Valley PR Blog

KTAR Changes Take Root

By Dan Wool on October 3rd, 2007 In Media

A couple weeks ago, KTAR began some transitions in its programming.  Specifically, they’ve gone from a news-talk format to talk-news.  And it’s probably a business move they should have made a long time ago.

However, the moves implicate the declining role of radio news (and the ongoing debate: has the Internet commoditized news?). The sad part is that it’s not the journalism — KTAR has excellent radio journalists – it’s the notion that news content no longer equates to listenership – i.e. ratings/advertising/cashflow. 

I think that KTAR fulfills an important role — one every major market has and needs: a local, dependable, “always on” news/traffic/weather station with anchors and reporters you know and trust.  If something important happens, you know they’re on the scene. It’s unfortunate that for much of the day now, this is getting relegated to a cut-in to talk show programming.

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