Bonneville’s “News/Talk 92.3” KTAR-FM Phoenix has rebranded as “KTAR News On 92.3 & KTAR.com” as it places additional emphasis on its web and mobile users.
The change comes with additional news programming blocks in middays and afternoons. Arizona’s Morning News with Ned and Connie stays in place from 5-9am as does Bruce St. James and Pamela Hughes from 9am-12pm. The midday Noon News and 1-3pm show hosted by Karie Dozer is merged into a two hour block from 12-2pm, while Dozer’s previous co-host Rob Hunter exits the show. Afternoon hosts Mac Watson & Larry Gaydos’s program moves up an hour to air from 2-6pm so the station can add an hour long “Arizona’s Evening News” newscast from 6-7pm. Syndicated shows from Dave Ramsey and Red Eye Radio round out the weekday schedule.
Market Manager Scott Sutherland states that the change “signals that KTAR News is a multi-platform media brand that distributes audio news and talk show content on FM radio, KTAR.com and the KTAR App, as well as written, audio and video story content online across all devices.”
Determined to enhance its news image, Bonneville Phoenix rebrands to KTAR News…on 92.3 FM and KTAR.com. The move includes several important weekday programming changes and a new website designed specifically for mobile users.
Arizona’s 92-year heritage station will provide more news content in middays and evenings.
“This rebrand and website re-launch lets the community know our commitment to live and local news has never been stronger,” said Bonneville Phoenix Market Manager Scott Sutherland. “And it also signals that KTAR News is a multi-platform media brand that distributes audio news and talk show content on FM radio, KTAR.com and the KTAR App, as well as written, audio and video story content online across all devices.”
The changes move top-rated afternoon drive program Mac and Gaydos to a 2 p.m. start to capitalize on the large audience that’s available in mid-afternoons.
The new KTAR News Programming Schedule:
5-9 a.m. Arizona’s Morning News
9 a.m.-Noon Bruce St. James and Pamela Hughes
Noon-2 p.m. Arizona’s Noon News and Karie Dozer
2-6 p.m. Mac and Gaydos
6-7 P.m. Arizona’s Evening NewsAs part of the rebranding, KTAR News has also launched a new website designed with the mobile-user experience as the top priority.
“Our ‘mobile-first’ design will deliver a powerful, multi-media user experience on smartphones, where our online audience continues to migrate,” said Ryan Hatch, Bonneville Phoenix Vice President of Content and Operations. “Using the very latest technologies, the site also seamlessly adapts to tablets and desktops to deliver the same quality experience across all platforms.”
Smart move. Let Karie read the news and leave being goofy to Mac ‘n Gaydos. 6pm News will be a real snooze, but at least listeners will be asleep when Dave Ramsey tries to convince them delivering pizzas is a great job! Multiple platforms for content is a natural evolution and puts them light years ahead of KFWhyEye. Gotta give it up for Rob Hunter…he was able to tolerate Dozer a lot longer than Chuck Powell.
They weren’t kidding about mobile-first on the web design. KTAR.com looks gorgeous on an iPhone without having to resort to a separate mobile site. They did it right with HTML5.