Update 12/5: KGO debuted its new News heavy lineup today with a little more Talk than expected.
The new program schedule features 12 hours of news a day in blocks from 4 to 9am, 2 to 7pm, and 10pm to 12am. Ronn Owens remains in the 9 to Noon time slot. Kim Foster will host a talk show from 12pm to 2pm, while former KFOG morning host Peter Finch will host a new talk show from 7 to 10pm. Cumulus’ syndicated Red Eye Radio with Doug McIntyre fills the 12 to 4am spot.
The early audience backlash to the KGO changes has received some national attention from outlets such as The Huffington Post. How KGO handles this backlash in its evolution will go a long way in determining how successful the new iteration of the station will be in the long run.
Original Report 12/1: Cumulus News/Talk 810 KGO San Francisco has cut four of its daily talk show hosts and will replace them with more news blocks.
Out with the changes are Gil Gross who hosted from 2-4pm, 7-10pm host Gene Burns, 10pm-1am John Rothmann, and 1-5am host Ray Taliaferro. They will be replaced by expanded news blocks running from 2pm to Midnight in addition to existing blocks running from 5-9am and 12pm-1pm starting on Monday, December 5.
Ronn Owens’ talk show will remain in the 9am to noon slot. The San Francisco Chronicle reports the station will drop its longtime “NewsTalk 810” moniker as part of the changes. KGO’s website features a note to its listeners about the changes.
