There have been a lot of rumors swirling since Good News Communications owner Doug Martin announced he was selling radio KVOI, 1030 AM, to Bustos Media Inc., a Portland, Oregon-based chain of Spanish language radio stations. Would the station stay the same and carry a lineup of local talk and syndicated conservative programming? Would it move to Spanish-language broadcasting? Would any of the current local hosts—including anti-establishment talker Chris DeSimone and longtime local broadcaster Bill Buckmaster—keep their gigs?
We finally know a little more about the future of the station—and it appears that the new owners are going to be giving local talk a big opportunity.
Once again proving that he has more lives than a wildcat, John C. Scott—who has hosted a local talk show on a variety of stations since the late ’80s in this town—will be returning to the airwaves from 4 to 6 p.m. daily. While the details are still being sorted out, Scott will also be helping develop new local talk shows at the station. He’s in talk with various local political and sports personalities about hosting shows.
“Every time I pay for funeral expenses in advance, I kick myself,” Scott told the Weekly. “I’m not dead yet.”
Buckmaster, who had a long run as the host of PBS-6’s Arizona Illustrated before moving on to talk radio in 2011, will continue to host his show from noon to 1 p.m., and morning talker Chris DeSimone is expected to keep his show, Wake Up Tucson.
“I am really excited about Dr. Bustos’ vision for local talk radio in this town,” Buckmaster told the Weekly. “This is a win-win for everyone involved with the big winner our community to have a radio station where all voices will be welcome on the air.”
This article appears in Aug 2-8, 2018.
I was worried Bill Buckmaster would lose his noontime slot or possibly his entire segment. Instead, hes remaining on the air holding his same times with the new ownership. I, along with many Tucsonans, are happy and excited about Bill remaining on the air. Congratulations Bill! As always, Ill be listening in.
Glad to see Bill remaining in the same spot, especially with all of the liberal democrats that will be invading the airwaves of KVOI
Is there anyone more in love with his own voice than Bill Buckmaster? Oh yeah, maybe John C. Scott.
I’ll believe whatever happens WHEN it happens. As of right now, there aren’t enough bodies to fill the airwaves with local FRESH programming.
One thing that would be a HUGE improvement is a step back to 1960s radio, when most stations in Tucson had an actual NEWS DEPARTMENT. Something that no radio station, and for that matter, most TV stations in the market have today. You could rely of stations to bring the news to your ears every hour. Sometimes two or three times each hour!
What happend at the Supes meeting? What happened at the City Council? How about the school board (and not just TUSD)? There used to be actual REPORTERS covering those meetings, taking notes, recording actual events, writing comprehensive detailed reports then BROADCASTING the news! None of the rip-n-read from the lame excuse of a local daily newspaper…no..it was REAL reporting. BOTH sides of stories, and since there are usually nore than just two sides..ALL sides got air time.
Maybe we could get all of the basics covered. Remember high school newspapers? In the day, even those could get WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, HOW, and most importantly WHY something happened, or was about to. J-school at the UofA could use a refresher on that aspect of reporting. Network newsreaders forgot how to do that…so have most editors.
“anti-establishment talker Chris DeSimone.” What does that EVEN mean? He’s “conservative.” Period.
Are you REALLY saying if you are not “liberal” then you must be “anti-establishment?” The “establishment,” speaking historically, is generally whomever is “in charge.” That would actually make Chris “pro” establishment.