Jacobs Media Corp. is expanding its news and talk radio onto the FM radio dial and is shaking up its AM lineup, too.

The new WDUN-FM began airing Monday, said Jay Jacobs, president of Jacobs Media. The programming replaces what had been a '70s and '80s hits format.

The media company also added the Glenn Beck program, a highly rated conservative talk show, to its WDUN-AM lineup.

"Glenn Beck just strengthens our already strong lineup," Jacobs said. "With his recent national prominence on radio and television, we think he'll be well liked by listeners."

Jacobs said there is a growing demand for more local news and talk radio, and stations across the country have been replacing their formats.

"I think music formats have become bombarded with competition from satellite radio, from iPods and different MP3 players, Pandora (a personalized Internet radio service) - there's a lot of ways to get music now.

The news talk format offers a good alternative to music that is current and up to date," Jacobs said.

WDUN-FM is airing at 102.9, replacing the former music station founded by Jacobs in 1990 as MAJIC 102.9. It was later reformatted and named KOOL-FM.

Jacobs said the new program will give local listeners more talk shows to choose from, in addition to local news and programming.

Beck, who hosts the country's third-highest-rated radio program, will air in the mornings on WDUN-AM.

The station will continue to air No. 1 national talk show host Rush Limbaugh and local host Al Gainey, who offers listeners political topics from a local perspective.

Jacobs said the stronger FM signal will reach a larger audience from Gwinnett County to the south to the North Georgia mountains and into North Carolina and South Carolina. He said he believes the format also will appeal to a younger audience.

"We have found a number of younger listeners stay strictly on the FM dial, and we feel we could attract a new audience with this move," Jacobs said.

WDUN-FM and WDUN-AM will simulcast the local portion of its programming with "The Morning Show," hosted by Bill Maine and Joel Williams, as well as Gainey's show and Fox 5 TV News. The mid-morning to afternoon lineup will include a variety of leading national talk shows such as Laura Ingraham and Dave Ramsey.

"I think the reaction will be very positive," Jacobs said.
Jacobs media has been owned and operated by the Jacobs family since 1949 and is headquartered in Gainesville.