| 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[edit]
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[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ 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[edit]
- "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.
