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The addition of another all-news radio station in Las Vegas means a new battle is at hand for a station which once had the market to itself.
"The question (for advertisers) is no longer, 'Shall we use a news station?'" says Joe McMurray, president and general manager of KNUU-AM 970. "It's now, 'What news station should we use?'"
KNUU-AM 970 (or KNEWS), the station which once had the corner on the all-news market. has years of experience, shop-worn studios and a small but dedicated staff.
Upstart KRBO-FM 105.1 was an "oldies" station before going all-news. The reporters heard on KRBO will be working in newly built studios, using new computers and employing a statewide network of reporters.
However, while KNEWS' studios are older, they have some new equipment as well. McMurray boasts of having the latest in portable tape recorders, communication equipment, and a computer that helps with programming.
Radio News Co. will provide the local and state news heard on KRBO.
Radio News is owned by Sunbelt Broadcasting, which also owns local television station KTNV Channel 3, which will provide local news for KRBO. Other stations in the Sunbelt stable will also provide news for the new station.
Dane Wilt, who runs Radio News, says his company and KNEWS are probably equal in terms of resources, aside from all the television reporters from Channel 3. Radio News' studios are in the television station's building.
But McMurray said his...