MSNBC host Ed Schultz to do North Dakota show

FARGO, N.D. - Liberal broadcaster and MSNBC talker Ed Schultz is returning to the airwaves in North Dakota, this time on a station led by a former competitor and political adversary.

Schultz plans to host a three-hour show on weekday mornings for an FM station with coverage primarily in southeastern North Dakota. KQLX-FM of Lisbon, a town of about 2,300 people southwest of Fargo, recently was purchased by a group that includes Fargo conservative radio talk show host Scott Hennen. He would not disclose the price.

"It obviously got people a little fired up, which we're excited to do," Hennen said Monday before introducing Schultz during a news conference at the Fargo Theatre.

Schultz, who hosts a nationally syndicated radio show in the afternoons, had a longtime local show for Fargo's KFGO-AM. He left abruptly in April after signing a deal with MSNBC to host "The Ed Show" from New York.

"I never wanted to be off the air," Schultz said of leaving KFGO. "Things were happening so fast."

Schultz has spent more than three decades in Fargo, first as a TV sports broadcaster and then a talk show host. He started his career as a conservative but switched sides, saying he felt he needed to highlight issues such as farm policy, education, veterans and the homeless.

Schultz, who lives in New York, still has a home in the Fargo area and said he plans to return often.

"When you live in New York, you can get disconnected pretty fast," Schultz said. "The local show is going to help me stay grounded."

Schultz said it's not unusual for national talk show hosts to do local shows. He said he considered doing a one-hour program in San Francisco.

"Fargo mattered more to me than San Francisco," Schultz said.

Hennen, who hosts a radio talk show on a Fargo station and has filled in occasionally on Sean Hannity's national radio show, called it a good business decision.

"No one can argue with his ratings success in this market, period," Hennen said. "Ed does not need to do this. He and I share something else, which is a great love for this part of the world."

Schultz's show at KFGO was No. 1 in the market when he left in April, said Joel Heitkamp, KFGO operations manager and talk show host.

Hennen and Schultz also agreed to a weekly sparring session on Hennen's show. The deal includes airtime for Schultz's son, David, a professional golfer who will do sports segments.

Heitkamp, who moved his talk show from afternoons to mornings to replace Schultz, said he's not worried about competing against his former cohort.

"We wish him well," said Heitkamp, a former Democratic state senator. "We hope he does well out in Lisbon."

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