Tavis Smiley has announced an expansion of his syndicated talk radio show to 11 new markets throughout the nation.

The self-titled show will now be heard on the following stations and markets:

• Milwaukee (WNOV-AM)
• Detroit (WGPR-FM)
• Orlando (WHPB-FM)
• Montgomery (WUMO-FM)
• Albuquerque (KMGG-FM)
• Jonesboro (KLEK-FM)
• Flint (WFOV-FM)
• Marshall, TX (KBWC-FM)
• Benton Harbor, MI (WVBH-FM)
• Muskegon, MI (WUVS-FM)
• Natchez (WMIS-AM)

“The show’s expansion into media markets across the United States, including heritage stations in key battleground states like Michigan and Wisconsin, represents the continuation of our vision for this innovative, unapologetically progressive programming,” said Smiley.

“We will continue to provide our growing listener base with enlightening and empowering programming geared toward African Americans and other citizens of color, and we will cover topics that other radio shows are too timid to discuss.”

The program originates from KBLA 1580 in Los Angeles, a station Tavis Smiley is attempt to purchase.

After charges of political bias at NPR were brought forth by now-former editor Uri Berliner last month, a group of House Republicans want to investigate the matter further.

In a letter to NPR CEO Katherine Maher, Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) shared that the recent reports were troubling because of the outlet’s lack of representation of one side of the political aisle.

“The Committee has concerns about the direction in which NPR may be headed under past and present leadership,” the Representatives wrote. “As a taxpayer-funded, public radio organization, NPR should focus on fair and objective news reporting that both considers and reflects the views of the larger U.S. population and not just a niche audience.”

“it is incomprehensible that the nation’s public radio — supported by taxpayer funding — would choose to allow political ideologies to override journalistic principles of truth, accuracy, and objectivity.”

The group is also asking the organization to provide Congress with details on the political affiliation of its news staff. It has also requested information on how many registered Republicans have served on its board of directors in the last half-decade.

After Berliner’s op-ed, NPR colleagues pushed back against the insinuation that the organization was rife with political bias. Maher admitted that the allegation was a distraction, but added that she was committed to serving the American public as a whole, and not just overtly liberal listeners.

The Denver radio market has a bevy of options for news/talk radio consumers. iHeartMedia alone features three stations in the metro with KOA 850, Freedom 93.7, and Talk Radio 630 KHOW. Salem Media Group’s 710 KNUS is also in the Colorado capital with a local morning show to compliment its nationally syndicated lineup.

Despite the challengers, KOA remained in the drivers seat, experiencing growth, especially in middays, during the 2024 winter ratings book.

According to the latest Nielsen data, Colorado’s Morning News with Marty Lenz and Jeana Gondek (5-9 AM) finished seventh with a 4.8 share among Persons 35+. That represented a jump from the 4.2 share it saw in the fall book, and the 4.0 share it featured during the winter ratings period in 2023. In the Persons 35-64 demo, the program earned a 1.7. The daypart also recorded a 1.1 share among Persons 25-54. KOA also had a strong 6+ performance in mornings, notching an eleventh-place finish with a 4.0 share.

On Talk Radio 630 KHOW, the station airs a local morning show with former FEMA Director and Under Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Brown. The program airs weekdays from 6a-10a. Identical 1.9 shares were generated in the Persons 25-54 and Persons 35-54 demos. That was flat with Persons 35-64, and up from a 1.7 share with Persons 25-54 in the fall. Brown’s show did make greater strides with Men 25-54, reeling in a 3.0 share for the book. That was up one-tenth of a share from the fall.

In middays, KOA was up across the board as The Ross Kaminsky Show (9a-12p) rose to a 3.7 share (Persons 25-54) and 3.6 share (Persons 35-64), finishing eleventh in each demo. The program was up from a 3.1 share (Persons 25-54) in the fall, and a 2.3 share in the winter. Among Persons 35-64, the show improved from a 3.1 share in the fall and a 2.1 share year-over-year. With Men 25-54, Kaminsky’s show finished fifth with a 6.2 share.

The Mandy Connell Show airs on KOA weekdays from 12p-3p, and like Kaminsky’s show, it was up across several sectors. With Men 25-54, the program ranked fourth with a 6.5 share, up from a 5.4 in the fall and 4.5 year-over-year. Among Persons 25-54, the show climbed from a 3.1 share in the fall to a 4.0 share. That placed it seventh for the quarter. Connell’s show also finished tenth with Persons 35-64 with a 3.6 share.

KOA features sports talk from 3p-11p in its daily lineup.

In the total day ratings (M-F 5a-6p), the station saw its highest share with Men 25-54, earning a 3.8 share, good for 10th in the market. With Persons 35-64, KOA saw a 2.5 share, identical to its fall book showing, but up from the 1.8 it featured during the winter 2023 book. Among Persons 25-54, the station continued to grow, rising to a 2.4 share from the 2.3 it featured in the fall and 2.0 it saw in winter last year.

Talk Radio 630 KHOW earned a 2.4 share with Men 25-54. The station garnered a 1.4 share with both Persons 25-54 and Persons 35-64.

Ratings information for 710 KNUS and Freedom 93.7 were not available.

Ratings reports and analysis are written by BNM and sponsored by Crowd React Media, a division of Harker Bos Group. Learn more about the different ways media research can benefit your station and cut through the noise by clicking here.