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Kevin Battle Sees Audacy’s KDKA NewsRadio Terminate Contract

Last year, Battle told Barrett News Media that he became involved in the news/talk format after a stint at a Baltimore sports station came to an end.

Ryan Hedrick

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A photo of the KDKA logo

Pittsburgh radio personality Kevin Battle announced that Audacy-owned KDKA NewsRadio unexpectedly terminated his contract Tuesday. Battle shared the news on Facebook, stating that “evolving business situations” prompted the cut.

“It has been an absolute thrill and honor to be able to return to Pittsburgh to work at the legendary KDKA-AM/FM and with the professionals who make it sound great – especially our producer, Rob Graner,” Battle said.

Last year, Battle told Barrett News Media that he became involved in the news/talk format after a stint at a Baltimore sports station came to an end.

“I started selling motorcycles part-time and then I landed a part-time job at WNEW 99.1 FM in Washington D.C. After a year, somebody told me about a position in New York at Fox News Radio,” he said at the time.

A native Pittsburgher, Battle graduated from nearby Clarion University.

“I will be forever grateful to those of you who chose to tune in to the show each morning,” he said. “It really means so much to me that you spent your time listening and sharing your busy day with us. Thank YOU! I will miss you all.”

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26 Comments

26 Comments

  1. Maryanne

    August 17, 2022 at 8:18 am

    Seriously – u fired Kevin who was doing a nice job and you keep the 9-12:00 host ?!?!?!?! That show is getting old –

    • Michael

      August 19, 2022 at 12:16 pm

      Agreed….his show is one script with the same rhetoric ( insert topic here ). Perhaps if Kevin had a wife who also works ar KDKA he would still have a job. I seriously question the person who is evaluating the talent there and on 93.7 the fan. Audacy, if you really want to save some money and keep listeners, here’s a suggestion, Let Larry do his own morning show, move Kevin to follow and fire Griffin. On 93.7 the fan, fire Starkey and let Ron Cook do his own show.

  2. Maryanne

    August 17, 2022 at 8:18 am

    Seriously – u fired Kevin who was doing a nice job and you keep the 9-12:00 host ?!?!?!?! That show is getting old –

    • Michael

      August 19, 2022 at 12:16 pm

      Agreed….his show is one script with the same rhetoric ( insert topic here ). Perhaps if Kevin had a wife who also works ar KDKA he would still have a job. I seriously question the person who is evaluating the talent there and on 93.7 the fan. Audacy, if you really want to save some money and keep listeners, here’s a suggestion, Let Larry do his own morning show, move Kevin to follow and fire Griffin. On 93.7 the fan, fire Starkey and let Ron Cook do his own show.

  3. Theresa

    August 17, 2022 at 4:08 pm

    I’m so sad this happened to Kevin. I listen to the 5am show M-F while getting ready for work. I enjoyed Kevin and thought he did a great job. I hope he can find something else in Pittsburgh. His family is here. There are others who should have been let go and not him. God bless you Kevin.

  4. Theresa

    August 17, 2022 at 4:08 pm

    I’m so sad this happened to Kevin. I listen to the 5am show M-F while getting ready for work. I enjoyed Kevin and thought he did a great job. I hope he can find something else in Pittsburgh. His family is here. There are others who should have been let go and not him. God bless you Kevin.

  5. Kate

    August 17, 2022 at 9:20 pm

    Very sad indeed. While Larry and John were a great pairing, I came to enjoy Kevin’s ying to Larry’s yang. In shuffling on-air personalities, how about a decision about the noon to 3 slot, which has been vacant for too long now, with an incredible mish mash of folks. I never know from day to day if I’m going to listen then.

  6. Kate

    August 17, 2022 at 9:20 pm

    Very sad indeed. While Larry and John were a great pairing, I came to enjoy Kevin’s ying to Larry’s yang. In shuffling on-air personalities, how about a decision about the noon to 3 slot, which has been vacant for too long now, with an incredible mish mash of folks. I never know from day to day if I’m going to listen then.

  7. Susan

    August 18, 2022 at 8:01 am

    Very sad!!! Something is now missing on the morning show without Kevin.

  8. Susan

    August 18, 2022 at 8:01 am

    Very sad!!! Something is now missing on the morning show without Kevin.

  9. Don

    August 18, 2022 at 8:03 am

    Kevin deserves the Noon to 3 slot. His personality is a breath of fresh air to KDKA.

  10. Don

    August 18, 2022 at 8:03 am

    Kevin deserves the Noon to 3 slot. His personality is a breath of fresh air to KDKA.

  11. Elaine Kristan

    August 18, 2022 at 5:59 pm

    I, too am very sad and disappointed that you fired Kevin . He was excellent. He was the one who put the zing in the morning show. I agree with the previous person…Kevin was a breath of fresh air that KDKA so badly needed. Two days without Kevin and the morning show is back to its hum-drum, unexciting pace. What a MISTAKE KDKA! God Bless You, Kevin. We miss you!!!

  12. Elaine Kristan

    August 18, 2022 at 5:59 pm

    I, too am very sad and disappointed that you fired Kevin . He was excellent. He was the one who put the zing in the morning show. I agree with the previous person…Kevin was a breath of fresh air that KDKA so badly needed. Two days without Kevin and the morning show is back to its hum-drum, unexciting pace. What a MISTAKE KDKA! God Bless You, Kevin. We miss you!!!

  13. J J Dram

    August 19, 2022 at 9:27 am

    I was happy when Marty Griffin went on vacation, now he leads off and will be on air even longer!! If the Manager ever listened to his hosts, he’d know . Who listeners call and who they do not!! KDKA was once the family station. They appear quite prejudiced, and they
    crudely handle their people. KDKA needs new management. Cause this one only thinks it knows Pittsburgh.

  14. J J Dram

    August 19, 2022 at 9:27 am

    I was happy when Marty Griffin went on vacation, now he leads off and will be on air even longer!! If the Manager ever listened to his hosts, he’d know . Who listeners call and who they do not!! KDKA was once the family station. They appear quite prejudiced, and they
    crudely handle their people. KDKA needs new management. Cause this one only thinks it knows Pittsburgh.

  15. Gloria

    August 19, 2022 at 10:10 am

    I love the new pairing of Marty and Larry. I could not listen to KDKA in the morning because Kevin’s viewpoints were often biased and baseless. Although I am not unhappy with his departure, as a fellow Pittsburgher, I wish him well.

  16. Gloria

    August 19, 2022 at 10:10 am

    I love the new pairing of Marty and Larry. I could not listen to KDKA in the morning because Kevin’s viewpoints were often biased and baseless. Although I am not unhappy with his departure, as a fellow Pittsburgher, I wish him well.

  17. Emilia

    August 20, 2022 at 8:44 am

    You made a big mistake in letting Kevin go. He was a breath of fresh air! I thought he made an enormous contribution to the morning show. I loved waking up early and listening to Larry and Kevin. In the past, KDKA made the same mistake in getting rid of Mike Pentax. In time you realized your mistake and brought him back to KDKA. Let’s hope you soon realize your mistake and try to bring him back to KDKA.

  18. Emilia

    August 20, 2022 at 8:44 am

    You made a big mistake in letting Kevin go. He was a breath of fresh air! I thought he made an enormous contribution to the morning show. I loved waking up early and listening to Larry and Kevin. In the past, KDKA made the same mistake in getting rid of Mike Pentax. In time you realized your mistake and brought him back to KDKA. Let’s hope you soon realize your mistake and try to bring him back to KDKA.

  19. Margaret

    August 21, 2022 at 8:55 pm

    What a mistake to let Kevin go…I felt sure he would be the perfect one to take over when Larry would retire (not wishing for that to occur anytime soon)Larry is perfect and I enjoy his style tremendously, however, looking to the future.
    Even though I also listen to Marty I don’t think he is a good fit for that time frame. Once before Marty shared a show and it was awful and didn’t last long. Hopefully management will see their mistake and beg Kevin to return.

    Good luck!!!!

  20. Margaret

    August 21, 2022 at 8:55 pm

    What a mistake to let Kevin go…I felt sure he would be the perfect one to take over when Larry would retire (not wishing for that to occur anytime soon)Larry is perfect and I enjoy his style tremendously, however, looking to the future.
    Even though I also listen to Marty I don’t think he is a good fit for that time frame. Once before Marty shared a show and it was awful and didn’t last long. Hopefully management will see their mistake and beg Kevin to return.

    Good luck!!!!

  21. Renee

    August 25, 2022 at 8:49 pm

    What an absolute shame to let Kevin go!! There are so many of the host that are so divisive and argue with callers that I can’t even listen to them! But I looked forward to the morning show. Won’t be listening anymore

  22. Renee

    August 25, 2022 at 8:49 pm

    What an absolute shame to let Kevin go!! There are so many of the host that are so divisive and argue with callers that I can’t even listen to them! But I looked forward to the morning show. Won’t be listening anymore

  23. JIM MCMAHON

    August 26, 2022 at 7:36 am

    As an old KQV listener so missed, then listening KDKA with Larry & John good show, after John’s retirement I think Kevin did a fine job. And I think KDKA made a big MISTAKE!

  24. JIM MCMAHON

    August 26, 2022 at 7:36 am

    As an old KQV listener so missed, then listening KDKA with Larry & John good show, after John’s retirement I think Kevin did a fine job. And I think KDKA made a big MISTAKE!

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Dana Loesch: Like Ronna McDaniel, ‘I Like to Go Where the Fight Is’

“Sometimes it’s not about winning the battle, but planting the seed is the victory, right? So that’s how I look at stuff.”

Barrett News Media

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(Photo: Dana Loesch)

Former RNC chair Ronna McDaniel is no longer a contributor at NBC News after intense internal backlash. Dana Loesch believes that while McDaniel wasn’t a successful political leader, she had the right intentions with her media aspirations.

During The Dana Show, Loesch argued that she was upset about the reactions from MSNBC hosts that ultimately led to McDaniel’s departure, saying she never wanted to be in a position of supporting the former RNC chair.

“I’m mad because I feel like these people are putting me in a position where I’m defending her,” said Loesch. “And that makes me mad because I don’t want to defend her. I think that she was an incompetent RNC head.”

However, she pushed back on the idea that Ronna McDaniel made a mistake by partnering with a liberal cable outlet like MSNBC to begin with.

“People are like, ‘Well, her first mistake was going to MSNBC.’ I disagree. I like to go where the fight is,” Loesch revealed. “I was one of the first token conservative contributors at CNN back in this was like 2011, 2012, 2013. Yeah, you kind of know that most of the people hate you. But you do have a couple of allies.

“I like to go where the fight is. Because sometimes it’s not about winning the battle, but planting the seed is the victory, right? So that’s how I look at stuff. I’ve never shied away from — clearly — going into any arena, literally or anywhere else. So I don’t fault her for going to MSNBC.”

Dana Loesch concluded by positing that the money for McDaniel’s contract — reported to be $300,000 per year — was an impressive figure because most contributors are only paid around $75,000.

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Dom Giordano: Joe Rogan Needs to Remember He’s an Entertainer And Stay Away From ‘Dangerous’ Topics

Giordano called Rogan a “major, major figure who I think is insane in what he’s saying here and doesn’t have a thumbnail knowledge of anything.”

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(Photo: 1210 WPHT)

Popular podcaster Joe Rogan has never been afraid to wade into controversial topics or interview less-than-desirable guests on his podcast. 1210 WPHT host Dom Giordano believes it might be time for him to start.

In a recent podcast episode, Rogan claimed he believed Israel’s treatment of citizens in Gaza since the October 7th terrorist attacks from Hamas has bordered on genocide. He sat idly by as a guest equated the situation to that of the Allied Forces bombing of Dresden, Germany during World War II, which killed an estimated 25,000 people.

Rogan claimed the message would be “We’re basically saying genocide is ok as long as we’re doing it.”

After hearing those comments, Dom Giordano admonished Rogan.

“Look, I get Joe Rogan’s prominence, but this is a dangerous area. The guy throwing Dresden — and a lot of listeners might remember that the firebombing of Dresden — the allies took it out. They did. I forget how many people were killed. World War II was not pretty. That, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki, but it was exactly the moral thing to do,” said Giordano. “That’s exactly what needed to be done. So we’re not committing genocide here and then blaming the other side.”

Giordano called Rogan a “major, major figure who I think is insane in what he’s saying here and doesn’t have a thumbnail knowledge of anything…he doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about here.”

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Buck Sexton: NBC News Paying Contract of Ronna McDaniel is Nothing Compared to Megyn Kelly

“$600,000 for them is a rounding error. The amount of money these corporate news outlets can put toward stupid decision making — in both of those cases firing talent — is remarkable in and of itself.”

Barrett News Media

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A photo of Buck Sexton and the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show logo
(Photo: Premiere Networks)

NBC News severed its ties to former RNC chair Ronna McDaniel after intense internal backlash. Radio host Buck Sexton says paying out her contract will be a simple one for the network, especially after what it paid to Megyn Kelly.

In 2018, Kelly insinuated it was ok for people to wear blackface as long as they were impersonating a black character. The subsequent backlash led to her departure from NBC News, with the outlet paying her the rest of her contract.

A similar situation unfolded with Ronna McDaniel, who has signed a reported two-year, $600,000 contract with the network to serve as a political analyst after resigning from her role with the Republican National Committee earlier this month.

After her hiring, many at MSNBC and inside the NBC News organization pushed back against the idea of hiring someone who had been intensely critical of the mainstream media, and also touted lies about the validity of the 2020 Presidential election until joining the network as a contributor.

NBC News Chairman Cesar Conde revealed it was his decision to end the relationship with Ronna McDaniel.

“I want to personally apologize to our team members who felt we let them down. While this was a collective recommendation by some members of our leadership team, I approved it and take full responsibility for it,” he wrote in an internal memo to staffers.

After the news of McDaniel’s departure became official, The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show began the show with the topic, leading Sexton to argue this isn’t the first time NBC News has been in this position.

“They did it. They actually fired the former RNC chair. I think she did one interview. The reports are they’re gonna pay her $300,000 for both of the years of her contract. For NBC, that’s nothing. Remember, NBC had to pay out Megyn Kelly’s contract a while ago at like $70 million or something,” said Buck Sexton. “$600,000 for them is a rounding error. The amount of money these corporate news outlets can put toward stupid decision making — in both of those cases firing talent — is remarkable in and of itself.”

At the time of her exit from NBC News, it was reported Megyn Kelly would receive $30 million from the outlet.

Co-host Clay Travis argued that while listeners of the show may not be big fans of McDaniel, people should be concerned about the treatment of Trump supporters. “They aren’t interested in talking to half the country,” he posited.

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