Spokane: Major Morning Disruption
• Spokane morning radio has received a seismic gut-punch, as restructuring at Morgan Murphy Media has resulted in the departure of the popular Dave, Ken and Molly show on Top 40 KZZU (92.9 ZZU). The team of Dave Sposito, Molly Allen and Ken Hopkins have been a beloved institution on Spokane radio for three decades, and had consistently been named the Best Radio Team in the annual Inlander poll. Pictured, (l-r): Dave, Molly & Ken
Ironically, the story was initially reported by KXLY-TV, the local ABC affiliate also owned by Morgan Murphy Media.
According to the Spokane Spokesman-Review, the trio had no idea that their Thursday show would be their last. In a Friday Facebook post, Molly Allen wrote, “Confirming that yesterday was the last Dave, Ken and Molly show. I’m sorry that we didn’t get to say goodbye to you all. Spokane has been so good to us. Obviously, this was not our decision. Thank you for over 30 years of love and support.” In a statement, Sposito said, “There’s not much that I can say right now… But we were the top rated show for many, many years… And none of us saw this coming… Still sort of processing it all.”
Across the hall at News-Talk KXLY-AM, the KXLY 920 News Now morning show was also among the casualties, as longtime morning co-anchor Dave Spencer and producer Steve West are out. Spencer wrote on Facebook that “all good things must come to an end.” In a statement to The Spokesman-Review, Spencer said, “I am very blessed to have spent 22 of my 33 years in professional broadcasting at KXLY. Ken Hopkins gave me my first job in 1991 at KZZU and I am forever grateful.”
In a statement, Tery Garras, VP of Radio for Morgan Murphy Media, said, “We are restructuring operations to reflect current economic conditions while maintaining our commitment to our loyal listeners, partners, and community into the future.”
