'Spoken Word' will stay on KSL

The world's longest-running network-radio broadcast — "Music and the Spoken Word" — will continue, uninterrupted, despite KSL Radio's recent switch from CBS to the ABC Radio Network.

"This change will not affect the choir broadcasts," said KSL program director Russ Hill.

Westwood One, the CBS Radio satellite arm, will continue to air the choir as usual. However, should that ever change, ABC has expressed an interest in carrying the broadcast.

The first Tabernacle Choir broadcast was on Monday, July 15, 1929, on the NBC Radio Network. By 1930, a "Spoken Word" feature was added to the program.

When these broadcasts switched to CBS in 1932, the stipulation was that they would air on Sunday mornings.

KSL's departure from the CBS Radio Network ends a 73-year-old relationship.

While some may question KSL's switch to ABC, that network does seem to offer its affiliate stations more freedom. Also, while the CBS Radio Network caters to all-news stations, ABC better serves news/talk, which is KSL's format.

Hill said that by the end of last week, KSL had received only 15 e-mails regarding its network change. That contrasts with the 2,000 downloads of last week's first "CougarRadio" program online and 215 e-mails received from Brigham Young University fans about the new show.

• MORNING SHOW CHANGE — As of last week, Scott Fisher and Laura Bedore, the morning team on KUDD ("The Mix," FM-107.9) are off the air for good on that station. Since their departure, the station has been playing more music in the morning and Jake Parker is now the morning host. "Fisher and Laura" started in May of 2004 at the station.

The station has been slipping in its ratings overall and that's the likely reason for the cutbacks.

Fisher said he has "a full plate" of things going on in his life right now. He is the voice of the Chicago Tribune newspaper, doing two broadcasts a day from his Davis County home that air on 15 Chicago radio stations to promote the paper. "I have a million options," Fisher said of his future.

Bedore could not be reached for comment. She was a full-time teacher before going into radio.