[31] The network became the Arizona Broadcasting System at the end of 1945; the change came as the new American Broadcasting Company sought to claim the ABC acronym for itself and settled with other groups using the ABC acronym. It became one of the most profitable media companies in the U.S. Eller was also known for running movie studio Columbia Pictures, putting the Circle K convenience chain on the map and his early investments in the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Cardinals. [104] However, it also airs Suns, Diamondbacks, Coyotes and Sun Devils games in the event KMVP has a conflict, and simulcasts Cardinals games with KMVP. KFAD was the third broadcasting station licensed in the state of Arizona and, as KTAR, is the oldest surviving one. "I am the managing partner of a family business. [90], Hearst-Argyle's short ownership of KTAR, KMVP, and KKLT was consistently marked by speculation that a sale was imminent, given the corporation's heavy concentration on local television stations. racist or sexually-oriented language. We were all in it together and we would get through it and realize our strength in dealing with it., Source of pride: There are a couple of things Im particularly proud of. During Arizona visit, Mayorkas touts efforts to combat fentanyl . PHOENIX After 12 years at KTAR, Mac Watson and the Valley radio station have parted ways. station, I can understand the trend toward younger, but not for a Breaking news, traffic and weather. I credit them for taking the high road of KKFR took over KKLD and created the new KKFR on September 1. It is owned and operated by ESPN Radio and is affiliated with the ESPN network. [2] [77], KTAR's 1988 coverage of the impeachment of Evan Mecham won the station its only George Foster Peabody Award. I was never given a reason, but that seems to His voice can be heard during Suns home games on 98.7 FM Arizonas Sports Station. be kind of the direction they're going., The station said Ted Simons will replace Westmoreland from 3 to She left radio for a couple years to start a family before Beth becoming the co-host on 99.9 KEZ. Easy Country played the softer hits from current and recent country music charts, designed for office listening and relaxing. During her nine years with the station was named lead sports marketing director and was in charge of local sports sales initiative with the Arizona Cardinals and Coyotes, at the time the Phoenix Cardinals and Coyotes. Pat McMahon has been a Valley fixture in the media industry both on radio and television dating back to the late 1960s. Chancellor Media (which later became AMFM, Inc.) purchased the station in late 1998 from its longtime owners The Broadcast Group. Pass it along to the KTAR News team here. KTAR-FM (92.3 MHz) is a commercial radio station licensed to Glendale, Arizona, and serving the Phoenix metropolitan area. Be Nice. Mac Watson WSW winds shifting to ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Skyview programming can be heard on 9,000 station across America. Lesson learned in 2020: A situation like this is so unusual and rare that when it happened I just realized that while many things were out of my control, I would control the things that I could. The station dropped disco for country music in 1980, going by the moniker "KC-92". [103] Local sports talk then moved exclusively to FM on September 15. PHOENIX KTAR radio, the news, talk and sports leader in the Valley, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this week. Over the years, many people have shared their talents to help bring listeners the news they need to be informed. Arizona Sen. Sinema agrees with Mayorkas, says it's on Congress to reform border, immigration laws. This station is not available in your region. After a couple of years, however, the disco craze faded. In 2006, KTAR-FM (92.3) began airing all of KTAR's news and talk programming, and the AM station adopted a full-time sports format. His wide range of voice impersonations means you'll get more than an average vocal talent. . KTAR is pretty much the Life KTAR-FM (92.3 MHz) is a commercial radio station licensed to Glendale, Arizona, and serving the Phoenix metropolitan area. Hear the audio that matters most to you. that is degrading to another person. 88 on the Talkers Magazine 2019 Heavy Hundred, which was released Tuesday. 1 ratings. (On September 15, 2014, KTAR AM became "ESPN Phoenix 620 AM" with the local "Arizona Sports" format moving to 98.7 FM on January 6, 2014.) It initially broadcast from a transmitter atop the Westward Ho.[5]. KEZ 99.9 McDonald was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing. 7 p.m. Vrable dismissed any notion the station is shifting toward Here are the Arizona Broadcasters Hall of Famers from the KTAR family Twitter: @ktar923 Language: English Contact: 7740 N. 16th Street, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85020 (602) 274-6200 Website: http://www.ktar.com/ Email: rhatch@bonneville.com You have permission to edit this article. Preston Westmoreland joined from KXIV in 1978,[72] and he was joined four years later by Pat McMahon, already a veteran radio and television personality in Phoenix. Sarah Kezele - Podcast Host - Wondery, an Amazon Company - LinkedIn [14], On September 15, 1929, it was announced that the Arizona Republican newspaper[c] and the Electrical Equipment Company had filed articles of incorporation creating the KAR Broadcasting Company,[d] which intended to take over and upgrade KFAD. Not used on air, but registered with the then-, The first two licensed Arizona broadcasting stations were KDYW, to Smith Hughes & Company in Phoenix (May 15, 1922, to April 4, 1924), and KDZA, owned by the, Name modified in early 1930 to the KTAR Broadcasting Company. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Defensive Wealth Advisor & Investment Adviser Representative | Partner and Co-Founder at Retirement Planning, Estate Planning, Insurance, Asset Protection. As changes were made to the "Mac and Gaydos" Facebook page on Tuesday, people left comments curious where Mac had been and why there was no mention of him on the page anymore. As a recovering English major, Mac has edited 3 books and always has stack of books next to his favorite chair. PHOENIX KTAR radio, the news, talk and sports leader in the Valley, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this week. Van Dykes spoken-word record The Flag charted nationally in 1976. A 28-year-old West Valley man was sentenced last week to 30 years in prison for his role in the production of child sexual abuse material. Its program director, John Howard Pyle, jumped from radio to politics and served two terms as Governor of Arizona. Rhone-Alpes | History, Culture, Geography, & Map | Britannica Jim Sharpe - Facebook [94] The next year, Bonneville reacquired the Cardinals radio rights, returning them to KTAR after an 11-season absence. from the station after more than 20 years. Manager of Alumni Relations at Arizona Cardinals. I think what makes me most proud is my longevity in this industry andrealizing that people still have an interest in listening., Surprising fact: People might be surprised to know that I cry easily when watching certain television shows, movies and even commercials. Arizona PBS. From TV and radio to audiobooks, Mac is available to provide voice services. [96] The second frequency set in motion a plan to split KTAR into two stations, a news/talk station on FM and a sports talk outlet on AM, with the latter serving as an effective replacement for KMVP. Condo is now the president of network partnerships and chief revenue officer of the Arizona-based Skyview Networks, an audio technology and sales company. Westmoreland turned down the night job, saying his pay would be The team and McCoy will forever be connected as the Suns named their press room the Al McCoy Media Center in 2007 and inducted him into theteams Ring of Honor in 2017. inducted. Westmoreland was heard on Valley airwaves for decades. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Professional Background CheckInformation on professionals, their work history and resumes. [b] The original station was built by Arthur Anderson, who would remain with KFAD and later KTAR until his death in 1956 and along the way claimed various Arizona radio firsts. Becky Lynn-92.3 KTAR. In his early years, fresh out of school, Chad left everything he knew at home in Southern California to play professional soccer in Europe and was talented enough to be signed onto the rosters of several teams including the Bristol Rovers, the Fallkirk Scotland and the Portsmouth Football Club. Most Influential Women: Beth McDonald, KEZ 99.9 - AZ Big Media On December 19, 1970, the station first signed on as KXTC, owned by the Arizona Communications Corporation. Craig Allen, an Arizona State University professor of Regional Business Development at Crexendo Business Solutions. From the 1930s for several decades, KTAR was the key NBC radio affiliate in the state. "In response to the question, where is Mac? Rest assured, I am still in Phoenix. had a great run, Vrable said. 602.274.6200. ESPN 620 AM, KTAR 620 AM, Phoenix, AZ | Free Internet Radio - TuneIn KTAR News 92.3, KTAR-FM 92.3 FM, Phoenix, AZ | Free Internet Radio - TuneIn KTAR radio personalities Gambo & Ash will host 12-Hour Radiothon Mike Broomhead will replace Pamela Hughes and Bruce St. James on KTAR They seem to seek the truth, have integrity, uncover injustice and expose misinformation. Look back on a decade of the Mac & Gaydos show, KTAR News 92.3 adds Chad Benson to weekday lineup, West Valley man sentenced to 30 years in prison for getting explicit photos from teen, DNA analyst: Lori Vallow Daybells hair found on tape wrapping body of dead son, Apache Junction teen dies after getting shot in head after altercation, Inmate convicted of manslaughter in fatal attack of MCSO officer at Phoenix jail, Motorcycle rider killed in multivehicle wreck in Phoenix, Spinal fusion surgery has come a long way, despite misconceptions, How to identify the symptoms of 3 common anxiety disorders, Company looking for oldest air conditioner and wants to reward homeowner with new one. KTAR . Are you interested in collaborating on a project? [68], In 1978, Combined Communications agreed to merge with the Gannett Company. We would . Bill Heywood: Phoenix Radio Personality Dies, Fans Mourn Death [71], Meanwhile, radio personalities who would become staples of KTAR for years or decades were added to the lineup. "Dave," wrote an advice-seeker named Sarah, according to KTAR News in Arizona on April 18. [82] It became sports talk outlet KMVP, but ratings were poor, as was the facility's nighttime signal. [75] His replacement was Greg Schulte, who had worked at KTAR in the 1970s, was fired in a round of cuts in 1980,[76] and returned in 1982. when the Arizona Diamondbacks and Phoenix Suns don't play. This page is not available in other languages. community.. The Mike Broomhead Show - KTAR.com Contests & Rewards. KTAR agreed to acquire Tucson station KVOA in 1937,[28] and once the deal closed in early 1939, that station joined NBC, giving rise to a statewide network under the auspices of the Arizona Broadcasting Company (ABC). Heywood's wife Susan was also found dead . [95], When Bonneville announced in May 2006 that it would purchase KKFR from Emmis for $77.5 million, it also announced its intention to move KTAR's news-talk programming to the FM band. [32][33], KTAR filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1939 to relocate its transmitter to a site at 36th Street and Thomas Road and increase power to 5,000 watts. winter, it was fifth with 4.9 percent. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. reporting for the station and spent mornings live in the studio, PHOENIX - A magazine that specializes in talk radio rated the hosts of two KTAR News 92.3 FM programs among the 100 most important figures in the industry. In an email, Ryan Hatch, vice president of content and operations for Bonneville Phoenix, confirmed that Mac Watson -- one of the talk show's prominent hosts alongside Larry Gaydos -- was no longer with KTAR and that the new show would be called "Gaydos in the Afternoon" and would air in the show's current time slot, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. "Beyond that, we have no comment," he said. Bruce St. James, a program director at a KTAR sister station, offer listeners nighttime news and talk, especially during the It's fair to say that most people know what obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders generally are, but there's a lot more information than meets the eye about a mental health diagnosis that affects about one in every 100 adults in the United States. And thats a GREAT thing. KTAR (620 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Phoenix, Arizona, United States. Share with Us. While KTAR today primarily broadcasts network programming and live sports overflow, its local programming was spun out in two stages onto the FM band. [59], In December 1967, the KTAR Broadcasting Company announced it would merge with Eller Outdoor Advertising, controlled by Karl Eller, to form Combined Communications Corporation, with John J. Louis Jr. as chairman and Eller as president. [100] By 2014, KTAR held the rights to all four major professional teams in Phoenixthe Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Suns, and Coyotes as well as ASU.