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South Bend Tribune:
Big changes are coming to local radio. Conservative talk show hosts Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck will move from WSBT-AM (960) to what was WAOR-FM (95.3) in the first two weeks of May. At that time, 95.3 FM will become FM News Talk 95.3. The station, which also will be affiliated with Fox News, will bill itself as Michiana's News Channel. WSBT, in turn, will counter with its own locally originated talk show from 3 to 5 p.m., expand the airing of the Dave Ramsey show from noon to 3 p.m. and continue its affiliation with the Mike Gallagher show, running it from 9 a.m. to noon ... WAOR's classic rock format will move up the dial from 95.3 to 95.7, replacing the hip-hop format previously on WLRX-FM (95.7). Eventually, "The Bob & Tom Show" will move over from WRBR-FM (103.9, The Bear) and take over the morning slot there... Michiana radio stations to see talk shows, program formats shifting (Wed, 4/14)
New WKZO-FM unable to air Tigers baseball
As the dust settles after the format change at 96.5 FM Kalamazoo from country to news/talk, one big element that's not simulcast from WKZO AM 590 is Detroit Tigers play-by-play due to contractual issues with airing the games on FM. WBCK-FM 95.3 Battle Creek apparently has in its contract with the Tigers Radio Network the rights to FM broadcasts in at least of some of the same area covered by the new WKZO-FM and thus WBCK-FM has decided to exercise those rights, keeping the games off 96.5, at least for now.
WKZO is making the best of the situation however by clearing programming that would normally have been preempted by Tigers' baseball in the past on FM 96.5 while AM 590 airs the games. WKZO-FM also plans on airing some selected weekend games from the Chicago Cubs to appeal to West Michigan baseball fans.
Tigers baseball has been a mainstay on WKZO for decades - the station was once owned by John Fetzer who also owned the ballclub.
