Industry News

KLIF-AM, Dallas Adds Brian Kilmeade to Daily Lineup

Cumulus Media adds FOX News Channel and FOX News Audio star Brian Kilmeade to its KLIF-AM/KSCS-HD2, Dallas-Fort Worth program schedule airing his daily show in the 9:00 am to 12:00 noonim daypart, starting Monday (5/6). KLIF program director Bruce Collins says, “We are extremely excited to add Brian Kilmeade to the 570 KLIF-AM/96.3 FM-HD2 weekday radio lineup, especially as we head into the election season. Brian will be talking each day to the movers and shakers in the political world, keeping DFW up to date. Together with Sean Hannity weekday afternoons from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, we have the national political scene more than covered.” Kilmeade comments, “I am thrilled to be joining a great station with a rich history like KLIF and enter the fourth biggest market in the country. I’m honored to be a part of this first-class lineup right in the middle of this historic election season, and in short order will be in Dallas to meet all the listeners in person!”

Industry News

Nielsen Revises Radio Market Ranks

Based on U.S. population estimates from the 2020 census and updated and projected to January 1, 2024, by Claritas, Nielsen unveils its new market ranks effective with the Spring 2024 ratings. As shiftsim in population take place in the U.S. – with growth often seen in southern markets – the ratings giant adjusts its rankings. Among the notable changes are the Dallas-Fort Worth market leapfrogging San Francisco to the #4 market and San Francisco now at #5. Other markets moving up include Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood to #11 and San Diego to #18. See the complete ranking here.

Industry News

KTCK-AM/FM, Dallas-Fort Worth Celebrates 30 Years of Sports Talk

Cumulus Media’s sports talk KTCK-AM/FM, Dallas-Fort Worth is celebrating 30 years of sports talk withim a number of on-air and off-air events. The station is presenting a sold-out listener event at the House of Blues on Friday (1/26). The sports talk format was launched when Cardinal Communications bought then KAAM-AM from Bonneville International and changed the calls to KTCK-AM and debuted the sports talk format. Cardinal would sell to Susquehanna Communications which would be acquired by Cumulus Media in 2006. All the while, The Ticket would garner ratings and revenue as one of the nation’s more successful sports talk outlets.

Industry News

KTCK-AM/FM, Dallas-Fort Worth Host Corby Davidson Inks Extension

Dallas sports talk personality Corby Davidson – who co-hosts the afternoon drive “The Hardline” show with Bob Sturm and Dave Lane at Cumulus Media’s KTCK-AM/FM, Dallas-Fort Worth – announces on X that he’s signed a new, five-year deal with the station. He tweets, “30 years ago I walked into theim Ticket radio station as a kid, and I knew within about 5 seconds it’s where I wanted to be. It was a magical place. The energy was off the charts. I was hooked. From intern, to overnight board op, to fill in producer to full time producer, to host… it didn’t matter what I did there, it just mattered that I WAS THERE. Well here we are, 30 years down the road, and I’m still here. And I still have a blast every single day, and it’s still such a magical place. I know I’m lucky. So I just signed a 5 year deal, ensuring I will begin and end my work life there. Love my team, love our show, and love that place. Cheers to you, good P1s, Let’s go.”

Industry News

WBAP, Dallas-Fort Worth Adds FM Signal; Four New Staffers Join WBAP/KLIF

Today (1/3), Cumulus Media debuts Dallas-Fort Worth news/talk outlet WBAP on a simulcast at 93.3 FM. KLIF-FM was formerly a hot AC outlet. Also today, Cumulus Dallas-Fort Worth adds four news professionals to its on-air team. As TALKERS previously reported, Carla Marion joins WBAP as co-imanchor of the “WBAP Morning News” with co-anchors Hal Jay and Ernie Brown. News pro James Parker also joins WBAP as afternoon host in the 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm daypart. He was most recently a television personality in Tyler, Texas. Laura Sadler joins the “KLIF-AM Morning News” as co-anchor with Clayton Neville, and Gabrielle Taite joins Cumulus Dallas-Fort Worth’s newsroom. She previously worked in Athens, Georgia in television news. Cumulus regional VP Dan Bennett comments, “As we move into a critical election year, these talent moves and an FM frequency for WBAP speak to our commitment to spoken-word radio. We will carry our stations on a variety of signals and streaming to improve accessibility of this outstanding news and talk content to our listeners. 2024 will be a great year for news/talk.”

Industry News

New Hosts Join Cumulus Media’s “The Ticket” in Dallas-Fort Worth

Cumulus Media announces new personalities in middays on its sports talk outlet KTCK-AM/FM, Dallas-Fort Worth “The Ticket.” Former “Ticket” host Matt McClearin re-joins the station after two years on-air at the company’s WJOX-FM, Birmingham, Alabama. He’s partnering with “Ticket” personality Donovan Lewis for theim 10:00 am to 1:00 pm show, filling the role of retired “Ticket” host Norm Hitzges. New to the daily lineup is the 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm duo of Sean Bass and David Mino. Bass has been with “The Ticket” for 22 years, most recently as producer of “The Norm and D Invasion.” Mino has been with the station for 11 years, most recently as producer of “The Hardline” afternoon drive show. Station program director Jeff Catlin comments, “I couldn’t be more excited for the midday makeover on ‘The Ticket.’ Matt, Sean, and Mino have all earned this opportunity. All three guys are well-known and well-liked by our passionate listeners and their ‘Ticket’ teammates. They will fit in well and make this a seamless transition.”

Industry News

Dallas-Fort Worth Sports Talk Legend Norm Hitzges Announces Retirement

Cumulus Media announces that KTCK-AM/FM, Dallas-Fort Worth “The Ticket” late morning personality Norm Hitzges will retire from the station on June 23 after 48 years in sports media and 23 years with “The Ticket.” Cumulus Media Dallas/Houston regional VP Dan Bennett says, “From the minute Norm hit the airwaves 36im years ago on KLIF and then ‘The Ticket’ you could tell he was a special communicator. He truly is one of Dallas radio’s great storytellers and he kept it going with Susquehanna and then Cumulus all these years. Not many have that kind of staying power. We wish him every happiness in his well-deserved retirement.” Hitzges states, “I’m so proud to be a part of what ‘The Ticket’ has built – a ratings dominator in a fantastic sports city. I shall so miss the daily ‘rush’ of being on the air. But after 48 consecutive years on the air in Dallas doing sports talk, it’s time to move on to the next phase of my life, whatever that may be.”

Industry News

WBAP-AM, Dallas-Fort Worth Host Hal Jay Gets New Heart

Longtime WBAP-AM, Dallas-Fort Worth morning personality Hal Jay has received a heart transplant. Jay suffered several ventricular tachycardia events during the second week of January and was admitted to Baylor Scott & White University Medical Center where he was told he needed a new heart. His wife Ann reports to the “WBAP Morning News” team that Jay underwent transplant surgery early Sunday morning (2/5) and is recovering. Jay made a brief appearance on the show today (2/7) speaking with fellow hosts Ernie Brown and Brad Barton via phone from the hospital and says he feels good and may be allowed to go home sooner than expected. He also says he expects to be able to return to work within three weeks or so, depending on what his doctors say.

Industry News

Cumulus Dallas Raises $2.3 Million for DFW Charities in 2022

The Dallas cluster of radio stations owned by Cumulus Media grew their charitable efforts by close to 30% from 2021 to 2022, raising almost $2.3 million for Dallas-Fort Worth charities during 2022. One of the numerous events during the year was the “Normathon” month-long campaign by sports talk KTCK and air personality Norm Hitzges. The November 28-December 27 event raised $619,456 for the Austin Street Center for the homeless. This year’s 20th annual fundraising campaign included 12 days of on-air auctions, a car raffle, and a full-day broadcast featuring major guests and major auction items. 2022’s “Normathon” brings Norm’s total raised to $8.9 million raised for the shelter. Pictured here are (l-r) KTCK host Donovan Lewis, Daniel Roby (CEO of the Austin Street Center), and Hitzges.