1460 KXnO hit with layoffs, two key daily shows already canceled

The local sports radio scene changed dramatically Tuesday morning.

Radio station 1460 KXnO laid off six hosts and producers, and its morning drive and afternoon drive shows were canceled due to staff losses. The cuts come as part of a nationwide restructuring by parent owner, iHeartMedia.

Sports radio veterans Travis Justice and Heather Burnside, along with show producer Sean Roberts, of “The Morning Rush" were laid off after their Tuesday morning show aired. Ross Peterson of the “Sports Fanatics" was let go, and WHO TV reported that his co-host Chris Williams was part of the staff losses. Their highly rated late afternoon show was canceled following the reduction. The station's program director, Andrew Downs, who routinely appeared on air, was also laid off.

That means two of the station's four daily local shows are gone.

"It’s been the best 11 years of my life working at KXnO," Downs wrote on Twitter. "That era ended today. Thank you to the many people who made this time so special, most of all the friends who worked alongside me every day. Here’s to whatever is next."

"Don’t be sad it’s over," Peterson also wrote. "Be happy that it happened. 17 years in the radio business came to an end this morning. Couldn’t imagine having worked with better bunch of nut jobs than the folks I call friends from KXnO.

"I love Travis, Chris, Andrew, Heather, Sean... these are my family."

Messages left with station management Tuesday have yet to be returned.

The staff reductions coincide with iHeartMedia's Tuesday's announcement of a new organizational structure as it "modernizes the company to take advantage of the significant investments it has made in technology and artificial intelligence (AI) and its unique scale and leadership position in the audio marketplace," according to a news release.

San Antonio-based iHeartMedia, which has more than 850 stations nationwide, filed for bankruptcy in 2018 after its debt swelled to $20 billion.

On Tuesday, the Twitter accounts dedicated to the "Sports Fanatics" and "The Morning Rush," which aired weekdays from 6-8 a.m., were no longer active.

Keith Murphy and Andy Fales, hosts of the "Murph and Andy Show," were informed that their show was not being canceled, according to WHO TV, where Murphy and Fales also work. Downs was the producer of their early afternoon show.

The WHO report said the pair are are considering whether they will continue their show on KXnO.

Murphy tweeted that the Murph and Andy Show would not air Tuesday.

Ken Miller of "The Miller & Condon" show told listeners Tuesday morning that he expected the show he co-hosts with Trent Condon to remain on the air. Their show airs 10 a.m. to noon during the week and the pair barter for time and are not iHeartMedia employees, Miller said.

"It’s a heartbreaking day for so many people," Miller said shortly before the show's online feed dropped Tuesday morning.

The Des Moines Register partners with KXnO for weekly radio shows, HawkCentral, Cyclone Insider and High School Insider. The Register has not heard from KXnO management about whether those shows would continue yet.

Cody Goodwin covers wrestling and high school sports for the Des Moines Register. Follow him on Twitter at @codygoodwin.

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