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Dan Thrift / Tahoe Daily Tribune / KTHO news director Larry Kay works on air Tuesday. He will have a reporter starting Aug. 15.
Hold the phone. KTHO-AM 590 returned Monday to its musical roots of Barbara Streisand and Petula Clark - but with a new twist.
Air America is out, and local news is in. The South Lake Tahoe radio station plans to beef up its news offering by hiring a reporter to hit the streets, gathering community news. News director Larry Kay hired Jeff Grice of KRKC in King City to come on board Aug. 15.
The station previously aired political and sports talk shows. It will continue to broadcast Oakland A's baseball games.
Grice described coming to work here as a dream come true. He admits that a radio news beat is a dying breed in the industry, but it's a post he enjoys the most. He estimates spending up to 40 percent of his time on the street.
Air America is out, and local news is in. The South Lake Tahoe radio station plans to beef up its news offering by hiring a reporter to hit the streets, gathering community news. News director Larry Kay hired Jeff Grice of KRKC in King City to come on board Aug. 15.
The station previously aired political and sports talk shows. It will continue to broadcast Oakland A's baseball games.
Grice described coming to work here as a dream come true. He admits that a radio news beat is a dying breed in the industry, but it's a post he enjoys the most. He estimates spending up to 40 percent of his time on the street.
"I really want to get involved with the community," Grice said.
Local news will be featured at :25 and :55 every hour. A CNN break-in will be reduced to two minutes at the top of the hour, and news headlines will be aired at :15 and :45.
General Manager Stan Koplowitz called the local news emphasis "the hub in the entire wheel" to accompany a music format called "memories" of the 1960s and 1970s. Koplowitz, who joined the Live Wire Media-owned station in April, said he asked business leaders what they wanted to see from the station. More local news came up over and over.
"We're going with what we feel the market needs and wants. The market is so small. There's not enough population to support two talk radio stations," he said. "This will be nothing like KOWL. We'll have live (local) news reports."
Local news will be featured at :25 and :55 every hour. A CNN break-in will be reduced to two minutes at the top of the hour, and news headlines will be aired at :15 and :45.
General Manager Stan Koplowitz called the local news emphasis "the hub in the entire wheel" to accompany a music format called "memories" of the 1960s and 1970s. Koplowitz, who joined the Live Wire Media-owned station in April, said he asked business leaders what they wanted to see from the station. More local news came up over and over.
"We're going with what we feel the market needs and wants. The market is so small. There's not enough population to support two talk radio stations," he said. "This will be nothing like KOWL. We'll have live (local) news reports."
KTHO underwent a number of alterations in format and ownership - including a dispute between the owner and manager in October 2000 resulting in the station going off the air for a year, to the facility almost selling on eBay before a Live Wire Media investor bought it a year ago.
The staff of Cherry Creek Radio's two South Shore stations - KOWL-AM 1490 and KRLT-FM 93.9 - say bring on the competition.
The latter is bringing on a blues show on Friday nights at 7 p.m. starting this week.
Justin Wright, who shares morning drive with longtime Tahoe entertainer Howie Nave, said changes in the industry come with the territory. He's been on and off the air a few times.
The staff of Cherry Creek Radio's two South Shore stations - KOWL-AM 1490 and KRLT-FM 93.9 - say bring on the competition.
The latter is bringing on a blues show on Friday nights at 7 p.m. starting this week.
Justin Wright, who shares morning drive with longtime Tahoe entertainer Howie Nave, said changes in the industry come with the territory. He's been on and off the air a few times.
"You have to roll with the punches in a small market," Wright said.
Betsy Miller, the general manager since last January, agreed.
"I think change is good. Maybe there is a place for local (radio) news here, but they're going to have to do it well," she said.
Photo:4539743,right;
Betsy Miller, the general manager since last January, agreed.
"I think change is good. Maybe there is a place for local (radio) news here, but they're going to have to do it well," she said.
Photo:4539743,right;
