Sims, Longtime News Chief, Departs KNX; Ed Pyle Takes Charge

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Sims, Longtime News Chief, Departs KNX; Ed Pyle Takes Charge

By DARRELL SATZMAN

Staff Reporter

KNX-AM (1070) switches news directors this week, but no programming changes are planned at L.A.’s top news radio station.

KNX veteran Ed Pyle, who has been executive news producer, replaces Robert Sims, who resigned after 33 years at the station. Pyle has been running the newsroom for several months while Sims was away for personal reasons.

Sims could not be reached for comment, but sources at KNX said his resignation was voluntary and amicable. “Thirty years takes a toll out of a guy. He just decided it was time,” one staff member said.

Sims worked at KNX almost from the time the 50,000-watt station adopted its news format in 1968. For the past 20 years, Sims has been the station’s news director.

“Bob was a great boss and a great guy to work for. I’ve got some big shoes to fill,” said Pyle, who has been a reporter, a producer and finally executive news producer. ”

With Pyle’s promotion, another KNX veteran, news producer Ronnie Bradford, will become executive news producer.

In the most recent Arbitron ratings, KNX, one of seven local stations owned by Viacom Inc.’s Infinity Broadcasting Corp., was ranked 16th, four spots ahead of rival KFWB-AM (980). But KNX’s numbers were flat over the previous quarter.

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