Arkansas Radio Network
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2022) |
| Type | Radio network |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Headquarters |
|
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Arkansas Radio Network |
| History | |
| Launch date | 1967 |
| Closed | March 20, 2022 |
Arkansas Radio Network (ARN) was a statewide radio network serving radio stations in the state of Arkansas. ARN was headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas operating from its flagship station KARN-FM and ended its existence under the ownership of Cumulus Media.
History
ARN began their broadcasting activities in 1967 and for 55 years provided affiliates in Arkansas top news headlines, agriculture business news, sports, and specialty programming.[1]
The Network started as the Delta Farm Network, an early morning program by KARK Farm Director Bob Buice, who also appeared on KARK-TV. Known for his velvet-like voice, he also did a weekend program on the Network for many years called Uncle Bob's Stories from the Bible.
The network later expanded to include the AP&L (Arkansas Power and Light, later Entergy) Live Better Electrically Hour, a program of music played in the late morning and broadcast over KARK-FM's 100 kW signal. Ted Snider purchased KARK AM-FM from Mullins Broadcasting and founded the Arkansas Radio Network with newscasts provided by KARK-TV Newscasters (Don Corbett and Les Bolton) and Sportscaster Jim Elder. KARK was distributed by KARK-FM or by relays through other FM stations (KNBY-FM in Newport to KRLW-Walnut Ridge as an example).
ARN's growth came in the early 1980s, when distribution moved to satellite, although the number of affiliates had been growing into the 1970s. ARN was a staple across the state in the 1980s and 1990s, with the newscast broadcast at :55 minutes past each hour. Bob Buice was succeeded as Ag Director by John Philpot, and later by Stewert Doan.
In mid-February 2022, Cumulus Media (which acquired ARN through its 2011 acquisition of Citadel Broadcasting) informed ARN's eighteen remaining affiliates that it planned to suspend the network's operations effective March 20.[2][1]
See also
References
- ^ Nelson, Rex (23 October 2021). "OPINION | REX NELSON: A rich radio state". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. ISSN 1060-4332. Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
The network traces its roots back to 1967 and an early morning farm show hosted by Bob Buice, who also did a weekend program called "Uncle Bob's Stories from the Bible." Ted Snider, a brilliant radio executive, took the network to the next level, hiring well-known newscasters such as Les Bolton and Don Corbett to go along with sportscasting legend Jim Elder.
- ^ Kyle Massey (February 21, 2022). "Arkansas Radio Network to Shut Down Next Month". Arkansas Business. Arkansas Business Publishing Group. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
External links
- "Arkansas Radio Network". Arkansas Radio Network. 7 December 2004. Archived from the original on 9 August 2004. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- "Blookberg: Arkansas Radio Network". Bloomberg News. n.d. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
