Salem to Acquire Miami Signals for Conservative Spanish News/Talk Format. The company announces it has entered into an agreement with Actualidad Media Group, LLC to purchase the assets of Class B daytimer WMYM-AM, Kendall, Florida and translator W254DT (98.7 FM) for an undisclosed sum. Salem Media Group executive
chairman Edward Atsinger says, “Salem is beginning a new chapter in Miami as we expand our conservative and family themed programming to the Spanish-language audience. Miami is an obvious market for this expansion, and we’re excited to add great signals like WMYM AM 990 and FM 98.7 to our portfolio.” The company says it has a long history in Spanish-language broadcasting starting in 1984 in New York City with WNYM AM 1380, which was sold in the late 1980s and remains in the Spanish-language format today. Currently Salem owns Spanish-language radio stations in Dallas – KLTY-FM 94.9 HD2 and translator FM 102.5 (Spanish Christian Contemporary Christian Music); KTNO-AM 620 (Spanish Christian Teaching and Talk) in Portland; KRYP-FM 93.1 “El Rey” (Regional Mexican); and in Denver – KBJD AM 1650 (Spanish Christian Teaching and Talk).
Cumulus Makes if Official: Rich Valdés to Host Jim Bohannon Show. Last week’s news of Jim Bohannon’s health-related retirement from his longtime late-night Westwood One program indicated that Mark Levin show associate producer Rich
Valdés would be assuming hosting duties for the show. Now, Cumulus Media makes it official and says Valdés will be the permanent host for the program that will continue to be called “The Jim Bohannon Show.” Valdés welcomed Levin as his first guest on the program last night (10/170. Levin comments, “Jim Bohannon is a legend. He’s also the #1 gentleman of talk radio. His absence from radio will be deeply felt. But there is no better person to assume that slot than my dear friend and colleague, Richie Valdés. Richie V, aka Mr. Call Screener, has been a fill-in host for me and is superb. He is compelling, entertaining, smart, and an unapologetic patriot. I could not be happier for him and, even more, the great radio audience.”
Radio Hall of Fame Names WTOP’s Julia Ziegler ‘One to Watch.’ The Museum of Broadcast Communicationsannounces today that the Radio Hall of Fame names Julia Ziegler, director of news and programming for Hubbard Broadcasting’s all-news WTOP-FM, Washington as the recipient of its “One to Watch” award. The “One to Watch” award was created in 2018 in honor of radio legend and 2012 Radio Hall of
Fame inductee Art Laboe, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 97. Each year, the nominating committee selects what it considers a promising radio personality or team who has demonstrated ratings success, audience growth, and impact on one or more radio stations and their communities. Ziegler began her career at WTOP in 2002 as an intern. From 2015 to 2019, she served as WTOP’s digital news director, where she oversaw the creation and development of WTOP’s digital news products, including WTOP.com, the WTOP app, social media, video, podcasts, smart speakers and more. She was part of the WTOP team that created and produced the award-winning true crime podcast, “22 Hours: An American Nightmare.” She rose to her current position in 2019. Nominating committee chair Dennis Green comments, “It is with great pride that we honor Julia Ziegler with this year’s ‘One to Watch’ award. Julia has literally done it all at a station that is one of the most highly respected in the nation. From interning at WTOP to working her way up to director of news and programming while setting the station’s path in digital and social media, this recognition is well deserved. On behalf of the Radio Hall of Fame nominating committee, congratulations, Julia, and continued success!”
Wayne Allyn Root Inducted into Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Pictured above is Las Vegas-based, nationally syndicated talk show host Wayne Allyn Root with his wife Cindy at the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame Gala on October 15. Root says he received a letter of congratulations from former President Donald Trump that read, in part, “Congratulations on your induction into the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame! Melania and I send our best wishes to you, your wonderful family, and all those attending the 26th Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame Gala to celebrate your success and the success of your fellow inductees. This extraordinary honor is the result of your lifelong commitment to excellence, principled leadership, and perseverance. Your hard work and determination have provided the foundation for your continued success and exemplify the American Dream.”
New Fisher House Program Available November 1. The Fisher House Foundation announces that The Jeff Wyatt Group has a fresh edition of “The Fisher House Story” for 2022 that is available for download on November 1. You can hear the demo and be set to register and download on that date here. “The Fisher House Story – On the Road to 100 Houses” is a talk radio special provided in varying lengths for news/talk radio
stations as well as a 30-minute public affairs show for ALL formats in the U.S. and around the world. Fisher House Foundation provides a home away from home for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. Fisher Houses provide temporary free lodging so families can be close to their loved ones during a medical crisis because “A Family’s LOVE is Good Medicine.” The free three-hour, one-hour, 25- and 30-minute radio specials are hosted by longtime Washington, DC talk radio personality Larry O’Connor and will feature stories of our nation’s heroes, the families who serve by their side, and how Fisher House plays a role in their journey. The programs are being produced in time for Veterans Day weekend (November 11) and are perfect for this holiday season, as well as for Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekends. For more information on this radio special, available cash and barter free, contact Jeff Wyatt at The Jeff Wyatt Group at 301.518.3640 or jw@thejeffwyattgroup.com.
TALKERS News Notes. Data from the third quarter of 2022, according to Comscore, FOX News Digital finished the period as the top-performing news organization in the competitive set in multiplatform minutes and views. FOX News Digital closed out the
quarter delivering over 8.5 billion total multiplatform minutes, over 4.3 billion total multiplatform views, and averaged 80 million monthly multiplatform unique visitors…..NRG Media’s news/talk KXEL-AM, Cedar Rapids-Waterloo, Iowa reports that it is replacing “The Jim Bohannon Show” with two programs – an expansion of Starnes Media Group’s “The Todd Starnes Show” and Key Networks’ “No Spin News” with Bill O’Reilly. Station program director Jeff Stein says, “Our audience loves Todd Starnes’ common-sense
conservativism and has asked us to find a way to carry the full program. There’s no better way to fill the shoes of a radio hall-of-famer than to provide more of a show that has already proven to be popular with Iowans. Adding ‘No Spin News’ is a logical move, based on the success of both the ‘O’Reilly Morning Update’ and ‘Bill O’Reilly Update’ we air each morning.”…..FOX Sports Radio’s LaVar Arrington – co-host of the network’s weekday morning program “Two Pros and a Cup of Joe” with Brady Quinnand Jonas Knox, and co-host of the nationally-syndicated weekend program/podcast “Up On Game” with TJ Houshmandzadeh and Plaxico Burress – announces today the addition of comedian and social media influencer Bubba Dub to the “Up On Game Presents” lineup with his new show, “Trashh Talk Podcast with Bubba Dub.”
Midterm Elections, Russia-Ukraine War, The Economy, Trump Legal Issues, China Politics, Ye-Parler Deal, and British Politics Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (10/17). The numerous debates taking place in advance of the November midterm elections; Vladimir Putin’s kamikaze drone attacks in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; high gas & food prices and the up & down financial markets; the various legal issues facing former President Donald Trump; China’s Xi Jinping accepts a third term as president and his ambitions to dominate the global power structure; rapper and fashion mogul Ye announces bid to acquire conservative social media platform Parler; and the economic policy issues facing British Prime Minister Liz Truss were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.