Major lineup changes at KDKA Radio
December 20, 2018
Effective January 3, 2019, Wendy Bell and Lynne Hayes-Freeland will officially join KDKA-AM’s (1020) on-air team as afternoon drive host and midday host respectively. Each have been fill-in hosts for Marty Griffin during his treatment for cancer.
In addition, the station will expand its local weekday news coverage to 8:00 p.m. ET daily and will add local morning newscasts on the weekends.
“The new KDKA News Radio 1020 will serve our community in a way that reflects the energy and pulse of Pittsburgh in 2019 and beyond,” said Michael Spacciapolli, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Pittsburgh. “These programming additions will help elevate KDKA as the go-to destination in Pittsburgh for news, weather, traffic, business, sports and opinion.”
Wendy Bell will co-host the afternoon drive with station veteran Marty Griffin, weekdays from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Bell joins Entercom after spending 18 years as an anchor and reporter for WTAE-TV. Bell is a 21-time Emmy and five-time Edward R. Murrow Award winner.
“KDKA is a powerhouse radio station and Marty Griffin is a trusted friend who, like me, loves helping people,” said Bell. “Spending four hours a day with a team that truly cares about this city is a tremendous honor and I look forward to the opportunity to serve our listeners.”
The station also adds Lynne Hayes-Freeland to host the midday timeslot from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. She had previously served as a reporter, producer and talk show host for KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh since 1977. The move marks her second stint with News Radio 1020 KDKA, having begun her broadcast career as a producer for the station in 1976.
“Radio is a perfect place to learn, explore and grow, and I look forward to the chance to do just that with listeners just as curious as me everyday,” said Hayes-Freeland. “It feels great to be back home on KDKA.”
Other programming changes include new timing for the station’s morning show. Larry Richert and John Shumway will air weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Current afternoon drive host Robert Mangino will transition to host 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. timeslot on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Mangino will also host shows on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
The new weekday lineup is as follows:
| 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Larry Richert and John Shumway |
| 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Lynne Hayes-Freeland |
| 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Marty Griffin and Wendy Bell |
| 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. | Robert Mangino (Wednesday – Friday) |
| 8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. | Rob Pratte (Monday – Tuesday) |
“These programming additions will help elevate KDKA as the go-to destination in Pittsburgh for COMMERCIALS news, weather, traffic, business, sports and opinion.”
What happened rto my Favorite Ellis Cannon
The only reason I listen to KDKA radio at night was to listen to John McIntire you could of got rid of Rob Pratte on Monday and Tuesday night no one I know listen to him. Also Wendy Bell was very poor choice when she would come on I would switch NPR like I do when Rob Pratte is on Saturdays and Sundays. We don’t need more Trump nonsense talker like Pratte and Bell there is enough fascist right wing talker on radio now.