Autry takes to airwaves as radio host

Sep 30, 2008 (The Fresno Bee - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- PVLY | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Fresno Mayor Alan Autry called on a few friends to help launch his local daily talk radio show on KYNO (AM 1300). Gov. Schwarzenegger, Rep. George Radanovich and Fresno State head football coach Pat Hill were the on-air guests during the Monday morning inaugural "The Alan Autry Show."

"Hello San Joaquin Valley. This is no 'Heat of the Night' rerun stuck in your head. The face that was made for radio is now on radio," Autry said to open the broadcast.

Autry was seated inside a radio booth the size of a walk-in closet. A dark maroon curtain covered the wall to his right. A large window to his right allowed Autry to see his producer, E. Curtis Johnson. Normally, the booth is used to record radio commercials. But the small space will be home to Autry's show until new facilities for the KJWL/KYNO stations are built downtown.

The local radio talk show will air 10 a.m.-noon weekdays on the radio station purchased in August by KJWL (FM 99.7) owner John Ostlund.

The addition of Autry's show to the syndicated lineup of conservative talkers such as Dennis Miller and Bill O'Reilly completes the transformation of KYNO from a Spanish-language religious format.

"It is great to have you on radio. With your personality, you will have the highest ratings in no time," Schwarzenegger said via telephone. The governor had to call a second time as the first telephone connection got lost.

Ostlund said he is happy with the response the new radio show has been getting even before the first show aired.

"I have all kinds of letters and e-mails from people who are excited about the show. In fact, the response has been more than I could imagine," Ostlund said. "But when you think about it, the mayor has a 70% approval rating. So the response should be no surprise."

Ostlund's only advice to Autry was to "have a good show."

Autry has three months left in his second term of office. He plans to use the radio show, both while he is in office and after he leaves, to talk about issues that are critical to local listeners: water, unemployment, immigration. Autry is considering a show that would include appearances by the two candidates running for mayor.

Monday's topic was the financial crisis. In-studio guests Mike Gish of Smith Barney and Mike McGowan of Premier Valley Bank traded opinions with Autry about the crisis.

Timing is everything in radio. Radanovich called Autry only moments after Congress voted down the bill that would have provided a $700 billion bailout for the financial industry.

Technical problems popped up in the show. Twice the broadcast signal was lost. Ostlund has been dealing with technical problems ever since the talk show format launched Sept. 2.

"When K-Jewel went on the air we were taking one service from one provider. Now we are taking multiple services from multiple providers. There have been some human problems that we have fixed," Ostlund said. "We are just asking the listeners to be patient."

Autry and Ostlund were vague as to how long the talk show will be on the air. The station owner said "forever." Autry looks at the show as a one-year trial to see what happens.

Neither the mayor nor Ostlund would reveal how much Autry is being paid. Elected officials have to disclose additional income earned while in office on a yearly basis or when they leave office. Terms of Autry's deal will be made public in January.

"Not a lot. Not little," Autry said. "But I have to earn a living because I have a child that is going to college one day. I don't have the money like Arnold does."

Ratings for the new talk show will be available the first week in January. That's when Autry will know whether his political popularity has translated to positive radio ratings. Any bump will help, as KYNO has been last among all local radio stations in recent ratings.

Autry's first show ended with what Johnson called Autry's theme song: Roy Rogers singing "Happy Trails."

"That was a lot of fun," said Autry before he headed back to his other job, at City Hall.

The reporter can be reached at rbentley@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6355.

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