  
• Anchetta and others leave Earth-105
  Longtime Portland radio personality Bob Anchetta left Earth 105 FM (KKRH) on March 10th. Anchetta held the afternoon slot and previously was with KGON  and KVAN.   Also out the door are mid-day guy Adam Fendrich (to New York) and morning half Tom Turner.
  
  
• 4 new morning shows hit Portland radio
  Portland radio listeners are in the midst of four new morning radio shows to hear. In addition to Howard Stern who debuted on KUFO, March 9th, KWJJ changed its morning line-up and identity on the same day. KKJZ changed their morning team on February 24th. KBBT starts a woman duo in the morning on March 16th.

  KWJJ now calls itself "New Country -- JJ 99.5". Jim Bosh from Detroit’s WWWW (where Howard Stern got famous) replaces Craig Lockwood in the morning. Traffic reports are handled by U-Turn Lavern (from Klamath Falls). Chuck Knopf (was at KFXX) does the news and John Windus produces. Lockwood moved to mid-days replacing Kelly McRae.

  KKJZ moved morning man Gordon Lee to the position of promotions director. Paul Warren (program director) takes the morning helm with Carren Sheldon (was with WMMO, Orlando). K.C. Cowan leaves the station.
  

• Stern does mornings on KUFO
  New York’s Howard Stern made his Portland radio debut March 9th on 101.1 FM KUFO. Stern, dubbed the King of Sleaze, by critics offended by his adventures into the realm of indecency, beams his show into Portland from 3 to 10 am. The Federal Communications Commission has levied nearly $2 million in fines against Stern in the past. Fans of Stern praise his wit and originality on the radio. Stern replaces Bill Prescott and newsman Bill Jackson.  Also axed at KUFO, afternoon voice and longtime Portland broadcaster Glynn Shannon.
  

• KKEY becomes KKGT
  AM 1150 KKEY changed its call sign to KKGT on March 1st.  The "GT" standing for "Great Talk".   Beginning Monday, March 9th, more local talk began.  Gubernatorial candidate Bill Sizemore hosts a Wednesday show from 3 to 5 pm.   New owner J.J. Mckay holds the microphone on Monday afternoons.
  
  
• New Z100 program director
  Tommy Austin replaces Ken Benson as the new program director of KKRZ.   Austin comes to Portland from Minneapolis. Benson goes to New York as v.p. of  MTV.
  
  
• KUPL's Rogers becomes Operations Manager
  KUPL morning man and program director, Lee Rogers sliped into the Operations Manager position at the country station on February 17th.  Rogers will continue anchoring the morning show.  Cary Rolfe assumed program director duties on the same date.
  
  
• KKSN and Earth 105 for sale again and again and again...
  Heritage Newscorp, owner of KKSN AM and FM and KKRH (Earth 105 FM), plus 21 other U.S. radio stations, spun off its radio properties to Sinclair Communications.  Sinclair's 1.3 billion dollar deal closed at year end 1997.   Then, two large U.S. radio corporations, Jacor and Entercom, began litigation over the right to purchase Sinclair's radio properties.  At the end of January, Entercom came out the winner and will take ownership of KKSN and KKRH.   Full transfer will probably not occur until June, pending F.C.C. approval.  Portland  Radio Owners shows the current Portland radio ownership line-up.
  
  
• Numme becomes KUFO/KBBT operations manager
  Dave Numme was named Operations Manager of KUFO and The Beat (KBBT) in late January.  Dave will still hold the Program Director title of KUFO. He joined the station in 1991.
  
  
• Ice storm silences classical KBPS-FM
  Non-commercial classical station, KBPS-FM was knocked off the air for a couple of days during Portland’s mid January ice storm. Ice cracked and damaged the antenna which plunged to the ground. Thanks to American Radio Systems, KBPS was able to jury rig a temporary antenna and return to the air at half power. Repairs should be completed in February.  KBPS is owned by a public radio foundation of the Portland school district.
  
  
• New voice mix comes to KXL-FM
  More changes coming down at KXL-FM as former KINK weekender David Schult hops aboard.  Besides changing the music selection, new program director Carl Widing has relaxed the "Mix 95.5" format by easing the audio processing, dropping the jingles and instructing the jocks to stop screaming.
  

• KKEY radio sold
  On January 1st, Florinda Weagant sold AM 1150 KKEY, the station her family put on the air in 1954. KKEY, originally touted as a "high fidelity" music station, has been known as a local two-way talk station for more than 23 years, even before talk on A.M. was cool. New owner J.J. Mckay has changed the on-air lineup. Syndicated talker Alan Colmes from New York anchors the 6 to 10 am time zone. Local talks hosts will chat it up from 10 am to noon and 3 to 5 pm. Mary Matalin is added to the noon-3 pm time slot, with venerable Bruce Williams on from 5 to 7 pm.
  

Twisting the Portland Radio Dial - 2001

Twisting the Portland Radio Dial - 2000

Twisting the Portland Radio Dial - 1999  

Twisting the Portland Radio Dial - 1997
 
Twisting the Portland     Radio Dial - 1996