For years, KXNO wasn’t just another sports station.
It was where Iowa argued.
It was where Hawkeye fans battled Cyclone fans.
It was where breaking sports news became statewide conversation.
It was where listeners built relationships with personalities they felt like they knew.
Now, another major chapter is closing.
As iHeartMedia continues its nationwide restructuring effort, one of the Midwest’s most recognizable sports radio brands is undergoing a dramatic makeover, leaving listeners wondering what comes next for local sports talk across the Hawkeye State.
The latest cuts have effectively wiped out much of KXNO’s daily local lineup.
Morning listeners will no longer wake up with “The 1st Quarter.” The show, anchored by Heather Burnside, Alec Busse, and producer Tyler Allen, has come to an abrupt end.
The afternoon drive picture has changed just as dramatically.
“Off The Bench,” featuring Sean Roberts and Lucas Strain, is also gone. Roberts wasn’t simply an afternoon host. He was also the station’s Program Director and one of the key figures helping shape the sound and direction of KXNO during its most recent era.
For many Iowa sports fans, these departures hit especially hard because they come after what appeared to be a remarkable turnaround story.
Not long ago, local programming at KXNO was dramatically reduced. Then came a revival. Familiar voices returned. The station expanded onto FM. Momentum built. In 2024, the brand took another major step forward with the creation of the Iowa Sports Network, extending its reach across Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Sioux City, and the Quad Cities.
The future looked bright.
Today, it looks very different.
And the changes aren’t over.
Veteran broadcaster Ken Miller will retire at the end of the week, bringing one of Iowa sports radio’s most respected careers to a close. For years, Miller helped guide discussions involving Iowa, Iowa State, the NFL, Major League Baseball, and virtually every major sports topic that mattered to listeners throughout the state.
His departure alone would have been a headline.
Combined with everything else happening at KXNO, it feels like the end of a significant era.
The lone piece of continuity moving forward will be Trent Condon, who remains with the station and will be joined by Nick Marovets beginning June 29. Marovets is widely known throughout Iowa sports circles for his work covering Iowa State athletics through the popular Locked On Cyclones platform.
Still, the larger story may be what these moves represent.
Sports radio has always thrived on local passion.
Nobody understands Iowa sports quite like people who live it every day.
Whether it’s debating Iowa football, celebrating Cyclone basketball, arguing over recruiting classes, or dissecting Friday night high school football, local voices have long been the foundation of sports radio’s success.
As corporate radio continues to evolve, many listeners are asking the same question:
Can sports radio remain local when fewer local voices are left behind the microphone?
For now, that answer remains uncertain.
What isn’t uncertain is that Iowa sports radio experienced one of its biggest shakeups in years this week.
If you have been impacted by the ongoing iHeartMedia restructuring, or know someone who has, we’d like to hear your story. Contact us confidentially at info@onthedial.net.
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On The Dial covers breaking radio industry news, including layoffs, programming changes, talent moves, and broadcast trends across the United States.