Entercom News/Talk 1020 KDKA Pittsburgh is rearranging its on-air lineup as it expands its weekday News blocks to 6am-8pm weekdays and adds local morning newscasts on weekends.
Current morning anchors Larry Richert and John Shumway will move from 5-9am to 6-10am. Lynne Hayes-Freeland, who has been with former sister station KDKA-TV since 1977, will join KDKA to host 10am-2pm. Hayes-Freeland had served as a general assignment reporter and hosted a weekly show about African American issues at KDKA-TV.
Former WATE-TV anchor Wendy Bell joins KDKA to co-anchor afternoons with Marty Griffin from 2-6pm. Current afternoon host Robert Mangino will move to 6-10pm on Wednesdays through Fridays and afternoons on Saturdays and Sundays. Rob Pratte will host 8-11pm on Monday and Tuesday.
Entercom, the #1 creator of live, original, local audio content in the United States, announced programming changes for News Radio 1020 KDKA (KDKA-AM) in Pittsburgh, effective January 3, 2019. Wendy Bell and Lynne Hayes-Freeland will be joining the station’s on-air team as afternoon drive host and midday host, respectively. In addition, the station will expand its local weekday news coverage to 8:00 p.m. ET daily and will add local morning newscasts on the weekends.
“The new KDKA News Radio 1020 will serve our community in a way that reflects the energy and pulse of Pittsburgh in 2019 and beyond,” said Michael Spacciapolli, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Pittsburgh. “These programming additions will help elevate KDKA as the go-to destination in Pittsburgh for news, weather, traffic, business, sports and opinion.”
Wendy Bell will co-host the afternoon drive with station veteran Marty Griffin, weekdays from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Bell joins Entercom after spending 18 years as an anchor and reporter for WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh. Bell is a 21-time Emmy and five-time Edward R. Murrow Award winner.
“KDKA is a powerhouse radio station and Marty Griffin is a trusted friend who, like me, loves helping people,” said Bell. “Spending four hours a day with a team that truly cares about this city is a tremendous honor and I look forward to the opportunity to serve our listeners.”
Lynne Hayes-Freeland will host the midday timeslot from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Hayes-Freeland previously served as a reporter, producer and talk show host for KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh since 1977. The move marks Hayes-Freeland’s second stint with News Radio 1020 KDKA, having begun her broadcast career as a producer for the station in 1976.
“Radio is a perfect place to learn, explore and grow, and I look forward to the chance to do just that with listeners just as curious as me everyday,” said Hayes-Freeland. “It feels great to be back home on KDKA.”
Other programming changes include new timing for the station’s morning show. Larry Richert and John Shumway will air weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Current afternoon drive host Robert Mangino will transition to host 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. timeslot on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Mangino will also host shows on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
The new weekday lineup is as follows:
6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Larry Richert and John Shumway
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Lynne Hayes-Freeland
2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Marty Griffin and Wendy Bell
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Robert Mangino (Wednesday – Friday)
8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Rob Pratte (Monday – Tuesday)
