http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07080/771094-80.stm
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
By Adrian McCoy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The long-rumored format switch at WRKZ-FM (93.7/K-Rock) will finally happen April 2, when the radio station goes from rock music to a talk format called The Zone, with new call letters WTZN-FM.
Targeted at male listeners ages 25 to 49, the lineup is a roster of syndicated and local talent. Scott Paulsen, formerly of WDVE-FM, and John McIntire, heard most recently on KDKA-AM, will host weekday afternoon talk shows. And a syndicated host with local ties – comedian and Pittsburgh native Dennis Miller – will be part of the lineup. Miller’s new show launches nationally next week and debuts here April 2.
The weekday lineup: “The Opie & Anthony Show,” 6 to 9 a.m.; TBA, 9 to 10 a.m.; Miller, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; McIntire, 1 to 4 p.m.; and Paulsen, 4 to 7 p.m.
“It’s going to be a different kind of radio station,” said Keith Clark, vice president of programming for CBS Radio Pittsburgh. “The catalyst was making sure we could get great local talk shows. Having people like Scott Paulsen and John McIntire were critical to us being able to do this properly.”
There are still gaps in the evening and weekend schedule. The station runs some NASCAR programming on weekends, which will continue, Clark said.
Clark said The Zone will complement the news/talk format on sister station KDKA-AM (1020), giving listeners a serious talk outlet and one that is entertainment-driven. The new format will draw on KDKA for its local newscasts.