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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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News Radio

Tim Conway Jr.: Social Media Quickens the News Cycle for Stories Like the Baltimore Bridge

“A good buddy of mine, he sent me that literally about 40 minutes after it happened. The video and the story. That’s crazy.”

Barrett News Media

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A photo of Tim Conway Jr. and the KFI AM-640 logo
(Photo: KFI AM-640)

Social media video of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsing in the Baltimore harbor made the rounds Tuesday morning. KFI AM-640 host Tim Conway Jr. believes the way we learned about the tragedy shapes the coverage surrounding it.

While discussing the happenings with KFI reporter Steve Gregory, who has a long history of covering breaking news events, Conway Jr. noted that not only did social media help confirm the validity of the story, but seeing the images spread so quickly shined a spotlight on how fast the news cycle moves now.

“What a great advantage of having Twitter and Facebook and Instagram and then TikTok, all these social media is when something like that happens you know, because it happens so late we would have not ever heard about it or seen anything until the morning news,” said Conway Jr.

“But now with social media you instantly know. A good buddy of mine, he sent me that literally about 40 minutes after it happened. The video and the story. That’s crazy.”

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News Radio

Michael Riedel: Once You Start Talking About People’s Personal Lives, There’s No Going Back

“If you go down that path, then you’re headed towards National Enquirer territory and as a journalist, you can never really come back from that.”

Barrett News Media

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A photo of Michael Riedel and the 710 WOR logo
(Photo: 710 WOR)

710 WOR morning host Michael Riedel got spent years working as a Broadway reporter and columnist before shifting to the New York news/talker. He has one guiding principle for the radio show that he has kept from his writing days.

Riedel was discussing his previous role at the New York Post with colleague Mark Simone on his midday program and said there are just some things you shouldn’t talk about.

“I got all the backstage stories when I was writing the column about Broadway for the New York Post. You know, celebrities, the leading lady fighting with the producer, lawsuits,” Riedel shared. “But I always drew the line at people’s private lives. Because I thought if you go down that path, then you’re headed towards National Enquirer territory and as a journalist, you can never really come back from that.

“If somebody filed a sexual harassment suit against somebody, I covered those. That’s fine. I mean, as soon as a suit is filed, it’s a matter of public record. I could get into it, but I never got into who’s sleeping with whom and who’s doing this thing. Not to say I didn’t know, and I loved hearing about it, but I drew the line at people’s personal lives when I wrote about them.”

Simone joked that he admired Riedel’s ability to converse with celebrities and know “exactly what that guy would be fascinated by.”

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News Radio

Howie Carr: MSNBC Hosts Have Too Many Skeletons in Closet to Criticize Ronna McDaniel

“Al Sharpton…is he offended? Brian Williams? Is he still ’emeritus,’ right? How about all the Dateline NBC people who put the bomb in the truck? Mike Barnicle? Is he offended?”

Barrett News Media

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A photo of Howie Carr
(Photo: The Howie Carr Show)

NBC News, MSNBC, and Ronna McDaniel have been at the forefront of the news media cycle after her hiring and subsequent removal from the network. Howie Carr believes the entire ordeal is an exercise in hypocrisy.

During The Howie Carr Show, the Boston-based host shared his belief that the reaction from MSNBC hosts like Joe Scarborough, Rachel Maddow, and Lawrence O’Donnell about the hiring of McDaniel reeks of dishonesty.

“Talk about hypocrisy here. NBC is now claiming to be journalists? They’re offended by Rhonda McDaniel, because she makes stuff up,” said Carr.

“Al Sharpton…is he offended? Brian Williams? Is he still ’emeritus,’ right? How about all the Dateline NBC people who put the bomb in the truck? Mike Barnicle? Is he offended? Chuck Todd, former coat-holder for Tom Harkin whose wife made millions working for Bernie Sanders, another very upstanding statesman.

“Joy Reid, who was caught with all the anti-gay, believe anti-Muslim tweets, too? She said she was hacked by a time traveler and asked the FBI to investigate it. And Lawrence O’Donnell, the guy who made up the Deutsche Bank thing that had to apologize? Rachel Maddow, who group came up with Trump’s income taxes return like it was a big scoop and had already put it in a book 20 years earlier? Did Joe Scarborough denounced him from his old congressional office in Fort Walton Beach, Florida where they found a dead girl? They’re appalled by Ronna McDaniel. Appalled.”

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