Radio Column Feruary 9, 2007

Listening In

February 9, 2007

By Sandy Wells

Delilah arrives at KBIG-FM

Syndicated host Delilah is returning to KBIG-FM 104.3. The Seattle-based DJ will launch in Los Angeles Monday from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. with a weeknight program that combines music, dedications, and relationship information and advice.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have Delilah on 104.3 KBIG,” says KBIG Program Director David “Chachi” Denes. “We are confident that her broadcast experience, knowledge of our audience, and her personality is a perfect fit with our station. And, of course, her continued popularity and unique style can only be a great addition to our line-up.”

Delilah Rene-Ortega (born Delilah Rene Luke) is actually making her second round on the adult contemporary hits station. In 1998, back when it was calling itself “K-Big” her program was carried from 7 p.m. to midnight. She is currently heard on 250 stations around the country including New York’s WLTW-FM.

“KBIG is a part of the L.A. radio landscape, one that I have had my heart set on for many years,” says Delilah. “And for those many years, I have asked Chachi for this chance. At last, I get to talk to my friends in L.A. every night and I’m so excited about that.”

A single mother of seven – including four adopted children – Delilah combines story-telling with “sympathetic listening and encouragement.” She is popular with adult contemporary soft rock audiences, especially among young adult women. She describes her show as a “safety zone where listeners take off their armor, slip into a ‘Mr. Rogers’ cardigan, sit around the electronic hearth and share their secrets.”

The addition of Delilah puts her in partial competition with KOST-FM 103.5’s long-running, “Love Songs with Karen Sharp” which airs from 7 p.m. to midnight. Both KOST and KBIG are owned by Clear Channel Communications.


KFI lets go of Orange County reporter


Is KFI-AM 640 trimming its news staff? The award-winning news/talk leader raised a few eyebrows recently when Orange County reporter Jay Lawrence was let go and when overnight news anchor Michael Crozier was shifted to weekends and replaced by news editor Donald Morrison.

Not to worry said KFI Program Director Robin Bertolucci, the station remains fully committed to providing aggressive, live and local news 24/7 and is not about to undergo a round of cost-cutting.

“We have the number one (radio) news in LA County and we’re not going to mess it up,” she said. She explained that the KFI news payroll has grown 50 percent over the last five years and it was time to make some minor budgetary adjustments and reallocate some resources. Bertolucci said KFI is currently seeking to fill the position vacated by Lawrence.


Limbaugh nominated by KABC host for Nobel Peace Prize


Two KFI-AM 640 syndicated hosts have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Rush Limbaugh received his from the Landmark Legal Foundation, whose president, Mark Levin, is also a radio talk show host heard locally on KABC-AM 790.
Levin nominated Limbaugh for his “nearly two decades of tireless efforts to promote liberty, equality and opportunity for all humankind, regardless of race, creed, economic stratum or national origin. These are the only real cornerstones of just and lasting peace throughout the world,” explained Levin. “Rush Limbaugh is the foremost advocate for freedom and democracy in the world today.”

Despite the fact that they are on competing talk stations in LA, both Limbaugh and Levin claim New York’s WABC-AM as their flagship station.

Responding to the fact that California death row inmate Stanley “Tookie” Williams had been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize several times, KFI morning host Bill Handel had himself nominated for the prize by a congressman (who asked to remain anonymous, according to a KFI spokesperson). Williams, a convicted murderer, was executed in December, 2005.