Raleigh Radio: WPTF Revamps Line-Up

A new WPTF lineup adds shows by outspoken National Rifle Association spokeswoman Dana Loesch and Fox News host Brian Kilmeade.

Newsradio WPTF 680-AM is a Curtis Media Group-owned talk radio station in the Triangle market since 1924.

The News-Observer notes Loesch has been in the news a lot in the past couple of weeks responding to criticism from students and parents speaking out about the Parkland, Fla., shootings. The New York Times has called Loesch "the NRA's telegenic warrior."

"The Dana Show" will air from 1-3 p.m. each weekday.

Kilmeade is one of the hosts of "Fox and Friends" each weekday morning, and his radio program "The Brian Kilmeade Show" is a nationally syndicated Fox News Radio show. It will air from 9 a.m.-noon each weekday.

Rick Martinez, the vice president of news and information programming for Curtis, said one of the main reasons for the schedule change was to add more live programming to "jam-packed" news cycles.

"One of the big attractions is that they’re live," Martinez said. "So when something happens, we’ll get instant coverage of the news instead of time-shifted programming."

The combination of Kilmeade and Loesch is a good mix, Martinez said.

"She's female, she’s a mother," Martinez said of Loesch. "And the mere fact that you have someone that strong for the Second Amendment — you put it in the entire mix and it's not the typical talk show lineup one tends to get in the national market."

WPTF 680 AM (50 Kw, DA-N)

"This lineup is now live from 5 a.m. until 7 p.m., so we can cover events as they happen," he said.

Here's the new lineup:

• 9 a.m.-noon: "The Brian Kilmeade Show"
• Noon-1 p.m.: Triangle's Noon News with Scott Briggaman
• 1-3 p.m.: "The Dana Show" with Dana Loesch
• 3-6 p.m.: Triangle's Afternoon News with Rick and Donna Martinez
• 6-7 p.m.: Triangle's Evening News with Scott Briggaman
• 7-9 p.m.: "The Clark Howard Show"