Here’s something that’s been hard to miss if you’ve followed Seattle talk radio, or, honestly, just like your midday drama with a side of political theory. Michael Medved, a decades-long heavyweight of conservative commentary, is leaving KTTH’s midday lineup after serving as a flagship voice. The station’s pulling the plug—but it’s not your standard retiring-to-the-lake story. Let’s break down why Medved’s out, what’s next for him, and why this lineup shakeup signals more than simple radio Tetris.
The KTTH Programming Shuffle: What’s Changing and Why?
Let’s set the table. KTTH, a Seattle news-talk mainstay, is giving its midday slot a facelift at the start of the new year. The Michael Medved Show, a longtime mid-day centerpiece from 12 to 3 p.m., is out. In its place? The Guy Benson Show, courtesy of Fox News Radio.
Per KTTH’s official word, it’s just a “lineup revision.” UX recirculation! Audience segmentation! Or, in plain English: time to chase younger demos and keep the ad dollars flowing. Happens all the time—until the hosts start talking back.
If you’re tracking scheduling as a game of musical chairs, this looks like textbook corporate strategy. Out with legacy, in with syndication from Fox. It’s neat, cost-cutting, and a play for national talking points that keep listeners leaning in (or shouting at their dashboard). But as is standard in this business, programming changes always have a pulse, and this one’s beating right on the third rail of politics.
Medved Didn’t Jump—He Was Pushed
Let’s squash one rumor upfront. Michael Medved isn’t leaving KTTH to ride into the sunset or take up sudoku. He’s not retiring, nor did he suddenly yearn for afternoons devoted to lawn care.
Instead, he’s made it crystal clear: the decision was handed down by KTTH management—and more importantly, the Salem Radio Network (SRN), which syndicates his show nationally. He told his audience he’ll “keep our daily broadcast with no interruption” for Seattle listeners, just not through SRN or on KTTH’s megaphone.
Translation: this isn’t about a host “moving on.” It’s corporate plumbing. Medved still wants the mic. The network just wants something (or someone) else.
The Trump Factor: Unspoken Tension Unmasked
If you squint, you can see another element baked into this drama—call it radio’s version of “office politics, but make it national.”
Medved’s stance on Donald Trump has never been ambiguous. He was basically the last anti-Trump conservative standing in a group chat full of true believers. Over the past few years, Medved’s show has been where “Never Trump” met “Conservative Actual Policy Debate.” That’s a unicorn in certain corners of talk radio.
Industry rumor, as confirmed by several outlets and Medved himself, is that his blunt Trump critiques didn’t play well with the higher-ups at SRN. In short: If your main product is a certain brand of conservative rage-fuel, the guy poking holes in Trumpism isn’t an asset—he’s suddenly an awkward fit.
So, was this about ratings? Maybe a little. But plenty of shows with smaller audiences skate by if they sing the right company songs. Medved’s crime, it seems, was policy heterodoxy, not just audience erosion. Call it corporate “brand hygiene” in action.
Relationship Status: It’s Complicated (with Management)
The network relationship deteriorated to the point that Medved was, by industry accounts, “on the outs,” and the writing was on the wall. Salem’s talk lineup isn’t famous for nuance—Medved was the exception, not the rule. When leadership wants a host gone, this is the script: you get replaced mid-programming shakeup by syndicated talkers more aligned with the party line.
If you want a business parallel, it’s like a founder quietly forced out post-acquisition. The new leadership wants different KPIs—brand unity, loyalty to the current orthodoxy. Troublemakers (even distinguished ones) are first to see the door.
The New Show in Town: The Guy Benson Takeover
So who fills the void? Guy Benson, a Fox News Radio regular, comes in from 12–3 p.m. This isn’t just a change of voice—it’s a shift in tone. Benson brings the energy, the DC connections, and a younger tilt. He’s also, let’s be blunt, less likely to question the Trump-backing status quo that Salem sees as valuable to their audience clustering.
For sponsors and station management, the Guy Benson upgrade makes sense on a spreadsheet. New blood, lower risk, a sweetener for national advertisers who love a bit of Fox cachet.
For longtime Medved listeners who tuned in for the host’s contrarian edge, not just the echo chamber effect—well, it’s a gut punch.
Medved’s Plan B: Going DIY in the Age of Independent Radio
Here’s where it gets interesting. Medved’s not shutting up shop—he’s just pivoting platforms.
He announced he’ll continue broadcasting daily right out of Seattle’s AM 770 office. The show will live online and elsewhere, targeting listeners who want his signature commentary without network filters. If anything, this is Medved doubling down on his strengths: local flavor, big-picture analysis, and serious historical context.
In explaining the transition, Medved said he’s looking to “emphasize more history-based content.” For a guy who’s written extensively about U.S. history and pop culture, it’s a natural lane. The audience? Likely a mix of old fans and new listeners who’d rather hear about the roots of American political chaos than the latest “own the libs” soundbite.
Does this play work? It might—if enough of KTTH’s core audience comes with him. The cost? Less distribution muscle and less ready access to a national platform. The upside? Zero middle management, no brand police, and the freedom to cover issues outside the current clickbait cycle.
Community and Listener Reactions: Nostalgia Meets Skepticism
Listener response? The phone lines lit up. Medved’s departure, for some, is a personal loss—he’s been Seattle’s conservative constant for more than twenty years. For others, the writing was on the wall since his show started tilting more toward policy and less toward partisanship.
Anecdotes rolled in from Seattle callers and Twitter: frustration with Salem, curiosity about where Medved will pop up next, plenty of “it’s the end of an era” takes (punctuated by more than one “Guess I’m done with KTTH” tweet). The common thread? This isn’t just a faceless personnel swap. It’s a bet on whether local talk—even if it swims upstream of national consensus—still matters to a splintered audience.
The worry for KTTH: Will diehard listeners actually follow Medved, or settle into the new normal because, well, radio habits die hard? Even for fans who didn’t always agree with Medved, the show’s blend of history and skepticism built loyalty. Churn too fast, and you lose more than a time slot—you risk diluting brand trust.
Looking for more industry shakeups and host drama? Check out connectivemag.com for real-time breakdowns and clickable data bites.
Meanwhile… What’s the (Business) Bottom Line?
Could KTTH have kept Medved and gone for a more diverse slate? Perhaps. But in a risk-averse, ad-reliant media economy, it’s safer to syndicate—think lower costs, higher predictability, less controversy. Switching to Guy Benson tightens programming, keeps Fox News fans happy, and trims local headaches.
The trade-off: losing a singular voice who gave KTTH actual distinction in a marketplace crowded with interchangeable talkers. Medved’s no “shock jock”—but he was reliably unpredictable, a rare thing these days.
For Medved, this is simultaneously a blow and a freedom. He loses guaranteed reach and old-school radio stability but gains a channel to speak freely—and, if DIY broadcasting keeps working, full editorial control. Sound familiar? It’s the Substack/Subreddit/Twitchification of everything, now coming for your AM dial.
Takeaway: Stakes for Medved and the Station
Where’s the smart money? If Medved keeps his base and grows a little, he can chart his own path. If KTTH’s new lineup wins new ears—or at least keeps old ones from bailing—they’ll call the switch a strategic win.
But don’t miss the subplot: this isn’t just about Medved or even Seattle. It’s a window into what happens when an opinion host’s opinions get inconvenient for the people signing the checks. Mergers, brand pivots, digital-first pivots—and the personalities who can’t or won’t play ball. The heart of talk radio is still, well, talk—but who gets to steer the conversation is always about more than just what works at noon.
Bottom line? Medved didn’t walk—he got nudged. Whether listeners nudge back, or just nudge the dial, is the next act worth watching. Either way, bring popcorn. This show isn’t over.
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