Scripps Country 94.5 WKTI Milwaukee has filled its long-vacant Program Director position by raiding its competitor in Omaha.
Ryan Wild joins WKTI from NRG Media’s Omaha cluster where he served as Operations Manager for recently relaunched Hot AC “Sweet 98.5” KQKQ, Classic Rock “101.9 The Keg” KOOO, and Rhythmic CHR “Power 106.9” KOPW. He also programmed and hosted afternoons at KQKQ. He has also programmed for NextMedia in suburban Chicago, AOL/Slacker Radio, and in multiple Iowa markets.
Wild fills the vacancy created by the exit of Dayton Kane in October 2016.
E.W. Scripps Company’s WKTI (94-5 KTI COUNTRY) Milwaukee announces Ryan Wild is joining the station as program director.
Wild comes to KTI Country from Omaha, where he served as operations manager for NRG Media’s KQKQ (Sweet 98), KOPW (Power 106.9) and KOOO (101.9 The Keg). Just weeks ago, he led the return of the “Sweet 98” moniker to that market.
Previously, Wild was PD and operations manager for WSSR and WFXF in suburban Chicago. Before that, he worked as a program/music director of multiple formats at AOL/Slacker Radio. Early in his career, Wild worked on-air and as a program director for stations in Des Moines and the Quad Cities.
“We’re very fortunate to have someone of Ryan’s experience on so many levels. Because KTI COUNTRY is a live and local station with a full airstaff, we needed a real leader who will not only keep the music sounding the best, but very importantly, create a greater overall ‘listener experience’ and a deeper connection with Wisconsin’s country community,” said Tom Langmyer, vice president & general manager of Scripps Milwaukee Radio Operations and vice president of radio news, talk, sports programming for The E. W. Scripps Company. (NYSE: SSP). “Growing WKTI using our deep resources is very exciting – and we’re thrilled to have Ryan take the new KTI COUNTRY to the next level as a bigger-than-life station.”
“I’m thankful for the dream opportunity Tom Langmyer and the team at Scripps have given me to program KTI COUNTRY. There’s so much potential, not only on the air, but with a full team ready to grow and build something magical and lasting. I can’t wait to get to work and start building the future of KTI COUNTRY,” said Ryan Wild. “I was also told there would be plenty of beer and cheese at all times, so I was all in.”