KTLK (AM)

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KTLK AM 1150 is a radio station serving the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Branding itself as K-Talk AM 1150, AM 1150 broadcasts a progressive talk format featuring selected portions of the Air America Radio lineup and programs from the Jones Radio Network. The lineup features Randi Rhodes, Thom Hartmann, Rachel Maddow and Stephanie Miller. Stephanie Miller's show originates from Los Angeles, so there is close cooperation between Miller and KTLK.

Other hosts that air live include Bill Press, Randi Rhodes, and Thom Hartmann.

In addition, KTLK has select local talent on their weekend line-up including Johnny Wendell (a.k.a Johnny Angel), Bree Walker, Joe McDonnell, Angela V. Shelton, Frances Callier and Mario Solis-Marich. The station also broadcasts 4 traffic reports every hour, 24 hours a day.

Billboards for KTLK give the slogan "We Prefer The Left", in which only the left side of the billboard is occupied and the rest shows fake wood.

In addition to the usual talk lineup, KTLK airs an increasing number of sporting events. In early 2006, it inherited weeknight broadcasts of the UCLA Bruins men's basketball team, as well as all games of the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association. Both the Bruins and Sparks were heard on XETRA-AM before that station became Spanish language "W Radio." And on July 28, 2006, it was announced that the station will take over the radio broadcasts of the National Hockey League's Los Angeles Kings, starting with the 2006-07 season. KTLK had been the flagship station of the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association, but a month after the Kings deal was signed, it lost the radio rights to all-sports KSPN.

In addition to the weeknight basketball games, KTLK broadcasts additional Bruins sporting events if there is a conflict. For example, on December 27, 2006, KTLK broadcast the Emerald Bowl between UCLA and Florida State while KLAC aired the Los Angeles Lakers-Orlando Magic NBA game. In 2008, KTLK also broadcast Anaheim Ducks games due to conflicts on their regular station, KLAA, with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim games.

[edit] History

On February 4, 2005, Clear Channel Communications conducted a far-reaching format swap of three radio stations in the area. The previous format on AM 1150, XTRA Sports, moved to AM 570, where it retains its call letters of KLAC. It had the slogan XTRA Sports 570, but is now known as just AM 570. AM 690 took on KLAC's previous format, a beautiful music station called The Fabulous 570 and redubbed The Fabulous 690.

Prior to the KTLK calls, AM 1150 was KXTA, or XTRA Sports 1150, which broadcast sports talk, which flipped to Fox Sports 1150 for a time before flipping back to XTRA Sports on both 1150 AM and 690 AM. Prior to that, 1150 AM broadcast contemporary hit music as KIIS, and in the mid 80s, it was transmitting its programming in AM stereo, complete with an AM version of the "Hot Hits" jingle package which had been produced for its sister FM station, which carried a virtual simulcast of its programming, although with different DJs [1]. The call letters would later resurface in Santa Clarita in 1998, with another simulcast of KIIS-FM (that station is now known as KHTS-AM, having changed its call letters in 2003).

[edit] Recent program changes

• On February 4, 2008, KTLK altered several of its time slots. Marc Germain, also known as "Mr. K," was removed from the lineup and replaced by Rachel Maddow from 3-6 p.m. Mike Malloy's show was returned to the station. Finally, Phil Hendrie's show was added from 9 p.m.-1 a.m., also in a return engagement. Hendrie had been one of the top-rated hosts on sister station KFI. Ed Schultz was also dropped from the lineup.^[1]
• Germain had debuted on March 5, 2007, and Randi Rhodes' show, which had been on tape delay, moved to a live slot from noon-3 p.m. Schultz, which had been from noon-3 p.m., was moved to a night slot.
• KTLK removed their live weeknight show "Harrison on the Edge," hosted by Cary Harrison and produced by Linda Blake on February 27, 2007 after an 18 month run. Germain is the station's only local host on weekdays. Harrison can now be heard on "Shake!" as their Hollywood corespondent, and occasionally as a contributor to the six o'clock news on KPFK 90.7.

[edit] Trivia

Despite sharing call letters and owner with KTLK-FM in Minneapolis, the two stations air opposing political viewpoints, as the Minneapolis station's schedule includes shows hosted by Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and other right-leaning hosts.

Originally in 1965, the call letters KTLK operating at 1280 on the AM dial in Denver. That station was among the first talk formated radio stations nationally. Later, the call sign moved to 760AM; that station is now another progressive talk outlet owned by Clear Channel, KKZN.

[edit] External links

• History of AM 1150 in Los Angeles
• Official web site
• Query the FCC's AM station database for KTLK
• Radio Locator Information on KTLK